Energy News Digest for February 19, 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.

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 5, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-february.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Judge Dismisses Humane Society Lawsuit That Opposed Killing Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/judge_dismisses_humane_society.html

Tribes, Cable Groups Protest Plan for Snohomish PUD’s Tidal-Power Project (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/702199973

Oregon - State Approves $20 Million Tax Credit for SoloPower; Portland plant struggles to meet job, manufacturing benchmarks (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/state_approves_20_million_tax_credit_for_solopower_as_portland_plant_struggles_to_meet_job_manufacturing_benchmarks.html

Oregon - Rate Increase Sparks No Complaints, Emerald PUD Says: The power utility says cuts to staffing & other costs allowed it to hold the size of the increase to 3 percent (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/cityregion/29439844-41/utility-percent-increase-power-rate.html.csp

Lawmakers to Propose Ten Cent per Gallon Gas Tax Hike for Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/10-cent-gas-tax-hike-for-Washington-191812781.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Oregon - Rate Increase Sparks No Complaints, Emerald PUD Says
• Sound Off on Franklin PUD Rate Hike Proposal
• Cowlitz PUD Considering Forming Rate Advisory Committee
• Oregon - Tillamook PUD Board Moves Forward with Proposed Transmission Line
• Chelan PUD Sells Another ‘Slice’ of Dam Power
• Editorial - Janney will leave a better Chelan County PUD
• Plan Filed to Save Bankrupt Montana Power Co-Op
• Problem Solvers Help Horse Owner Reach Settlement with Puget Sound Energy
• Columbia River PUD named Business of the Year by the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
• Bonneville Power Administration Launches Science Lab Videos for National Engineers Month
• More Regulations Add to Electric Bill Pinch
• Op/Ed - Electrical Power Companies Are Out of Control
• Op/Ed - A Hydropower Renaissance
• Judge Dismisses Humane Society Lawsuit That Opposed Killing Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam
• Federal Court Dismisses Suit against Elwha Hatchery; Tribe Drops Nonnative Steelhead Stocking Plan
• Needs of Farmers, Salmon Sought with New Columbia River Water Deal
• East Side Anglers Lobby for Higher Snake River Chinook Quotas
• North Mason Business Owners Ask Water District to Lower Pipe
• Tribes, Cable Groups Protest Plan for Snohomish PUD’s Tidal-Power Project
• Oregon - State Approves $20 Million Tax Credit for SoloPower
• Clallam Public Utility District Backs Effort to Amend I-937
• Washington State Legislature - New Resolution Could Make Hydroelectric Power a Renewable Resource
• Washington State Legislature - Tharinger Bill Boosts Hog Fuel Tax Help
• HVAC Business Reaches Out with Social Media, Email, Web
• School’s Lights Out Energy Saving Policy Concerns Parents
• Can the Government Itself Achieve Obama’s New Energy Efficiency Goal?
• Natural Gas Isn’t the Only Reason U-S Carbon Emissions Are Falling
• Duke University Survey Finds More Americans Concerned About Climate Change than in Recent Years
• San Juan Islands - Lopez Group Seeks Vote on Broadband Initiative
• Broadband - Rexburg, Idaho & Surrounding Counties Commit to Feasibility Study
• FCC Chair Criticizes Muni-Broadband Restrictions
• United Kingdom - Fast Fibre: A Community Shows the Way
• Burger King Twitter Gets McHacked
• Facebook Will Pay No Taxes, Get Huge Refund Instead
• Lawmakers to Propose Ten Cent per Gallon Gas Tax Hike for Washington State
• Bill Aims to Crack Down on Washington State Metal Theft
• Mandated City of Seattle Sick Leave? Not So Fast, Washington State Legislature Says
• Montesano Woman Dead Following Accident Outside of McCleary
• Belfair Man Arrested After Standoff at His Home on East Blake Rd
• Allyn Couple Escapes House Fire Unharmed
• Exploding Targets under Scrutiny after Devastating Central Washington Fire
• Editorial - Where Have All the Businesses Gone?
• More Than 100 Apply to be Washington State’s Marijuana Consultant

WORD OF THE DAY

Clamant • \KLAY-munt\ • Adjective - 1: clamorous, blatant 2: demanding attention: urgent

“Warning, there be monsters here,” blared the clamant language that headed the ancient map showing the edge of the earth. “Pshaw,” snorted Odysseus, “what could possibly go wrong on this trip?” (And one of the first examples of hubris was born.)

