Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Energy News Digest for March 18, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 18, 2015

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Grant PUD Nearly Finished with Repairs at Wanapum Dam (iFiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

Power Restored - Tahuya Emergency Outage – To Replace High Voltage Power Pole along SR 3 Sheared by Belfair Traffic Accident (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Oregon Biomass Electricity Plant Effort Seeks Energy Buyer (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Jefferson PUD Won’t Say No to Selling Electricity to Pot Growers (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Fish-Eating Birds Reluctant to Flee Columbia River Enclave (Electric Co-op Today)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. Grant PUD Nearly Finished with Repairs at Wanapum Dam
  2. Power Restored - Tahuya Emergency Outage – To Replace High Voltage Power Pole along SR 3 Sheared by Belfair Traffic Accident
  3. Tacoma Council to Consider Rate Hikes for Water, Power Utility
  4. Bonneville Power Administration Pushes for Pacific Northwest Imbalance Market
  5. Environmental Groups Urge North Carolina Regulators to Reject Utility Smart Grid Plans
  6. Electric & Water Utilities Are Quickly Adapting New Telecom Networks
  7. Dan Poneman in the Spotlight: Ex-Energy Official’s $1.7 Million Gig Draws Fire
  8. Chernobyl: Containing the World’s Worst Nuclear Accident
  9. Fish-Eating Birds Reluctant to Flee Columbia River Enclave
  10. Coho Fry Lost after Equipment Fails at Kalama Falls Hatchery
  11. As Sections of Oregon Remain Bone Dry, Governor Declares Emergency
  12. As California Drought Enters 4th Year, Conservation Efforts & Worries Increase
  13. Oregon Biomass Electricity Plant Effort Seeks Energy Buyer
  14. Citizens Utility Board to Portland General Electric: Wisconsin Is Bad Model for Rooftop Solar Battle
  15. Greens Fight Giant Solar Farm in Southern California
  16. Target Planning to Install Solar Energy Systems on 180 U-S Buildings
  17. Outlook for Solar Gets a Bit Brighter
  18. Bribing Bloggers with Free Solar Panels Is Apparently a Thing Now
  19. Green Planet Door-to-Door Furnace Salesman Accused of Cheating Toronto Senior
  20. Jefferson PUD Won’t Say No to Selling Electricity to Pot Growers
  21. On Marijuana, Obama Is Content to Evolve Rather Than to Lead the Way
  22. Pacific Ocean May Become Warmer, Less Productive, NOAA Warns
  23. Tax Cuts for Google Fiber, Comcast & Data Centers Encounter Skeptics in Oregon House
  24. Montana Lawmakers Consider Bonds for Rural Broadband Expansion
  25. The Clouds Are Growing in Seattle: Amazon Acquires ‘Internet of Things’ Company
  26. Idaho Official Resigns after Failed Broadband Contract
  27. Electric Co-ops Win FCC Funds for High-Speed Internet
  28. Congress Scrutinizes FCC Following Release of New Internet Rules
  29. With the Death of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Faces One of Its Greatest Branding Challenges
  30. Facebook to Let Users Send Money to Friends via Messenger
  31. How to Craft Headlines That Draw People to Your Content
  32. Scott Walker Aide Fires Off Epic 40-Tweet Tweetstorm after Resigning Following Just One Day on the Job
  33. Bill Would Withhold Money from Washington State Districts That Don’t File Reports
  34. Video: Most Elected State Officials Get Record Training
  35. Zombie Lobby Descends on Washington State Capitol
  36. Congressman Aaron Schock’s Resignation: Did ‘Downton Abbey’ Tastes Do Him In?
  37. Mason County Man Claims He Accidentally Shot Wife While Cleaning Weapon
  38. Fatal Car Crash Tuesday into Hood Canal near Potlatch
  39. Premera Says Cyberattack Could Affect 11-Million People
  40. Quinault Tribe Settles Lawsuit with Three Districts, Including Mary M. Knight
  41. Machinists Defy Government Opposition, Move Closer to Unionizing Boeing’s South Carolina Plant
  42. Severe Solar Storm Bathes Northern Skies in Dazzling Green Auroras
WORD OF THE DAY

