Energy News Digest for December 11, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 11, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ogflenl

High Wind Warning

http://tinyurl.com/q2l5bgl

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

High Wind Warnings in Effect as Windstorm Looms This Evening (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/High-Wind-Warnings-in-effect-as-windstorm-looms-this-evening-285514841.html

Yakama Nation Files Lawsuit against Army Corps Over River Cleanup (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2735963-8/yakama-nation-files-lawsuit-against-army-corps-over

Higher Phone Bills to Pay for High-Speed Internet at Schools (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27117371/higher-phone-bills-pay-high-speed-internet-at?source=rss

Washington State Utilities & Transportation Commission Wants to Test By-The-Mile Road Tax (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/11/washington-commission-wants-test-mile-road-tax/

Should Homeowners with Solar Panels Pay to Maintain Electrical Grid? (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2014/12/11/370022556/solar-storm-rooftop-panels-spark-fights-between-utilities-startups

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Seven Tips to Prepare for High Wind Storm, Power Outage
2. Magid: How to Keep Your Gadgets Running During a Power Outage
3. Clallam PUD Readies for Increase in Utility Rates - Informational Meetings Scheduled
4. FERC Plans Conferences on EPA Clean Power Plan
5. Ontario: Smart Meters Have Few Benefits for Big Costs: AG Report
6. Electric, Gas Industries Still Can’t Agree on When the Day Starts
7. Senate Confirms Two Tennessee Valley Authority Nominees
8. Yakama Nation Files Lawsuit against Army Corps Over River Cleanup
9. Sturgeon Population Slowly Improving in Lower Columbia
10. Flap over Sage Grouse Spurs Congress to Intervene
11. Should Homeowners with Solar Panels Pay to Maintain Electrical Grid?
12. Poll: Oregonians of All Stripes Support Renewable Energy
13. How Utilities Can Design Demand Response & Efficiency Programs to Boost Customer Engagement
14. Report: Feds Gathering Evidence against Cannabis Companies
15. ‘Bad Actors’ in Medical Marijuana to be Weeded Out, Seattle Official Says
16. Higher Phone Bills to Pay for High-Speed Internet at Schools
17. Douglas PUD Reduces Fiber Hook-Up Rate
18. Your Internet Access Will be Tax-Free for Another Year, at Least
19. CenturyLink’s New Gigabit Internet Service: Where It Is (Map), What It Costs
20. Washington State Utilities & Transportation Commission Wants to Test By-The-Mile Road Tax
21. High Wind Warnings in Effect as Windstorm Looms This Evening
22. Big Wind Tonight
23. Homeowners Prepare for Power Outages, Tree Damage in Pacific NW Storm
24. Bay Area Storm: Flash Flood Warnings, Tree Injures Child, Thousands without Power
25. Oregon: Another Earthquake Swarm Rattles Lakeview Area
26. Thief Strips Wiring from Kelso’s Stan Rister Stadium Lights
27. What Is an Atmospheric River?

WORD OF THE DAY

Phalanx • \FAY-lanks\ • noun – 1: a body of heavily armed infantry in ancient Greece formed in close deep ranks and files; broadly: a body of troops in close array 2 plural phalanges: one of the digital bones of the hand or foot of a vertebrate 3: a massed arrangement of persons, animals, or things: an organized body of persons

The Amish space heater salesman strode into the room, head held high, surrounded by his phalanx of high-priced Philadelphia lawyers. One could not imagine a more impressive sight, until a small child squeaked, “Mamma look, that man has no clothes!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Seven Tips to Prepare for High Wind Storm, Power Outage (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2014/12/11/7-tips-prepare-high-wind-storm-power-outage/

Magid: How to Keep Your Gadgets Running During a Power Outage (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/larry-magid/ci_27116691/magid-how-keep-your-gadgets-running-during-power?source=rss

Clallam PUD Readies for Increase in Utility Rates - Informational Meetings Scheduled (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/285406071.html

FERC Plans Conferences on EPA Clean Power Plan (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-plans-conferences-on-epa-clean-power-plan/342703/

Ontario: Smart Meters Have Few Benefits for Big Costs: AG Report (Toronto Star, Ontario)

http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/12/09/smart_meters_have_few_benefits_for_big_costs_ag_report.html

