Energy News Digest for March 30, 2018

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The Energy News Digest is on Facebook, and on Twitter.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 30, 2018

Marine Forecast for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

Olympic Mountain Forecast for Mason County

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Court-Mandated Overspill Angers Lawmakers Including Newhouse; Inland Power Rates to Jump (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/court-mandated-overspill-angers-lawmakers-including-newhouse-inland-power-rates/article_54e269e4-3399-11e8-b845-3ffd20de5e26.html

Tesla Recalls Almost Half the Cars It Ever Built – Shares Tank & Musk’s Billions Shrink (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/tesla-recalls-almost-half-cars-it-ever-built-shares-tank-n861421

‘Maybe Someone Dies’: Facebook VP Justified Bullying, Terrorism as Costs of Network’s ‘Growth’ (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/03/30/maybe-someone-dies-facebook-vp-justified-bullying-terrorism-as-costs-of-growth/

Douglas PUD’s 2018 Fiber Expansion Project Underway (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/douglas-pud-s-fiber-expansion-project-underway/article_5d5ad124-33b7-11e8-8ba5-7fdeb12ee291.html

Californians Are Embracing Recycled Drinking Water, So Why Isn’t Sacramento? (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article206384744.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Court-Mandated Overspill Angers Lawmakers Including Newhouse; Inland Power Rates to Jump
• Chelan PUD freezes applications for cryptocurrency
• Three Struggling Nuclear Plants Need an ‘Emergency’ Government Rescue, Company Pleads
• New Owner of North Carolina Dams Wants Power Sale Forced on Duke Energy
• Deer Rescued From Hydroelectric Power Plant in Nevada
• Power Grid War Games Crash Social Media
• Help! A Smart Meter’s Turned My Husband into a Power-Crazed Penny Pincher
• These Women Taught Depression-Era Americans to Use Electricity
• News Release: What Would You Pay to Save Salmon?
• Prominent Washington Fishing Guide Convicted in Disability Fraud Scheme
• Douglas PUD’s 2018 Fiber Expansion Project Underway
• Could Enemies Sabotage Undersea Cables Linking the World?
• As Atlanta Seeks to Restore Services, Ransomware Attacks Are on the Rise
• Under Armour Says 150 Million MyFitnessPal Accounts Breached
• RUS Takes a New Approach to Broadband Loan Applications
• Tesla Recalls Almost Half the Cars It Ever Built – Shares Tank & Musk’s Billions Shrink
• Wenatchee: Wirelessly Charging Electric Bus Goes Live after Easter
• New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Florence
• U-S Utilities Look to Electric Cars as Their Savior amid Decline in Demand
• Californians Are Embracing Recycled Drinking Water, So Why Isn’t Sacramento?
• Exxon Flops in Bid to Kill Climate-Fraud Probe
• ‘Maybe Someone Dies’: Facebook VP Justified Bullying, Terrorism as Costs of Network’s ‘Growth’
• Facebook Employees Lash Out over ‘This Leak #$%^’
• Woods Family Sells Wenatchee World to Wick Communications
• 10 Email Phrases That Make You Sound Unprofessional
• Oregon, Other Marijuana-Legal States Want Meeting with U-S Attorney General
• Wine-Related Firms Look to Uncork Opportunities in Marijuana
• Californians to Take Their Coffee with a Cancer Warning
• Brands Need to Join the 21st Century & Tap into Radio Advertising
• U-S Ninth Appeals Court Judge Reinhardt Known as the ‘Liberal Lion’, Dies
• Doubts Raised That Massive Hanford Plant Nuclear Waste Treatment Could Open By 2022
• As Swimming Season Nears, How Clean Is the Water at Your Favorite Beach?
• La Nina is Doomed

WORD OF THE DAY

Rube Goldberg • \ROOB-GOLD-berg\ • Adjective: Accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply; also: characterized by such complex means

The process of setting gasoline seems to spring fully formed from a small, black box. Gertrude knew through personal investigation that it was more of a Rube Goldberg operation, initiated by the first seaboard landing at on an artificial nest at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, tripping a wire attached to a bowling ball, set on rails, which rolled onto a teeter totter, which flipped a switch, which turned on a light bulb, which woke a hen, which laid an egg…….

