Energy News Digest for November 7, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for November 7, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/11/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_7.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wet & Windy Day Ahead (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Wet-and-windy-day-ahead-230981471.html

Bonneville Power Administration: Feds Hire New HR Director for BPA, Appoint Acting Deputy Administrator (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/bpa_hires_new_hr_director_appo.html

Turbine Topples at Stateline Wind Farm in Eastern Washington State (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/wind_turbine_collapse_in_washi.html

REC Silicon to Reduce Employees (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_a6eae630-473a-11e3-91ac-001a4bcf887a.html

Special Washington State Legislative Session Beginning for Boeing Incentives (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Special-legislative-session-beginning-for-Boeing-incentives-230983521.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Bonneville Power Administration: Feds Hire New HR Director for BPA, Appoint Acting Deputy Administrator
• Public Utility Districts Warn of Phone Scammers
• Utility Bill Scam Extends to Snohomish County
• Grant County PUD Lowers Final New Turbine into Wanapum Dam
• Oregon: Eugene Water & Electric Board Proposes Raising Utility Rates
• Avista Reports Higher Third Quarter Earnings
• Idaho Power Still Making Its Case for Coal
• Bad news for Big Coal in Whatcom County
• Eleven Utilities Are Winners in APPA Annual Report Contest
• Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Will Impact Libby Dam Operations, Reservoir Drafting/Refill
• Pacific Gas & Electric’s CEO Calls for Probe of Utility's Management
• Colorado: Boulder Utility Measure - Municipal Facility Gets a Boost
• Editorial: Post Election Is Good Time to Count Our Blessings
• Op/Ed: Nuclear - A Surprisingly Progressive Solution to Climate Change
• Thrifty Thurston – A Rare Glimpse of Nature at the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail
• Turbine Topples at Stateline Wind Farm in Eastern Washington State
• REC Silicon to Reduce Employees
• Four States Lead U-S in Freeing the Grid for Distributed Solar Energy
• Microsoft Commits to Wind Power
• Europe's Renewable Energy Push Has Completely Backfired, & Electricity Bills Are Skyrocketing
• Washington State Department of Commerce names lenders for $14.5 million Clean Energy Loan Fund
• Traditional Light Bulbs Are Dead, Long Live LEDs
• 'Pedal Power' Your Laptop with a Cycling Generator
• Tri-Cities Charter Outage Cuts Sales for Businesses
• Google Employees Lash Out at NSA Over Reports of Cable Tapping
• Google Who? Los Angeles Planning Citywide Gigabit Fiber Network
• Dish to Close Rest of Its Blockbuster Stores in U-S
• Cable Industry Uses Election Money to Smother Municipal Broadband Efforts
• Internet Archive Burns Down, Data Survives
• User Burnout Could Threaten Twitter's Prosperity
• With A New Generation of Public Power Customers, Communication Is Key, Crisson Tells Customer Connections Conference
• The Utility as a Brand: Is It Worth It?
• Special Legislative Session Beginning for Boeing Incentives
• Key Players Debate Need for Gas Tax in Washington Special Session
• Unofficial Mason County Election Results
• Court Finds Washington State’s Public Records Act Applies to Personal Email Accounts of Elected Officials
• Wet & Windy Day Ahead
• Wind Advisory in Effect for Mason County
• Wenatchee Agency is First Fined by SEC for Deceiving Public
• Pot's Tax Potential Creating Strange Bongfellows

WORD OF THE DAY

Cadre • \COD-ray\ • Noun - 1: frame, framework 2: a nucleus or core group especially of trained personnel able to assume control and to train others; broadly: a group of people having some unifying relationship 3: a cell of indoctrinated leaders active in promoting the interests of a revolutionary party 4: a member of a cadre.

It was the most formidable tiger team ever assembled. The cadre of engineers had the unenviable task of designing with the first “Ohio-Arts” ten-foot capable tiddlywink chip.