Electric, Gas Industries Still Can’t Agree on When the Day Starts (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/electric-gas-industries-still-cant-agree-on-when-the-day-starts/342577/

Senate Confirms Two Tennessee Valley Authority Nominees (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/senate-confirms-2-tva-nominees/342609/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Yakama Nation Files Lawsuit against Army Corps Over River Cleanup (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2735963-8/yakama-nation-files-lawsuit-against-army-corps-over

Sturgeon Population Slowly Improving in Lower Columbia (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/dec/11/sturgeon-population-slowly-improving-lower-columbi/

Flap over Sage Grouse Spurs Congress to Intervene (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/energy/article/Flap-over-sage-grouse-spurs-Congress-to-intervene-5949554.php

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Should Homeowners with Solar Panels Pay to Maintain Electrical Grid? (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2014/12/11/370022556/solar-storm-rooftop-panels-spark-fights-between-utilities-startups

Poll: Oregonians of All Stripes Support Renewable Energy (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/12/poll-oregonians-of-all-stripes-support-renewable.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

How Utilities Can Design Demand Response & Efficiency Programs to Boost Customer Engagement (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-utilities-can-design-dr-and-efficiency-programs-to-boost-customer-engag/342289/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Report: Feds Gathering Evidence against Cannabis Companies (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/report-feds-gathering-evidence-against-cannabis-companies/

‘Bad Actors’ in Medical Marijuana to be Weeded Out, Seattle Official Says (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2014/12/10/bad-actors-in-medical-marijuana-to-be-weeded-out.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Higher Phone Bills to Pay for High-Speed Internet at Schools (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27117371/higher-phone-bills-pay-high-speed-internet-at?source=rss

Douglas PUD Reduces Fiber Hook-Up Rate (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/jul/18/douglas-pud-drops-fiber-hook-up-rate/

Your Internet Access Will be Tax-Free for Another Year, at Least (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/10/your-internet-access-will-be-tax-free-for-another-year-at-least/

CenturyLink’s New Gigabit Internet Service: Where It Is (Map), What It Costs (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2014/12/centurylink_launches_gigabit_i.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Utilities & Transportation Commission Wants to Test By-The-Mile Road Tax (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/11/washington-commission-wants-test-mile-road-tax/

GENERAL NEWS

High Wind Warnings in Effect as Windstorm Looms This Evening (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/High-Wind-Warnings-in-effect-as-windstorm-looms-this-evening-285514841.html

Big Wind Tonight (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/12/big-wind-tonight.html

Homeowners Prepare for Power Outages, Tree Damage in Pacific NW Storm (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Homeowners-prepare-for-power-outages-285458171.html

Bay Area Storm: Flash Flood Warnings, Tree Injures Child, Thousands without Power (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_27115394/bay-area-storm-north-bay-gets-first-soaking?source=rss

Oregon: Another Earthquake Swarm Rattles Lakeview Area (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/another-earthquake-swarm-rattles-lakeview-area/

Thief Strips Wiring from Kelso’s Stan Rister Stadium Lights (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/thief-strips-wiring-from-stan-rister-stadium-s-lights/article_74e992ba-80ca-11e4-95e9-030754fd5160.html

What Is an Atmospheric River? (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5963868/what-is-an-atmospheric-river

DIVERSIONS

Man Secretly Living above Denver Bar Falls through Ceiling, Gets Stuck in Wall

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national/man-secretly-living-above-denver-bar-falls-through/njPtK/

This Agency Wants You to Become a Christmas Tree by Putting Ornaments in Your Beard

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/agency-wants-you-become-christmas-tree-putting-ornaments-your-beard-161881

I MEANT Mazel Tov – Wisconsin Governor Says ‘Molotov’ in Hanukkah Letter Was Typo

https://news.yahoo.com/walker-says-molotov-hanukkah-letter-typo-162624596.html

Washington State Baby Tips Scales at Nearly 15 Pounds

https://news.yahoo.com/washington-baby-tips-scales-nearly-15-pounds-234934807.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Where’s your emergency kit?