Tendentious • \ten-DEN-shus\ • adjective - Marked by a tendency in favor of a particular point of view: biased

Yankees, Lakers, Cowboys – the big sports media seem to have a tendentious fascination with the foibles and successes of each of these franchises. Franchises which funnel tons o’ bucks into the gaping maw of the marketing machine and its beneficiaries.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grant PUD Nearly Finished with Repairs at Wanapum Dam (iFiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

Power Restored - Tahuya Emergency Outage – To Replace High Voltage Power Pole along SR 3 Sheared by Belfair Traffic Accident (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Tacoma Council to Consider Rate Hikes for Water, Power Utility (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Bonneville Power Administration Pushes for Pacific Northwest Imbalance Market (Argus Media)

Environmental Groups Urge North Carolina Regulators to Reject Utility Smart Grid Plans (Utility Dive)

Electric & Water Utilities Are Quickly Adapting New Telecom Networks (Breaking Energy)

Dan Poneman in the Spotlight: Ex-Energy Official’s $1.7 Million Gig Draws Fire (Politico)

Chernobyl: Containing the World’s Worst Nuclear Accident (British Broadcasting Corporation)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish-Eating Birds Reluctant to Flee Columbia River Enclave (Electric Co-op Today)

Coho Fry Lost after Equipment Fails at Kalama Falls Hatchery (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

As Sections of Oregon Remain Bone Dry, Governor Declares Emergency (Portland Business Journal, OR)

As California Drought Enters 4th Year, Conservation Efforts & Worries Increase (NY Times)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Biomass Electricity Plant Effort Seeks Energy Buyer (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Citizens Utility Board to Portland General Electric: Wisconsin Is Bad Model for Rooftop Solar Battle (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Greens Fight Giant Solar Farm in Southern California (Courthouse News Service)

Target Planning to Install Solar Energy Systems on 180 U-S Buildings (Bloomberg News)

Outlook for Solar Gets a Bit Brighter (NY Times)

Bribing Bloggers with Free Solar Panels Is Apparently a Thing Now (Grist Online)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Green Planet Door-to-Door Furnace Salesman Accused of Cheating Toronto Senior (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Jefferson PUD Won’t Say No to Selling Electricity to Pot Growers (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

On Marijuana, Obama Is Content to Evolve Rather Than to Lead the Way (Washington Post)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Pacific Ocean May Become Warmer, Less Productive, NOAA Warns (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tax Cuts for Google Fiber, Comcast & Data Centers Encounter Skeptics in Oregon House (Oregonian, Portland)

Montana Lawmakers Consider Bonds for Rural Broadband Expansion (Capital Press)

The Clouds Are Growing in Seattle: Amazon Acquires ‘Internet of Things’ Company (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Idaho Official Resigns after Failed Broadband Contract (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Electric Co-ops Win FCC Funds for High-Speed Internet (Electric Co-op Today)

Congress Scrutinizes FCC Following Release of New Internet Rules (NY Times)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

With the Death of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Faces One of Its Greatest Branding Challenges (AdWeek)

Facebook to Let Users Send Money to Friends via Messenger (Associated Press)

How to Craft Headlines That Draw People to Your Content (Social media Examiner)

Scott Walker Aide Fires Off Epic 40-Tweet Tweetstorm after Resigning Following Just One Day on the Job (Yahoo! News)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Bill Would Withhold Money from Washington State Districts That Don’t File Reports (Everett Herald, WA)

Video: Most Elected State Officials Get Record Training (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Zombie Lobby Descends on Washington State Capitol (Associated Press)

