Energy News Digest for September 28, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for September 28, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/qzmmy79

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

Possibility of another Low-Snow Winter Has Irrigators Scrambling (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/possibility-of-another-low-snow-winter-has-irrigators-scrambling/article_a49bcb54-64db-11e5-8728-e3f7aaaf8fda.html

Officials: Klamath River Fish Healthy after Flow Increase (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article36709815.html

Shell to Cease Alaska Offshore Arctic Drilling (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/ap/top-news/shell-says-it-will-cease-alaska-offshore-arctic-dr/nnpqn/

Community Solar Energizes Public Power Communities (Conduit)

https://conduitnw.org/Pages/Article.aspx?rid=806

Thurston County Survey Shows Strong Local Support for Clean Energy (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2015/09/27/survey-shows-strong-local-support-for-clean-energy/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Shell to Cease Alaska Offshore Arctic Drilling
• Snohomish PUD Issues Bonds to Help Fund New Generation Projects
• BC Hydro Preps for Rate Review
• Drought Dries Up Pacific Gas & Electric Hydro Reservoir in Northern California
• Portland Stops Auto Pay for Utility Bills – System Doesn’t Meet Current Credit Card Security Standards
• Can Liquefied Natural Gas, Hydro Projects Jolt These British Columbia Ghost Towns Back to Life?
• Massachusetts: Tough Times, No Easy Answers for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant
• Florida: Nuclear Fallout – Crystal River Area Tops Nation in GDP Loss after Plant Closure
• Candidate Clinton Calls For Sweeping U-S Power Grid Upgrades
• Officials: Klamath River Fish Healthy after Flow Increase
• Salmon to Swim above Shasta Dam for First Time in Nearly 80 Years
• Vancouver Lake Restoration Efforts Aim to Improve Water Flow
• Puyallup Hatchery to Celebrate Second Annual Salmon Homecoming
• Idaho Sues over Interior’s Sage Grouse Ruling
• New Jersey: Advocates Say Oyster Farming May Hurt Threatened Shorebirds
• Possibility of another Low-Snow Winter Has Irrigators Scrambling
• Irrigation, Aquaculture among Top Users of Idaho Water
• After Years of Low Bills, U-S Water Customers Will Pay More
• Canada Elections: Is Tom Mulcair In Favor of Exporting Bulk Water?
• Community Solar Energizes Public Power Communities
• California Solar Users Would Lose Savings If Proposal Is OKed; SolarCity Describes ‘Catastrophic’ Future
• New York: Finger Lakes Wineries Turn to Solar Power
• Pork Industry Wants Duke to Use North Carolina Swine Waste at Plants
• Can I Mix & Match Different Types of Eco-Friendly Lightbulbs?
• Oregon Retail Pot Sales Start October 1 – But Not Everywhere
• Microsoft Leads Movement to Offset Emissions with Internal Carbon Tax
• Thurston County Survey Shows Strong Local Support for Clean Energy
• Op/Ed: This Fall, Let’s Clear the Air by Retiring Woodstoves
• Portable Wind Turbines Power Phones or Homes
• ViaWest Opens Third Data Center in Hillsboro
• Net Neutrality Could Become the Biggest Face-Off on Corporate Speech since Citizens United
• What’s Rural America Clicking On?
• How to Manage Your Facebook Page Effectively
• Mobile Streaming Apps: Can They Work for Co-ops?
• U-S Government Shutdown Averted as Lawmakers Mull Boehner Resignation
• McMorris Rodgers Pursuing Majority Leader Position in Congress, According to Politico
• Fifth Student Dies after Aurora Bridge Collision
• Haggen Plans to Lay Off 612 Workers in Washington State
• Mt St Helens: Work on Temporary Fix for Spirit Lake Tunnel to Begin in October
• Could Volkswagen Scandal Be Diesel Car’s Death Knell?
• Strong Evidence Mars Has Streams of Salt Water in Summertime
• OysterFest Grows Larger, Expands Into New Space
• Where to Get Free (Or Discounted) Coffee for National Coffee Day Sept. 29

WORD OF THE DAY

Catbird Seat • \KAT-berd-SEET\ • noun – A position of great prominence or advantage.

In the cat bird seat

Nothing can bring me down, yes?