Note: A tiger team is a group of experts assigned to investigate and/or solve technical or systemic problems. A 1964 paper defined the term as "a team of undomesticated and uninhibited technical specialists, selected for their experience, energy, and imagination, and assigned to track down relentlessly every possible source of failure in a spacecraft subsystem." (Wikipedia)

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

November 7, 2013 Weather Forecast for Mason County

Wind Advisory in effect from November 7, 07:00 AM PST until November 7, 08:00 PM PST

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration: Feds Hire New HR Director for BPA, Appoint Acting Deputy Administrator (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/bpa_hires_new_hr_director_appo.html

Public Utility Districts Warn of Phone Scammers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/nov/06/puds-warn-of-phone-scammers-hispanic-businesses-may-be-a-target/

Utility Bill Scam Extends to Snohomish County (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/utility-bill-scam-extends-snohomish-county/nbj5M/

Grant County PUD Lowers Final New Turbine into Wanapum Dam (iFiberone News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/news/grantcounty/grant-county-pud-lowered-final-new-turbine-into-wanapum-dam/article_ab312f2e-4681-11e3-a89e-0019bb30f31a.html

Oregon: Eugene Water & Electric Board Proposes Raising Utility Rates (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/rg/news/local/30675352-75/percent-eweb-rate-increase-increases.html.csp

Avista Reports Higher Third Quarter Earnings (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/nov/06/avista-reports-higher-3q-earnings/

Idaho Power Still Making Its Case for Coal (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/11/06/2853315/idaho-power-still-making-its-case.html

Bad news for Big Coal in Whatcom County (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/11/05/bad-news-for-big-coal-in-whatcom-county/

Eleven Utilities Are Winners in APPA Annual Report Contest (American Public Power Association – Woo-Hoo, Mason PUD 3 is in here!)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=241196&issueID=27142

Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Will Impact Libby Dam Operations, Reservoir Drafting/Refill (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/428897.aspx

Pacific Gas & Electric’s CEO Calls for Probe of Utility's Management (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_24469455

Colorado: Boulder Utility Measure - Municipal Facility Gets a Boost (Denver Post, CO)

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24461043/boulder-voters-slow-reply-million-dollar-municipal-utility

Editorial: Post Election Is Good Time to Count Our Blessings (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20131106/OPINION04/711069977/Post-election-is-good-time-to-count-our-blessings

Op/Ed: Nuclear - A Surprisingly Progressive Solution to Climate Change (Cable News Network)

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/06/opinion/pritzker-nuclear-pandora/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Thrifty Thurston – A Rare Glimpse of Nature at the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/11/07/kennedy-creek-salmon-trail/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Turbine Topples at Stateline Wind Farm in Eastern Washington State (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/wind_turbine_collapse_in_washi.html

REC Silicon to Reduce Employees (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_a6eae630-473a-11e3-91ac-001a4bcf887a.html

Four States Lead U-S in Freeing the Grid for Distributed Solar Energy (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/silviomarcacci/297466/4-states-lead-us-freeing-grid-distributed-solar-energy

Microsoft Commits to Wind Power (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_24450510

Europe's Renewable Energy Push Has Completely Backfired, & Electricity Bills Are Skyrocketing (Business Insider)

http://www.businessinsider.com/europes-soaring-energy-prices-2013-11

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Washington State Department of Commerce names lenders for $14.5 million Clean Energy Loan Fund (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/business_daily/2013-11-06/commerce_names_lenders_for_145_million_clean_energy_loan_fund

Traditional Light Bulbs Are Dead, Long Live LEDs (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/06/reviewed-led-light-bulbs/3435227/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

'Pedal Power' Your Laptop with a Cycling Generator (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/11/06/pedal-power-cycling-generator/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tri-Cities Charter Outage Cuts Sales for Businesses (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Charter-outage-cuts-sales-for-businesses-230286161.html

Google Employees Lash Out at NSA Over Reports of Cable Tapping (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/06/us-usa-security-nsa-google-idUSBRE9A514020131106

Google Who? Los Angeles Planning Citywide Gigabit Fiber Network (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/11/06/google-who-l-a-planning-citywide-gigabit-fiber-network/