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Oregon - Rate Increase Sparks No Complaints, Emerald PUD Says: The power utility says cuts to staffing & other costs allowed it to hold the size of the increase to 3 percent (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/cityregion/29439844-41/utility-percent-increase-power-rate.html.csp

Sound Off on Franklin PUD Rate Hike Proposal (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/21233062/weigh-in-on-franklin-pud-rate-hike-proposal

Cowlitz PUD Considering Forming Rate Advisory Committee (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-considering-forming-rate-advisory-committee/article_433f52c4-77dd-11e2-9c35-001a4bcf887a.html

Oregon - Tillamook PUD Board Moves Forward with Proposed Transmission Line (Tillamook Headlight-Herald, OR)

http://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/article_e00ebc0c-7986-11e2-b954-001a4bcf887a.html

Chelan PUD Sells Another ‘Slice’ of Dam Power (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/15/chelan-pud-sells-another-slice-of-dam-power/

Editorial - Janney will leave a better Chelan County PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/16/janney-will-leave-a-better-pud/

Plan Filed to Save Bankrupt Montana Power Co-Op (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/plan-filed-to-save-bankrupt-power-co-op/article_17af476e-48f2-51c2-8cec-e8d2c338e330.html

Problem Solvers Help Horse Owner Reach Settlement with Puget Sound Energy (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/problemsolvers/Problem-Solvers-help-horse-owner-reach-settlement-with-PSE-191490451.html

Columbia River PUD named Business of the Year by the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

http://www.crbizjournal.com/news/article_6395579e-7a12-11e2-84e6-001a4bcf887a.html

Bonneville Power Administration Launches Science Lab Videos for National Engineers Month (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/bonneville-power-administration.html

More Regulations Add to Electric Bill Pinch (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/energy-environment/congress-warned-on-regulatory-costs/52625

Op/Ed - Electrical Power Companies Are Out of Control (Washington Times)

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/curmudgeon-corner/2013/feb/17/electrical-power-companies-are-out-control/

Op/Ed - A Hydropower Renaissance (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/business_daily/2013-02-18/a_hydropower_renaissance

FISH & WILDLIFE

Judge Dismisses Humane Society Lawsuit That Opposed Killing Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/judge_dismisses_humane_society.html

Federal Court Dismisses Suit against Elwha Hatchery; Tribe Drops Nonnative Steelhead Stocking Plan (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020379561_elwhahatcheryxml.html?prmid=4939

Needs of Farmers, Salmon Sought with New Columbia River Water Deal (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/politics/Needs-of-farmers-salmon-sought-with-Columbia-River-water-deal-191482991.html

East Side Anglers Lobby for Higher Snake River Chinook Quotas (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/17/east-side-anglers-lobby-for-higher-snake-river/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

North Mason Business Owners Ask Water District to Lower Pipe (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/16/north-mason-business-owners-ask-water-district/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tribes, Cable Groups Protest Plan for Snohomish PUD’s Tidal-Power Project (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/702199973

Oregon - State Approves $20 Million Tax Credit for SoloPower; Portland plant struggles to meet job, manufacturing benchmarks (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/state_approves_20_million_tax_credit_for_solopower_as_portland_plant_struggles_to_meet_job_manufacturing_benchmarks.html

Clallam Public Utility District Backs Effort to Amend I-937 (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130217/NEWS/302179990/clallam-public-utility-district-backs-effort-to-amend-i-937

Washington State Legislature - New Resolution Could Make Hydroelectric Power a Renewable Resource (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/new-resolution-could-make-hydroelectic-power-a-renewable-resource/