Hubris is thy name

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Shell to Cease Alaska Offshore Arctic Drilling (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/ap/top-news/shell-says-it-will-cease-alaska-offshore-arctic-dr/nnpqn/

Snohomish PUD Issues Bonds to Help Fund New Generation Projects (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=44557

BC Hydro Preps for Rate Review (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-hydro-preps-for-rate-review/article26556170/?cmpid=rss1

Drought Dries Up Pacific Gas & Electric Hydro Reservoir in Northern California (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/drought-dries-up-pge-hydro-reservoir-in-northern-california/406300/

Portland Stops Auto Pay for Utility Bills – System Doesn’t Meet Current Credit Card Security Standards (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2015/09/28/portland-stops-auto-pay-for-utility-bills/

Can Liquefied Natural Gas, Hydro Projects Jolt These British Columbia Ghost Towns Back to Life? (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/can-lng-hydro-projects-jolt-these-b-c-ghost-towns-back-to-life-1.2070262

Massachusetts: Tough Times, No Easy Answers for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant (Boston Globe, MA)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/09/26/pilgrim-nuclear-power-plant-faces-significant-headwinds-stay-open/RQCmRnjs0oiPsQXLprElpM/story.html

Florida: Nuclear Fallout – Crystal River Area Tops Nation in GDP Loss after Plant Closure (Tampa Bay Times, FL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/nuclear-fallout-crystal-river-area-tops-nation-in-gdp-loss-after-plant/2246899

Candidate Clinton Calls For Sweeping U-S Power Grid Upgrades (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/254790-clinton-stakes-a-position-on-grid-cybersecurity

FISH & WILDLIFE

Officials: Klamath River Fish Healthy after Flow Increase (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article36709815.html

Salmon to Swim above Shasta Dam for First Time in Nearly 80 Years (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article36495522.html

Vancouver Lake Restoration Efforts Aim to Improve Water Flow (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/sep/28/vancouver-lake-restoration-efforts-aim-to-improve-water-flow/

Puyallup Hatchery to Celebrate Second Annual Salmon Homecoming (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/puyallup-herald/ph-news/article36609396.html

Idaho Sues over Interior’s Sage Grouse Ruling (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/sep/26/idaho-sues-over-interiors-sage-grouse-ruling/

New Jersey: Advocates Say Oyster Farming May Hurt Threatened Shorebirds (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/Advocates-Oyster-farming-may-hurt-threatened-6531647.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Possibility of another Low-Snow Winter Has Irrigators Scrambling (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/possibility-of-another-low-snow-winter-has-irrigators-scrambling/article_a49bcb54-64db-11e5-8728-e3f7aaaf8fda.html

Irrigation, Aquaculture among Top Users of Idaho Water (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/30123203/irrigation-aquaculture-among-top-users-of-idaho-water

After Years of Low Bills, U-S Water Customers Will Pay More (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150926/BIZ02/150929292

Canada Elections: Is Tom Mulcair In Favor of Exporting Bulk Water? (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-bulk-water-mulcair-spin-cycle-1.3244247

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Community Solar Energizes Public Power Communities (Conduit)

https://conduitnw.org/Pages/Article.aspx?rid=806

California Solar Users Would Lose Savings If Proposal Is OKed; SolarCity Describes ‘Catastrophic’ Future (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-net-metering-20150927-story.html

New York: Finger Lakes Wineries Turn to Solar Power (Democrat & Chronicle, NY)

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/money/business/2015/09/27/solar-panels-finger-lakes-wineries/72930468/

Pork Industry Wants Duke to Use North Carolina Swine Waste at Plants (Winston-Salem Journal, NC)

http://m.journalnow.com/news/state_region/pork-industry-wants-duke-to-use-nc-swine-waste-at/article_183ba47c-c7b5-5d32-832d-d7989cea5c5a.html?mode=jqm

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Can I Mix & Match Different Types of Eco-Friendly Lightbulbs? (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/living/can-i-mix-and-match-cfls-and-leds/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Oregon Retail Pot Sales Start October 1 – But Not Everywhere (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/oregon-retail-pot-sales-start-october-1-not-everywhere

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Microsoft Leads Movement to Offset Emissions with Internal Carbon Tax (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/27/business/energy-environment/microsoft-leads-movement-to-offset-emissions-with-internal-carbon-tax.html?emc=edit_th_20150927&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=71692764