Dish to Close Rest of Its Blockbuster Stores In U-S (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_24469298

Cable Industry Uses Election Money to Smother Municipal Broadband Efforts (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/11/06/cable-industry-uses-election-money-to-smother-municipal-broadband-efforts/

Internet Archive Burns Down, Data Survives (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/11/06/internet-archive-burns/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

User Burnout Could Threaten Twitter's Prosperity (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_24469068

With A New Generation of Public Power Customers, Communication Is Key, Crisson Tells Customer Connections Conference (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=241219&issueID=27142

The Utility as a Brand: Is It Worth It? (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/christine-hertzog/298701/utility-brand-it-worth-it

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Special Legislative Session Beginning for Boeing Incentives (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Special-legislative-session-beginning-for-Boeing-incentives-230983521.html

Key Players Debate Need for Gas Tax in Washington Special Session (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/key-players-debate-need-gas-tax-washington-special-session

Unofficial Mason County Election Results (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/11563

Court Finds Washington State’s Public Records Act Applies to Personal Email Accounts of Elected Officials (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/11/court-finds-washington-public-records-act-applies-to-personal-email-accounts-of-elected-officials.html

GENERAL NEWS

Wet & Windy Day Ahead (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Wet-and-windy-day-ahead-230981471.html

Wind Advisory in Effect for Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/11568

Wenatchee Agency is First Fined by SEC for Deceiving Public (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/washington-agency-receives-first-sec-fine-for-misleading-public.html

Pot's Tax Potential Creating Strange Bongfellows (Associated Press)

http://www.kgw.com/news/marijuana-tax-attracts-strange-bongfellows-230992401.html

DIVERSIONS

‘Pregnant Teen’ Good Samaritan Let Live With Him Turns Out to Be Non-Pregnant Adult Man

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/07/pregnant-teen-good-samaritan-let-live-with-him-turns-out-to-be-non-pregnant-adult-man/

'Jetman' Tours Mt. Fuji with a Jetpack

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1107/Jetman-tours-Mt.-Fuji-with-a-jetpack

Walmart Glitch: $33 Treadmills, $9 LCD Monitors

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1107/Walmart-glitch-33-treadmills-9-LCD-monitors

Police Arrest Woman Who Called 9-1-1 Six Times to Complain About Bar Full of Drunk People

http://consumerist.com/2013/11/06/police-arrest-woman-who-called-9-1-1-six-times-to-complain-about-bar-full-of-drunk-people/

SONG OF THE DAY

Charlie Daniels - Drinking My Baby Goodbye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKQJcnifqEI

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

BPA selects HR Officer from 502nd Airbase Wing as new HR Director Senior VP of Power Services Greg Delwiche is now Acting Deputy Administrator (Bonneville Power Administration)

Portland, Ore. – The Bonneville Power Administration took two major steps in its efforts to rebuild and improve its human capital management function and ensure it has high performing compliance and governance functions.

First, Brian E. Carter, currently the Civilian/Human Resources Officer for the 502d Air Base Wing at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, will soon join BPA as its Human Resources Director. Second, long-time BPA executive Greg Delwiche will temporarily leave his spot as BPA’s senior vice president of Power Services to fill in as acting deputy administrator.

“These moves are very positive developments for BPA,” said Acting Administrator Elliot Mainzer. “Mr. Carter brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in federal hiring practices, which are vital to our efforts to establish a world class human capital management function. Greg brings many years of BPA knowledge and executive experience to the BPA front office, which also allows him continue to conduct a thorough review of our broader governance and compliance program that is already underway under his leadership.”

Carter, who will join BPA early next month, currently leads a civilian human resources program that serves more than 12,000 federal employees at the Department of Defense’s largest joint air base. He has served in numerous Human Resources leadership positions that include supervisory roles in staffing, benefits, job classification and employee relations at small and large military installations.

“I am excited about joining BPA and working with the Department of Energy and BPA teams to work through the challenges and opportunities during this critical rebuilding period for BPA’s human capital program,” said Carter.

