Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Energy News Digest for April 13, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 13, 2016

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

How Climate Change Threatens the Future of Seattle’s Power Supply (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Wilder Weather Means Tricky Times for Reservoir Operators (Associated Press)

Puget Sound Energy Seeks Court Assist to Prevent Release of Gas-Storage Records (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Pacific Northwest Treaty Tribes Release 43 Million Hatchery Salmon Last Year (Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission)

Integra Division’s Fiber-Optic Route Reaches Quincy Data Centers (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • How Climate Change Threatens the Future of Seattle’s Power Supply
  • Puget Sound Energy Seeks Court Assist to Prevent Release of Gas-Storage Records
  • California Utilities Prepare for Possible Outages Due to Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Problems
  • ‘Blackout Blackmail’: New Report Casts Doubt on Utility’s Claims
  • Bonneville Power Administration Releases Environmental Assessment for Washington State Line
  • Intalco Aluminum Smelter in Ferndale to Stay Open – New power agreement could keep smelter open through February 2018
  • Another Direct Service Industry? Infomart Portland Converts to Low-Carbon BPA System Power – Boasting an Emissions Factor 96% Below the National Average
  • Idaho Power Will Be Sixth Utility to Join CAISO’s Western Energy Imbalance Market
  • World’s Largest Private Coal Company Files for Bankruptcy
  • Pepco Customers in Maryland to Receive First $50 Credit from Exelon Merger
  • Why It’s Time to Dispel the Myths about Nuclear Power
  • Pacific Northwest Treaty Tribes Release 43 Million Hatchery Salmon Last Year
  • Iconic Issaquah Hatchery Could Run Afoul of Federal, State Rules
  • Cowlitz PUD Launches Video Feed of Two Nesting Osprey
  • Ortho to Drop Chemicals Linked to Bee Declines
  • Wilder Weather Means Tricky Times for Reservoir Operators
  • Spokane River Snowpack Melting Because of Warm Nights
  • Irrigation Upgrades Save Billions of Gallons of Water in Yakima
  • Vestas Poised for U-S Mega-Order
  • Why Companies Like Google & Walmart Are Buying So Much Wind Power
  • U-S Senators Suspect Agency Interference in Solar Fraud Investigation
  • Co-ops Rally Around Electric Water Heaters
  • Smart Savings: $12 Remote Controlled LED Lighting
  • The Story of a House That Never Stayed Warm: A Well-Insulated Resolution
  • Arizona Marijuana Legalization Campaign Has 200,000 Signatures
  • Why the Time for Utilities to Promote Electric Vehicles Is Now – Why the Moment Could Quickly Fade
  • The Mental Trick You Can Use to Get Through Any Stressful Situation
  • Integra Division’s Fiber-Optic Route Reaches Quincy Data Centers
  • About 40,000 Verizon Unionized Workers Walk Off the Job
  • This Farm in Kansas Is the Default Address for All American Internet Users
  • Will Facebook’s Chatbots Spell the End of Apps?
  • Upthegrove Jumps Into Washington State Land Commissioner Race as “Environmental Champion”
  • Washington State Representative Brad Hawkins Becomes Second Republican Vying for Senate Seat
  • Cantwell: Energy Bill ‘Must-Pass’ to Improve Manufacturing Workforce
  • Happy Birthday: How Thomas Jefferson Wrote the Declaration of Independence
  • Washington Psychiatric Hospital CEO Fired, New CEO Named
  • Mason County Selects Former Public Works Director as Public Works Director
  • Mason County Selects Community Services Director
WORD OF THE DAY

Sedentary ● /SED-un-tair-ee/ ● Adjective – 1: not migratory: settled 2a: doing or requiring much sitting b: not physically active 3: permanently attached

Sedentary day
There is not much going on
Time to take a nap

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

How Climate Change Threatens the Future of Seattle’s Power Supply (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Puget Sound Energy Seeks Court Assist to Prevent Release of Gas-Storage Records (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

California Utilities Prepare for Possible Outages Due to Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Problems (American Public Power Association)