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Thurston County Survey Shows Strong Local Support for Clean Energy (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2015/09/27/survey-shows-strong-local-support-for-clean-energy/

Op/Ed: This Fall, Let’s Clear the Air by Retiring Woodstoves (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/op-ed/article36623529.html

Portable Wind Turbines Power Phones or Homes (Discovery News)

http://news.discovery.com/tech/alternative-power-sources/portable-wind-turbines-power-phones-or-homes.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

ViaWest Opens Third Data Center in Hillsboro (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2015/09/new_data_center_opens_in_hills.html

Net Neutrality Could Become the Biggest Face-Off on Corporate Speech since Citizens United (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/09/28/net-neutrality-could-become-the-biggest-face-off-on-corporate-speech-since-citizens-united/?wprss=rss_business

Zuckerberg Pushes Internet for Everyone in UN Speech (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/26/zuckerberg-pushes-internet-everyone-un-speech/72874378/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

What’s Rural America Clicking On? (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/whats-rural-america-clicking-on/85480

How to Manage Your Facebook Page Effectively (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-manage-your-facebook-page-effectively/

Mobile Streaming Apps: Can They Work for Co-ops? (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/mobile-streaming-apps-can-they-work-for-co-ops/85413

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

U-S Government Shutdown Averted as Lawmakers Mull Boehner Resignation (Morning Consult)

http://morningconsult.com/2015/09/the-coming-week-shutdown-averted-as-lawmakers-mull-boehner-resignation/

McMorris Rodgers Pursuing Majority Leader Position in Congress, According to Politico (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/sep/26/mcmorris-rodgers-pursuing-majority-leader-position/

GENERAL NEWS

Fifth Student Dies after Aurora Bridge Collision (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/ntsb-investigators-coming-seattle-wake-horrific-cr/nnnbF/

Haggen Plans to Lay Off 612 Workers in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/09/haggen-plans-to-lay-off-612-workers-in-washington.html

Mt St Helens: Work on Temporary Fix for Spirit Lake Tunnel to Begin in October (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/investigations/2015/09/26/work-temporary-fix-spirit-lake-tunnel-begin-october/72882454/

Could Volkswagen Scandal Be Diesel Car’s Death Knell? (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/volkswagen-diesel-emissions-1.3244085?cmp=rss

Strong Evidence Mars Has Streams of Salt Water in Summertime (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/sep/28/strong-evidence-mars-has-streams-salt-water-summer/

OysterFest Grows Larger, Expands Into New Space (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2015/09/27/oysterfest-shelton/

Where to Get Free (Or Discounted) Coffee for National Coffee Day Sept. 29 (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/09/28/where-to-get-free-or-discounted-coffee-for-national-coffee-day-sept-29/

DIVERSIONS

Washington State School District Says Tag Won’t Be Banned at Recess

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national/wash-school-district-says-tag-wont-be-banned-reces/nnpnB/

Super Blood Moon Seen from Seattle & Across the World

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-super-blood-moon-around-the-world/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_life

Moon Bloopers, a NASA Study

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/09/falling-all-over-the-moon/406738/

Father & Son Fishing Trip Nets Two Kittens in Willamette River

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Father-and-son-fishing-trip-nets-2-kittens-in-Willamette-River-329653781.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Joe South – Games People Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5znh58WITU8

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their websites 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 September 25, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for September 25, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/oqy5gcl

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 in 2016 for Washington State? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2015/09/drought-in-2016-for-washington-state.html

Investors Are Mining for Water, the Next Hot Commodity (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/business/energy-environment/private-water-projects-lure-investors-preferably-patient-ones.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Op/Ed: Governor Jay Inslee – ‘Fear Mongers’ Will Not Stop Us from Setting Carbon Cap (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/gov-jay-inslee-fear-mongers-will-not-stop-us-from-setting-carbon-cap/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_opinion

Second-Largest Dam in the Nation Becomes More Powerful, Efficient (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Second-largest-dam-in-the-nation-becomes-more-powerful-efficient.aspx