Carter’s career spans more than 20 years and includes the stints in the Air Force Reserves and the Arkansas National Guard. He is a licensed attorney, holds a Masters in Military Operational Arts and Sciences as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Delwiche has served as BPA’s senior vice president of Power Services since June 2010. Prior to that, he served approximately six years as BPA’s vice president for Environment, Fish and Wildlife.

“I come to the deputy position with the hope that my perspective and knowledge can help BPA move forward in successfully facing its challenges and getting healthy,” said Delwiche.

Delwiche came to BPA in 1992 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a first-line manager in power and river operations planning. He became vice president of Generation Asset Management in 1999.

Delwiche holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering from the University of Florida and Oregon State University respectively.

Energy News Digest for November 1, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for November 1, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/11/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Electric Jolt Causes Minor Damage at Grand Coulee Dam Powerhouse (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/oct/31/electric-jolt-causes-minor-damage-at-grand-coulee-dam/

Blustery Weekend in Store - Special Statement from National Weather Service in Seattle (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1284

Wind Power Installations Down 96 Percent in the Third Quarter from 2012, But Orders Looking Up (Denver Business Journal, CO)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2013/10/wind-industry-installations-down-96.html

Puget Sound Still in “Critical Condition” (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/puget-sound-still-critical-condition

Editorial: Keep Bonneville Power Administration Independent despite Hiring Problems (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/11/01/2652683/our-voice-keep-bpa-independent.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Electric Jolt Causes Minor Damage at Grand Coulee Dam Powerhouse
• Editorial: Keep Bonneville Power Administration Independent despite Hiring Problems
• Op/Ed: Hydropower Plays an Important Role in the Pacific Northwest
• Car Strikes Pole; Knocks Out Power to 800 in Montesano
• Substations Require More Attention for Optimal Safety, Experts Say
• Uncertain Future for Nuclear Energy in Japan as Last Nuclear Reactor is Switched Off
• West Coast Sea Stars Mysteriously Dying Off
• Puget Sound Orcas Circle State Ferry Carrying Tribal Artifacts
• Major Oyster Reef Rebuilding Begins on Texas Coast
• Puget Sound Still in “Critical Condition”
• Wind Power Installations Down 96 Percent in the Third Quarter from 2012, But Orders Looking Up
• Federal Bill Would Boost Renewables to 25 Percent by 2025, Has No Chance in Hell of Passing
• Local Power Project & Learning Tool Underway
• Ford Recalls 2,600 Focus Electric Cars for Potential Power Loss
• It’s Time to Do The Right Things “Not Because They Are Easy But Because They Are Hard”
• Comcast, CenturyLink Try to Derail Seattle’s 1 Gbps Mayor
• Local Internet Expert Says Obamacare Sites Ignored the Basics
• Angry Over U-S Surveillance, Tech Giants Bolster Defenses
• Energy-Efficient Data Centers: Tap Local, Sustainable Resources
• Those Floating Barges? They’re Luxurious Modular Google Showrooms
• Marketers Are Putting Their Money & Confidence in Social Media
• Dell Laptop Buyers Make a Stink over Cat Smell
• Wind & Rain Coming
• Blustery Weekend in Store - Special Statement from National Weather Service in Seattle
• Update: Trooper Uninjured in Three-Vehicle Crash on 101 near Shelton
• Puget Sound Grocery Workers Approve Contract, Avoid Strike
• Food Stamp Cuts to Hurt Over a Million People in Washington State
• Homeless Got One-Way Bus Tickets to Portland
• This Is the Successor to the SR-71 Blackbird, & It Is Gorgeous

WORD OF THE DAY

Pugnacious • \pug-NAY-shuss\ • Adjective - Showing a readiness or desire to fight or argue: having a quarrelsome or combative nature.