Washington State Legislature - Tharinger Bill Boosts Hog Fuel Tax Help (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130218/news/302189995/eye-on-olympia-tharinger-bill-boosts-hog-fuel-tax-help

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

HVAC Business Reaches Out with Social Media, Email, Web (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130218/BIZ/702189969

School’s Lights Out Energy Saving Policy Concerns Parents (WSFA-TV, Montgomery, AL)
http://www.wsfa.com/story/21221934/schools-lights-out-energy-saving-policy-concerns-parents

Can the Government Itself Achieve Obama’s New Energy Efficiency Goal? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2013/02/can-the-government-itself-achieve-obamas-new-energy-efficiency-goal

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Natural Gas Isn’t the Only Reason U-S Carbon Emissions Are Falling (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/15/natural-gas-isnt-the-only-reason-u-s-carbon-emissions-are-plummeting/

Duke University Survey Finds More Americans Concerned About Climate Change than in Recent Years (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=207150&issueID=26956

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

San Juan Islands - Lopez Group Seeks Vote on Broadband Initiative (Islands Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

http://www.islandssounder.com/news/191471741.html

Broadband - Rexburg, Idaho & Surrounding Counties Commit to Feasibility Study (Community Broadband Networks)

http://www.muninetworks.org/content/rexburg-idaho-and-surrounding-counties-commit-feasibility-study

FCC Chair Criticizes Muni-Broadband Restrictions (Online Media Daily)

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/193666/fcc-chair-criticizes-muni-broadband-restrictions.html#axzz2LMPtGbLF

United Kingdom - Fast Fibre: A Community Shows the Way (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21442348

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Burger King Twitter Gets McHacked (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/02/18/burger-king-twitter-gets-mchacked/

Facebook Will Pay No Taxes, Get Huge Refund Instead (Gawker)

http://gawker.com/5984831/facebook-will-pay-no-taxes-get-huge-refund-instead

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Lawmakers to Propose Ten Cent per Gallon Gas Tax Hike for Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/10-cent-gas-tax-hike-for-Washington-191812781.html

Bill Aims to Crack Down on Washington State Metal Theft (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020379683_metaltheftxml.html

Mandated City of Seattle Sick Leave? Not So Fast, Washington State Legislature Says (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/02/18/mandated-city-sick-leave-not-so-fast-legislature-says/#axzz2LMPYcKtP

GENERAL NEWS

Montesano Woman Dead Following Accident Outside of McCleary (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/montesano-woman-dead-following-accident-outside-of-mccleary/

Belfair Man Arrested After Standoff at His Home on East Blake Rd (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/18/belfar-man-arrested-after-standoff-at-his-home/

Allyn Couple Escapes House Fire Unharmed (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/18/allyn-couple-escapes-house-fire-unharmed/

Exploding Targets under Scrutiny after Devastating Central Washington Fire (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Exploding-targets-under-scrutiny-after-devastating-fire-191594641.html

Editorial - Where Have All the Businesses Gone? (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/50222-where-have-all-the-businesses-gone

More Than 100 Apply to be Washington State’s Marijuana Consultant (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2013/02/more-than-100-apply-to-be-wa-marijuana.html

DIVERSIONS

Would You Pay $30 An Hour To Nap In A 7-By-8-Foot Room At The Airport?

http://consumerist.com/2013/02/14/would-you-pay-30-an-hour-to-nap-in-a-7-by-8-foot-room-at-the-airport/

How State Boundaries Would Look Based on Equal Population

http://gizmodo.com/5984487/how-state-boundaries-would-look-based-on-equal-population

Muscle-Printed Cycling Suits Let You Ride around Looking Like a Flayed Horror

http://grist.org/business-technology/muscle-printed-cycling-suits-let-you-ride-around-looking-like-a-flayed-horror/

Texas Woman Has Two Sets of Identical Twins in One Day

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/19/us-usa-twins-idUSBRE91I04K20130219

SONG OF THE DAY

Gordon Lightfoot - Song for a Winter’s Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yQc-wGeYvk

Energy News Digest for February 15, 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.

