Bonneville Power Administration selects Thompson as new power marketing vice president

Portland, Ore. – Administrator Elliot Mainzer has selected Garry Thompson as the Bonneville Power Administration’s vice president of Northwest Requirements Marketing. Thompson is scheduled to begin his new position this fall.

“I am thrilled to have Garry join the Power Services leadership team, where he brings with him years of diverse managerial and leadership experience in power products and services, energy efficiency and strong customer service,” said Senior Vice President of Power Services Mark Gendron. “I have known and worked with Garry for over 20 years and know that BPA and the region will be well served with him in this important role of service to our customers.”
As vice president of Northwest Requirements Marketing, Thompson will be responsible for marketing power, primarily from 31 federal dams, to more than 140 Bonneville utility customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and Northern California.
“I am excited to work in my new role as vice president of Northwest Requirements Marketing,” Thompson said. “The position will allow me to continue excellent delivery of the value our carbon-free assets provide to our customers. I look forward to leading a dedicated group of individuals working on diverse issues and helping them navigate the changing electricity industry.”
Previously, Thompson was BPA’s power customer service manager overseeing account executives serving BPA’s power customers. These customers represent approximately $2.5 billion dollars in annual energy sales.
Thompson also has served as a senior account executive in BPA’s Spokane office, and over the course of several years worked as a power account executive for over 30 customers. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Washington University, he worked for the City of Coeur d’Alene, City of Lewiston, Spokane County and Kootenai Electric Co-op. He joined BPA in 1986.

Energy News Digest for August 13, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for August 13, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/oa2lsgc

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

Energy Northwest: Richland Nuclear Plant Increases Electricity Output Capacity (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/08/11/3690100_richland-nuclear-plant-increases.html?rh=1

Priest Rapids Dam Turbine Upgrade Cost Goes Up by $22.69 Million (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/turbine-upgrade-cost-goes-up-by-million/article_b1dd85d8-411c-11e5-b843-0b677030637b.html

Getting Baked – The Joint You’re Smoking Is Contributing to Climate Change. That Needs to Stop (Portland Mercury, OR)

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/getting-baked/Content?oid=16246263

Ellensburg Will Expand Community Solar Park (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/ellensburg-will-expand-community-solar-park/article_ac8a531e-410c-11e5-951d-470523f146f0.html

Columbia Riverkeeper Sues Company over Alleged River Pollution (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/08/columbia_riverkeeper_sues_comp.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Energy Northwest: Richland Nuclear Plant Increases Electricity Output Capacity
• Priest Rapids Dam Turbine Upgrade Cost Goes Up by $22.69 Million
• Audit Claims Bonneville Power Administration Wasted Millions on Useless Hiring Software
• Cowlitz PUD Rate Hike Likely
• Enrollment Changes Could Save Some Seattleites Hundreds on Utilities
• Washington State to Limit Kalama River Chinook Passage
• Feds Approved Killing Birds to Save Fish, Despite Warning It Wouldn't Work
• The Elwha: When Dams Come Down, Salmon & Sand Can Prosper
• Columbia Riverkeeper Sues Company over Alleged River Pollution
• Forecasters ‘Unanimously’ Expect Strong El Niño, Giving Hope to Parched California
• L.A. Fighting Drought with Millions of Black Plastic Balls
• Ellensburg Will Expand Community Solar Park
• Nevada: As Solar Cap Nears Limit, PUC Denies Solar Industry’s Petition
• Judge Rules for Eagles over Wind Power
• United Kingdom: Renewable Energy Means Homes Will Have Lower Voltage Electricity Supplies
• California Sets Low-Flow Standards on New Shower Heads
• Getting Baked – The Joint You're Smoking Is Contributing to Climate Change. That Needs to Stop
• Eastern Washington Town Hires Special Counsel to Prosecute Pot Shop Owners
• Editorial: Can California Turn the West Green?
• Grant PUD to Conduct Wireless Network Survey
• Are Fingerprints the New Passwords? Security Experts Sure Hope Not
• Now You Can Ramble On & On in Twitter Direct Messages
• Bic Apologizes for Women's Day Ad That Mostly Just Made Women Furious
• Four Speechwriting Tips from Coca-Cola’s Executive Speechwriters
• Washington State Health Officials Say 134 Cases of Salmonella Linked to Pork
• Is the Weather Driving Businesses to Port Angeles?
• Buffett's Buyout of PacifiCorp Led to Big Changes; Will There Be Parallels at Precision?
• Jimmy Carter Confronts Old Foe: Cancer