Indiana Advocates Say Utilities Are Scaling Back Efficiency Efforts (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/indiana-advocates-say-utilities-are-scaling-back-efficiency-efforts/406257/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Second-Largest Dam in the Nation Becomes More Powerful, Efficient
• Special Meeting Set to Deal with Damaged Okanogan PUD Facilities
• Small-Scale Nuclear Fusion May Be a New Energy Source
• Colorado: After PUC Rebuke, Boulder Signals New Flexibility in Muni Proceeding
• Northwest Public Power Association Announces 2015 Excellence in Communication Awards
• Scams! - The Next Generation
• Columbia Fall Chinook Run to Top 1.1 Million
• California: Rescue Center Overwhelmed with Starving Seabirds – Rising Ocean Temperatures Cited
• Investors Are Mining for Water, the Next Hot Commodity
• California: How a Wind-Energy Project Proposed Off Morro Bay's Coast Would Work
• British Columbia: Vancouver’s SolShare Energy Hopes To Raise $1 Million for Community-Owned Solar-Power Projects
• Indiana Advocates Say Utilities Are Scaling Back Efficiency Efforts
• Winter Is Coming: Home Improvements You Need to Make
• Zuli’s Smartplug Heads to Lowe’s Next Week – Should Most People Care?
• Op/Ed: Governor Jay Inslee – ‘Fear Mongers’ Will Not Stop Us from Setting Carbon Cap
• Judge Dismisses Challenge to Oregon Climate Change Program
• Oregon: Climate Trust Lands $1 Million to Sequester More Carbon
• Green Power House Rises from the Ashes
• Denver Zoo Ditches Plans to Burn Elephant Dung for Electricity
• Nine Massive U-S Companies Pledge to Go 100% Renewable
• Are Automatic Toilets Wasteful?
• Utility Industry Casts Doubt on FERC's Proposed Cyber Standards
• Ad Blockers Rise as Ads Annoy, Bog Down Websites
• Could a Bank Deny Your Loan Based on Your Facebook Friends?
• Some Millennials Digging into News, Contrary to Stereotype
• Community Driven Success & Inter-Generational Teams: NWPPA 2015 NIC Keynote
• OP/Ed: Why Americans Can’t Write
• Speaker John Boehner Resigns U-S House Seat
• Who's Next? Possible Boehner Successors as Speaker
• Drought in 2016 for Washington State?
• Aurora Bridge Back Open after Deadly Bus, 'Ducks' Crash
• Shelton’s Lake Boulevard/Pioneer Way Improvement Project
• Mason County: OysterFest to Change Location
• Unable to Call 911, Hostage Uses Facebook to Find Help
• Home Demolitions Rising along with Tension in Portland Neighborhoods

WORD OF THE DAY

Katzenjammer • \KAT-zun-jam-er\ • noun – *1: hangover 2: distress 3: a discordant clamor

“The katzenjammer inside my head keeps Exedrin from going into the red,” opined Foster Brooks. Yet another night of witless debauchery: tins of smoked oysters swilled down with cheap, generic beer produced a pounding, clanging, throbbing pain right in the center of the downcast lush’s brain.

BTW, the history of the term Katzenjammer is explained well in this excerpt from Merriam Webster: Have you ever heard a cat wailing and felt that you could relate? Apparently some hungover German speakers once did. "Katzenjammer" comes from the German "Katze" (meaning "cat") and "Jammer" (meaning "distress"). English speakers borrowed the word for their hangovers (and other distressful inner states) in the 19th century and eventually applied it to outer commotion as well. The word isn't as popular in English today as it was around the mid-20th century, but it's well-known to many because of the "Katzenjammer Kids," a long-running comic strip featuring the incorrigibly mischievous twins Hans and Fritz.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Second-Largest Dam in the Nation Becomes More Powerful, Efficient (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Second-largest-dam-in-the-nation-becomes-more-powerful-efficient.aspx

Special Meeting Set to Deal with Damaged Okanogan PUD Facilities (Omak Chronicle, WA)

http://www.omakchronicle.com/news/2015/sep/24/special-meeting-set-deal-damaged-pud-facilities/

Small-Scale Nuclear Fusion May Be a New Energy Source (Phys.org)

http://phys.org/news/2015-09-small-scale-nuclear-fusion-energy-source.html

Colorado: After PUC Rebuke, Boulder Signals New Flexibility in Muni Proceeding (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/after-puc-rebuke-boulder-signals-new-flexibility-in-muni-proceeding/406248/

Northwest Public Power Association Announces 2015 Excellence in Communication Awards (Northwest Public Power Association – Links to PDF File)

http://www.nwppa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-EIC-Awards.pdf