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

Programming Note

The energy news digest will be contemplating a glut of Presidential Programming on the History Channel or elsewhere on Monday. Therefore it will be too sated with infotainment to lift a finger to disseminate any news…unless a meteorite explodes over the Pacific Northwest, then…LOOK OUT!

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 15, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_15.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Nearly 1,000 Injured by Blasts as Meteor Falls in Russia (Associated Press – Some AWESOME videos here)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/191397131.html

Washington State Lawmakers Seek Changes to Clean-Energy Law (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/washington_lawmakers_seek_chan.html

Puget Sound Energy Wind Farms Post New One-Day Generating Record (BusinessWire)

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/moreover/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1000027&newsId=20130214006635&newsLang=en

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases Comprehensive Residential Energy Study - study reveals home energy usage that will inform future Pacific Northwest energy planning (Rock Hill Herald, SC)

http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/02/14/4621942/neea-releases-comprehensive-residential.html

U-S Senator Cantwell Presses Lew on Proposal to Cap Municipal Bond Tax Deduction (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=207290&issueID=26954

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• U-S Senator Cantwell Presses Lew on Proposal to Cap Municipal Bond Tax Deduction
• Taxpayers Steaming over Florida Nuclear Plant’s Shuttering
• San Onofre: Mitsubishi Told to Hand over Nuclear Power Plant Report
• Tennessee Valley Authority Faces Lawsuit over Clean Water Act
• Energy Theft Goes Global
• Columbia River Suitable for Invasive Mussel Invasion
• March 1 Forecast Meeting Starts Salmon Season Process
• What Happens When Fish Get High on Discarded Drugs?
• Relocation of Endangered Deer a Slow, Dangerous Process
• Greens Say California Hatchery Threatens Native Fish
• Skagit County - No Charges in Possible Theft of State Money at Bullerville Utility District
• Washington State Lawmakers Seek Changes to Clean-Energy Law
• Puget Sound Energy Wind Farms Post New One-Day Generating Record
• Dimming Future for Large Solar Projects in Oregon as Incentives Dry Up
• Won’t You Be My Solar-Panel-Buying Neighbor?
• Texas - Clean Energy Faces Hurdles in Legislature
• Net Metering Debate Rages On, Despite Calls for Calm
• United Kingdom - Kent Prison Goes Green with Huge Wind Turbines
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases Comprehensive Residential Energy Study
• How Nest’s Control Freaks Reinvented the Thermostat
• Op/Ed - LEDs: Lighting the Way to Major Energy Savings
• Federal Government’s New Big Worry: The Weather
• Biofuel Agreement - Port Of Pasco Agrees to New Lease with Green Power
• To Help Light Up Africa, Many Drops in the Bucket
• U-S Broadband Providers Performing Better Than Their Critics Claim, New Study Finds
• Which Internet Service Providers Are Providing The Speeds They Advertise?
• Seattle Number 7 on Network World’s Top Tech Towns
• Obama Executive Order on Cybersecurity Promises Greater Information Sharing With Industry
• Nearly 1,000 Injured by Blasts as Meteor Falls in Russia
• Budget Deadline Would Cut 1,000 Hanford Workers
• Snohomish County Executive Admits Political Attacks Came from His Staff
• Dude, Where’s My Refund? IRS Website Overrun

WORD OF THE DAY

Intemperate • \in-TEMP-puh-rutt\ • adjective - 1: not moderate or mild: severe 2: lacking or showing lack of restraint 3: given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages

“Diarrhea is like an intemperate storm raging inside you,” boomed the throbbing baritone voice into the microphone, its glottal tones shaking the spiders in the rafters of the control booth at the recording studio. “Um, you may want to remove the word intemperate from the copy Gary,” the mousy-voiced engineer whined into the talkback circuit. “Two of our staff were persuaded by your delivery…just a bit too much.”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

U-S Senator Cantwell Presses Lew on Proposal to Cap Municipal Bond Tax Deduction (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=207290&issueID=26954