WORD OF THE DAY

Fifth column • \FIFTH-KAH-lum\ • noun – a group of secret sympathizers or supporters of an enemy that engage in espionage or sabotage within defense lines or national borders

The erratic personality of the new employee at the Hershey chocolate plant began to worry his supervisors. “If I didn’t know better,” the boss mused, “I’d think those late night phone calls and secret text messages were a part of a ‘fifth column’ tactic by the Mars Company to steal our new formula for chocolate.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Energy Northwest: Richland Nuclear Plant Increases Electricity Output Capacity (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/08/11/3690100_richland-nuclear-plant-increases.html?rh=1

Priest Rapids Dam Turbine Upgrade Cost Goes Up by $22.69 Million (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/turbine-upgrade-cost-goes-up-by-million/article_b1dd85d8-411c-11e5-b843-0b677030637b.html

Audit Claims Bonneville Power Administration Wasted Millions on Useless Hiring Software (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/08/bonneville_power_administratio_7.html

Cowlitz PUD Rate Hike Likely (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/pud-rate-hike-likely/article_86737c86-3eb6-5c89-ab25-0f95eae15020.html

Enrollment Changes Could Save Some Seattleites Hundreds on Utilities (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/08/12/enrollment-changes-could-save-some-hundreds--utilties/31580403/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington State to Limit Kalama River Chinook Passage (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/aug/13/state-limit-kalama-river-chinook-passage/

Feds Approved Killing Birds to Save Fish, Despite Warning It Wouldn't Work (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/08/feds_approved_killing_birds_to.html

The Elwha: When Dams Come Down, Salmon & Sand Can Prosper (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/11/science/elwha-river-dam-removal-project-washington.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia Riverkeeper Sues Company over Alleged River Pollution (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/08/columbia_riverkeeper_sues_comp.html

Forecasters ‘Unanimously’ Expect Strong El Niño, Giving Hope to Parched California (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article31002855.html

L.A. Fighting Drought with Millions of Black Plastic Balls (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/08/12/l-fighting-drought-millions-black-plastic-balls/31526267/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Ellensburg Will Expand Community Solar Park (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/ellensburg-will-expand-community-solar-park/article_ac8a531e-410c-11e5-951d-470523f146f0.html

Nevada: As Solar Cap Nears Limit, PUC Denies Solar Industry’s Petition (Las Vegas Sun, NV)

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/aug/13/solar-cap-nears-limit-puc-denies-solar-industrys-p/

Judge Rules for Eagles over Wind Power (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/13/judge-rules-for-eagles-over-wind-power.htm

United Kingdom: Renewable Energy Means Homes Will Have Lower Voltage Electricity Supplies (The Daily Mail, UK)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3195946/Why-wind-farms-make-wait-cuppa-Renewable-energy-means-homes-lower-voltage-electricity-supplies-meaning-kettle-long-boil.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

California Sets Low-Flow Standards on New Shower Heads (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article30932241.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Getting Baked – The Joint You're Smoking Is Contributing to Climate Change. That Needs to Stop (Portland Mercury, OR)

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/getting-baked/Content?oid=16246263

Eastern Washington Town Hires Special Counsel to Prosecute Pot Shop Owners (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/eastern-washington-town-hires-special-counsel-prosecute-pot-shop-owners

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Editorial: Can California Turn the West Green? (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dan-morain/article30956595.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Grant PUD to Conduct Wireless Network Survey (Star of the Grand Coulee, WA)

http://www.grandcoulee.com/story/2015/08/12/news/grant-pud-to-conduct-wireless-network-survey/6125.html

Are Fingerprints the New Passwords? Security Experts Sure Hope Not (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/08/11/are-fingerprints-the-new-passwords-security-experts-sure-hope-not/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Now You Can Ramble On & On in Twitter Direct Messages (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/08/12/now-you-can-ramble-on-and-on-in-twitter-direct-messages/

Bic Apologizes for Women's Day Ad That Mostly Just Made Women Furious (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/bic-apologizes-womens-day-ad-mostly-just-made-women-furious-166358

Four Speechwriting Tips from Coca-Cola’s Executive Speechwriters (USA Today)

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/08/13/4-speechwriting-tips-from-coca-cola/