The Temptations - Get Ready

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ZoBTp1mig

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 December 10, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 10, 2014

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Shelton&state=WA&site=SEW&lat=47.2389&lon=-123.206#.VIiZPDHF98E

High Wind Watch for Western Washington State

http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WA12517DACBA94.HighWindWatch.12517DCA4960WA.SEWNPWSEW.60925fdc1a070a8def75a4f068e7fbc1

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

High Winds Could Bring 70 Mph Gusts to Puget Sound Region (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2665015/High-winds-could-bring-70-mph-gusts-to-Puget-Sound-region

Wanapum Dam Stable after Reservoir Hits Elevation Target (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025199815_wanapumdamxml.html?syndication=rss

Google Fiber Could Be Snared by Thorny Oregon Tax Law (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2014/12/google_fiber_could_be_snared_b.html

Nippon Mill’s $85 Million Cogeneration Plant in Port Angeles Is Operating - But Not Fully (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20141210/NEWS/312109988/nippon-mills-85-million-cogeneration-plant-is-operating-8212-but

Legal Marijuana Sales in Spokane County Top $1 Million Last Month (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/10/legal-marijuana-sales-in-spokane-county-top-1/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Wanapum Dam Stable after Reservoir Hits Elevation Target
2. Scammers Target Utility & Phone Customers
3. Cowlitz PUD Budget Gets Green Light with Potential Rate Increase Looming
4. Northeast U-S: National Grid Joins Canadian Hydropower Rush
5. Iowa Lawmaker Wants to Expand His State’s Hydropower
6. NRECA Seeks Fair Treatment in Tribal Rights of Way
7. Cowlitz PUD Staffer Wins State Award for Columbia River Rescue
8. Film ‘DamNation’ Takes Broad View with Elwha River Restoration; Showing Set Friday in Port Angeles
9. With Future Uncertain, Colorado Shields Its Water
10. Nippon Mill’s $85 Million Cogeneration Plant in Port Angeles Is Operating - But Not Fully
11. Michigan: Can Burning Tires Be Called Renewable Energy?
12. Accenture: Distributed Generation Could Slash Utility Revenues $48 Billion
13. News Release: Pacific Northwest Utilities Help Bring Game-Changing Water Heating Technology to Region
14. Portland General Electric: Smart Power in Store for Future
15. Truckee PUD Giving Away Free LED Holiday Lights for Customers
16. Legal Marijuana Sales in Spokane County Top $1 Million Last Month
17. Washington State Marijuana Industry Racks Up Dozens of Violations
18. Recreational Marijuana Approved for 2016 Ballot in Nevada
19. Oregon Marijuana Getting Shipped by U-S Mail
20. Editorial: British Columbia Must Not Undo Low-Carbon-Fuel Standards
21. Michigan: Dairy Farm Will Generate Electricity Instead of Smells with $8 Million Anaerobic Digester
22. Google Fiber Could Be Snared by Thorny Oregon Tax Law
23. Fifty U-S Cities Bond Together to Home-Grow Broadband
24. Comcast on Home Wi-Fi Lawsuit: Customers Get “Real Benefits”
25. How Cheap Does the Internet Have to Be to Get Everyone Online?
26. Instagram Is Now Bigger Than Twitter with 300 Million Monthly Users
27. New Everett Logo a Very Close Match to National Financial Company
28. Nine Marketing Mistakes That Make You Look Like a Rookie
29. Washington State Governor Likely to Propose Robust Tax Package
30. Washington State Senate Republicans End Committee Power Sharing with Democrats
31. From Marijuana to Islamic State: Five Things Addressed in New U-S Congressional Budget Deal
32. High Winds Could Bring 70 Mph Gusts to Puget Sound Region
33. New Storm Today, A Bigger One Thursday, as Power Outages, Rain, High Winds Rake North Olympic Peninsula
34. Mason County Approves 2015 Budget
35. Amazon to FAA: Let Us Test Drones in Washington State or We’ll Test Them Outside of U-S

WORD OF THE DAY

Inviolable• \in-VYE-uh-luh-bul\ • adjective – 1: secure from violation or profanation *2: secure from assault or trespass: unassailable

Gaston was horrified by his morning discovery. He though that his seven-foot fence around his prize rose bushes would make them inviolable to deer. It was a foolproof solution he thought. Until he discovered that fools are quite ingenious. The deer had apparently created a “deer pyramid” to get over the fence. Unfortunately for them (and fortunately for the local Nimrod Club) the wily ruminants had not figured how to get out again after wreaking their havoc.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wanapum Dam Stable after Reservoir Hits Elevation Target (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025199815_wanapumdamxml.html?syndication=rss