Taxpayers Steaming over Florida Nuclear Plant’s Shuttering (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/14/172020709/taxpayers-steaming-over-florida-nuclear-plants-shuttering?ft=1&f=2

San Onofre: Mitsubishi Told to Hand over Nuclear Power Plant Report (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/nrc-san-onofre-mitsubishi-report.html

Tennessee Valley Authority Faces Lawsuit over Clean Water Act (Memphis Business Journal, TN)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2013/02/14/tva-faces-lawsuit-over-clean-water-act.html

Energy Theft Goes Global (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/sbattaglia/185556/energy-theft-goes-global

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Suitable for Invasive Mussel Invasion (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020361475_aporinvasivemussels.html

March 1 Forecast Meeting Starts Salmon Season Process (Wahkiakum Eagle, Skamokawa, WA)

http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2013-02-14_forecast_meeting_starts_salmon_season_process

What Happens When Fish Get High on Discarded Drugs? (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/health/2020361515_druggedfishxml.html

Relocation of Endangered Deer a Slow, Dangerous Process (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/relocation-of-endangered-deer-a-slow-dangerous-process/article_709caf96-7648-11e2-a80e-001a4bcf887a.html

Greens Say California Hatchery Threatens Native Fish (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/15/54900.htm

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Skagit County - No Charges in Possible Theft of State Money at Bullerville Utility District (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

http://www.goskagit.com/all_access/no-charges-in-possible-theft-of-state-money/article_43564c70-ea58-53a4-80e8-06075e539eea.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Washington State Lawmakers Seek Changes to Clean-Energy Law (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/washington_lawmakers_seek_chan.html

Puget Sound Energy Wind Farms Post New One-Day Generating Record (BusinessWire)

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/moreover/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1000027&newsId=20130214006635&newsLang=en

Dimming Future for Large Solar Projects in Oregon as Incentives Dry Up (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/dim_future_for_large_solar_pro.html

Won’t You Be My Solar-Panel-Buying Neighbor? (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2013/02/13/environment/112927/wont-you-be-my-solar-panel-buying-group-neighbor/

Texas - Clean Energy Faces Hurdles in Legislature (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/us/clean-energy-foresees-fight-in-texas-legislature.html?_r=0

Net Metering Debate Rages On, Despite Calls for Calm (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/net-metering-debate-rages-on-despite-calls-for-calm?cmpid=rss

United Kingdom - Kent Prison Goes Green with Huge Wind Turbines (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/15/windpower-renewableenergy

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases Comprehensive Residential Energy Study - study reveals home energy usage that will inform future Pacific Northwest energy planning (Rock Hill Herald, SC)

http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/02/14/4621942/neea-releases-comprehensive-residential.html

How Nest’s Control Freaks Reinvented the Thermostat (MIT Technology Review)

http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/511086/how-nests-control-freaks-reinvented-the-thermostat/

Op/Ed - LEDs: Lighting the Way to Major Energy Savings (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2013/02/14/leds-lighting-the-way-to-major-energy-savings-2/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Federal Government’s New Big Worry: The Weather (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/15/climate-change-and-weather-report/1920381/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Biofuel Agreement - Port Of Pasco Agrees to New Lease with Green Power (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/21202503/port-of-pasco

To Help Light Up Africa, Many Drops in the Bucket (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/to-help-light-up-africa-many-drops-in-the-bucket/?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

U-S Broadband Providers Performing Better Than Their Critics Claim, New Study Finds (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bna.com/us-broadband-providers-n17179872334/

Which Internet Service Providers Are Providing The Speeds They Advertise? (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/02/15/which-isps-are-providing-the-speeds-they-advertise/

Seattle Number 7 on Network World’s Top Tech Towns (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2013/02/seattle-no-7-on-network-worlds-top.html

Obama Executive Order on Cybersecurity Promises Greater Information Sharing With Industry (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/02/-the-executive-actions-lack.html

GENERAL NEWS

Nearly 1,000 Injured by Blasts as Meteor Falls in Russia (Associated Press – Some AWESOME videos here)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/191397131.html