‘Blackout Blackmail’: New Report Casts Doubt on Utility’s Claims (Think Progress)

Bonneville Power Administration Releases Environmental Assessment for Washington State Line (Transmission & Distribution World)

Intalco Aluminum Smelter in Ferndale to Stay Open – New power agreement could keep smelter open through February 2018 (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Another Direct Service Industry? Infomart Portland Converts to Low-Carbon BPA System Power – Boasting an Emissions Factor 96% Below the National Average (Digital Journal)

Idaho Power Will Be Sixth Utility to Join CAISO’s Western Energy Imbalance Market (Utility Dive)

World’s Largest Private Coal Company Files for Bankruptcy (Washington Examiner)

Pepco Customers in Maryland to Receive First $50 Credit from Exelon Merger (Washington Post)

Why It’s Time to Dispel the Myths about Nuclear Power (The Guardian, UK)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pacific Northwest Treaty Tribes Release 43 Million Hatchery Salmon Last Year (Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission)

Iconic Issaquah Hatchery Could Run Afoul of Federal, State Rules (The Issaquah Press, WA)

Cowlitz PUD Launches Video Feed of Two Nesting Osprey (Longview Daily News, WA)

Ortho to Drop Chemicals Linked to Bee Declines (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Wilder Weather Means Tricky Times for Reservoir Operators (Associated Press)

Spokane River Snowpack Melting Because of Warm Nights (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

Irrigation Upgrades Save Billions of Gallons of Water in Yakima (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Vestas Poised for U-S Mega-Order (renews)

Why Companies Like Google & Walmart Are Buying So Much Wind Power (Washington Post)

U-S Senators Suspect Agency Interference in Solar Fraud Investigation (Washington Examiner)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Co-ops Rally Around Electric Water Heaters (Electric Co-op Today)

Smart Savings: $12 Remote Controlled LED Lighting (Northwest Cable News Network)

The Story of a House That Never Stayed Warm: A Well-Insulated Resolution (Breaking Energy)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Arizona Marijuana Legalization Campaign Has 200,000 Signatures (The Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Why the Time for Utilities to Promote Electric Vehicles Is Now – Why the Moment Could Quickly Fade (Utility Dive)

The Mental Trick You Can Use to Get Through Any Stressful Situation (The Muse)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Integra Division’s Fiber-Optic Route Reaches Quincy Data Centers (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

About 40,000 Verizon Unionized Workers Walk Off the Job (Reuters)

This Farm in Kansas Is the Default Address for All American Internet Users (Consumerist)

MARKETING & MEDIA

Will Facebook’s Chatbots Spell the End of Apps? (Christian Science Monitor)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Upthegrove Jumps Into Washington State Land Commissioner Race as “Environmental Champion” (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Washington State Representative Brad Hawkins Becomes Second Republican Vying for Senate Seat (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Cantwell: Energy Bill ‘Must-Pass’ to Improve Manufacturing Workforce (Morning Consult)

Happy Birthday: How Thomas Jefferson Wrote the Declaration of Independence (Washington Post)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Psychiatric Hospital CEO Fired, New CEO Named (Northwest Cable News Network)

Mason County Selects Former Public Works Director as Public Works Director (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Mason County Selects Community Services Director (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

So What’s Going on Inside an Etch a Sketch?

Handwriting Study Finds Clues on When Biblical Texts Written

Painting Discovered In Leaky French Attic Could Be Lost Masterpiece worth $136 Million

Wanted Iowa Woman Arrested after Found Hiding Inside Oven

SONG OF THE DAY

Joe Cocker - The Letter

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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.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Energy News Digest for April 12, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 12, 2016

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Climate Change Helping British Columbia Forests Recover from Pine Beetle Says Study (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

San Bruno Explosion: Pacific Gas & Electric Trial to Start in Two Weeks (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Elevated Lead Levels Reported In Washington State Patrol Academy Water (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