Scammers Target Utility & Phone Customers (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/27586279/scammers-target-utility-and-phone-customers

Cowlitz PUD Budget Gets Green Light with Potential Rate Increase Looming (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/1964a858-801b-11e4-9909-1f8cf21e165d.html

Northeast U-S: National Grid Joins Canadian Hydropower Rush (Boston Globe, MA)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/12/09/national-grid-joins-hydropower-rush/uGYjbpe3wUFSNqLKLDLRlN/story.html

Iowa Lawmaker Wants to Expand His State’s Hydropower (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/iowa-lawmaker-wants-to-expand-states-hydro-power/342167/

NRECA Seeks Fair Treatment in Tribal Rights of Way (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/regulatory-watch/power-regulation/nreca-seeks-fair-treatment-in-tribal-rights-of-way/76003

Cowlitz PUD Staffer Wins State Award for Columbia River Rescue (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-staffer-wins-award-for-columbia-river-rescue/article_703dd42c-7f46-11e4-8698-7389df72ed35.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Film ‘DamNation’ Takes Broad View with Elwha River Restoration; Showing Set Friday in Port Angeles (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20141210/NEWS/312109997/film-damnation-takes-broad-view-with-elwha-river-restoration

With Future Uncertain, Colorado Shields Its Water (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/future-uncertain-colorado-shields-water-211013913.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Nippon Mill’s $85 Million Cogeneration Plant in Port Angeles Is Operating - But Not Fully (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20141210/NEWS/312109988/nippon-mills-85-million-cogeneration-plant-is-operating-8212-but

Michigan: Can Burning Tires Be Called Renewable Energy? (Detroit Free Press, MI)

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2014/12/09/renewable-energy-pollution-tire-burning-pet-coke/20160903/

Accenture: Distributed Generation Could Slash Utility Revenues $48 Billion (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/accenture-distributed-generation-could-slash-utility-revenues-48b/341609/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

News Release: Pacific Northwest Utilities Help Bring Game-Changing Water Heating Technology to Region (BusinessWire)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/northwest-utilities-help-bring-game-170100282.html

Portland General Electric: Smart Power in Store for Future (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/PGE-Smart-power-in-store-for-future.aspx

Truckee PUD Giving Away Free LED Holiday Lights for Customers (Tahoe Daily Tribune, S Lake Tahoe, CA)

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/northshore/14162042-113/holiday-lights-customers-energy

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Legal Marijuana Sales in Spokane County Top $1 Million Last Month (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/10/legal-marijuana-sales-in-spokane-county-top-1/

Washington State Marijuana Industry Racks Up Dozens of Violations (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/27589353/washington-marijuana-industry-racks-up-dozens-of-violations

Recreational Marijuana Approved for 2016 Ballot in Nevada (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/recreational-marijuana-approved-for-2016-ballot-in-nevada/

Oregon Marijuana Getting Shipped by U-S Mail (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/special-reports/2014/12/08/oregon-marijuana-shipped-us-mail/20119361/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Editorial: British Columbia Must Not Undo Low-Carbon-Fuel Standards (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-must-not-undo-low-carbon-fuel-standards/article21999531/?cmpid=rss1

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Michigan: Dairy Farm Will Generate Electricity Instead of Smells with $8 Million Anaerobic Digester (Michigan Live Media Group)

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2014/12/farm_will_generate_electricity.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Fiber Could Be Snared by Thorny Oregon Tax Law (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2014/12/google_fiber_could_be_snared_b.html

Fifty U-S Cities Bond Together to Home-Grow Broadband – Includes Vancouver, WA – Sandy, Portland, Gresham, OR – Ammon, ID (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/09/cities-team-up-to-figure-out-broadband/

Comcast on Home Wi-Fi Lawsuit: Customers Get “Real Benefits” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/techchron/2014/12/10/comcast-on-home-wi-fi-lawsuit-customers-get-real-benefits/

How Cheap Does the Internet Have to Be to Get Everyone Online? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/10/how-cheap-does-the-internet-have-to-be-to-get-everyone-online/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram Is Now Bigger Than Twitter with 300 Million Monthly Users (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/instagram-now-bigger-twitter-300-million-monthly-users-161869