Budget Deadline Would Cut 1,000 Hanford Workers (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Budget-deadline-would-cut-1000-Hanford-workers-191385571.html

Snohomish County Executive admits political attacks came from his staff (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2203476

Dude, Where’s My Refund? IRS Website Overrun (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2020357520_apusirswheresmyrefund.html

DIVERSIONS

Ancient Asteroid Strike in Australia “Changed Face of Earth”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/us-science-asteroid-australia-idUSBRE91E0AO20130215

Bill Nye Says 45-Meter Asteroid Coming near Earth Reason to be Concerned

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2202888

Yes, There’s a Study about Passing Gas on Planes: Let It Rip, Unless You’re the Pilot

http://consumerist.com/2013/02/15/yes-theres-a-study-about-passing-gas-on-planes-let-it-rip-unless-youre-the-pilot/

Worst Vacation Ever Continues as Cruise Ship’s Bus Ride Home Breaks Down

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/02/carnival-cruise-ship-bus-breakdown/62180/

SONG OF THE DAY

Justin Hayward - Forever Autumn (this is perhaps the most obscure song of the day reference to a story in the news digest you will ever see…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO9Qx7Kp_I8

Energy News Digest for February 14, 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.

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 14, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/word-cloud-for-energy-news-digest.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Thanks to NoaNet & Public Utility Districts - High-Speed Broadband Expansion Complete in Southeast Washington State (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/21193380/high-speed-broadband-expansion-complete-in-southeast-washington

Pacific Power Rate Increase Requests Can Be a Power Struggle (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/784997-8/rate-increase-requests-can-be-a-power-struggle

Thurston County PUD Appoints New Commissioner to Board (Thurston County PUD, Olympia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/thurston-county-pud-appoints-new.html

Clark County Pays Out on Biomass Project (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/13/clark-county-pays-out-biomass-project/

Grant PUD Finalizes Plan for White River Salmon (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_f80547de-7627-11e2-955a-001a4bcf887a.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Pacific Power Rate Increase Requests Can Be a Power Struggle
• Thurston County PUD Appoints New Commissioner to Board
• Janney to Quit Chelan PUD for Faith, Family
• Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Public Input on Replacing Line from Moxee to Columbia River
• U-S Army Corps Extends Comment Period on Proposed Bonneville Power Administration Line in SW Washington State
• Opposition is Growing to Proposed Tillamook PUD Line
• Washington State Governor’s Energy Section of “Working Washington Agenda”
• Ambre Energy Too Unstable to Profit from Coal Exports, Group Warns
• Reducing NERC-WECC Regulatory Burdens
• Hungry for Energy, Brazil Builds Monster Dams in the Amazon
• Grant PUD Finalizes Plan for White River Salmon
• Oregon - Clatsop County Approves Additional Funding for Gillnet Fishery
• Snake River Anglers Seek Spring Chinook
• Thieves Target Washougal Salmon Advocates
• Medford Sewage Plant Hurts the Rogue River; Study Finds
• Stranded Sea Lions Turning Up Earlier in Southern California
• Chehalis River Erosion Could Threaten Montesano Water Treatment Plant
• Clark County Pays Out on Biomass Project
• Texas - Wood-Waste Plant, Meant to Provide Austin with Renewable Energy, Sits Idle
• Oregon Offers Wave Energy Development Opportunities
• Solar As a Service Dominated the Solar Roofs Built Last Year in California
• Minnesota Sues to Halt Wind Energy Developer’s Operations
• Germany: Severe Renewable Energy Cuts Planned
• Thurston County Solid Waste Educates About Recycling Mercury-Containing Light Bulbs
• How a Carbon Tax Can Save America
• Green Workplaces Grow in Clark County
• $85,000 Tesla Sedan Being Raffled to Raise Funds for Garfield High
• Woman Marries Solar Panel in Bizarre Electricity Price Protest
• Thanks to NoaNet & Public Utility Districts - High-Speed Broadband Expansion Complete in Southeast Washington State
• CenturyLink Workers Closer to Striking in Washington, 12 Other States
• INetU to Launch West Coast Presence with Seattle Data Center
• Goodbye Cable? Intel Working on Set-Top Box That’s ‘Vastly Superior’
• West Virginia - Frontier Warns Against Redefining Broadband Speed
• Georgia - Bill Would Ban Muni Broadband if One Home in Census Tract Gets 1.5Mbps
• Washington State Governor - Inslee Offers Proposals for ‘A Working Washington’
• Washington State: Some 8,000 Initiative Signatures May Have Been Faked
• Belfair Woman Dies in Wednesday’s Highway 3 Crash
• 1,000 Pounds of Stolen Mail Found by Port Townsend Police, Man Arrested
• Washington State Drivers Join Oregon’s Pay-Per-Mile Pilot Program