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Health Officials Say 134 Cases of Salmonella Linked to Pork (Associated Press)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/washington/2015/08/12/wash-health-officials-say-134-cases-salmonella-linked-pork/31576139/

Is the Weather Driving Businesses to Port Angeles? (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/08/12/port-angeles-weather-business/31573283/

Buffett's Buyout of PacifiCorp Led to Big Changes; Will There Be Parallels at Precision? (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/08/buffett.html

Jimmy Carter Confronts Old Foe: Cancer (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/08/12/3691145_former-president-carter-says-he.html?rh=1

DIVERSIONS

Sister Gives Birth to Baby for Twin Who Survived Cancer

http://q13fox.com/2015/08/13/sister-gives-birth-to-baby-for-twin-who-survived-cancer/

DNA Said to Solve a Mystery of Warren Harding’s Love Life – Yes He Did

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/us/dna-is-said-to-solve-a-mystery-of-warren-hardings-love-life.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Some Common Scientific Terms That Nearly Everyone Gets Wrong

http://io9.com/some-common-scientific-terms-that-nearly-everyone-gets-1723642734

This Sketch of Tom Brady in Court Looks Hilariously Nothing Like Him

http://time.com/3994898/tom-brady-court-room-sketch/

SONG OF THE DAY

Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXy50exHjes

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 August 12, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for August 12, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/oad2lrg

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

News Release: Snohomish PUD Moves to Appoint Craig Collar as CEO/General Manager (Snohomish PUD, Everett, WA)

https://www.snopud.com/newsroom.ashx?p=1102&173_na=299

Big Quilcene River Salmon Season Called Off as Low Flows Continue amid Drought (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150812/NEWS/308129990/big-quilcene-river-salmon-season-called-off-as-low-flows-continue

Shortage Ahead? Seattle-Area Consumers Asked to Cut Water Use by 10% (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-tacoma-everett-ask-residents-to-cut-water-use-10/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Newsline&utm_campaign=Newsline

Washington, Alaska Far Outpace Oregon in New Wind Power Projects (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/08/washington-alaska-far-outpace-oregon-in-new-wind.html

Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Killed in Highway 101 Motorcycle Crash (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Mason-County-sheriffs-deputy-killed-in-motorcycle-crash-321559111.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• News Release: Snohomish PUD Moves to Appoint Craig Collar as CEO/General Manager
• Industry Group Outlines Radical New Vision for California’s Power Economy
• At the Fair: Jefferson PUD Shares Showerheads, Good News about Rates
• Japan Takes Step toward Reviving Nuclear Industry as It Restarts Reactor
• Rural Wisconsin Community Laments Nuclear Power Plant’s Closure
• Big Quilcene River Salmon Season Called Off as Low Flows Continue amid Drought
• Low Water Closes Newaukum River to Fishing
• Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Gets State Money for Struggling Dungeness Salmon
• Fish Bounty Program Helps Protect Salmon
• Pacific Northwest States Clarify That Use of Drones by Hunters is a No-No
• Shortage Ahead? Seattle-Area Consumers Asked to Cut Water Use by 10%
• El Nino Plus ‘The Blob’ May Help Western Drought
• Ninth Circuit Validates Greens Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Mining Lawsuit
• Washington, Alaska Far Outpace Oregon in New Wind Power Projects
• Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know about Distributed Wind Power
• Washington State’s Mason County PUD 3 Launches Community Solar Effort
• Green Tax Credits Mostly Help the Rich
• Oregon: St. Helens to Convert Streetlights to LED
• Several More Oregon Areas Just Say No to Pot Sales, Cultivation
• Why Oregon’s Congressional Delegation Wants Banks to Work with Weed Shops
• Hackers Accused of Making Millions Using Stolen News Releases
• Mideast Hackers Target U-S Gas Pumps
• How Facebook’s Autoplay Videos Are Ushering in a New Era of Silent Storytelling
• The Covert World of People Trying to Edit Wikipedia – for Pay
• This Could Seriously Be the Greatest Political Campaign Ad of All Time
• Washington State Governor Inslee Dismisses Talk of Trouble in His First Term
• Effort to Move Washington State’s Presidential Primary to March Fails
• Are Harsh, Intolerant, Self-Indulgent Radicals Trying to Hijack Seattle?
• Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Killed in Highway 101 Motorcycle Crash
• Washington State’s Apple Crop May Be its Third Largest Ever
• Portland Parking: ‘Smart Parking Meter’ Man Wasn’t So Smart