40,000 Verizon Workers Plan to Strike (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Solar Panel Project Taking Shape at Franklin PUD in Pasco (Tri-City Herald, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • San Bruno Explosion: Pacific Gas & Electric Trial to Start in Two Weeks
  • Pacific Gas & Electric Executives See Pay Raises & Stock Windfalls
  • April 12-April 13 – Planned Power Outage for Mason PUD 3 Customers in Taylor Towne Area
  • Colorado Governor Goes to Bat for Blocked Oregon LNG Terminal
  • With Too Much Solar, California Looks to the West for Markets
  • PacifiCorp Offers Lessons for Future Energy Imbalance Market Participants
  • TVA Eyes Tennessee Site for Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Test Facility
  • Natural Gas & the U-S Model for ‘Decoupling’
  • Michigan Utility Says Ohio ‘Bailouts’ Make Case against Deregulation
  • Electric Line Workers Listed among Top Ten Most Dangerous Jobs
  • Elevated Lead Levels Reported In Washington State Patrol Academy Water
  • Solar Panel Project Taking Shape at Franklin PUD in Pasco
  • Solar Energy Will Overtake Wind Power in Oregon, Readers Say
  • SolarWorld Makes Utility-Scale Solar Sale to Nevada Renewable Company
  • What Disney's Massive Solar Panel Plant Means for Tourism
  • Editorial: The U-S Made the Right Call on Lightbulbs
  • Study Finds Surging Growth in Oregon Pot Industry
  • Climate Change Helping British Columbia Forests Recover from Pine Beetle Says Study
  • Environmental Groups Sue over Pollution from Airliners
  • Does Smart Home Tech Boost Your Home’s Value?
  • 8 Free Apps That Help You Cut Energy Consumption & Costs
  • 40,000 Verizon Workers Plan to Strike
  • Google Fiber Will Offer Fast Internet for $15 a Month in Some of Its Neighborhoods
  • Intuit, a True Survivor, Relocates to the Cloud
  • Dubai's Religious Authorities Issue Fatwa against Stealing Your Neighbor's Wi-Fi
  • New Study Shows Millennials Prefer Short Mobile Videos, While Older Crowds Like Long-form
  • Facebook Wants to Make the Smartphone Smart Again
  • 20+ Social Media Hacks & Tips from the Pros
  • News Release – Parlette to Say Farewell to Washington State Legislature after 20 Years
  • See Where Women Have the Most & Least Political Representation in the U-S
  • Proposed Eugene City Hall is $6 Million over Budget
  • Seattle Police Arrest Man after Body Parts of Missing Woman Discovered
  • Asbestos Danger: 1948 Railroad Structure in Shelton to Be Torn Down
  • Washington State Auditor: Kelley Defense Hammers IRS Agent in Attempt to Cast Doubt
  • Illegal Tree Cut Makes Views Worse for Some West Seattle Homeowners
  • AFTER 167 YEARS OF SCREAMING, NWS Forecasts to Join 21st Century
WORD OF THE DAY

Twee ● \TWEE\ ● Adjective – Affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint.

The twee bee’s low song
Summer’s heat, restful sunshine
Renews my tired soul

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

San Bruno Explosion: Pacific Gas & Electric Trial to Start in Two Weeks (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Pacific Gas & Electric Executives See Pay Raises & Stock Windfalls (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

April 12-April 13 – Planned Power Outage for Mason PUD 3 Customers in Taylor Towne Area

Colorado Governor Goes to Bat for Blocked Oregon LNG Terminal (Portland Business Journal, OR)

With Too Much Solar, California Looks to the West for Markets (Renewable Energy World)

PacifiCorp Offers Lessons for Future Energy Imbalance Market Participants (RTO Insider)

TVA Eyes Tennessee Site for Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Test Facility (Utility Dive)

Natural Gas & the U-S Model for ‘Decoupling’ (Breaking Energy)

Michigan Utility Says Ohio ‘Bailouts’ Make Case against Deregulation (Midwest Energy News)

Electric Line Workers Listed among Top Ten Most Dangerous Jobs (Utility Dive)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Elevated Lead Levels Reported In Washington State Patrol Academy Water (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Solar Panel Project Taking Shape at Franklin PUD in Pasco (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Solar Energy Will Overtake Wind Power in Oregon, Readers Say (Portland Business Journal, OR)