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Court-Mandated Overspill Angers Lawmakers Including Newhouse; Inland Power Rates to Jump (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/court-mandated-overspill-angers-lawmakers-including-newhouse-inland-power-rates/article_54e269e4-3399-11e8-b845-3ffd20de5e26.html

Chelan PUD freezes applications for cryptocurrency (Lake Chelan Mirror, WA)

http://www.lakechelanmirror.com/news/chelan-pud-freezes-applications-cryptocurrency

Three Struggling Nuclear Plants Need an ‘Emergency’ Government Rescue, Company Pleads (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/03/29/three-struggling-nuclear-plants-need-emergency-rescue-by-rick-perry-company-pleads/

New Owner of North Carolina Dams Wants Power Sale Forced on Duke Energy (Associated Press)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/new-owner-of-nc-dams-wants-power-sale-forced-on-duke-energy/2018/03/29/a3391dd6-3385-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html

Deer Rescued From Hydroelectric Power Plant in Nevada (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nevada/articles/2018-03-30/deer-rescued-from-hydroelectric-power-plant-in-nevada

Power Grid War Games Crash Social Media (Washington Examiner, Daily on Energy)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2018/03/grid-war-games-crash-social-media.html

Help! A Smart Meter’s Turned My Husband into a Power-Crazed Penny Pincher (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5068473/Smart-meter-turning-husband-penny-pincher.html

These Women Taught Depression-Era Americans to Use Electricity (History Channel)

https://www.history.com/news/new-deal-great-depression-rural-electrification

FISH & WILDLIFE

News Release: What Would You Pay to Save Salmon? (National Resources Defense Council – Keeping in mind that PNW public power customers already do…)

https://www.nrdc.org/experts/giulia-cs-good-stefani/what-would-you-pay-save-salmon

Prominent Washington Fishing Guide Convicted in Disability Fraud Scheme (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/prominent-washington-fishing-guide-convicted-in-disability-fraud-scheme/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Douglas PUD’s 2018 Fiber Expansion Project Underway (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/douglas-pud-s-fiber-expansion-project-underway/article_5d5ad124-33b7-11e8-8ba5-7fdeb12ee291.html

Could Enemies Sabotage Undersea Cables Linking the World? (Associated Press)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/enemies-sabotage-undersea-cables-linking-world-54116580

As Atlanta Seeks to Restore Services, Ransomware Attacks Are on the Rise (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/30/597987182/as-atlanta-seeks-to-restore-services-ransomware-attacks-are-on-the-rise

Under Armour Says 150 Million MyFitnessPal Accounts Breached (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-under-armour-databreach/under-armour-says-150-million-myfitnesspal-accounts-breached-idUSKBN1H532W

RUS Takes a New Approach to Broadband Loan Applications (Telecompetitor)

http://www.telecompetitor.com/rus-takes-a-new-approach-to-broadband-loan-applications/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

Tesla Recalls Almost Half the Cars It Ever Built – Shares Tank & Musk’s Billions Shrink (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/tesla-recalls-almost-half-cars-it-ever-built-shares-tank-n861421

Wenatchee: Wirelessly Charging Electric Bus Goes Live after Easter (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/wirelessly-charging-electric-bus-goes-live-easter/

New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Florence (KCST Radio, Florence, OR)

https://kcfmradio.com/2018/03/29/senators-push-back-against-bpa-selloff-new-ev-stations-in-florence-aarp-warns-of-tax-scammers/

U-S Utilities Look to Electric Cars as Their Savior amid Decline in Demand (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2018/03/29/598032288/u-s-utilities-look-to-electric-cars-as-their-savior-amid-decline-in-demand

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

Californians Are Embracing Recycled Drinking Water, So Why Isn’t Sacramento? (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article206384744.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Exxon Flops in Bid to Kill Climate-Fraud Probe (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/exxon-flops-in-bid-to-kill-climate-fraud-probe/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