The small, white ball of fluff looked like nothing less than a bundle of Angora scarves piled on the front seat of the voluminous SUV wedged into the compact spot in the ‘Target” parking lot. That is, until a pedestrian walked past the looming passenger side panel, when the Pomeranian pup erupted against the vehicle’s window; a pugnacious, pint-sized whirling sphere of teeth, claws and high pitched barking. The elderly Newfoundland canine lounging on the back seat only yawned, carefully circled three times and dropped back into his doggy dreams…chasing large rabbits across luxurious, green pastures.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

November 1, 2013 Weather Forecast for Mason County

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Electric Jolt Causes Minor Damage at Grand Coulee Dam Powerhouse (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/oct/31/electric-jolt-causes-minor-damage-at-grand-coulee-dam/

Editorial: Keep Bonneville Power Administration Independent despite Hiring Problems (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/11/01/2652683/our-voice-keep-bpa-independent.html

Op/Ed: Hydropower Plays an Important Role in the Pacific Northwest (Noodls)

http://www.noodls.com/viewNoodl/20734976/doc-hastings/hydropower-plays-an-important-role-in-the-pacific-northwest

Car Strikes Pole; Knocks Out Power to 800 in Montesano (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6189

Substations Require More Attention for Optimal Safety, Experts Say (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=240344&issueID=27138

Uncertain Future for Nuclear Energy in Japan as Last Nuclear Reactor is Switched Off (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/gfasol/294256/uncertain-future-nuclear-energy-japan-last-nuclear-reactor-switched

FISH & WILDLIFE

West Coast Sea Stars Mysteriously Dying Off (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/West-Coast-sea-stars-mysteriously-dying-off--230142711.html

Puget Sound Orcas Circle State Ferry Carrying Tribal Artifacts (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20131101/NEWS/311019980/puget-sound-orcas-circle-state-ferry-carrying-tribal-artifacts

Major Oyster Reef Rebuilding Begins on Texas Coast (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/texas/article/Major-oyster-reef-rebuilding-begins-on-Texas-coast-4945510.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Puget Sound Still in “Critical Condition” (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/puget-sound-still-critical-condition

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Power Installations Down 96 Percent in the Third Quarter from 2012, But Orders Looking Up (Denver Business Journal, CO)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2013/10/wind-industry-installations-down-96.html

Federal Bill Would Boost Renewables to 25 Percent by 2025, Has No Chance in Hell of Passing (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/news/bill-would-boost-renewables-to-25-percent-by-2025-has-no-chance-in-hell-of-passing/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Local Power Project & Learning Tool Underway (Key Peninsula News, Vaughn, WA)

http://www.keypennews.com/index.php/component/k2/item/235-local-power-project-and-learning-tool-underway

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Ford Recalls 2,600 Focus Electric Cars for Potential Power Loss (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/01/us-autos-ford-recall-idUSBRE9A00GY20131101

It’s Time to Do The Right Things “Not Because They Are Easy But Because They Are Hard” (Penn Energy)

http://www.pennenergy.com/index/blogs/the-black-swan-blog/2013/10/it_s_time_to_do_the.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Comcast, CenturyLink Try to Derail Seattle’s 1 Gbps Mayor (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-CenturyLink-Try-to-Derail-Seattles-1-Gbps-Mayor-126468

Local Internet Expert Says Obamacare Sites Ignored the Basics (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Local-Internet-expert-says-Obamacare-sites-ignored-the-basics-230136951.html

Angry Over U-S Surveillance, Tech Giants Bolster Defenses (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/technology/angry-over-us-surveillance-tech-giants-bolster-defenses.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Energy-Efficient Data Centers: Tap Local, Sustainable Resources (Search Cloud Provider)

http://searchcloudprovider.techtarget.com/news/2240208285/Energy-efficient-data-centers-Tap-local-sustainable-resources

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Those Floating Barges? They’re Luxurious Modular Google Showrooms (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/11/01/those-floating-barges-theyre-luxurious-modular-google-showrooms/

Marketers Are Putting Their Money & Confidence in Social Media (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/11/01/b2b-marketing-infographic/

Dell Laptop Buyers Make a Stink over Cat Smell (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/10/31/dell-laptop-buyers-make-a-stink-over-cat-smell/3324381/

