Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Energy News Digest for January 9, 2013


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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Last Year Was Hottest on Record (Seattle Times)

When It Comes to Polluting Puget Sound, Ballard Takes Cake (Ballard News-Tribune, WA)

Benton PUD Proposes Rate Increase to Start in April (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Is Broadband Internet Access a Public Utility? Is Broadband Internet Access a Public Utility (TIME Magazine)

Fireflies Are Inspiring Brighter LEDs (GigaOM)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Benton PUD Proposes Rate Increase to Start in April
  • Mason County PUD 3 Linemen Restore Electricity to Customers in Mission/Tiger Lake Areas
  • Farmer Elected Chair of Mason County PUD 3 Board of Commissioners
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for January 8, 2013
  • Grays Harbor PUD Board Chair - Skolrood Says He’ll Focus on Savings & Efficiencies
  • Clallam Public Utility District Commissioners Elect New President
  • Attempt to Move Cowlitz PUD Meetings to Evenings Fails
  • Bonneville Power Administration Open House on Energy Transmission is Thursday in Camas
  • Rising Public Power Star - Stacey Azure Promoted to Franklin PUD Communications Specialist
  • Anita Decker, Acting WAPA Administrator, Extended Through February
  • Obama Could Appoint New EPA, Energy Leaders to Focus on Domestic Energy Production
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notes Co-op Smart Grid Growth
  • Fitch: Long Island Power Authority Proposal Could be Money for Nothing
  • Why Power Outlets Look So Weird in Other Countries
  • State of British Columbia’s Pacific Salmon
  • When It Comes to Polluting Puget Sound, Ballard Takes Cake
  • Drought Makes Stretch of Mississippi River ‘Ghost Town’
  • How Social Networks Are Fueling the Solar Boom
  • Fireflies Are Inspiring Brighter LEDs
  • The Cost of Running Home Electronics
  • Last Year Was Hottest on Record
  • EPA Head Calls Climate-Change Shift a Proud Milestone
  • Record Heat Fuels Widespread Fires in Australia
  • Rogue Geoengineering Could ‘Hijack’ World’s Climate
  • Is Broadband Internet Access a Public Utility? Is Broadband Internet Access a Public Utility
  • Dish Targets Clearwire in Bid That Tops Sprint’s
  • Google Rolls Out Biggest Free Wi-Fi Network in New York City
  • What Constitutes Good & Bad Web Design?
  • Faulty iPhone Burns Through $30,000 of Mobile Data
  • Report: Washington State Senator Roach Mistreated Staffer
  • Shelton Man Falls into Well
  • Fuel Leak Is Latest Setback for Boeing’s Dreamliner
  • Ferguson Flowers & Lynch Creek Floral Combine

WORD OF THE DAY

Epiphany • \ih-PIFF-fun-nee\ • Noun – 1 capitalized: January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ 2: an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being 3a (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple & striking (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b: a revealing scene or moment

An epiphany
Use more electricity
Pay a higher bill

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Benton PUD Proposes Rate Increase to Start in April (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Mason County PUD 3 Linemen Restore Electricity to Customers in Mission/Tiger Lake Areas (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Farmer Elected Chair of Mason County PUD 3 Board of Commissioners (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for January 8, 2013 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Grays Harbor PUD Board Chair - Skolrood Says He’ll Focus on Savings & Efficiencies (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Clallam Public Utility District Commissioners Elect New President (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Attempt to Move Cowlitz PUD Meetings to Evenings Fails (Longview Daily News, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration Open House on Energy Transmission is Thursday in Camas (Camas-Washougal Post Record, WA)

Rising Public Power Star - Stacey Azure Promoted to Franklin PUD Communications Specialist (Franklin County PUD)

Anita Decker, Acting WAPA Administrator, Extended Through February (Western Area Power Administration)

Obama Could Appoint New EPA, Energy Leaders to Focus on Domestic Energy Production (Houston Business Journal)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notes Co-op Smart Grid Growth (Electric Co-op Today)

Fitch: Long Island Power Authority Proposal Could be Money for Nothing (Electric Energy Online)

Why Power Outlets Look So Weird in Other Countries (Gizmodo)

FISH & WILDLIFE

State of British Columbia’s Pacific Salmon (Watershed Sentinel, BC)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

When It Comes to Polluting Puget Sound, Ballard Takes Cake (Ballard News-Tribune, WA)