‘Maybe Someone Dies’: Facebook VP Justified Bullying, Terrorism as Costs of Network’s ‘Growth’ (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/03/30/maybe-someone-dies-facebook-vp-justified-bullying-terrorism-as-costs-of-growth/

Facebook Employees Lash Out over ‘This Leak #$%^’ (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/2018/03/30/facebook-growth-memo-leak/

Woods Family Sells Wenatchee World to Wick Communications (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/business/woods-family-sells-wenatchee-world-to-wick-communications/article_77411368-3386-11e8-86b4-b3380de93e7a.html

10 Email Phrases That Make You Sound Unprofessional (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/40550974/10-email-phrases-that-make-you-sound-unprofessional

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Oregon, Other Marijuana-Legal States Want Meeting with U-S Attorney General (Associated Press)

http://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/marijuana/oregon-other-marijuana-legal-states-want-meeting-with-sessions/283-533522848

Wine-Related Firms Look to Uncork Opportunities in Marijuana (Marijuana Business Daily)

https://mjbizdaily.com/wine-related-firms-look-uncork-opportunities-marijuana/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

Californians to Take Their Coffee with a Cancer Warning (Associated Press)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/apnewsbreak-california-judge-coffee-needs-212748202.html

Brands Need to Join the 21st Century & Tap into Radio Advertising (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/brands-need-to-join-the-21st-century-and-tap-into-radio-advertising/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

U-S Ninth Appeals Court Judge Reinhardt Known as the ‘Liberal Lion’, Dies (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-reinhardt/u-s-appeals-court-judge-reinhardt-known-as-the-liberal-lion-dies-idUSKBN1H60CY

GENERAL NEWS

Doubts Raised That Massive Hanford Plant Nuclear Waste Treatment Could Open By 2022 (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/30/doubts-raised-that-massive-hanford-plant-could-ope/

As Swimming Season Nears, How Clean Is the Water at Your Favorite Beach? (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article207312319.html

La Nina is Doomed (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2018/03/la-nina-is-doomed.html

SOMETHING IN THE AIR – DIVERSIONS

Iowa Man Wins Lawsuit over Calling His Hometown Stinky

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/iowa-man-wins-lawsuit-over-calling-his-hometown-stinky/article_3585bf3d-782b-5130-a89d-10ba3bc7e60f.html

Precious Cargo: Qantas Announces ‘Cargo Class’ Plans for Long-Haul Flights Where Passengers Go in the Hold

https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/5919783/qantas-cargo-class/

So, About the Satellite That’s About to Crash Into Earth...

https://gizmodo.com/so-about-the-satellite-thats-about-to-crash-into-earth-1824173807

Rube Goldberg’s Famed Cartoons on Display at Contemporary Jewish Museum

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/03/28/rube-goldbergs-famed-cartoons-on-display-at-contemporary-jewish-museum/

SONG OF THE DAY

John Paul Young - Love Is in the Air

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC0kIzM1Fo

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.

Energy News Digest for March 29, 2018

Occasionally clear the cache & history of your internet browser. It will help when trying to access news sites that count your visits.

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook, and on Twitter.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 29, 2018

Marine Forecast for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

Olympic Mountain Forecast for Mason County

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Grant PUD Announces Drawdown at Priest Rapids Dam (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/local_news/20180328/pud_announces_drawdown_at_priest_rapids_dam

Another $3 Million Been Promised to Colstrip to Help the Community Transition beyond Coal (Montana Standard, Butte)

http://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/another-m-has-been-promised-to-colstrip-to-help-the/article_f1fb8f2e-3754-5ac5-ae7e-8a169f09c22b.html

Idaho Tribes Want Fish Passage at Idaho Power’s Snake River Dams, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/28/idaho-tribes-want-fish-passage-above-snake-river-d/

Microsoft Contributing $200,000 to Grant PUD Fiber Buildout in George (IFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/microsoft-contributing-to-grant-pud-fiber-buildout-in-george/article_a290908e-32a0-11e8-b30c-5f74db553e25.html