GENERAL NEWS

Wind & Rain Coming (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/10/31/wind-and-rain-coming/#axzz2jJWBA7Ij

Blustery Weekend in Store - Special Statement from National Weather Service in Seattle (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1284

Update: Trooper Uninjured in Three-Vehicle Crash on 101 near Shelton (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/11494

Puget Sound Grocery Workers Approve Contract, Avoid Strike (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2384837

Food Stamp Cuts to Hurt Over a Million People in Washington State (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/11/01/food-stamp-cuts-to-hurt-over-a-million-people-in-washington/

Homeless Got One-Way Bus Tickets to Portland (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/Several-cities-providing-homeless-one-way-bus-tickets-to-Portland-230134681.html

This Is the Successor to the SR-71 Blackbird, & It Is Gorgeous (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/11/01/this-is-the-successor-to-the-sr-71-blackbird-and-it-is-gorgeous/?wprss=rss_business

DIVERSIONS

We’ve Finally Figured Out Why Hot Water Freezes Faster Than Cold

http://gizmodo.com/weve-finally-figured-out-why-hot-water-freezes-faster-1455906029

Sports Illustrated Photoshops Dawgs to Look Like Ducks

http://q13fox.com/2013/10/31/sports-illustrated-photoshops-dawgs-to-look-like-ducks/

Hallmark Ornament Stirs Controversy “…Now We Don Our FUN Apparel…”

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/nov/01/hallmark-ornament-stirs-controversy/

12 Reasons You Need to Stop Raiding the Employee Fridge

http://mashable.com/2013/11/01/employee-fridge/

SONG OF THE DAY

Pat Benatar - Fire & Ice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODca1TR8Bs8

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Energy News Digest for October 31, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest word cloud for October 31, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/10/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_31.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Aviation Expert Says Boeing Is Using ‘Economic Blackmail’ Against Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2384402

Washington State Completes Installation Of 1,600-Mile, $140 Million Broadband Network for Rural Areas (GeekWire)

http://www.geekwire.com/2013/washington-installs-1600mile-broadband-network-rural-areas/

U-S Senators Propose National Renewable Electricity Standard (Renew Grid)

http://www.renewgridmag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10476

Landscaper Trimming Hedges Electrocuted in Southwest Portland (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/10/landscaper_electrocuted_in_sou.html

Earth’s Oceans Warming at an Alarming Rate (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/10/31/global-warming-pacific-ocean/3324251/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Landscaper Trimming Hedges Electrocuted in Southwest Portland
• Cost of Service Increasing for Cascade Natural Gas Customers
• Avista Natural Gas Customers’ Bills to Rise
• Iconic Greenpeace Ship Delivers Anti-Coal Message to Longview
• Bellingham: The Future of a Big Coal-Export Project Will Be Decided By This Small Washington Community
• $1.2 Billion Canada-U-S Hydropower Line Proposed
• New Mexico: Kit Carson Electric Warns of Fraudulent Calls
• Consumers Elect Cooperatives for Most Affordable, Reliable Utility Services
• U-S Representative Herrera Beutler Signs on to Salmon Habitat Bill
• Unregulated Bumblebee Trade Threatens Bumblebees
• Diverse Push for Salal Permits on Olympic Peninsula
• River Fluctuations Expected through Winter around Rocky Reach Dam on Columbia River
• U-S Senators Propose National Renewable Electricity Standard
• Arizona Commissioner Probes Utility’s Secret Funding of Anti-Solar Campaign
• How Solar Power is Lighting up Business in Rural East Africa
• New Regs for Thursday: Energy Conservation Rules Extend to Wine Chillers
• Vampire Slaying & More: NRDC’s Halloween Energy Survival Guide
• Earth’s Oceans Warming at an Alarming Rate
• Tracking a Building’s Carbon Footprint Harder than You Might Think
• New Products: Power Pot Converts Heat to Electric Power
• Washington State Completes Installation Of 1,600-Mile, $140 Million Broadband Network for Rural Areas
• Tacoma’s NoaNet Helps State Finish “Broadband Highway”
• U-S Broadband Adoption Goal Remains Elusive Despite Government’s Assistance
• A Tale of Two Internets of Things: Connectivity Will Invade Your Home & Office in Different Ways
• Study Finds Women Are More Addicted to Smartphones than Men
• Yes, Twitter is Flawed during an Event like the Boston Bombings; And So Is Everything Else
• Aviation Expert Says Boeing Is Using ‘Economic Blackmail’ Against Washington
• Doug Reed: Green Diamond Forest Products Firm Names New President
• Neutral Weather Season Could Mean Pineapple Express
• FAA OKs Air Passengers Using Gadgets on Planes
• Thirsty? There’s a Global Wine Shortage
• Oregon’s Exploding-Whale Engineer George Thornton Has Died At Age 84
• Thieves Stealing Baby Formula, But Not to Feed Children