Congressman Aaron Schock’s Resignation: Did ‘Downton Abbey’ Tastes Do Him In? (Christian Science Monitor)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Man Claims He Accidentally Shot Wife While Cleaning Weapon (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Fatal Car Crash Tuesday into Hood Canal near Potlatch (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Premera Says Cyberattack Could Affect 11-Million People (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Quinault Tribe Settles Lawsuit with Three Districts, Including Mary M. Knight (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Machinists Defy Government Opposition, Move Closer to Unionizing Boeing’s South Carolina Plant (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Severe Solar Storm Bathes Northern Skies in Dazzling Green Auroras (Washington Post)

DIVERSIONS

This is Why You Don’t Road Rage on Two Wheels

Bud Light Deletes Tweet Suggesting You Randomly Pinch People for St. Patrick’s Day

Why Old Paper Turns Yellow

Seven Ways That People Died Trying to Become Immortal

SONG OF THE DAY

The Pretenders – Forever Young

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.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Energy News Digest for March 16, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 16, 2015

Deluge & Divine Intervention (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

High Winds, Downed Trees Wreak Havoc in PDX – 71,000 people were without power throughout the day Sunday (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

Growth in Residential Electricity Prices Highest in 6 Years, But Expected to Slow in 2015 (U-S Energy Information Administration)

Editorial: Washington State Senate Bill a Path for Carbon Reduction (Everett Herald, WA)

Pacific Northwest Drought Could Mean Early Salmon Season (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Is Rooftop Solar Under Threat in Oregon? (Portland Business Journal, OR)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. High Winds, Downed Trees Wreak Havoc in PDX – 71,000 People Were without Power throughout the Day Sunday
  2. Some in Clark County Still without Power Today – Rainfall Records Set in Seattle Area
  3. Growth in Residential Electricity Prices Highest in 6 Years, But Expected to Slow in 2015
  4. Pacific Gas & Electric Reports Diablo Canyon Safe against Once-in-10,000 Year Earthquake
  5. Call Before You Dig During California Arbor Week & Every Day
  6. Pacific Northwest Drought Could Mean Early Salmon Season
  7. Anticipated ‘Very Poor’ Spring Chinook Returns to Deschutes River Closes Fishing
  8. Study Looks at Pacific Lamprey That Pass 8 Dams into Snake River Tributaries, Notes Good Habitat
  9. Governor Declares Emergency Drought in Parts of Washington
  10. Pacific Northwest Braces for Drought Because of Record-Low Snowpack
  11. Is Rooftop Solar Under Threat in Oregon?
  12. Report: Arizona Public Service to Propose Higher Rooftop Solar Fees
  13. Washington State Regulators Adopt New Rules for Energy Conservation, Renewables
  14. Think of Solar as a Technology, Not a Fuel
  15. Editorial: California Renewables – Energy Plan Sparks Productive Conversation
  16. KATU Sting Reveals Duct-Cleaning Company’s History of Complaints
  17. Europe’s Ban on ‘Wasteful’ Gadgets – Does It Cost or Save?
  18. Former New Mexico Governor Calls Washington State’s Marijuana Rules ‘Worst-Case Scenario’
  19. Woodland Confronts Marijuana Dilemma – Council Will Try to Make Code Align with Zoning Rules to Permit Businesses
  20. Chart of the Week: First Six Months of Recreational Marijuana Sales in Colorado vs. Washington State
  21. The Grass Ceiling: Once Upon a Time, Weed Was a No-No – Now It’s Your Next 9-to-5
  22. Editorial: Washington State Senate Bill a Path for Carbon Reduction
  23. Seattle’s Silly War on Oil Rigs: Reminder, The City is Also Home to Boeing, The World’s Largest Jet Maker
  24. Emissions by Makers of Energy Level Off
  25. Oregon: Jackson County Protests Human Waste as Fertilizer
  26. Iowa: Fiorina – Phase Out Federal Energy Incentives
  27. Google Fiber Has Just 30,000 Video Subscribers, Analyst Claims
  28. What Net Neutrality Opponents Are Saying Now – And Why It’s a Lot of Hot Air
  29. Oregon: New Ashland Cell Tower Light Angers Neighbors
  30. Google is Pleading with Firefox Users to Stop Using Yahoo
  31. Will the Internet of Things Come of Age in Five Years?
  32. Unconscious Diver Airlifted to Harborview after Hoodsport Area Incident
  33. Shelton Police Looking for Suspect after Finding over $10,000 in Methamphetamine
  34. Finalists Selected for Shelton Superintendent
  35. The Healthiest & Least Healthy Counties in Washington State May Surprise You
  36. Tentative Refinery Strike Settlement Should Help with Gas Prices
  37. Boeing Production Czar Says Planemaker Won’t Repeat Errors
  38. Oregon: Warm Springs Tribes Broke, Seek Federal Inquiry into Finances
WORD OF THE DAY