REC Silicon Weighs In – Struggling U-S Polysilicon Producers Are a Forgotten Casualty in the Solar Trade War with China (GreenTech Media)

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/polysilicon-once-booming-remains-a-forgotten-casualty-of-the-201-tariffs#gs.WMbX2VY

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Grant PUD Announces Drawdown at Priest Rapids Dam
• Leaking Found in Grant PUD’s Priest Rapids Dam
• Another $3 Million Been Promised to Colstrip to Help the Community Transition beyond Coal
• Energy Northwest in Richland to Help with New Type of Nuclear Reactor
• Editorial: Your Utility Rates Were Spared, But BPA Is Still in President Trump’s Crosshairs
• It’s the No. 1 Power Source, but Natural Gas Faces Headwinds
• Ohio: FirstEnergy Solutions Will Close Its Nuclear Power Plants, But Is Silent on Bankruptcy Restructuring
• Nuclear Industry Facing Crisis That Trump Must Address, Think Tank Says
• FERC Denies Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Request for More Time to Cut Trees
• House Panel Blasts Puerto Rico Power Agency for Trying to ‘Discredit’ Corruption Probe
• Idaho Tribes Want Fish Passage at Idaho Power’s Snake River Dams, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
• Mason PUD 3 on Osprey Watch
• Olympic Mountain Goat Transfer Sparks New Law on Communication
• REC Silicon Weighs In – Struggling U-S Polysilicon Producers Are a Forgotten Casualty in the Solar Trade War with China
• American Electric Power Wants to Build America’s Largest Wind Farm, & Get Customers to Pay for It
• Budweiser Adds New Renewable Energy Logo to Packaging
• Microsoft Contributing $200,000 to Grant PUD Fiber Buildout in George
• Audit Finds $1 Million Missing from New Mexico Broadband Project
• Charter’s Plans for 6G
• Whither the Weather - PUD 3 SmartHub App & Weather Data Gives Powerful Energy Insights
• Can a Heat Pump Water Heater Installed in the Pacific Northwest Reduce Emissions Near the Grand Canyon?
• An Idaho Mining Firm Executive Griped to Interior’s Zinke about Federal Pollution Rules. The Secretary Apologized.
• EPA Staffers Get Talking Points Playing Down Human Role in Climate Change
• Broadband & Booze: Virgin Is Giving Away a Free Case of Wine with Internet & TV Bundles
• Mason County: Man Rescued from Under Vance Creek Bridge
• Boeing Hit by Cyberattack, Says Jetliner Production Not Affected
• Washington State Kicks Off Test of Pay-By-Mile Program
• Washington State Farmers Complain of Labor Shortage as Asparagus Harvest Approaches
• Felix Buys Into Changes Entering 10th Straight Mariners Opening Day Start

WORD OF THE DAY

Vertiginous • \ver-TIJ-uh-nus\ • adjective – 1a: characterized by or suffering from vertigo or dizziness b: inclined to frequent & often pointless change: inconstant *2: causing or tending to cause dizziness 3: marked by turning: rotary

Dilton was thankful for his double dose of Dramamine as he dangled precipitously from a rope in the yawning maw of an abandoned wishing well. His vertiginous position was unfortunately aided by two hulking friends who had devised a plan to plunder thousands of coins tossed into the well by hopeful spinsters and bachelors over the years. “This is just like a ‘Goonies’ adventure,” Dilton crowed as he neared the bottom of the slimy, stinking hole.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grant PUD Announces Drawdown at Priest Rapids Dam (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/local_news/20180328/pud_announces_drawdown_at_priest_rapids_dam

Leaking Found in Grant PUD’s Priest Rapids Dam (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/leaking-found-priest-rapids-dam/

Another $3 Million Been Promised to Colstrip to Help the Community Transition beyond Coal (Montana Standard, Butte)

http://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/another-m-has-been-promised-to-colstrip-to-help-the/article_f1fb8f2e-3754-5ac5-ae7e-8a169f09c22b.html