SolarWorld Makes Utility-Scale Solar Sale to Nevada Renewable Company (Portland Business Journal, OR)

What Disney's Massive Solar Panel Plant Means for Tourism (Orlando Business Journal, FL)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Editorial: The U-S Made the Right Call on Lightbulbs (Washington Post)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Study Finds Surging Growth in Oregon Pot Industry (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change Helping British Columbia Forests Recover from Pine Beetle Says Study (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Environmental Groups Sue over Pollution from Airliners (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Does Smart Home Tech Boost Your Home’s Value? (Reviewed.Com)

8 Free Apps That Help You Cut Energy Consumption & Costs (U-S News & World Report)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

40,000 Verizon Workers Plan to Strike (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Google Fiber Will Offer Fast Internet for $15 a Month in Some of Its Neighborhoods (Oregonian, Portland)

Intuit, a True Survivor, Relocates to the Cloud (NY Times)

Dubai's Religious Authorities Issue Fatwa against Stealing Your Neighbor's Wi-Fi (Mashable)

MARKETING & MEDIA

New Study Shows Millennials Prefer Short Mobile Videos, While Older Crowds Like Long-form – The difference between 10 and 30 seconds (AdWeek)

Facebook Wants to Make the Smartphone Smart Again (Gizmodo)

20+ Social Media Hacks & Tips from the Pros (Social Media Examiner)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

News Release – Parlette to Say Farewell to Washington State Legislature after 20 Years (Washington State Senate Republican Caucus)

See Where Women Have the Most & Least Political Representation in the U-S (National Public Radio)

Proposed Eugene City Hall is $6 Million over Budget (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

GENERAL NEWS

Seattle Police Arrest Man after Body Parts of Missing Woman Discovered (Reuters)

Asbestos Danger: 1948 Railroad Structure in Shelton to Be Torn Down (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Auditor: Kelley Defense Hammers IRS Agent in Attempt to Cast Doubt (Northwest Public Radio)

Illegal Tree Cut Makes Views Worse for Some West Seattle Homeowners (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

AFTER 167 YEARS OF SCREAMING, NWS Forecasts to Join 21st Century (Associated Press)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Here’s a Photo of Snakes That Got Electrocuted After One Tried to Bite the Other

Tue 12th April 2016 is “Be Kind to Lawyers Day”
A day to be nice to lawyers and try to inject some law-based fun into your everyday life (for example, try DIY with a Gavel, instead of a hammer). Be Kind to Lawyers Day encourages you to – yes, you guessed it – be kind to your lawyer. Wine and dine them, ring them up and tell them how much you appreciate their hard work, and shower them with lawyer-themed gifts!

How Did She . . . ? Firefighters Rescue Great Dane from 20-Foot Tree

Did Led Zeppelin Rip Off ‘Stairway to Heaven’?

SONG OF THE DAY

Jackson Browne – Lawyers in Love

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

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.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Energy News Digest for April 11, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 11, 2016

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State Water Supply Outlook Shows above Average Mountain Snowpack (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Federal Wildfire Assistance for Washington State Surpasses $3.5 Million Level – Much of the funds go to Public Utility Districts (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

East Clark County Residents Uneasy about Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Lines (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