Rhadamanthine • \rad-uh-MAN-thun\ • Adjective - Rigorously strict or just.

“Flexibility in interpretation be darned,” hooted the old west judge to the unrepentant horse thief. “You may NOT drink yourself to death. The law says ye shall be hanged by the neck until dead.” Since the town already had a “hanging judge,” the literal jurist was known in the tiny Wyoming town as the Rhadamanthine Justice. Only the local newspaper editor knew what that meant. Everyone else thought that it was an east coast town from whence the tough judge came.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

High Winds, Downed Trees Wreak Havoc in PDX – 71,000 people were without power throughout the day Sunday (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

Some in Clark County Still without Power Today – Rainfall records set in Seattle area (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Growth in Residential Electricity Prices Highest in 6 Years, But Expected to Slow in 2015 (U-S Energy Information Administration)

Pacific Gas & Electric Reports Diablo Canyon Safe against Once-in-10,000 Year Earthquake (Utility Dive)

Call Before You Dig During California Arbor Week & Every Day (PG&E Currents, CA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pacific Northwest Drought Could Mean Early Salmon Season (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Anticipated ‘Very Poor’ Spring Chinook Returns to Deschutes River Closes Fishing (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Study Looks at Pacific Lamprey That Pass 8 Dams into Snake River Tributaries, Notes Good Habitat (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Governor Declares Emergency Drought in Parts of Washington (Associated Press)

Pacific Northwest Braces for Drought Because of Record-Low Snowpack (E&E Publishing)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Is Rooftop Solar Under Threat in Oregon? (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Report: Arizona Public Service to Propose Higher Rooftop Solar Fees (Utility Dive)

Washington State Regulators Adopt New Rules for Energy Conservation, Renewables (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Think of Solar as a Technology, Not a Fuel (Electric Co-op Today)

Editorial: California Renewables – Energy Plan Sparks Productive Conversation (Victorville Daily Press, CA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

KATU Sting Reveals Duct-Cleaning Company’s History of Complaints (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Europe’s Ban on ‘Wasteful’ Gadgets – Does It Cost or Save? (The Telegraph, UK)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Former New Mexico Governor Calls Washington State’s Marijuana Rules ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ “…Washington State…screwed it up as bad as they possibly can…” (Oregonian, Portland)

Woodland Confronts Marijuana Dilemma – Council Will Try to Make Code Align with Zoning Rules to Permit Businesses (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Chart of the Week: First Six Months of Recreational Marijuana Sales in Colorado vs. Washington State (Marijuana Business Daily)

The Grass Ceiling: Once Upon a Time, Weed Was a No-No – Now It’s Your Next 9-to-5 (Mashable)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Editorial: Washington State Senate Bill a Path for Carbon Reduction (Everett Herald, WA)

Seattle’s Silly War on Oil Rigs: Reminder, The City is Also Home to Boeing, The World’s Largest Jet Maker (Forbes Magazine)

Emissions by Makers of Energy Level Off “…many nations…promoted energy efficiency & low-carbon energy sources like hydroelectric, solar, wind & nuclear power…” (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon: Jackson County Protests Human Waste as Fertilizer (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

Iowa: Fiorina – Phase Out Federal Energy Incentives (Des Moines Register, IA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Fiber Has Just 30,000 Video Subscribers, Analyst Claims (Oregonian, Portland)