Energy Northwest in Richland to Help with New Type of Nuclear Reactor (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article207241184.html

Editorial: Your Utility Rates Were Spared, But BPA Is Still in President Trump’s Crosshairs (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/editorials/article207222734.html

It’s the No. 1 Power Source, but Natural Gas Faces Headwinds (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/business/energy-environment/natural-gas-power.html

Ohio: FirstEnergy Solutions Will Close Its Nuclear Power Plants, But Is Silent on Bankruptcy Restructuring (Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH)

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2018/03/firstenergy_solutions_will_clo.html

Nuclear Industry Facing Crisis That Trump Must Address, Think Tank Says (Washington Examiner)

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/nuclear-industry-facing-crisis-that-trump-must-address-think-tank-says

FERC Denies Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Request for More Time to Cut Trees (The News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA)

http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/ferc-denies-atlantic-coast-pipeline-s-request-for-more-time/article_8f053bbe-32dc-11e8-9177-b32fae6d357a.html

House Panel Blasts Puerto Rico Power Agency for Trying to ‘Discredit’ Corruption Probe (Washington Examiner)

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/house-panel-blasts-puerto-rico-power-agency-for-trying-to-discredit-corruption-probe

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho Tribes Want Fish Passage at Idaho Power’s Snake River Dams, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/28/idaho-tribes-want-fish-passage-above-snake-river-d/

Mason PUD 3 on Osprey Watch (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/29885

Olympic Mountain Goat Transfer Sparks New Law on Communication (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/goat-transfer-sparks-new-law-on-communication/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

REC Silicon Weighs In – Struggling U-S Polysilicon Producers Are a Forgotten Casualty in the Solar Trade War with China (GreenTech Media)

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/polysilicon-once-booming-remains-a-forgotten-casualty-of-the-201-tariffs#gs.WMbX2VY

American Electric Power Wants to Build America’s Largest Wind Farm, & Get Customers to Pay for It (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-29/giant-wind-farm-wants-payment-guaranteed-in-advance-thank-you

Budweiser Adds New Renewable Energy Logo to Packaging (Packaging Digest)

http://www.packagingdigest.com/labeling/budweiser-adds-new-renewable-energy-logo-to-packaging-2018-03-28

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Contributing $200,000 to Grant PUD Fiber Buildout in George (IFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/microsoft-contributing-to-grant-pud-fiber-buildout-in-george/article_a290908e-32a0-11e8-b30c-5f74db553e25.html

Audit Finds $1 Million Missing from New Mexico Broadband Project (Associated Press)

http://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/state-audit-money-missing-broadband-project/4844166/

Charter’s Plans for 6G (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2018/03/29/charters-plans-for-6g/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Whither the Weather - PUD 3 SmartHub App & Weather Data Gives Powerful Energy Insights (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

https://www.pud3.org/blog/articles--blog/post/whither-the-weather-pud-3-smarthub-app-and-weather-data-gives-powerful-energy-insights

Can a Heat Pump Water Heater Installed in the Pacific Northwest Reduce Emissions Near the Grand Canyon? (Northwest Power & Conservation Council)

https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/blog/carbon-emissions-1/

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOT LOCKER

An Idaho Mining Firm Executive Griped to Interior’s Zinke about Federal Pollution Rules. The Secretary Apologized. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/03/28/a-mining-firm-executive-griped-to-zinke-about-federal-pollution-rules-the-secretary-apologized/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA Staffers Get Talking Points Playing Down Human Role in Climate Change (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/03/28/epa-staffers-get-talking-points-downplaying-human-role-in-climate-change/?utm_source=rss_energy-environment&utm_term=.75886a3984a2

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

Broadband & Booze: Virgin Is Giving Away a Free Case of Wine with Internet & TV Bundles (TechRadar)

https://www.techradar.com/news/broadband-and-booze-virgin-media-broadband-and-tv-deal-bundle-free-case-of-wine

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County: Man Rescued from Under Vance Creek Bridge (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/29891

Boeing Hit by Cyberattack, Says Jetliner Production Not Affected (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-28/boeing-hit-by-wannacry-ransomware-attack-seattle-times-says