Scams! - The Next Generation (Conduit)

https://conduitnw.org/Pages/Article.aspx?rid=799

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Fall Chinook Run to Top 1.1 Million (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/sep/23/columbia-fall-chinook-run-to-top-1-1-million/

California: Rescue Center Overwhelmed with Starving Seabirds – Rising Ocean Temperatures Cited (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article36338667.html#emlnl=Morning_Newsletter

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Investors Are Mining for Water, the Next Hot Commodity (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/business/energy-environment/private-water-projects-lure-investors-preferably-patient-ones.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE ENERGY

California: How a Wind-Energy Project Proposed Off Morro Bay's Coast Would Work (San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA)

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/09/23/3822477_wind-farm-ocean-morro-bay-project.html?rh=1

British Columbia: Vancouver’s SolShare Energy Hopes To Raise $1 Million for Community-Owned Solar-Power Projects (The Georgia Straight, BC)

http://www.straight.com/life/542026/vancouvers-solshare-energy-hopes-raise-1-million-community-owned-solar-power-projects

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Indiana Advocates Say Utilities Are Scaling Back Efficiency Efforts (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/indiana-advocates-say-utilities-are-scaling-back-efficiency-efforts/406257/

Winter Is Coming: Home Improvements You Need to Make (The Energy Collective)

http://www.theenergycollective.com/trengels/2274973/winter-coming-home-improvements-you-need-make

Zuli’s Smartplug Heads to Lowe’s Next Week – Should Most People Care? (GigaOM)

https://gigaom.com/2015/09/24/zulis-smartplug-heads-to-lowes-next-week-should-most-people-care/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Op/Ed: Governor Jay Inslee – ‘Fear Mongers’ Will Not Stop Us from Setting Carbon Cap (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/gov-jay-inslee-fear-mongers-will-not-stop-us-from-setting-carbon-cap/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_opinion

Judge Dismisses Challenge to Oregon Climate Change Program (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/green/2015/09/24/judge-dismisses-challenge-oregon-climate-change-program/72776238/

Oregon: Climate Trust Lands $1 Million to Sequester More Carbon (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/09/climate-trust-lands-1m-to-sequester-morecarbon.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Green Power House Rises from the Ashes (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)
http://flatheadbeacon.com/2015/09/24/green-power-house-rises-from-the-ashes/

Denver Zoo Ditches Plans to Burn Elephant Dung for Electricity (Denver Post, CO)

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28877025/denver-zoo-ditches-plans-burn-elephant-dung-electricity

Nine Massive U-S Companies Pledge to Go 100% Renewable (Think Progress)

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/09/23/3704565/more-big-businesses-pledge-100-percent-renewable/

Are Automatic Toilets Wasteful? (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/living/are-automatic-toilets-wasteful/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Utility Industry Casts Doubt on FERC's Proposed Cyber Standards (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/utility-industry-casts-doubt-on-fercs-proposed-cyber-standards/406253/

Ad Blockers Rise as Ads Annoy, Bog Down Websites (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/technology/article/Ad-blockers-rise-as-ads-annoy-bog-down-websites-6524211.php

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Could a Bank Deny Your Loan Based on Your Facebook Friends? (The Atlantic)

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/09/facebooks-new-patent-and-digital-redlining/407287/

Some Millennials Digging into News, Contrary to Stereotype (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/technology/article/Some-millennials-digging-into-news-contrary-to-6528718.php

Community Driven Success & Inter-Generational Teams: NWPPA 2015 NIC Keynote (Conduit)

https://conduitnw.org/Pages/Article.aspx?rid=797

OP/Ed: Why Americans Can’t Write (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-americans-cant-write/2015/09/24/6e7f420a-6088-11e5-9757-e49273f05f65_story.html?wprss=rss_opinions

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Speaker John Boehner Resigns U-S House Seat (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2015/09/speaker_john_boehner_resigns_u.html

Who's Next? Possible Boehner Successors as Speaker (USA Today)

http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/09/25/john-boehner-successors/

GENERAL NEWS

Drought in 2016 for Washington State? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2015/09/drought-in-2016-for-washington-state.html

Aurora Bridge Back Open after Deadly Bus, 'Ducks' Crash (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/09/25/aurora-bridge-back-open-after-deadly-bus-ducks-crash/72792962/