What Net Neutrality Opponents Are Saying Now – And Why It’s a Lot of Hot Air (Consumerist)

Oregon: New Ashland Cell Tower Light Angers Neighbors (Medford Mail Tribune, OR)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Google is Pleading with Firefox Users to Stop Using Yahoo (Business Insider)

Will the Internet of Things Come of Age in Five Years? (AdWeek)

GENERAL NEWS

Unconscious Diver Airlifted to Harborview after Hoodsport Area Incident (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Shelton Police Looking for Suspect after Finding over $10,000 in Methamphetamine (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Finalists Selected for Shelton Superintendent (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

The Healthiest & Least Healthy Counties in Washington State May Surprise You (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Tentative Refinery Strike Settlement Should Help with Gas Prices (Northwest Public Radio)

Boeing Production Czar Says Planemaker Won’t Repeat Errors (Reuters)

Oregon: Warm Springs Tribes Broke, Seek Federal Inquiry into Finances (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Man Wins Lottery Without Knowing It, Loses Ticket, Probably Cries

Knuckle Cracking is Probably Not Dangerous, Just Annoying

Dog Gone It: PETA Cites Dog Cruelty in Calling for End of the Iditarod

Coke a Healthy Snack? How Company Gets Its Message Out

SONG OF THE DAY

The New Seekers – I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing

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.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Energy News Digest for March 13, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 13, 2015

One-Day Heat Wave on Friday (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST BLOG & TWITTER FEED

The news digest is also available at the following web site:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Inslee Cap-&-Trade Bill to Open Legislative Session’s Second Act (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

Wanapum Pool Should Start Refilling within Six Weeks (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

It’s Official: Olympic Mountains – Source of Our Water Supply – In a State of Drought (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Assembly Line Nuclear Reactors Are Quietly Building Steam in the Pacific Northwest (Motherboard)

Your Shower is Wasting Huge Amounts of Energy & Water – Here’s What You Can Do About It (Washington Post)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