British Columbia: BC Hydro Spent $17.5 Million to Not Buy Power (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Climate Change Could Limit Salmon Fishing (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Federal Wildfire Assistance for Washington State Surpasses $3.5 Million Level – Much of the funds go to Public Utility Districts
  • East Clark County Residents Uneasy about Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Lines
  • British Columbia: BC Hydro Spent $17.5 Million to Not Buy Power
  • Grays Harbor PUD: Kathryn Skolrood Hired as Chief Financial Officer
  • Rainier Man Receives Bonneville Power Administration 'Courageous Award' for Helping Crash Victim
  • Olympia’s Utility Boxes Get a Face Lift
  • Hopes Fade in Congress for Energy Reform
  • Bernie Sanders Wants to Phase Out Nuclear Power – But some enviro wonks say there is a serious defect in Sanders' plan
  • APPA’s Ditto to Join Utilities Telecom Council as President & CEO
  • ‘26 Songs in 30 Days’: How Woody Guthrie Wrote Those Great Songs — For $266
  • Climate Change Could Limit Salmon Fishing
  • Sage Grouse Battle: A Case of Bad Science? A Case of the “Grouseketeers”
  • British Columbia: Proposed Fish Ladder at Peace River Dam Called ‘Bizarre,’ But Is Quite Common
  • Group Releases Thousands of Coho into Salmon Creek
  • Washington State Water Supply Outlook Shows above Average Mountain Snowpack
  • Cantwell Releases Policy Paper Urging a Rethinking of Water Management in the West
  • Editorial: Klamath Dam Removal a Good First Step toward Fixing Water Woes
  • A New Solar Cell Creates Electricity from Water as Well as Light
  • Trash Power Jumps in 2015
  • California Energy-Saving Standards for Computers Expected By 2018
  • Spring & Summer Energy-Saving Tips
  • In California, Marijuana Is Smelling More Like Big Business
  • Washington State Voters to Consider Nation's First Carbon Tax
  • Green Group Braves Coal Country to Pitch Carbon Tax
  • Climate Change Lawsuit by 21 Youths Takes Big Step Forward
  • Snohomish PUD, Puget Sound Energy, Avista: MESA, Vanadium Batteries Put to the Test in Pacific Northwest
  • Canada: Electric Car Sales Seem Poised for Big Jump – Can Our Grid Take the Load?
  • Google Drops Free Fiber Option in Kansas City
  • Changes May Hit “Institutional” Broadband Users
  • Daily Mail Considering Bid for Yahoo Assets
  • Email Scammers Aren't Just Targeting Consumers Anymore – They're Going after Your Business
  • Slow Internet Speeds Slow Down Rural America
  • Utilities Are Sending the Wrong Message on Energy
  • Transit Etiquette – A Brief History of Manspreading
  • Body Parts Found in Seattle Homeowner’s Recycle Bin
  • What You Should Know about El Niño & La Niña
WORD OF THE DAY


Ascetic • \uh-SET-ik\ • adjective – 1: practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline *2: austere in appearance, manner, or attitude

Agnes decided that when announcing the increase in her occult-based financial security program that it would be best to take an ascetic approach. Instead of the bangles, bells and gold-embroidered costumes that marked her channeling of “Bogart, the Billion Dollar Spirit Advisor,” she wore a plain, black shroud that looked as if it had fallen off the back of a truck in rural Thurston County.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Federal Wildfire Assistance for Washington State Surpasses $3.5 Million Level – Much of the funds go to Public Utility Districts (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

East Clark County Residents Uneasy about Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Lines (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

British Columbia: BC Hydro Spent $17.5 Million to Not Buy Power (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Grays Harbor PUD: Kathryn Skolrood Hired as Chief Financial Officer (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Rainier Man Receives Bonneville Power Administration 'Courageous Award' for Helping Crash Victim (Longview Daily News, WA)

Olympia’s Utility Boxes Get a Face Lift (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

Hopes Fade in Congress for Energy Reform (The Hill, Washington, DC)

Bernie Sanders Wants to Phase Out Nuclear Power – But some enviro wonks say there is a serious defect in Sanders' plan (Mother Jones)

APPA’s Ditto to Join Utilities Telecom Council as President & CEO (American Public Power Association)

‘26 Songs in 30 Days’: How Woody Guthrie Wrote Those Great Songs — For $266 (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Climate Change Could Limit Salmon Fishing (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

Sage Grouse Battle: A Case of Bad Science? A Case of the “Grouseketeers” (Christian Science Monitor)

British Columbia: Proposed Fish Ladder at Peace River Dam Called ‘Bizarre,’ But Is Quite Common (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Group Releases Thousands of Coho into Salmon Creek (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Water Supply Outlook Shows above Average Mountain Snowpack (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Cantwell Releases Policy Paper Urging a Rethinking of Water Management in the West (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Editorial: Klamath Dam Removal a Good First Step toward Fixing Water Woes (Oregonian, Portland)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