New Everett Logo a Very Close Match to National Financial Company (My Everett News, WA)

http://myeverettnews.com/2014/12/09/new-everett-logo-close-match-national-financial-company/

Nine Marketing Mistakes That Make You Look Like a Rookie (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2014/12/04/rookie-marketing-mistakes/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor Likely to Propose Robust Tax Package (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/washington-governor-likely-propose-robust-tax-package

Washington State Senate Republicans End Committee Power Sharing with Democrats (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/12/09/3533414_senate-republicans-end-committee.html?sp=/99/289/&rh=1

From Marijuana to Islamic State: Five Things Addressed in New U-S Congressional Budget Deal (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2014/1210/From-marijuana-to-Islamic-State-five-things-addressed-in-new-budget-deal

GENERAL NEWS

High Winds Could Bring 70 Mph Gusts to Puget Sound Region (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2665015/High-winds-could-bring-70-mph-gusts-to-Puget-Sound-region

New Storm Today, A Bigger One Thursday, as Power Outages, Rain, High Winds Rake North Olympic Peninsula (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20141210/NEWS/312109989/new-storm-today-and-a-bigger-one-thursday-as-power

Mason County Approves 2015 Budget (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/13964

Amazon to FAA: Let Us Test Drones in Washington State or We’ll Test Them Outside of U-S (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2014/12/amazon-to-faa-let-us-test-drones-in-washington.html

DIVERSIONS

18 Most Annoying Things an Airline Passenger Can Do

http://q13fox.com/2014/12/09/18-most-annoying-things-an-airline-passenger-can-do/

The Best U-S Cities for People 35 & Under

http://gizmodo.com/the-best-u-s-cities-for-people-35-and-under-1668556047

Seven Wonders of the Modern World

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/the_back_end/2014/10/the_new_seven_wonders_defining_the_top_technological_marvels_of_the_contemporary.html

Longview’s Nutty Narrows Bridge Makes National Register of Historic Places

http://tdn.com/news/local/longview-s-nutty-narrows-bridge-makes-national-register-of-historic/article_44cf5252-7fe6-11e4-90d4-033eb00e1793.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Fleetwood Mac - Seven Wonders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nddCuDx1kUg

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 December 9, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 9, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/l9jnnkj

Special Weather Statement for Mason County

http://tinyurl.com/pe3lgnw

Is a Major Windstorm Headed for the Pacific Northwest? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/12/is-major-windstorm-headed-for-northwest.html

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Three Storms, Three Threats: Flooding, Strong Winds, Landslides (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Hat-trick-of-storms-to-bring-heavy-rain-flooding-and-strong-winds-285151911.html

The Great Salmon Compromise - The Columbia Basin Fish Accords have funded $1 billion worth of habitat restoration projects, but can they replace free-flowing rivers? (High Country News)

http://www.hcn.org/issues/46.21/the-great-salmon-compromise

Idaho Power Turns to Cloud Seeding to Boost Snowpack (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/07/idaho-power-turns-to-cloud-seeding-to-boost/

What’s Up with My Heat Pump? - Powerful Advice: Energy Insights from PUD 3 (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1455