Shelton’s Lake Boulevard/Pioneer Way Improvement Project (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/24949-lake-boulevard-pioneer-way-improvement-project

Mason County: OysterFest to Change Location (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/north-mason/oysterfest-to-change-location_12678461

Unable to Call 911, Hostage Uses Facebook to Find Help (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Police-rescue-couple-held-hostage-after-Facebook-message-sent-for-help-328584761.html

Home Demolitions Rising along with Tension in Portland Neighborhoods (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/investigations/2015/09/24/home-demolitions-rising-along-tension-portland-neighborhoods/72749470/

DIVERSIONS

McDonald's Worker Stops Working to Help Customer with Disability Eat

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/09/25/mcdonalds-employee-disabled-customer-eat-alone/72789400/

'Pope Dogs' Craze Triggered by Papal Visit

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34357640

The Rise of Humblebragging

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/sep/25/the-rise-of-humblebragging/

Japan's 105-Year-Old 'Golden Bolt' Sets Sprint Record, Misses Personal Best

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/24/us-japan-centenarian-idUSKCN0RO0IW20150924

SONG OF THE DAY

Donny Hathaway - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HFDAp8XVrk

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 September 24, 2015 – Hot Shots Edition

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for September 24, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/of3ask5

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 STORIES

Washington State Legislative Leaders: Indicted Auditor Troy Kelley Should Resign (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Legislative-leaders-Indicted-Auditor-Troy-Kelley-should-resign-328878291.html

U-S Senate Dems Pack Climate Bill Full of Clean Energy Goodies, But No Carbon Tax (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/senate-dems-pack-climate-bill-full-of-clean-energy-goodies-but-no-carbon-t/406151/

Columbia Chinook Catch Strong in Hanford Reach – Most Fall Kings on Snake in 40 Years (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/seattle_times/columbia-chinook-catch-strong-in-hanford-reach-and-most-fall/article_d54054b5-624c-557a-a2cd-4ad9818a4fc9.html

Three Arizona Regulators Face New Allegations of Bias against Rooftop Solar Industry (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/3-arizona-regulators-face-new-allegations-of-bias-against-rooftop-solar-ind/405887/

Tacoma Power’s Henderson Bay Power Towers to be Replaced (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-news/article36310248.html

Clark Public Utilities Adds Five Electric Vehicle Chargers (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/sep/24/577796/

Nike Pledges to Use 100% Renewable Energy by 2025 (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/09/nike-pledges-to-use-100-renewable-energy-by-2025.html

Washington State Starts Aligning Medical, Recreational Marijuana (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Washington-state-starts-aligning-medical-recreational-marijuana-328965021.html

Apple Releases List of Malware-Affected Apps — Check Your Phones (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/techflash/2015/09/apple-releases-list-of-malware-affected-apps-check.html

MacEwen Named Legislator of the Year by Local Educators (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/17183

Fall And Winter Forecast: Warm And Dry Across The Northwest (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/fall-forecast-warm-and-dry-across-nw/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Newsline&utm_campaign=Newsline

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 September 23, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for September 23, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/qfacxes

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

Columbia River at a Six-Year Low but Trending Upward, River Forecasters Say (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2015/09/columbia_river_at_lowest_level.html

Portland General Electric Could Join CAISO Energy Imbalance Market (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/portland-general-electric-could-join-caiso-energy-imbalance-market/405988/

Benton PUD to Start Second Community Solar Project (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article36253041.html

Solar Supplier with Moses Lake Plant Warns of Big Layoffs if Trade Dispute Drags on Longer (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/solar-supplier-warns-big-layoffs-if-trade-dispute-drags-longer