WORD OF THE DAY

Splendiferous • \splenn-DIFF-uh-russ\ • Adjective - Extraordinarily or showily impressive.

Bertino’s resume was the perfect example of a splendiferous creation intended to divert the reader from the limits of its contents. Beautiful, illuminated script in the manner of bibles crafted by monks of the middle-ages; illustrations in the Peter Maxx style of the college president handing down his bachelor’s degree in Albanian art history that hinted at the delivery of the Ten Commandments from the hands of God; sealing wax to embellish his cover letter signature. None of these could cover the fact that Bertie was woefully underqualified for the position of fry chef at the local Arby’s restaurant.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Shelton-Area Weather Forecast for October 31, 2013

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Landscaper Trimming Hedges Electrocuted in Southwest Portland (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/10/landscaper_electrocuted_in_sou.html

Cost of Service Increasing for Cascade Natural Gas Customers (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/23832516/service-increasing-for-cascade-natural-gas-co-customers

Avista Natural Gas Customers’ Bills to Rise (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/oct/31/avista-natural-gas-customers-bills-to-rise/

Iconic Greenpeace Ship Delivers Anti-Coal Message to Longview (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/iconic-greenpeace-ship-delivers-anti-coal-message-to-longview/article_1f9e4a92-41b7-11e3-9977-0019bb2963f4.html

Bellingham: The Future of a Big Coal-Export Project Will Be Decided By This Small Washington Community (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/news/the-future-of-a-big-coal-export-project-will-be-decided-by-this-small-washington-community/

$1.2 Billion Canada-U-S Hydropower line proposed - Privately financed project would go from Quebec & under Lake Champlain (Burlington Free Press, VT)

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20131030/NEWS07/310300024/Firm-proposes-1-2B-hydropower-line-from-Quebec-Vermont

New Mexico: Kit Carson Electric Warns of Fraudulent Calls (Taos News, NM)

http://www.taosnews.com/news/article_949985c2-41a9-11e3-8f30-001a4bcf887a.html

Consumers Elect Cooperatives for Most Affordable, Reliable Utility Services (Agri-View)

http://www.agriview.com/news/regional/consumers-elect-cooperatives-for-most-affordable-reliable-utility-services/article_06e67c12-9c0b-5b89-8793-2cee617af9c8.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

U-S Representative Herrera Beutler Signs on to Salmon Habitat Bill (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/oct/31/herrera-beutler-signs-salmon-habitat-bill/

Unregulated Bumblebee Trade Threatens Bumblebees (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/politics/unregulated-bumblebee-trade-threatens-bumblebees/

Diverse Push for Salal Permits on Olympic Peninsula (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20131031/NEWS/310319997/diverse-push-for-salal-permits-on-peninsula

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

River Fluctuations Expected through Winter around Rocky Reach Dam on Columbia River (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/oct/30/river-fluctuations-expected-through-winter-around-rocky-reach-dam/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

U-S Senators Propose National Renewable Electricity Standard (Renew Grid)

http://www.renewgridmag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10476

Arizona Commissioner Probes Utility’s Secret Funding Of Anti-Solar Campaign (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/arizona-solar-net-metering_n_4181871.html