The Cost of Carbon: Tax Would Be ‘A Small Drag’ on Oregon Economy (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/12/the-cost-of-carbon-tax-would-be-a-small-drag-on.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Obama administration to appeal to Supreme Court on FERC Order 745 ruling
2. FERC Nominee Colette Honorable Gets Bipartisan Support at U-S Senate Hearing
3. Clark Public Utilities to Set System Budgets for 2015
4. 2014 Christmas Parade - Mason PUD 3 Wins Second Place in its Division
5. How Utilities Can Prepare for the Bigger, Badder Storms of the Future
6. The Great Salmon Compromise
7. Fund Approved to Help Columbia River Gillnetters When Fishing Rules Change
8. Trout Numbers Declining in the South Fork of the Snake River
9. Avista Studying Long Lake Carp’s Effect on Water Quality
10. Idaho Power Turns to Cloud Seeding to Boost Snowpack
11. SolarWorld Makes Its Case against Asian Competitors
12. Suppliers Criticize Proposed Expansion of Duties on Chinese Solar Panels
13. Tribes Challenge California Mojave Desert Solar Project
14. The Energy Boom You Haven’t Heard About: Wood Pellets
15. Is Renewable Energy Making Money?
16. What’s Up with My Heat Pump? - Powerful Advice: Energy Insights from PUD 3
17. Eight Easy Ways to Save on Your Electricity Bill
18. Marijuana Farmer Finds Takers for His Controversial Donation
19. Marijuana Survey Has Some Eye-Opening Responses
20. Chart of the Week: Percent of U-S Population in States with Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
21. The Cost of Carbon: Tax Would Be ‘A Small Drag’ on Oregon Economy
22. NOAA Throws Cold Water on Idea That Climate Change is to Blame for California’s Record Drought
23. Global Warming to Make European Heat Waves ‘Commonplace’ by 2040s, Study Finds
24. Copenhagen Lighting the Way to Greener, More Efficient Cities
25. As Data Center ‘Halls’ Sit Empty, Washington Casts Wider Net for Tenants
26. Comcast Sued for Turning Home Wi-Fi Routers into Public Hotspots
27. Anheuser-Busch Is Plotting to Win the Super Bowl with Four Social Media Command Rooms
28. Learn How to Block Your Ex & More in Facebook’s Cute, Quirky Tutorial Videos
29. ‘Women Laughing Alone With Tablets’ Is the New ‘Women Laughing Alone With Salad’
30. Washington State House Democrats Ax Three Committees, Add One for Marijuana
31. Three Storms, Three Threats: Flooding, Strong Winds, Landslides
32. Bertha Repair Pit Might Have Caused 30 Seattle Buildings to Sink along With Viaduct
33. Crude Oil Swoons to Five-Year Low, Gas Prices to Follow
34. Washington State Dropping Mandate to Replace License Plates
35. Map: Where Your Christmas Trees Come From

WORD OF THE DAY

Caitiff • \KAY-riff\ • Adjective - Cowardly, despicable

Another fresh sheet of foolscap and Frankie was ready to introduce his third character to his loyal readers. “Ah,” he sighed to his son Bobby. “Now I get to introduce the ‘Caitiff Lion’ to this wonderful story.” The child winced, “c’mon dad, no one knows what that means. Just call ‘im the ‘Cowardly Lion’ and be done with it.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Obama administration to appeal to Supreme Court on FERC Order 745 ruling (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/obama-administration-to-appeal-to-supreme-court-on-ferc-order-745-ruling/341335/

FERC Nominee Colette Honorable Gets Bipartisan Support at U-S Senate Hearing (RTO Insider)

http://www.rtoinsider.com/ferc-colette-honorable-11370/

Clark Public Utilities to Set System Budgets for 2015 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/dec/08/clark-public-utilities-set-system-budgets-2015/

2014 Christmas Parade - Mason PUD 3 Wins Second Place in its Division (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1454

How Utilities Can Prepare for the Bigger, Badder Storms of the Future (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-utilities-can-prepare-for-the-bigger-badder-storms-of-the-future/341630/

FISH & WILDLIFE

The Great Salmon Compromise - The Columbia Basin Fish Accords have funded $1 billion worth of habitat restoration projects, but can they replace free-flowing rivers? (High Country News)

http://www.hcn.org/issues/46.21/the-great-salmon-compromise

Fund Approved to Help Columbia River Gillnetters When Fishing Rules Change (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.earthfix.info/communities/article/fund-approved-to-help-columbia-river-gillnetters-w/

Trout Numbers Declining in the South Fork of the Snake River (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/12/04/3522423_south-fork-snakes-trout-in-decline.html?rh=1

Avista Studying Long Lake Carp’s Effect on Water Quality (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/09/avista-studying-long-lake-carps-effect-on-water/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Idaho Power Turns to Cloud Seeding to Boost Snowpack (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/07/idaho-power-turns-to-cloud-seeding-to-boost/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SolarWorld Makes Its Case against Asian Competitors (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/12/solarworld-makes-its-case-against-asian.html

Suppliers Criticize Proposed Expansion of Duties on Chinese Solar Panels (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/suppliers_criticize_proposed_expansion_of_duties_on_chinese_solar_panels.html

Tribes Challenge California Mojave Desert Solar Project (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/12/08/tribes-challenge-california-solar-project.htm

The Energy Boom You Haven’t Heard About: Wood Pellets (National Geographic Magazine)

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/energy/2014/12/141208-wood-pellet-energy-boom-driven-by-exports/