WORD OF THE DAY

Nebulous • \NEBB-yuh-luss\ • Adjective - 1: of, relating to, or resembling a nebula: nebular 2: indistinct, vague – Origin: Latin nebulosus misty, from nebula

The Washington State marijuana start-up’s brainstorming session was not going well. The business plan’s thesis was just about as nebulous as the participants were to each other through a hazy wall of, well, smoke…in the darkened, snack-stocked conference room

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Pacific Power Rate Increase Requests Can Be a Power Struggle (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/784997-8/rate-increase-requests-can-be-a-power-struggle

Thurston County PUD Appoints New Commissioner to Board (Thurston County PUD, Olympia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/thurston-county-pud-appoints-new.html

Janney to Quit Chelan PUD for Faith, Family (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/13/janney-quits-pud-for-faith-family/

Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Public Input on Replacing Line from Moxee to Columbia River (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestnews/834425-8/bpa-seeks-public-input-on-replacing-line-from

U-S Army Corps Extends Comment Period on Proposed Bonneville Power Administration Line in SW Washington State (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/14/army-corps-extends-comment-period-proposed-bpa-lin/

Opposition is Growing to Proposed Tillamook PUD Line (Tillamook Headlight-Herald, OR)

http://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/article_fe2be8ca-762c-11e2-8afe-001a4bcf887a.html

Washington State Governor’s Energy Section of “Working Washington Agenda” (Washington State Governor)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/washington-state-governors-energy.html

Ambre Energy Too Unstable to Profit from Coal Exports, Group Warns (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/ambre-energy-too-unstable-to-profit-from-coal-exports-group/article_606a20d6-7648-11e2-9c88-001a4bcf887a.html

Reducing NERC-WECC Regulatory Burdens (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/02/eric-christensen-publishes-article-on-reducing-nerc-wecc-regulatory-burdens-in-february-northwest-pu.html

Hungry for Energy, Brazil Builds Monster Dams in the Amazon (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/13/171902544/hungry-for-energy-brazil-builds-monster-dams-in-the-amazon?ft=1&f=2

FISH & WILDLIFE

Grant PUD Finalizes Plan for White River Salmon (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_f80547de-7627-11e2-955a-001a4bcf887a.html

Oregon - Clatsop County Approves Additional Funding for Gillnet Fishery (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

http://www.crbizjournal.com/news/article_a6deee34-763e-11e2-bc91-001a4bcf887a.html

Snake River Anglers Seek Spring Chinook (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/13/snake-river-anglers-seek-spring-chinook/

Thieves Target Washougal Salmon Advocates (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Thieves-target-salmon-saving-group-191130811.html

Medford Sewage Plant Hurts the Rogue River; Study Finds (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/medford_sewage_plant_hurts_the.html

Stranded Sea Lions Turning Up Earlier in Southern California (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/13/171933383/stranded-sea-lions-turning-up-earlier-in-southern-california?ft=1&f=2

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chehalis River Erosion Could Threaten Montesano Water Treatment Plant (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5147

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clark County Pays Out on Biomass Project (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/13/clark-county-pays-out-biomass-project/

Texas - Wood-Waste Plant, Meant to Provide Austin with Renewable Energy, Sits Idle (Austin American-Statesman, TX)