Washington State Kicks Off Test of Pay-By-Mile Program (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/state-kicks-off-test-of-pay-by-mile-program/723311460

Washington State Farmers Complain of Labor Shortage as Asparagus Harvest Approaches (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/growers-complain-of-labor-shortage-as-asparagus-harvest-approaches/article_e74e6e5a-3249-11e8-8ba3-2726f2837774.html

Felix Buys Into Changes Entering 10th Straight Mariners Opening Day Start (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://sports.mynorthwest.com/431044/felix-buys-into-changes-entering-10th-straight-mariners-opening-day-start/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Solved: Portrait of Mystery Massachusetts High Court Justice Identified

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/solved-portrait-of-mystery-high-court-justice-identified/article_45e6dc7d-c9af-5aae-b2ec-dd3daca2dc44.html

Burger Chain Sues Obnoxious Internet Troll

https://www.courthousenews.com/burger-chain-sues-obnoxious-internet-troll/

Baffled by Conceptual Art? So Are Will Ferrell & Joel McHale in This Museum’s Short Film

http://www.adweek.com/creativity/baffled-by-conceptual-art-so-are-will-ferrell-and-joel-mchale-in-this-museums-short-film/

‘Ring Bearer Owl’ Attacks Best Man at Wedding Ceremony

http://abcnews.go.com/International/ring-bearer-owl-attacks-best-man-wedding-ceremony/story?id=54035224

SONG OF THE DAY

John Williams – Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter (BBC’s Proms)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTXBLyp7_Dw

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.

Energy News Digest for March 28, 2018 (Celebrating post 2,200 on the blog site today)

Occasionally clear the cache & history of your internet browser. It will help when trying to access news sites that count your visits.

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook, and on Twitter.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 28, 2018

Marine Forecast for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Seventh Circuit Appeals Court Hears Privacy Case over Smart Meters (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/seventh-circuit-hears-privacy-case-over-smart-meters/

Washington State Regulators Receive Proposed Terms for Avista’s Sale to Canadian Utility (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/27/washington-regulators-receive-proposed-terms-for-a/

Tacoma in Search of Partners for Click! (South Sound Business Journal)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2018/03/tacoma-in-search-of-partners-for-click.html

Kitsap to Allow the Retail Sale of Broadband by a Public Utility District (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/kitsap-to-allow-the-retail-sale-of-broadband-by-a-public-utility-district-2/

Spokane Considers Burning Sewer Sludge after Outcry over Fertilizer Use (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/28/spokane-considers-burning-sewer-sludge-after-outcr/#/0

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Seventh Circuit Appeals Court Hears Privacy Case over Smart Meters
• Washington State Regulators Receive Proposed Terms for Avista’s Sale to Canadian Utility
• FERC Finds Idaho Power Lacks Market Power in Its Own Balancing Authority Area, & Terminates Federal Power Act Section 206 Proceeding
• Wyden, Merkley in Bipartisan Letter Rejecting President Trump’s Proposed Bonneville Power Administration Sell-Off
• Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Compensation Doubled in Year That Included Deadly Wine Country Fires
• Itron & Utilidata Launch a Grid Voltage Control ‘App’ for Next-Generation Smart Meters
• Massachusetts Ends Deal with Northern Pass Hydro Project
• South Carolina Governor: Utility’s Post-Nuclear Debacle Lobbying ‘Egregious’
• News Release: Salt River Project Board Approves $18.8 Million Price Decrease
• Free-Market Group Urges FERC to Defend Grid from Companies Looking to Game the System
• Small Utility Leaders Don Their Seven Hats Every Day
• Idaho Spring Chinook Fishing Set to Open
• It’s Protected Sea Lions against Endangered Salmon
• British Columbia River Report Highlights Perilous State of Steelhead Stock
• Report Finds Solar Jobs Declined Nationwide In 2017, Grew In Some Cities & States
• Op/Ed: We All Love Wind Power, Unless You Want to Make Money
• Tacoma in Search of Partners for Click!
• Kitsap to Allow the Retail Sale of Broadband by a Public Utility District
• Washington State Governor Signs Port Districts’ Rural Broadband Bill
• West Virginia: Broadband Service Reports Could Mean the End of Funding for Many Counties
• ISP Lobbyists Threaten Any State That Dare Protect Consumers
• Spokane Considers Burning Sewer Sludge after Outcry over Fertilizer Use
• Columbia River Flows at The Dalles Rise to 113% of Normal
• Starbucks Opens in a U-S National Park for First Time – Not Everyone’s Thrilled
• U-S Agency to Debate How the Internet of Things Could Kill You
• Gig Harbor Residents Say They Feel Like ‘Small Fish’ over City’s Residential Construction Moratorium
• States Vow to Fight U-S Plan to Ask Citizenship Question on Census
• Studded Tires Now Allowed Through April 15
• Amazon Shares Plunge 6% after Report That President Trump Wants to ‘Go After’ the Company
• More Than 4,000 Eggs & Embryos Lost in Cleveland Fertility Clinic Tank Failure