A New Solar Cell Creates Electricity from Water as Well as Light (Gizmodo)

Trash Power Jumps in 2015 (Washington Examiner)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

California Energy-Saving Standards for Computers Expected By 2018

Spring & Summer Energy-Saving Tips (Breaking Energy)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

In California, Marijuana Is Smelling More Like Big Business (NY Times)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Voters to Consider Nation's First Carbon Tax (Washington Examiner)

Green Group Braves Coal Country to Pitch Carbon Tax (Washington Examiner)

Climate Change Lawsuit by 21 Youths Takes Big Step Forward (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Snohomish PUD, Puget Sound Energy, Avista: MESA, Vanadium Batteries Put to the Test in Pacific Northwest (EnergyBiz)

Canada: Electric Car Sales Seem Poised for Big Jump – Can Our Grid Take the Load? (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Drops Free Fiber Option in Kansas City (Consumerist)

Changes May Hit Broadband Users – Banks, hospitals, colleges would have more ability to choose their carriers (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Daily Mail Considering Bid for Yahoo Assets (NY Times)

Email Scammers Aren't Just Targeting Consumers Anymore – They're Going after Your Business (AdWeek)

Slow Internet Speeds Slow Down Rural America (Electric Co-op Today)

MARKETING & MEDIA

Utilities Are Sending the Wrong Message on Energy (Renewable Energy World)

Transit Etiquette – A Brief History of Manspreading (Mashable)

GENERAL NEWS

Body Parts Found in Seattle Homeowner’s Recycle Bin (Associated Press)

What You Should Know about El Niño & La Niña (Grist Online)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Man Says Sea Lion Tipped Jet Ski on Willamette Riber

Semi Carrying 45,000 Pounds of Bananas Crashes on I-5

Rescued Marriage Proposal Prankster Says the Answer is “Yes”

26 of the Craziest Hot Dogs You Can Buy during This Year's Baseball Season

SONG OF THE DAY

Harry Chapin - Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

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.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Energy News Digest for April 8, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 8, 2016

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

British Columbia: Christy Clark Announces $470-Million Turbine Contract for Peace River Dam (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Carbon Washington Talks I-732 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Community Solar Poised for Growth as Utilities Gain Confidence, Familiarity (Utility Dive)

Yakima River Basin Water Supply ‘Very Healthy’ (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Survey: Homeowners Choose Efficiency Upgrades to Save Money (Utility Dive)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • British Columbia: Christy Clark Announces $470-Million Turbine Contract for Peace River Dam
  • Utilities Seek to Stockpile Essential Parts for Disasters
  • What Do Texas & California Have in Common? ‘Negative Power’ Caused by Renewables Glut
  • Columbia River Will Close Early for Salmon Fishing
  • Columbia River Tribal Nations Condemn Lawsuit That Would Cut Funding to Fish Hatcheries
  • Yakima River Basin Water Supply ‘Very Healthy’
  • Community Solar Poised for Growth as Utilities Gain Confidence, Familiarity
  • Why We Should Let Utilities Own & Operate Rooftop Solar
  • SolarCity Taps Ex-FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff as Chief Policy Officer
  • 2015 Top Ten PV Cell Manufacturers
  • Survey: Homeowners Choose Efficiency Upgrades to Save Money
  • Your Water Heater Can Become a High-Power Home Battery
  • Poulsbo Pot Lab May Lose License after Washington State Auditors Find Irregularities
  • Washington Marijuana Sales See ‘Border Effect’ from Oregon’s New Recreational Market
  • Carbon Washington Talks I-732
  • Climate Models May Overstate Clouds’ Cooling Power, Research Says
  • Tesla’s Model 3 Already Has 325,000 Preorders
  • The Tremendous Ambitions behind New York City’s Free Wi-Fi
  • More Colorado Communities Vote to Toss Restrictive State Law, Explore Municipal Broadband
  • Municipally-Owned Broadband Networks Should Be a Last Resort, State Leadership Group Says
  • Adobe Issues Flash Update to Thwart Ransomware
  • Verizon Expected to Bid for Yahoo – Google Also May Make an Offer
  • Facebook Facing Sharing in Decline?
  • What the iPhone Has Done to Cameras Is Completely Insane
  • Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
  • Washington State Attorney General’s Office Admits It Gave ‘Deeply Flawed’ Advice on Early Prison Releases
  • Acting Port of Shelton Director Sees Need for Jobs Growth
  • Cowlitz Tribe Pushes Back against Clark County’s Efforts to Stop Casino Construction
  • Postage Rates Goes Down on Sunday
  • One Athlete, One Percent Bring Highclimbers, Skokomish Together
WORD OF THE DAY