WORD OF THE DAY

Nocebo • \noh-SEE-boh\ • noun – A harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient

Eyore’s trembling hoof reached for the unlabeled pill. He had expected the drug trial to include the REAL remedy and a placebo. Either of which he thought would make him feel, or at least THINK he felt better. What he didn’t expect was the likelihood of a third option: a nacebo, which would actually make him think he felt worse. “Woe is me,” whined the downcast donkey.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

News Release: Snohomish PUD Moves to Appoint Craig Collar as CEO/General Manager (Snohomish PUD, Everett, WA)

https://www.snopud.com/newsroom.ashx?p=1102&173_na=299

Industry Group Outlines Radical New Vision for California’s Power Economy (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/industry-group-outlines-radical-new-vision-for-californias-power-economy/403842/

At the Fair: Jefferson PUD Shares Showerheads, Good News about Rates (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/news/at-the-fair-jpud-shares-showerheads-good-news-about-rates/article_cf879206-4084-11e5-aa1e-2367a7d98c08.html

Japan Takes Step toward Reviving Nuclear Industry as It Restarts Reactor (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/12/world/asia/japan-restarts-a-nuclear-plant-in-step-toward-reviving-industry.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=0

Rural Wisconsin Community Laments Nuclear Power Plant’s Closure (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/12/us/rural-wisconsin-community-laments-nuclear-power-plants-closure.html?ref=energy-environment

FISH & WILDLIFE

Big Quilcene River Salmon Season Called Off as Low Flows Continue amid Drought (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150812/NEWS/308129990/big-quilcene-river-salmon-season-called-off-as-low-flows-continue

Low Water Closes Newaukum River to Fishing (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/lifestyles/outdoors/low-water-closes-newaukum-river-to-fishing/article_c92f99a9-e538-5f55-adc7-605b531e424d.html

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Gets State Money for Struggling Dungeness Salmon (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/10925

Fish Bounty Program Helps Protect Salmon – Catching pikeminnows can net a pocket full of proceeds (Bend Bulletin, OR)

http://www.bendbulletin.com/exports/newsletters/main/3408719-151/fish-bounty-program-helps-protect-salmon#

Pacific Northwest States Clarify That Use of Drones by Hunters is a No-No (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/northwest-states-clarify-use-drones-hunters-no-no

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Shortage Ahead? Seattle-Area Consumers Asked to Cut Water Use by 10% (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-tacoma-everett-ask-residents-to-cut-water-use-10/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Newsline&utm_campaign=Newsline

El Nino Plus ‘The Blob’ May Help Western Drought (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/08/11/el-nino-plus-blob-may-help-western-drought/31453603/

Ninth Circuit Validates Greens Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Mining Lawsuit (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/11/9th-circuit-validates-greens-mining-lawsuit.htm

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Washington, Alaska Far Outpace Oregon in New Wind Power Projects (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/08/washington-alaska-far-outpace-oregon-in-new-wind.html

Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know about Distributed Wind Power (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/08/11/top-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-distributed-wind-power/

Washington State’s Mason County PUD 3 Launches Community Solar Effort (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=44320

Green Tax Credits Mostly Help the Rich (Washington Examiner – another reason community solar is so cool, it makes solar accessible!)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/green-tax-credits-mostly-help-the-rich/article/2570029

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon: St. Helens to Convert Streetlights to LED (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thechronicleonline.com/news/st-helens-to-convert-streetlights-to-led/article_07b452b8-4076-11e5-9123-170d2928830a.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Several More Oregon Areas Just Say No to Pot Sales, Cultivation (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2015/08/several-more-oregon-areas-just-say-no-to-pot-sales.html

Why Oregon’s Congressional Delegation Wants Banks to Work with Weed Shops (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2015/08/why-oregons-congressional-delegation-wants-banks.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Hackers Accused of Making Millions Using Stolen News Releases (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Hackers-accused-of-making-millions-using-stolen-6438431.php

Mideast Hackers Target U-S Gas Pumps (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mideast-hackers-target-u.s.-gas-pumps/article/2570043

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

How Facebook’s Autoplay Videos Are Ushering in a New Era of Silent Storytelling (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/how-facebooks-autoplay-videos-are-influencing-other-areas-digital-166344

The Covert World of People Trying to Edit Wikipedia – for Pay (The Atlantic Magazine)

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/08/wikipedia-editors-for-pay/393926/