How Solar Power is Lighting up Business in Rural East Africa (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2013/1025/How-solar-power-is-lighting-up-business-in-rural-East-Africa

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New Regs for Thursday: Energy Conservation Rules Extend to Wine Chillers (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/pending-regs/188641-new-regs-for-thursday-energy-conservation-rules-extend-to-wine

Vampire Slaying & More: NRDC’s Halloween Energy Survival Guide (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/nrdcswitchboard/294131/vampire-slaying-and-more-nrdcs-halloween-energy-survival-guide

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Earth’s Oceans Warming at an Alarming Rate (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/10/31/global-warming-pacific-ocean/3324251/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tracking a Building’s Carbon Footprint Harder Than You Might Think (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/investigators/Tracking-a-buildings-carbon-footprint-harder-than-you-might-think-229998111.html

New Products: Power Pot Converts Heat to Electric Power (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2013/10/26/new-products-power-pot-generator-weather-station/3144581/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State Completes Installation Of 1,600-Mile, $140 Million Broadband Network for Rural Areas (GeekWire)

http://www.geekwire.com/2013/washington-installs-1600mile-broadband-network-rural-areas/

Tacoma’s NoaNet Helps State Finish “Broadband Highway” (South Sound Business Examiner, WA)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/October-2013/Tacomas-NoaNet-helps-state-finish-broadband-highway/

U-S Broadband Adoption Goal Remains Elusive Despite Government’s Assistance (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bna.com/us-broadband-adoption-n17179879680/

Report: NSA Broke Into Yahoo, Google Data Centers (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/national/Report-NSA-broke-into-Yahoo-Google-data-centers-229899281.html

A Tale of Two Internets of Things: Connectivity Will Invade Your Home & Office in Different Ways (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/10/30/a-tale-of-two-internets-of-things-connectivity-will-invade-your-home-and-office-in-different-ways/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Study Finds Women Are More Addicted to Smartphones than Men (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/10/30/study-finds-women-are-more-addicted-to-smartphones-than-men/#axzz2jJWBA7Ij

Yes, Twitter is Flawed during an Event like the Boston Bombings; And So Is Everything Else (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/10/26/yes-twitter-is-flawed-during-an-event-like-the-boston-bombings-and-so-is-everything-else/

GENERAL NEWS

Aviation Expert Says Boeing Is Using ‘Economic Blackmail’ Against Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2384402

Doug Reed: Green Diamond Forest Products Firm Names New President (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2013/10/30/green-diamond-timberlands-firm-names.html

Neutral Weather Season Could Mean Pineapple Express (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2383849

FAA OKs Air Passengers Using Gadgets on Planes (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/ap/top-news/faa-oks-air-passengers-using-gadgets-on-planes/nbdNx/

Thirsty? There’s a Global Wine Shortage (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/10/30/thirsty-theres-a-global-wine-shortage/

Oregon’s Exploding-Whale Engineer George Thornton Has Died At Age 84 (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/10/george_thornton_the_odot_engin.html#cmpid=nwsltrhead

Thieves Stealing Baby Formula, But Not to Feed Children (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/10/31/thieves-stealing-baby-formula-but-not-to-feed-children/#axzz2jJWBA7Ij

DIVERSIONS

170 Years of Music Player History in One Glorious Chart

http://gizmodo.com/170-years-of-music-player-history-in-one-glorious-chart-1454256580

Odor from Los Angeles Sriracha Chili Plant a Nuisance

http://www.kgw.com/news/229647121.html

Uber Will Deliver You Kittens RIGHT NOW. (If you live in Seattle or San Francisco.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/10/29/uber-will-deliver-you-kittens-right-now-if-you-live-in-seattle-or-san-francisco/?wprss=rss_technology

‘No Herb Is Safe:’ Portland’s Urban Gardeners Say Chefs Won’t Stop Stealing Their Crops

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/29/no-herb-is-safe-portlands-urban-gardeners-cant-keep-chefs-from-stealing-their-crops/

SONG OF THE DAY

The O’Jays - I Love Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl3Oty_YwvM

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.