Garrulous • \GERR-uh-luss \ • Adjective - 1: given to prosy, rambling, or tedious loquacity: pointlessly or annoyingly talkative 2: wordy

Montgomery began to sag weakly at his table. The presenter at the Oak Lawn Philatelic Society’s annual dinner droned for 45 minutes about the rare “Inverted Jenny” airmail stamp. The presenter’s garrulous appearance began as a series of distinct words and phrases…and slowly declined into a soporific experience similar to listening to the appearance of the adults in a “Peanuts” special.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

British Columbia: Christy Clark Announces $470-Million Turbine Contract for Peace River Dam (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Utilities Seek to Stockpile Essential Parts for Disasters (Wall Street Journal)

What Do Texas & California Have in Common? ‘Negative Power’ Caused by Renewables Glut (Dallas Morning News, TX)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Will Close Early for Salmon Fishing (Oregonian, Portland)

Columbia River Tribal Nations Condemn Lawsuit That Would Cut Funding to Fish Hatcheries (Indian Country Today)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Yakima River Basin Water Supply ‘Very Healthy’ (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Community Solar Poised for Growth as Utilities Gain Confidence, Familiarity (Utility Dive)

Why We Should Let Utilities Own & Operate Rooftop Solar (Green Tech Media)

SolarCity Taps Ex-FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff as Chief Policy Officer (Utility Dive)

2015 Top Ten PV Cell Manufacturers (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Survey: Homeowners Choose Efficiency Upgrades to Save Money (Utility Dive)

Your Water Heater Can Become a High-Power Home Battery (Popular Science)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Poulsbo Pot Lab May Lose License after Washington State Auditors Find Irregularities (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Washington Marijuana Sales See ‘Border Effect’ from Oregon’s New Recreational Market (Oregonian, Portland)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Washington Talks I-732 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Climate Models May Overstate Clouds’ Cooling Power, Research Says (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tesla’s Model 3 Already Has 325,000 Preorders (NY Times)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Tremendous Ambitions behind New York City’s Free Wi-Fi (Washington Post)

More Colorado Communities Vote to Toss Restrictive State Law, Explore Municipal Broadband (Consumerist)

Municipally-Owned Broadband Networks Should Be a Last Resort, State Leadership Group Says (Fierce Telecom)

Adobe Issues Flash Update to Thwart Ransomware (USA Today)

MARKETING & MEDIA

Verizon Expected to Bid for Yahoo – Google Also May Make an Offer (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Facebook Facing Sharing in Decline? (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

What the iPhone Has Done to Cameras Is Completely Insane (Washington Post)

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Attorney General’s Office Admits It Gave ‘Deeply Flawed’ Advice on Early Prison Releases (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Acting Port of Shelton Director Sees Need for Jobs Growth (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Cowlitz Tribe Pushes Back against Clark County’s Efforts to Stop Casino Construction (Longview Daily News, WA)

Postage Rates Goes Down on Sunday (Associated Press)

One Athlete, One Percent Bring Highclimbers, Skokomish Together (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Is Tipping Smart Cars on Their Side The Urban Take on ‘Cow Tipping’?

Three Castaways Rescued After Spelling ‘Help’ with Palm Leaves on Remote Island

We Analyzed the Names of Almost Every Chinese Restaurant in America. This Is What We Learned

What Merle Haggard Brought to the Country Music Genre

SONG OF THE DAY

Merle Haggard - Are the Good Times Really Over

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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.