This Could Seriously Be the Greatest Political Campaign Ad of All Time (i09)

http://io9.com/this-could-seriously-be-the-greatest-political-campaign-1723555465

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor Inslee Dismisses Talk of Trouble in His First Term (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/inslee-dismisses-talk-of-trouble-in-his-first-term/article_60281c12-3ffa-11e5-926d-ab0c02234e16.html

Effort to Move Washington State’s Presidential Primary to March Fails (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Effort-to-move-states-presidential-primary-to-March-fails-321515211.html

Are Harsh, Intolerant, Self-Indulgent Radicals Trying to Hijack Seattle? We Have a Progressive City to Defend (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/08/11/are-harsh-intolerant-self-indulgent-radicals-trying-to-hijack-seattle-we-have-a-liberal-city-to-defend/

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Killed in Highway 101 Motorcycle Crash (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Mason-County-sheriffs-deputy-killed-in-motorcycle-crash-321559111.html

Washington State’s Apple Crop May Be its Third Largest Ever (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Washingtons-apple-crop-may-be-3rd-largest-ever-321419341.html

Portland Parking: ‘Smart Parking Meter’ Man Wasn’t So Smart (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/12/smart-parking-meter-man-wasnt-so-smart.htm

DIVERSIONS

Neighbors Sue to Stop Seattle’s Bird-Feeding Family

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Neighbors-sue-to-stop-Seattle-s-bird-feeding-6438345.php

Pennsylvania Beauty Queen Jailed after Faking Cancer, Raising Thousands

http://q13fox.com/2015/08/12/pennsylvania-beauty-queen-jailed-after-faking-cancer-raising-thousands/

Perseid Meteor Shower: A Viewing Guide to Tonight’s Sky Show

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/08/perseid_meteor_shower_a_viewin.html

You Can Now Explore Mars with NASA’s Free Online Tools

http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2015/0812/You-can-now-explore-Mars-with-NASA-s-free-online-tools

SONG OF THE DAY

Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zw1X3HW50Y

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 August 11, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for August 11, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/py7goau

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

Drought is Impacting Electric Utilities “…So far, the Bonneville Power Administration continues to enjoy strong pools on the Columbia River…” (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/08/10/drought-impact/31439411/

British Columbia Residents Push for More-Stable Reservoir Levels as Columbia River Treaty is Renegotiated (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/aug/09/bc-residents-push-for-stable-reservoir/

Note to Utilities: Here’s Why 2015 is the ‘Tipping Point’ for Community Solar (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/note-to-utilities-heres-why-2015-is-the-tipping-point-for-community-sol/403284/

Grays Harbor PUD Passes 2.5% Rate Increase (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/pud-passes-2-5-rate-increase/

City of Shelton Considering LED Reader Boards (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16511

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Drought is Impacting Electric Utilities
• British Columbia Residents Push for More-Stable Reservoir Levels as Columbia River Treaty is Renegotiated
• Grays Harbor PUD Passes 2.5% Rate Increase
• City of Shelton Considering LED Reader Boards
• City of Shelton: Alternatives to Over-the-Road Banners
• Smart Meters Pose Personal Surveillance Risks, Experts Say
• U-S Senate Energy Package Focuses on Fossil Fuels & Electric Infrastructure
• Cyberattacks & the Clean Power Plan
• Back to the Drawing Board for Control of Oyster-Killing Shrimp
• Note to Utilities: Here’s Why 2015 is the ‘Tipping Point’ for Community Solar
• Million Dollar Solar Project Underway at Columbia Basin College
• Editorial: Tri-Cities - Solar Program Adds another Energy Option
• West Coast Wind Patterns Lead to Below-Normal Wind Generation Capacity Factors
• Energy Department Reports Highlight Trends of Growing U-S Wind Energy Industry
• Canadians Pull the Plug on Renewable Energy Scheme
• Energy-Efficient Buildings worth $216 Million to Washington’s Economy, Create 3,800 Jobs
• 34% of Americans Don’t Know LEDs Save Electricity
• Marijuana Market Takes Root
• Kittitas County: Local Marijuana Businesses Rake in Nearly $4 Million in Total Sales
• State Legislators Tell Feds to Keep Hands Off Marijuana Policy
• Chart of the Week: 72% Increase in Energy Use by Denver Marijuana Cultivation Sites since 2012
• Doubts over Climate Change Link to Sun’s Activity
• Editorial: Washington State Can Lead on Global Warming & Clean Energy
• Op/Ed: Obama’s Latest Global Warming Plan Is about His Legacy, Not Policy
• Where Electric Cars Will Drive Around in Poor Neighborhoods
• Google Morphs into Alphabet; Investors Cheer Clarity
• Intriguing & Surprising Digital Marketing Stats from the Past Week
• Tips for Better Taking Smartphone Photos at Night – And in Bars
• Ways Email is Embracing the Trends That Were Supposed to Make It Obsolete
• Target Removing Gender Based Signs from Its Stores
• Peabody Energy Tries to Strike Song Lyrics from Complaint: Welcome to the Streisand Effect
• Shelton Transition Center Open for Simpson Lumber Company Employees
• Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, among 35 Counties Eligible for Disaster Loans
• Seattle City Council Votes to Adopt ‘Gun Violence Tax’
• Q&A: Why Does Berkshire Hathaway Want to Buy Oregon-Based Precision Castparts?
• Kudos to Smokin’ Mo’s in Shelton – Here Are 15 BBQ Joints in Washington State That Will Leave Your Mouth Watering Uncontrollably