WORD OF THE DAY

Cliometrics • \klye-uh-MET-riks\ • Noun – The application of methods developed in other fields (as economics, statistics, & data processing) to the study of history

Clarence briefly basked in the glory of his doctoral thesis. His use of cliometrics proved (on paper at least) that the 1929 stock market crash was not due to marginal trading and “irrational exuberance.” Instead, it was precipitated by men’s fashion trends…specifically the shortage of spats for men’s shoes. It wasn’t until he was defending his academic paper that the entire house of cards that was his thesis fell down. Literally. It had actually been constructed of 3x5 index cards that fluttered throughout the classroom when one of the professors sneezed.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Seventh Circuit Appeals Court Hears Privacy Case over Smart Meters (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/seventh-circuit-hears-privacy-case-over-smart-meters/

Washington State Regulators Receive Proposed Terms for Avista’s Sale to Canadian Utility (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/27/washington-regulators-receive-proposed-terms-for-a/

FERC Finds Idaho Power Lacks Market Power in Its Own Balancing Authority Area, & Terminates Federal Power Act Section 206 Proceeding (Troutman Sanders LLP, Energy Report)

https://www.troutmansandersenergyreport.com/2018/03/ferc-finds-idaho-power-lacks-market-power-baa-terminates-fpa-section-206-proceeding/

Wyden, Merkley in Bipartisan Letter Rejecting President Trump’s Proposed Bonneville Power Administration Sell-Off (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2018/03/27/wyden-merkley-in-bipartisan-letter-rejecting.html

Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Compensation Doubled in Year That Included Deadly Wine Country Fires (Sacramento Business Journal)

https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2018/03/28/pg-e-geisha-williams-compensation-wine-country.html

Itron & Utilidata Launch a Grid Voltage Control ‘App’ for Next-Generation Smart Meters (GreenTech Medi8a)

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/itron-and-utilidata-launch-a-grid-voltage-control-app-for-next-generation-s#gs.UkpRYVU

Massachusetts Ends Deal with Northern Pass Hydro Project (Associated Press)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/massachusetts-ends-deal-with-northern-pass-hydro-project/2018/03/28/14f97c3a-3297-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html

South Carolina Governor: Utility’s Post-Nuclear Debacle Lobbying ‘Egregious’ (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-carolina/articles/2018-03-28/sc-gov-utilitys-post-nuclear-debacle-lobbying-egregious

News Release: Salt River Project Board Approves $18.8 Million Price Decrease (Salt River Project, Tempe, AZ)

https://www.srpnet.com/newsroom/releases/032718.aspx

Free-Market Group Urges FERC to Defend Grid from Companies Looking to Game the System (Washington Examiner)

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/free-market-group-urges-ferc-to-defend-grid-from-companies-looking-to-game-the-system

Small Utility Leaders Don Their Seven Hats Every Day (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/small-utility-leaders-don-their-seven-hats-every-day

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho Spring Chinook Fishing Set to Open (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/28/idaho-spring-chinook-fishing-set-to-open/

