Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Hot Shots Edition - Energy News Digest for March 12, 2014

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Four Hurt in Hash Oil Explosion at Shelton Home (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Shelton: Maple Glen Evacuated after Kitchen Fire (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Mainzer Tells Power Council That the Bonneville Power Administration Will Meet Its Energy Efficiency Targets (Oregonian, Portland)

Pacific PUD Board OKs Bond Sale - $15 Million Bond Issue Will Fund Projects Including Tokeland Extension (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

Wanapum Dam Drawdowns Worry Orchardists Who Rely on Columbia River Water (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Idaho Power Doesn't Expect Boardman-To-Hemingway Power Line to be in Service Before 2020 (Baker City Herald, OR)

Google Fiber Puts the Pressure on Local Governments with Checklist, May Deadline (Oregonian, Portland)

29 Things Portland Can Do to Win Google Fiber (Portland Business Journal, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2014/03/29-things-portland-can-do-to-win-google-fiber.html

Vestas Named No. 1 in the World for Wind Turbine Installations (Denver Buisness Journal, CO)

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


THE NEWS DIGEST BLOG & TWITTER FEED

The news digest is also available at the following web site:

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 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.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Energy News Digest for March 11, 2014

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:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 11, 2014

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Grant PUD: Wanapum Dam Will Not Fail - Managers, Commissioners Speak of Cooperation (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Columbia Generating Station Had Three Special Inspections in 2013 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Sea Lions Feast on Big Columbia River Smelt Run (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Officials: Storms Make Washington State Drought Unlikely (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

GAO: Broadband Stimulus Helped Lower Prices, Boost Speeds (Broadband Reports)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Grant PUD: Wanapum Dam Will Not Fail - Managers, Commissioners Speak of Cooperation
  • Irrigation Impacted by Lower Reservoir Water at Wanapum Dam
  • Columbia Generating Station Had Three Special Inspections in 2013
  • Washington State Supreme Court Hears Final Arguments in Transmission Line Case
  • Avista Selects Local Contractor for Upgrades to Historic Post Falls Hydroelectric Development Project
  • Planned Outage at Lake Cushman
  • Natural Gas Industry Struggles to Keep Promises
  • Op/Ed: Snipers Won’t Black Out U-S Power Grid, But Sun May
  • BPA: Technology Innovation Recognizes Becker, Barton & Kosterev with Project Awards
  • Sea Lions Feast on Big Columbia River Smelt Run
  • In Severe Drought Plan, California Salmon May Be Moved by Truck
  • Utilities Seek to Save Birds from Power Lines - And Vice Versa
  • Light Pollution ‘Affects Bats’ Tropical Seed Dispersal’
  • Officials: Storms Make Washington State Drought Unlikely
  • Vestas Expects to Add 850 Colorado Workers
  • California Electric Grid Sets Solar Generation Record
  • Nuclear Energy Rising at the Expense of Renewable Power
  • Making It Easier to Plan Offshore Wind Farms
  • Biomass Plants: Go Small & It Could Help Stabilize the National Power Grid
  • U-S House of Representatives OKs Efficiency Bill for Large Water Heaters
  • Gas Prices May Jump from California Emissions Law
  • Up All Night: U-S Senate Dems Keep the Lights Lit in Climate Change Talkathon
  • Mascot Madness: How Climate Change is Hurting School Spirit
  • GAO: Broadband Stimulus Helped Lower Prices, Boost Speeds
  • New Fiber Installation Makes North Carolina a ‘Gigabit State’ - With or without Google
  • The Future of the Internet: Dark & Ubiquitous
  • Comcast: We’re Lobbying Congress for You, the People!
  • Utility Spending on Grid Monitoring to Hit $50 Billion by 2023: Navigant Research
  • Sheryl Sandberg on Why We Should Ban ‘Bossy’
  • 30th District’s Tracey Eide Won’t Seek Re-Election to Washington State Senate
  • Law Would Require Officials to Get Training on Public Record Requests
  • Seattle Archdiocese, FBI Investigate Data Breach
  • Immigrant Hunger Strikers in Washington State Could Be Force-Fed
  • Malaysian Military Says Missing Jet Went 300 Miles Off Course
  • Avalanche Triggered by Explosives Takes Out Crystal Mountain Chairlift
  • Colorado Rakes in $2 Million in Pot Profits for January
  • Marijuana News: Pot Growing Operations Gobble Up Industrial Space in Denver