WORD OF THE DAY

Sandbag • \SAND-bag \ • Verb – 1: to bank, stop up, or weight with sandbags 2a: to hit or stun with or as if with a sandbag b: to treat unfairly or harshly *3: to conceal or misrepresent one’s true position, potential, or intent especially in order to take advantage of

The dark, surging water of “Pressure Creek” kept rising, its oily surface hiding the destructive power pummeling the ever-higher pile of sandbags placed on the riverbank. As the velvety darkness fell on the “bucket-brigade” of volunteers, the foreman on the growing levee fell, sandbagged into unconsciousness by an unknown assailant. Suddenly atop the improvised dam appeared a man in deep purple robes, the fabric spangled with diamonds that shone like starlight on the darkest night. “Do not be afraid,” he bellowed to the sweaty, begrimed workers, “The waters will not pass this point.” Fortunately, the dark toil did not abate, as the experienced flood survivors knew that the peculiar “Lord of the Rings” fanboy was merely trying to sandbag them into believing that he was one of the mysterious wizards of middle-earth.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Drought is Impacting Electric Utilities “…So far, the Bonneville Power Administration continues to enjoy strong pools on the Columbia River…” (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/08/10/drought-impact/31439411/

British Columbia Residents Push for More-Stable Reservoir Levels as Columbia River Treaty is Renegotiated (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/aug/09/bc-residents-push-for-stable-reservoir/

Grays Harbor PUD Passes 2.5% Rate Increase (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/pud-passes-2-5-rate-increase/

City of Shelton Considering LED Reader Boards (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16511

City of Shelton: Alternatives to Over-the-Road Banners (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news

Smart Meters Pose Personal Surveillance Risks, Experts Say (Fresno Bee, CA)

http://www.fresnobee.com/news/business/technology/article30689280.html

U-S Senate Energy Package Focuses on Fossil Fuels & Electric Infrastructure (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/08/10/senate-energy-package-focuseson-fossil-fuels-and-electric-infrastructure/

Cyberattacks & the Clean Power Plan (Morning Consult)

http://morningconsult.com/opinions/how-recent-cyberattacks-affect-the-clean-power-plan/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Back to the Drawing Board for Control of Oyster-Killing Shrimp (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://tinyurl.com/qanekos

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Note to Utilities: Here’s Why 2015 is the ‘Tipping Point’ for Community Solar (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/note-to-utilities-heres-why-2015-is-the-tipping-point-for-community-sol/403284/

Million Dollar Solar Project Underway at Columbia Basin College (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/home/video/Million-dollar-solar-project-underway-at-CBC-321333211.html

Editorial: Tri-Cities - Solar Program Adds another Energy Option (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/08/11/3688329_our-voice-solar-program-adds-another.html?rh=1

West Coast Wind Patterns Lead to Below-Normal Wind Generation Capacity Factors (U-S Energy Information Administration)

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=22452

Energy Department Reports Highlight Trends of Growing U-S Wind Energy Industry (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/08/10/energy-department-reports-highlight-trends-of-growing-u-s-wind-energy-industry/

Canadians Pull the Plug on Renewable Energy Scheme (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/10/canadians-pull-the-plug-on-renewable-energy-scheme