Is Renewable Energy Making Money? (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/trends-reports-analyses/is-renewable-energy-making-money/76142

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

What’s Up with My Heat Pump? - Powerful Advice: Energy Insights from PUD 3 (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1455

Eight Easy Ways to Save on Your Electricity Bill (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/27542557/8-easy-ways-to-save-on-your-electricity-bill

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Farmer Finds Takers for His Controversial Donation (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2730686-8/marijuana-farmer-finds-takers-for-his-controversial-donation

Marijuana Survey Has Some Eye-Opening Responses (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2730899-8/marijuana-survey-has-some-eye-opening-responses

Chart of the Week: Percent of U-S Population in States with Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/chart-of-the-week-percent-of-u-s-population-in-states-with-mmj-dispensaries/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Cost of Carbon: Tax Would Be ‘A Small Drag’ on Oregon Economy (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/12/the-cost-of-carbon-tax-would-be-a-small-drag-on.html

NOAA Throws Cold Water on Idea That Climate Change is to Blame for California’s Record Drought “…natural variations…mostly a La Nina weather oscillation…” (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/science/news/articles/2014/12/08/feds-dont-blame-california-drought-on-warming

Global Warming to Make European Heat Waves ‘Commonplace’ by 2040s, Study Finds (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/world/europe/global-warming-to-make-european-heat-waves-commonplace-by-2040s-study-finds.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Copenhagen Lighting the Way to Greener, More Efficient Cities (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/business/energy-environment/copenhagen-lighting-the-way-to-greener-more-effecient-cities.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

As Data Center ‘Halls’ Sit Empty, Washington Casts Wider Net for Tenants (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/data-center-halls-sit-empty-washington-casts-wider-net-tenants

Comcast Sued for Turning Home Wi-Fi Routers into Public Hotspots (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Comcast-sued-for-turning-home-Wi-Fi-routers-into-5943750.php

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Anheuser-Busch Is Plotting to Win the Super Bowl with Four Social Media Command Rooms (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/anheuser-busch-plotting-win-super-bowl-four-social-media-command-rooms-161826

Learn How to Block Your Ex & More in Facebook’s Cute, Quirky Tutorial Videos (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/learn-how-block-your-ex-and-more-facebooks-cute-quirky-tutorial-videos-161834

‘Women Laughing Alone With Tablets’ Is the New ‘Women Laughing Alone With Salad’ (TIME Magazine)

http://time.com/3624276/women-laughing-alone-with-salad-tablets/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State House Democrats Ax Three Committees, Add One for Marijuana (Everett Herald, WA)

http://m.heraldnet.com/heraldnet/db/285569/content/lYh2Cnup

GENERAL NEWS

Three Storms, Three Threats: Flooding, Strong Winds, Landslides (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Hat-trick-of-storms-to-bring-heavy-rain-flooding-and-strong-winds-285151911.html

Bertha Repair Pit Might Have Caused 30 Seattle Buildings to Sink along With Viaduct (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/bertha-repair-pit-might-have-caused-30-buildings-s/njN65/

Crude Oil Swoons to Five-Year Low, Gas Prices to Follow (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/12/08/crude-oil-swoons-to-new-five-year-low-gas-prices-to-follow/20095541/

Washington State Dropping Mandate to Replace License Plates (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/08/washington-dropping-mandate-to-replace-license/

Map: Where Your Christmas Trees Come From (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/08/map-where-your-christmas-trees-come-from/

DIVERSIONS

TGI Friday’s Dumb Mistletoe Drone Cut Somebody’s Face Open

http://gizmodo.com/tgi-fridays-dumb-mistletoe-drone-cut-sombodys-face-open-1668233262

Roof Experts Say Pigeon Poop Problem Grows in Fairbanks; Excrement Damages Metals, Sealants

http://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2014/12/08/pigeon-dung-problem-grows-in-fairbanks

Korean Air Exec Resigns after Ordering Crew Member Off the Plane for Serving Nuts Improperly

http://consumerist.com/2014/12/09/korean-air-exec-resigns-after-ordering-crew-member-off-the-plane-for-serving-nuts-improperly/

Photos Saved from Underwater Camera Lost in Cuba for Two Years

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/photos-saved-from-underwater-camera-lost-in-cuba-for-2-years-1.2865215?cmp=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

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

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.