Washington State Begins Writing Stricter Greenhouse Gas Rules for Utilities, Industry (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-state-begins-writing-stricter-ghg-rules-for-utilities-industry/406087/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Portland General Electric Could Join CAISO Energy Imbalance Market
• Backup for Wind: Perennial Wind Chaser Catches Key Permit for Natural Gas Plan
• Tacoma Public Utilities Director Keeps His Job after City Council’s 7-1 Vote
• Bonneville Power Administration Recognized for Stewardship in Rights-Of-Way
• Fitch Rates Energy Northwest's Bonds 'AA'; Outlook Stable
• Op/Ed: Are We Headed for Electric Sticker Shock?
• Record-Breaking Conference Reveals Excitement Surrounding Hydropower
• In Sage Grouse Plan, Vision of Conservation that Industry Can Embrace
• Columbia River at a Six-Year Low but Trending Upward, River Forecasters Say
• Can App-Enabled Smart Meters Solve the Water Crisis?
• Benton PUD to Start Second Community Solar Project
• Solar Supplier with Moses Lake Plant Warns of Big Layoffs if Trade Dispute Drags on Longer
• Oregon: Umatilla County Rejects Wind Farm Plan
• U-S Senate Democrats Unveil Energy Bill That Restores PTC & Extends ITC
• Negative Renewable Energy Credits for Community Solar: Market Failure or Utility Opportunity?
• Get Your Furnace Checked before Winter Hits
• Bill Would Protect Pot from Next President
• Washington State Begins Writing Stricter Greenhouse Gas Rules for Utilities, Industry
• Pope Francis Urges Action on Climate Change on Visit to U-S
• Build a Solar-Powered School in Rural Kenya – In 48 Hours
• Solar War Heats Up: Sunrun Wants S.F. Giants to Dump Pacific Gas & Electric
• Community-Based Telecom Providers Recognized for Delivering Gigabit Broadband
• Radio Frequency Fears: Judge Largely Upholds Berkeley Cellphone Ordinance
• Groupon to Lay Off 1,100, Close Operations in Six Countries
• Facebook's Instagram Hits 400 Million Users
• Here Is an Hour-By-Hour Breakdown of When People Post on Instagram
• State Corrections Secretary Quits after Four Years on Job
• One Injured in Crash on 101 near Highway 3
• Port of Allyn Backs Out of Theler Center Proposal
• Not Guilty Pleas from Men Shot by Olympia Police Officer
• Kam Chancellor Ends Holdout, Returns to Seahawks
• Volkswagen CEO Resigns amid Emissions Violation Scandal
• Drug Company to Cut 5,000% Price Raise after Criticism

WORD OF THE DAY

Bluster • \BLUSS-ter\ • Verb – 1: to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats 2 a: to blow in stormy noisy gusts b: to be windy and boisterous

At about three this morning, Ephram’s blustering monologue about the comparative cultural value of “Three’s Company” versus “Joanie Loves Chachi” was drowned out by a blustery storm that dumped torrential rain down his blabbering, gaping maw.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Portland General Electric Could Join CAISO Energy Imbalance Market (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/portland-general-electric-could-join-caiso-energy-imbalance-market/405988/

Backup for Wind: Perennial Wind Chaser Catches Key Permit for Natural Gas Plan (East Oregonian, Pendleton)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/local-news/20150921/perennial-wind-chaser-catches-key-permit

Tacoma Public Utilities Director Keeps His Job after City Council’s 7-1 Vote (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/politics-government/article36251049.html

Bonneville Power Administration Recognized for Stewardship in Rights-Of-Way (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-recognized-for-stewardship-in-rights-of-way.aspx

Fitch Rates Energy Northwest's Bonds 'AA'; Outlook Stable (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fitch-rates-energy-northwest-was-electric-rev-rfdg-bonds-aa-outlook-stable-2015-09-22

Op/Ed: Are We Headed for Electric Sticker Shock? (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/opinion/perspectives/perspective-are-we-headed-for-electric-sticker-shock/article_062a1be4-616e-11e5-b3f4-fb95afce2a96.html

Record-Breaking Conference Reveals Excitement Surrounding Hydropower (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/print/volume-18/issue-9/features/hydropower/record-breaking-conference-reveals-excitement-surrounding-hydropower.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

In Sage Grouse Plan, Vision of Conservation that Industry Can Embrace (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0922/In-sage-grouse-plan-vision-of-conservation-that-industry-can-embrace

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia River at a Six-Year Low but Trending Upward, River Forecasters Say (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2015/09/columbia_river_at_lowest_level.html

Can App-Enabled Smart Meters Solve the Water Crisis? (Reviewed.com)

http://dishwashers.reviewed.com/features/fluid-app-enabled-smart-water-meter-for-whole-home

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Benton PUD to Start Second Community Solar Project (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article36253041.html