  1. Wanapum Pool Should Start Refilling within Six Weeks
  2. Assembly Line Nuclear Reactors Are Quietly Building Steam in the Pacific Northwest
  3. Why the Nuclear Energy World is Thinking Small
  4. Montana Raises Concerns about Washington State Bill to Study Closing Coal Plant
  5. Franklin PUD Names New General Manager
  6. Bonneville Looks to Pour $5 Million toward Energy Entrepreneurs
  7. Cowlitz PUD Approves Cyber Security Policy
  8. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Meet the New Director of the Northwest’s Premier Research Lab
  9. KONP/Clallam PUD Sponsored Home & Lifestyle Show Arrives
  10. Montana: Union Officials – Glencore’s Promises to Reopen Columbia Falls Aluminum Were ‘A Sham’
  11. California PUC Aims to Replace Shuttered Nuclear & Gas with More ‘Preferred Resources’
  12. J.P. Morgan Faces Suit over California Power Market Manipulation Claims
  13. Can’t All Nuclear Just Get on the Same Page?
  14. France’s Nuclear Love Affair Too Strong to Let Areva Fail
  15. Okanogan PUD in Preliminary Talks to Swap Enloe Dam for Fish Habitat
  16. Washington Battling Major Threat to Columbia Salmon – Northern Pike
  17. Starving Sea Lions Washing Ashore by the Hundreds in California
  18. What’s Killing Millions of Starfish on the West Coast?
  19. It’s Official: Olympic Mountains – Source of Our Water Supply – In a State of Drought
  20. How Portlanders May Get to Enjoy Early Spring Now & Avoid Drought Later
  21. Some Kittitas County Residents Express Concern over Plans for Water Storage
  22. Washington State Senate OKs Bill Giving Utilities Option on Renewable Energy
  23. Editorial: Waste-To-Energy Plant at Least as Green as Tiny N-Reactors
  24. Energy Department Releases New Wind Report, Examines Future of Industry
  25. Report: Wind Power Could Be 35% of Supply by 2050
  26. Utilities Wage Campaign against Rooftop Solar
  27. Your Shower is Wasting Huge Amounts of Energy & Water – Here’s What You Can Do About It
  28. How a New Kind of Thermostat Could Lower Home Energy Costs & Help Save the Planet
  29. U-S Senate: Portman, Shaheen Keep Hope Alive on Energy-Efficiency Bill
  30. Survey: Washington State High Schoolers Say Pot is Easy to Get, Not Harmful
  31. Cle Elum Council Bans Marijuana Distribution
  32. Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill to be Introduced in U-S Senate
  33. Global Carbon Emissions Flatlined in 2014 Even as Economy Grew
  34. Study Says Climate Change Will Continue to Pick Up through the Century
  35. No, Cosmic Rays Aren’t Causing Global Warming
  36. Energy Quote of the Day: On Florida’s Climate Change Denial
  37. GM Recalls Chevrolet Volt over Carbon Monoxide
  38. U-S Arctic Envoy Won’t ‘Let It Go’ – He’s Still Talking with Disney to Use Frozen to Teach Climate Change
  39. FCC Sets Net Neutrality Rules
  40. Here Are All 400 Pages of the FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules
  41. Four Steps to Simplify Your Daily Social Media Activities
  42. Child Advocates: Halt Production of ‘Creepy’ Interactive Barbie Doll
  43. Inslee Cap-&-Trade Bill to Open Legislative Session’s Second Act
  44. Commentary: Washington State Senate’s Collision with Science & Climate Change
  45. Washington State Cap-&-Trade: Not Just Smokestacks, But a Broader Tax Based on Energy Consumption
  46. Editorial: Inslee’s Cap & Trade a Bad Idea for Washington State
  47. Oregon Hailed For Making Low-Carbon Fuels the Law
  48. Worker Falls to Death at Seattle’s 520 Bridge
  49. Shelton Group Vows to Keep Fighting to Save Swimming Pool
  50. Belfair Woman Attempts to Help Neighbor, Mistaken for Attempted Abduction
  51. Cowlitz Tribe Casino Plan: ‘It’s Our Homeland’
  52. Vague Email Rules Let Federal Agencies Decide When to Hit Save or Delete
WORD OF THE DAY

Fracas • \FRAKE-uss\ • Noun - A noisy quarrel: brawl

The ornate hall where the national tiddlywinks championships was to have been held that cold, bitter day in January was in shambles. The secretive “Greasy Thumb McGee” doping scandal had leaked to the press overnight in a secretive, dark underground parking garage. The resulting fracas at the opening ceremonies sent fans and participants screaming towards the exit. The only injury was to McGee, who sprained his steroid-enhanced thumb as he tried jabbing it into the eye of his rival, Ben “The Crooked Index” Bartholomew.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wanapum Pool Should Start Refilling within Six Weeks (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Assembly Line Nuclear Reactors Are Quietly Building Steam in the Pacific Northwest (Motherboard)

Why the Nuclear Energy World is Thinking Small (Northwest Public Radio)

Montana Raises Concerns about Washington State Bill to Study Closing Coal Plant (Associated Press)

Franklin PUD Names New General Manager (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Bonneville Looks to Pour $5 Million toward Energy Entrepreneurs (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Cowlitz PUD Approves Cyber Security Policy (Longview Daily News, WA)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Meet the New Director of the Northwest’s Premier Research Lab (Portland Business Journal, OR)

KONP/Clallam PUD Sponsored Home & Lifestyle Show Arrives (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Montana: Union Officials – Glencore’s Promises to Reopen Columbia Falls Aluminum Were ‘A Sham’ (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

California PUC Aims to Replace Shuttered Nuclear & Gas with More ‘Preferred Resources’ – renewable energy, efficiency measures, demand response, & energy storage (Breaking Energy)

J.P. Morgan Faces Suit over California Power Market Manipulation Claims (Reuters)

Can’t All Nuclear Just Get on the Same Page? (Forbes Magazine)