Drought Makes Stretch of Mississippi River ‘Ghost Town’ (USA Today)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

How Social Networks Are Fueling the Solar Boom “…many Americans still view solar as a solution to environmental woes rather than high utility bills…” (Forbes Magazine)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Fireflies Are Inspiring Brighter LEDs (GigaOM)

The Cost of Running Home Electronics (Electric Co-op Today)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Last Year Was Hottest on Record (Seattle Times)

EPA Head Calls Climate-Change Shift a Proud Milestone (USA Today)

Record Heat Fuels Widespread Fires in Australia (NY Times)

Rogue Geoengineering Could ‘Hijack’ World’s Climate - Techniques aimed at averting global warming could lead to an unpredictable international crisis, a report has warned (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/08/geoengineering-hijack-world-climate

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Is Broadband Internet Access a Public Utility? Is Broadband Internet Access a Public Utility (TIME Magazine)

Dish Targets Clearwire in Bid That Tops Sprint’s (Seattle Times)

Google Rolls Out Biggest Free Wi-Fi Network in New York City (Mashable)

What Constitutes Good & Bad Web Design? (NY Times)

Faulty iPhone Burns Through $30,000 of Mobile Data (Gizmodo)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Report: Washington State Senator Roach Mistreated Staffer (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Man Falls into Well (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Fuel Leak Is Latest Setback for Boeing’s Dreamliner (NY Times)

Ferguson Flowers & Lynch Creek Floral Combine (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

DIVERSIONS

This Is the Most Embarrassing Furniture Ever

Sweden Seeks Two Britons for Smuggling Garlic

U-S Franciscan Friars Go Digital, Accept Prayer Requests Via Text

Hot air balloon crashes San Diego backyard wedding

SONG OF THE DAY

Donald Fagen - Walk Between Raindrops

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Energy News Digest for January 8, 2013



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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wind Advisory for Hood Canal Area - Noon to Midnight (National Weather Service, Seattle)

Federal Fisheries Scientists Claim Censorship by Agency Manager (Associated Press)

Port Angeles to Do New Round of ‘Smart’ Meter Tests (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Small Blasts Hit University of Oregon’s Underground Power System (Associated Press)

Wi-Max? Chelan PUD May Not Replace Some Storm-Damaged Fiber at Lake Wenatchee (Wenatchee World, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

  • Port Angeles to Do New Round of ‘Smart’ Meter Tests
  • Small Blasts Hit University of Oregon’s Underground Power System
  • Grays Harbor PUD Signs Agreement with IBEW
  • Women Lineworkers with Seattle City Light Recount Their Experiences
  • Idaho Governor Underscores Commitment to Keep Nuclear Waste Out of Idaho
  • New York Panel Proposes Dissolving the Long Island Power Authority
  • At a New Jersey Nuclear Power Plant, Hurricane Brings More Worry
  • Gas Catches Coal in Electrical Generation
  • Energy Sector Cyberattacks Jumped in 2012. Were Utilities Prepared?
  • Hobbled on Energy, India Ponders a Multitude of Dams
  • Federal Fisheries Scientists Claim Censorship by Agency Manager
  • California - Counts Drop for All Six Imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Fish Species in Latest Survey
  • The Kraken (sea monster) Wakes: First Images of Giant Squid Filmed In Deep Ocean
  • Pay-For-Production Solar Incentive Proving Viable in Oregon
  • Minnesota - Xcel Energy Clarifies Wind Energy Position After Lobbyist Implies Doubt
  • Pennsylvania - Wind Farm Closes After Blade Snaps Off Turbine
  • Editorial - Thumbs Up to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Ford Spearheads Energy Saving Group
  • Talk of a Carbon Tax in the Northwest
  • Minimum Sound Standards Proposed for Hybrid, Electric Vehicles
  • Energy Department to Increase Biofuel Funding by $10 Million
  • Wi-Max? Chelan PUD May Not Replace Some Storm-Damaged Fiber at Lake Wenatchee
  • Seattle City Light Installs New Underwater Data Line, Avoids $480,000 in Construction Costs
  • West Virginia - $126 Million Broadband Project a ‘Train Wreck,’ Delegate Says
  • Clearwire Shareholder Turns to FCC to Block Sprint Deal
  • Google Admits to Blocking Microsoft’s Access to Maps
  • California Parks Officials Knowingly Kept $20 Million Hidden, Probe Finds
  • Penny for Your Thoughts: Oregon Congressman Tries to Stop Trillion Dollar Coins
  • Wind Advisory for Hood Canal Area - Noon to Midnight
  • Shelton Bank Robbery Suspect Identified
  • Officials Concerned As Reports of Flu Deaths in Washington Spike
  • DNR Taking New, Simplified Approach to Educating ‘Brush Pickers’

WORD OF THE DAY

Uxorious • \uck-SORE-ee-us\ • Adjective - Excessively fond of or submissive to a wife.