Solar Supplier with Moses Lake Plant Warns of Big Layoffs if Trade Dispute Drags on Longer (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/solar-supplier-warns-big-layoffs-if-trade-dispute-drags-longer

Oregon: Umatilla County Rejects Wind Farm Plan (East Oregonian, Pendleton)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/local-news/20150922/umatilla-county-rejects-wind-farm-plan

U-S Senate Democrats Unveil Energy Bill That Restores PTC & Extends ITC (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2015/09/us-senate-democrats-unveil-energy-bill-that-restores-ptc-and-extends-itc.html

Negative Renewable Energy Credits for Community Solar: Market Failure or Utility Opportunity? (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/negative-recs-for-community-solar-market-failure-or-utility-opportunity/406071/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Get Your Furnace Checked before Winter Hits (WLUC-TV, Negaunee, MI)

http://uppermichiganssource.com/news/local/get-your-furnace-checked-before-winter-hits

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Bill Would Protect Pot from Next President (Associated Press)

http://www.krem.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/22/bill-would-protect-pot-from-next-president/72619478/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Begins Writing Stricter Greenhouse Gas Rules for Utilities, Industry (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-state-begins-writing-stricter-ghg-rules-for-utilities-industry/406087/

Pope Francis Urges Action on Climate Change on Visit to U-S (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34337942

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Build a Solar-Powered School in Rural Kenya – In 48 Hours (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2015/0923/Build-a-solar-powered-school-in-rural-Kenya-in-48-hours

Solar War Heats Up: Sunrun Wants S.F. Giants to Dump Pacific Gas & Electric (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Solar-war-heats-up-Sunrun-wants-SF-Giants-to-6519912.php

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Community-Based Telecom Providers Recognized for Delivering Gigabit Broadband (Fierce Telecom – The only Washington State provider on this list is “Toledo Tel”? Really?)

http://www.fiercetelecom.com/press-releases/community-based-telecom-providers-recognized-delivering-gigabit-broadband

Radio Frequency Fears: Judge Largely Upholds Berkeley Cellphone Ordinance (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/technology/article/Judge-largely-upholds-Berkeley-California-6522126.php

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Groupon to Lay Off 1,100, Close Operations in Six Countries (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/09/22/groupon-to-lay-off-1100-close-operations-in-7-countries/?wprss=rss_business

Facebook's Instagram Hits 400 Million Users (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/22/instagram-400-million-users-facebook/72637166/

Here Is an Hour-By-Hour Breakdown of When People Post on Instagram (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/here-hour-hour-breakdown-when-people-post-instagram-167094

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

State Corrections Secretary Quits after Four Years on Job (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/State-corrections-secretary-quits-after-4-years-on-job-328712601.html

GENERAL NEWS

One Injured in Crash on 101 near Highway 3 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/17173

Port of Allyn Backs Out of Theler Center Proposal (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/port-of-allyn-backs-out-of-theler-proposal_12955174

Not Guilty Pleas from Men Shot by Olympia Police Officer (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/olympia/2015/09/22/not-guilty-pleas-from-men-shot-by-police-officer/72654582/

Kam Chancellor Ends Holdout, Returns to Seahawks (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/292/2815135/Kam-Chancellor-ends-holdout-returns-to-work-with-the-Seahawks

Volkswagen CEO Resigns amid Emissions Violation Scandal (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/09/23/volkswagen-ceo-resigns-amid-emissions-violation-scandal/

Drug Company to Cut 5,000% Price Raise after Criticism (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/national/US-drug-company-Turing-Pharmaceuticals-to-cut-5000-price-raise-after-criticism-328804311.html

DIVERSIONS

Kick Off the Fall Season with a Total Super Moon Eclipse this Sunday

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Kick-off-the-fall-season-with-a-total-Super-Moon-eclipse-this-Sunday-328783931.html

Who, What, Why: What is an equinox? (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34334712

Yankees Hall of Fame Catcher Yogi Berra Dies at 90

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/sep/23/yankees-hall-fame-catcher-yogi-berra-dies-90/

Yogi Berra's 50 Greatest Quotes

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/23/yogi-berra-quotes-isms/72669094/

‘Happy Birthday’ Copyright Invalidated by Judge

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/business/media/happy-birthday-copyright-invalidated-by-judge.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Sarah Vaughan - How High the Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc-hWGXR7BQ

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.