France’s Nuclear Love Affair Too Strong to Let Areva Fail (Reuters)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Okanogan PUD in Preliminary Talks to Swap Enloe Dam for Fish Habitat (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

Washington Battling Major Threat to Columbia Salmon – Northern Pike (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

Starving Sea Lions Washing Ashore by the Hundreds in California (NY Times)

What’s Killing Millions of Starfish on the West Coast? (Tri-City Herald, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

It’s Official: Olympic Mountains – Source of Our Water Supply – In a State of Drought (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

How Portlanders May Get to Enjoy Early Spring Now & Avoid Drought Later (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Some Kittitas County Residents Express Concern over Plans for Water Storage (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Washington State Senate OKs Bill Giving Utilities Option on Renewable Energy (Associated Press)

Editorial: Waste-To-Energy Plant at Least as Green as Tiny N-Reactors (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Energy Department Releases New Wind Report, Examines Future of Industry (Breaking Energy)

Report: Wind Power Could Be 35% of Supply by 2050 (USA Today)

Utilities Wage Campaign against Rooftop Solar (Washington Post)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Your Shower is Wasting Huge Amounts of Energy & Water – Here’s What You Can Do About It (Washington Post)

How a New Kind of Thermostat Could Lower Home Energy Costs & Help Save the Planet (Oregonian, Portland)

U-S Senate: Portman, Shaheen Keep Hope Alive on Energy-Efficiency Bill (National Journal)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Survey: Washington State High Schoolers Say Pot is Easy to Get, Not Harmful (Associated Press)

Cle Elum Council Bans Marijuana Distribution (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill to be Introduced in U-S Senate (Marijuana Business Daily)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Global Carbon Emissions Flatlined in 2014 Even as Economy Grew (TIME Magazine)

Study Says Climate Change Will Continue to Pick Up through the Century (NBC News)

No, Cosmic Rays Aren’t Causing Global Warming (Washington Post)

Energy Quote of the Day: On Florida’s Climate Change Denial (Breaking Energy)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

GM Recalls Chevrolet Volt over Carbon Monoxide (USA Today)

U-S Arctic Envoy Won’t ‘Let It Go’ - He’s Still Talking with Disney to Use Frozen to Teach Climate Change (National Journal)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Sets Net Neutrality Rules (NY Times)

Here Are All 400 Pages of the FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules (Washington Post)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Four Steps to Simplify Your Daily Social Media Activities (Social Media Examiner)

Child Advocates: Halt Production of ‘Creepy’ Interactive Barbie Doll (Tri-City Herald, WA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Inslee Cap-&-Trade Bill to Open Legislative Session’s Second Act (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

Commentary: Washington State Senate’s Collision with Science & Climate Change (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Washington State Cap-&-Trade: Not Just Smokestacks, But a Broader Tax Based on Energy Consumption – Budget Committee Hearing Puts Revenue Sources in Sharper Focus (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

Editorial: Inslee’s Cap & Trade a Bad Idea for Washington State (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Oregon Hailed For Making Low-Carbon Fuels the Law (Portland Business Journal, OR)

GENERAL NEWS

Worker Falls to Death at Seattle’s 520 Bridge (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

Shelton Group Vows to Keep Fighting to Save Swimming Pool (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Belfair Woman Attempts to Help Neighbor, Mistaken for Attempted Abduction (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Cowlitz Tribe Casino Plan: ‘It’s Our Homeland’ – Cowlitz Indian Tribe secures reservation, plans to build casino & hotel (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

Vague Email Rules Let Federal Agencies Decide When to Hit Save or Delete (NY Times)

DIVERSIONS

Fans Told to Stop Copying Breaking Bad’s Walter White & Throwing Pizza on Roof

Bride Walks Out on Groom after He Botches Simple Math Problem

Pi, Pies Figure in Business’s Celebration

Wildlife Officers Resuscitate Poached Sturgeon in California

SONG OF THE DAY

The Archies - Sugar, Sugar

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.