In love as in his professional naval career, Captain Bradford-Wixell-Smythe was an uxorious companion. Whenever he referred to his ship, the “Dreadnaught Nancy,” his eyes took on a dreamy, faraway look…much like when he waxed poetic of his wife’s rosy, apple-like cheeks awaiting his loving kiss upon his return to his estates at Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Port Angeles to Do New Round of ‘Smart’ Meter Tests (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Small Blasts Hit University of Oregon’s Underground Power System (Associated Press)

Grays Harbor PUD Signs Agreement with IBEW (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Women Lineworkers with Seattle City Light Recount Their Experiences (American Public Power Association)

Idaho Governor Underscores Commitment to Keep Nuclear Waste Out of Idaho (Northwest Public Radio)

New York Panel Proposes Dissolving the Long Island Power Authority (NY Times)

At a New Jersey Nuclear Power Plant, Hurricane Brings More Worry (NY Times)

Gas Catches Coal in Electrical Generation (Real Clean Energy)

Energy Sector Cyberattacks Jumped in 2012. Were Utilities Prepared? (Christian Science Monitor)

Hobbled on Energy, India Ponders a Multitude of Dams (NY Times)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Federal Fisheries Scientists Claim Censorship by Agency Manager (Associated Press)

California - Counts Drop for All Six Imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Fish Species in Latest Survey (Sacramento Bee, CA)

The Kraken (sea monster) Wakes: First Images of Giant Squid Filmed In Deep Ocean (Reuters)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Pay-For-Production Solar Incentive Proving Viable in Oregon “…the program requires participating utilities to pay around 30 or 40 cents per kilowatt hour of solar energy generated by registered solar arrays…” (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Minnesota - Xcel Energy Clarifies Wind Energy Position After Lobbyist Implies Doubt (Pioneer Press, St Paul MN)

Pennsylvania - Wind Farm Closes After Blade Snaps Off Turbine (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, PA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Editorial - Thumbs Up to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Ford Spearheads Energy Saving Group (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Talk of a Carbon Tax in the Northwest (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Minimum Sound Standards Proposed for Hybrid, Electric Vehicles (Everett Herald, WA)

Energy Department to Increase Biofuel Funding by $10 Million (Christian Science Monitor)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wi-Max? Chelan PUD May Not Replace Some Storm-Damaged Fiber at Lake Wenatchee (Wenatchee World, WA)

Seattle City Light Installs New Underwater Data Line, Avoids $480,000 in Construction Costs (American Public Power Association)

West Virginia - $126 Million Broadband Project a ‘Train Wreck,’ Delegate Says (Charleston Gazette, WV)

Clearwire Shareholder Turns to FCC to Block Sprint Deal (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Google Admits to Blocking Microsoft’s Access to Maps (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

California Parks Officials Knowingly Kept $20 Million Hidden, Probe Finds (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Penny for Your Thoughts: Oregon Congressman Tries to Stop Trillion Dollar Coins (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

GENERAL NEWS

Wind Advisory for Hood Canal Area - Noon to Midnight (National Weather Service, Seattle)

Shelton Bank Robbery Suspect Identified (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Officials Concerned As Reports of Flu Deaths in Washington Spike (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

DNR Taking New, Simplified Approach to Educating ‘Brush Pickers’ (Longview Daily News, WA)

DIVERSIONS

If You’re Going to Rig a Sweepstakes, Don’t Give the Prize to Your Facebook Admin

Yelm Woman Learns of Unwanted Visitor Under Her House

Pregnant Woman Accused of Selling Fake Meth Calls Police to Report Mad Customers

Bremerton Woman Wants Trip to Jail; Smacks Officer’s Nose

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles- Fixing a Hole