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy-Efficient Buildings worth $216 Million to Washington’s Economy, Create 3,800 Jobs (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/08/energy-efficient-buildings-worth-216m-to.html

34% of Americans Don’t Know LEDs Save Electricity (Energy Manager Today)

http://www.energymanagertoday.com/34-americans-dont-know-leds-save-electricity-0114493/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Market Takes Root (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/marijuana-market-takes-root/article_ef4c3b30-3d61-11e5-a8bb-bf062210d9eb.html

Kittitas County: Local Marijuana Businesses Rake in Nearly $4 Million in Total Sales – Statewide, I-502 companies see $256M in sales; $67M in taxes (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/local-marijuana-businesses-rake-in-nearly-m-in-total-sales/article_3f3b225a-3d5d-11e5-900c-ffabc296c1ad.html

State Legislators Tell Feds to Keep Hands Off Marijuana Policy (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mjbizdaily.com/state-legislators-tell-feds-to-keep-hands-off-marijuana-policy/

Chart of the Week: 72% Increase in Energy Use by Denver Marijuana Cultivation Sites since 2012 (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mjbizdaily.com/chart-week-72-increase-energy-use-denver-marijuana-cultivation-sites-since-2012/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Doubts over Climate Change Link to Sun’s Activity (The Weather Channel)

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/uk/news/articles/climate-and-environment/doubts-over-climate-change-link-to-suns-activity-/55551/

Editorial: Washington State Can Lead on Global Warming & Clean Energy (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/wash-state-can-lead-on-global-warming-and-clean-energy/

Op/Ed: Obama’s Latest Global Warming Plan Is about His Legacy, Not Policy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/08/04/the-insiders-obamas-latest-global-warming-plan-is-about-his-legacy-not-policy/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Where Electric Cars Will Drive Around in Poor Neighborhoods (National Journal)

http://www.nationaljournal.com/next-america/economic-empowerment/where-electric-cars-will-drive-around-in-poor-neighborhoods-20150810

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Morphs into Alphabet; Investors Cheer Clarity (Reuters)

https://news.yahoo.com/google-morphs-alphabet-investors-cheer-clarity-012723411--finance.html

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Intriguing & Surprising Digital Marketing Stats from the Past Week (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/8-intriguing-and-surprising-digital-marketing-stats-past-week-166321

Tips for Better Taking Smartphone Photos at Night – And in Bars) (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/tips-for-better-taking-smartphone-photos-at-night-and-1723296022

Ways Email is Embracing the Trends That Were Supposed to Make It Obsolete (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/3-ways-email-marketing-embracing-trends-were-supposed-make-it-obsolete-166300

Target Removing Gender Based Signs from Its Stores (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/business/Target-removing-gender-based-signs-from-its-stores-321283141.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Peabody Energy Tries to Strike Song Lyrics from Complaint: Welcome to the Streisand Effect (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/08/10/peabody-energy-tries-to-strike-song-lyrics-from-complaint-welcome-to-the-streisand-effect/

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Transition Center Open for Simpson Lumber Company Employees (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/daybreak/24334-transition-center-open-for-simpson-employees

Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, among 35 Counties Eligible for Disaster Loans (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/grays-harbor-mason-pacific-among-35-counties-eligible-for-disaster-loans/

Seattle City Council Votes to Adopt ‘Gun Violence Tax’ (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/29754339/seattle-city-council-votes-to-adopt-gun-violence-tax

Q&A: Why Does Berkshire Hathaway Want to Buy Oregon-Based Precision Castparts? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/qa-why-does-berkshire-hathaway-want-to-buy-oregon-based-precision-castparts/

Kudos to Smokin’ Mo’s in Shelton – Here Are 15 BBQ Joints in Washington State That Will Leave Your Mouth Watering Uncontrollably (Only in Your State)

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/wa-bbq/

DIVERSIONS

The British Library Needs Your Help to Solve This Hidden Message

http://mashable.com/2015/08/10/british-library-sword/

Stolen Car Returned To South African Owner after 22 Years

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/08/05/us-safrica-theft-idUKKCN0QA27420150805

FBI Hopes Grainy Video Will Help Solve 25-Year-Old $500 Million Art Heist

http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-hopes-grainy-video-help-solve-25-old-154242994.html

Alabama family reunites with dog missing for 9 years

http://news.yahoo.com/alabama-family-reunites-dog-missing-9-years-174541511.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Everything But The Girl – Driving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfQv-6c7x94

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.