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/wood-waste-plant-meant-to-provide-austin-with-rene/nWN5N/

Oregon Offers Wave Energy Development Opportunities (Maritime Activities Reports)

http://www.marinelink.com/news/opportunites-development351642.aspx

Solar As a Service Dominated the Solar Roofs Built Last Year in California (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/13/solar-as-a-service-dominates-the-solar-roofs-built-last-year-in-california/

Minnesota Sues to Halt Wind Energy Developer’s Operations (Pioneer Press, St Paul, MN)

http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_22584140/minnesota-sues-halt-wind-energy-developers-operations

Germany: Severe Renewable Energy Cuts Planned (PV Magazine)

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/germany--severe-renewable-energy-cuts-planned_100010216/#axzz2KtfDBg8s

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Thurston County Solid Waste Educates About Recycling Mercury-Containing Light Bulbs (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/02/13/thurston-county-solid-waste-educates-about-recycling-mercury-containing-light-bulbs/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

How a Carbon Tax Can Save America (Motley Fool)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/02/13/how-a-carbon-tax-can-combat-climate-change-and-the.aspx

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Green Workplaces Grow in Clark County (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/13/green-workplaces-grow/

$85,000 Tesla Sedan Being Raffled to Raise Funds for Garfield High (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Tesla-being-raffled-to-raise-funds-for-Garfield-High-School-191130861.html

Woman Marries Solar Panel in Bizarre Electricity Price Protest (Energy Matters)

http://www.energymatters.com.au/news/?zenid=j56hj3madr7002n0grq60kim95

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Thanks to NoaNet & Public Utility Districts - High-Speed Broadband Expansion Complete in Southeast Washington State (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/21193380/high-speed-broadband-expansion-complete-in-southeast-washington

CenturyLink Workers Closer to Striking in Washington, 12 Other States (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/CenturyLink-workers-in-West-closer-to-striking-191203981.html

INetU to Launch West Coast Presence with Seattle Data Center (PR Newswire)

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inetu-to-launch-west-coast-presence-with-seattle-data-center-191189901.html

Goodbye Cable? Intel Working on Set-Top Box That’s ‘Vastly Superior’ (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2013/02/goodbye_cable_intel_working_on.html

West Virginia - Frontier Warns Against Redefining Broadband Speed (Charleston Gazette, WV)

http://wvgazette.com/News/201302120137

Georgia - Bill Would Ban Muni Broadband if One Home in Census Tract Gets 1.5Mbps (Ars Technica)

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/02/georgia-bill-no-muni-broadband-in-areas-with-at-least-1-5mbps-service/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor - Inslee Offers Proposals for ‘A Working Washington’ (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020353166_insleejobsxml.html

Washington State: Some 8,000 Initiative Signatures May Have Been Faked (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/State-Some-8000-initiative-signatures-may-have-been-faked-191130011.html

GENERAL NEWS

Belfair Woman Dies in Wednesday’s Highway 3 Crash (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9217

1,000 Pounds of Stolen Mail Found by Port Townsend Police, Man Arrested (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/stolen-mail-found-man-arrested-191220681.html

Washington State Drivers Join Oregon’s Pay-Per-Mile Pilot Program (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Washington-joins-Oregons-pay-per-mile-pilot-191137931.html

DIVERSIONS

Asteroid Worth $195 Billion, Asteroid Miners Speculate

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/0213/Asteroid-worth-195B-asteroid-miners-speculate

These Pickup Lines Are Guaranteed to Work on Your Nerd Crush

http://mashable.com/2013/02/13/nerdy-pickup-lines/

Captain Cook’s Pistol Fetches $227,000 at Auction

http://news.yahoo.com/captain-cooks-pistol-fetches-227-000-auction-093752686.html

Pennsylvania Grad Student Sues, Says C-Plus Cost Her $1.3 Million

http://news.yahoo.com/pa-grad-student-sues-says-c-plus-cost-165627691.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Chaka Khan - My Funny Valentine (A must-listen version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP-oGwt8ng0

Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iQQGBfbB0k

Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS2BUr83O-8