It’s Protected Sea Lions against Endangered Salmon (Associated Press)

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/6110119-151/its-protected-sea-lions-against-endangered-salmon

British Columbia River Report Highlights Perilous State of Steelhead Stock (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/endangered-rivers-report-1.4596211?cmp=rss

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

Report Finds Solar Jobs Declined Nationwide In 2017, Grew In Some Cities & States (Solar Power World)

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/03/cities-and-states-grew-solar-jobs-2017/

Op/Ed: We All Love Wind Power, Unless You Want to Make Money (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2018-03-28/we-all-love-wind-power-unless-you-want-to-make-money?ref=yfp

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tacoma in Search of Partners for Click! (South Sound Business Journal)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2018/03/tacoma-in-search-of-partners-for-click.html

Kitsap to Allow the Retail Sale of Broadband by a Public Utility District (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/kitsap-to-allow-the-retail-sale-of-broadband-by-a-public-utility-district-2/

Washington State Governor Signs Port Districts’ Rural Broadband Bill (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/local_news/20180328/governor_signs_rural_broadband_bill

West Virginia: Broadband Service Reports Could Mean the End of Funding for Many Counties (WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV)

http://www.wboy.com/news/randolph/broadband-service-reports-could-mean-the-end-of-funding-for-many-counties/1084186422

ISP Lobbyists Threaten Any State That Dare Protect Consumers (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ISP-Lobbyists-Threaten-Any-State-That-Dare-Protect-Consumers-141511

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOT LOCKER

Spokane Considers Burning Sewer Sludge after Outcry over Fertilizer Use (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/28/spokane-considers-burning-sewer-sludge-after-outcr/#/0

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

Columbia River Flows at The Dalles Rise to 113% of Normal (Platts)

https://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/houston/columbia-river-flows-at-the-dalles-rise-to-113-21660617

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

Starbucks Opens in a U-S National Park for First Time – Not Everyone’s Thrilled (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/starbucks/starbucks-opens-in-a-u-s-national-park-for-first-time/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

U-S Agency to Debate How the Internet of Things Could Kill You (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/us-agency-to-debate-how-the-internet-of-things-could-ki-1824143778

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Gig Harbor Residents Say They Feel Like ‘Small Fish’ over City’s Residential Construction Moratorium (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/article207057524.html

States Vow to Fight U-S Plan to Ask Citizenship Question on Census (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-census/states-vow-to-fight-u-s-plan-to-ask-citizenship-question-on-census-idUSKBN1H328L

GENERAL NEWS

Studded Tires Now Allowed Through April 15 (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/studded-tires-now-allowed-through-april-15/

Amazon Shares Plunge 6% after Report That President Trump Wants to ‘Go After’ the Company (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-amazon-trump-stock-20180328-story.html

More Than 4,000 Eggs & Embryos Lost in Cleveland Fertility Clinic Tank Failure (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/27/health/cleveland-fertility-clinic-eggs-embryos-lost/index.html

ALL WHILE BALANCING AN EGG ON A SPOON – DIVERSIONS

What’s Cooking in That Egg Spoon? A Bite-Size Culture War

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/dining/alice-waters-egg-spoon-me-too-movement.html

Yucky Ducky? Study Reveals Bath-Time Toy’s Dirty Secret

http://q13fox.com/2018/03/27/yucky-ducky-study-reveals-bath-time-toys-dirty-secret/

‘Whoa, She’s Not Done!’ Chihuahua Gives Birth to Whopping 11-Puppy Litter

http://q13fox.com/2018/03/27/whoa-shes-not-done-chihuahua-gives-birth-to-whopping-11-puppy-litter/

‘Like A Riot’: Woman Says Her Home Was Ransacked after Estate Sale Mix-Up

http://q13fox.com/2018/03/27/like-a-riot-woman-says-her-home-was-ransacked-after-estate-sale-mix-up/

SONG OF THE DAY

Lim Hui – The Rubber Duckies Song - Violin Instrumental

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY6etOau_BE

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.