WORD OF THE DAY

Somnambulant • \sawm-NAM-byuh-lunt\ • Adjective - 1: walking or having the habit of walking while asleep 2:  resembling or having the characteristics of a sleepwalker

Matt came to a realization of his surroundings with an abrupt start. Like a somnambulant long-haul trucker, his consciousness returned just before Exit 24 off I-205. “That’s funny,” the fresh faced power supply manager mused. “Last thing I remember was the Hamilton sign at Napavine…”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grant PUD: Wanapum Dam Will Not Fail - Managers, Commissioners Speak of Cooperation (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Irrigation Impacted by Lower Reservoir Water at Wanapum Dam (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

Columbia Generating Station Had Three Special Inspections in 2013 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Washington State Supreme Court Hears Final Arguments in Transmission Line Case (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, Oroville, WA)

Avista Selects Local Contractor for Upgrades to Historic Post Falls Hydroelectric Development Project (Electric Energy Online)

Planned Outage at Lake Cushman (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Natural Gas Industry Struggles to Keep Promises (Washington Post)

Op/Ed: Snipers Won’t Black Out U-S Power Grid, But Sun May (CNBC)

BPA: Technology Innovation Recognizes Becker, Barton & Kosterev with Project Awards (Bonneville Power Administration)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sea Lions Feast on Big Columbia River Smelt Run (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

In Severe Drought Plan, California Salmon May Be Moved by Truck (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Utilities Seek to Save Birds from Power Lines - And Vice Versa (Midwest Energy News)

Light Pollution ‘Affects Bats’ Tropical Seed Dispersal’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Officials: Storms Make Washington State Drought Unlikely (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Vestas Expects to Add 850 Colorado Workers (Sustainable Business Oregon)

California Electric Grid Sets Solar Generation Record (Reuters)

Nuclear Energy Rising at the Expense of Renewable Power (Forbes Magazine)

Making It Easier to Plan Offshore Wind Farms (Phys.Org)

Biomass Plants: Go Small & It Could Help Stabilize the National Power Grid (Science 2.0)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

U-S House of Representatives OKs Efficiency Bill for Large Water Heaters (Electric Co-op Today)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Gas Prices May Jump from California Emissions Law (ABC News)

Up All Night: U-S Senate Dems Keep the Lights Lit in Climate Change Talkathon (U-S News & World Report)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Mascot Madness: How Climate Change is Hurting School Spirit (National Wildlife Federation)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

GAO: Broadband Stimulus Helped Lower Prices, Boost Speeds (Broadband Reports)

New Fiber Installation Makes North Carolina a ‘Gigabit State’ - With or without Google (Triangle Business Journal, NC)

The Future of the Internet: Dark & Ubiquitous (Live Science)

Comcast: We’re Lobbying Congress for You, the People! (Broadband Reports)

Utility Spending on Grid Monitoring to Hit $50 Billion by 2023: Navigant Research (Telecom Engine)

SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING

Sheryl Sandberg on Why We Should Ban ‘Bossy’ (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

30th District’s Tracey Eide Won’t Seek Re-Election to Washington State Senate (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Law Would Require Officials to Get Training on Public Record Requests (Everett Herald, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Seattle Archdiocese, FBI Investigate Data Breach (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Immigrant Hunger Strikers in Washington State Could Be Force-Fed (Reuters)

Malaysian Military Says Missing Jet Went 300 Miles Off Course (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Avalanche Triggered by Explosives Takes Out Crystal Mountain Chairlift (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Colorado Rakes in $2 Million in Pot Profits for January (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Marijuana News: Pot Growing Operations Gobble Up Industrial Space in Denver (Oregonian, Portland)

DIVERSIONS

Colorado Man Could Sue Divers Who Saved Him from Submerged Car

Two-Year-Old Saves Mom by Using FaceTime

Family Calls 911 after Crazed Cat Attacks Baby, Holds Owners Hostage

Greatest Pharmacist Ever Prescribes Anti-Monster Spray for 6-Year-Old

SONG OF THE DAY

Randy Newman - Monsters Inc. Theme Song

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.


Monday, March 10, 2014

Energy News Digest for March 10, 2014

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:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 10, 2014

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wanapum Dam Stabilized, But Fish Passage & Power Problems Remain Worries (Oregonian, Portland)

President’s Budget Request Includes $1 Billion for Bureau of Rec; $17 Million Basin Salmon Recovery (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Major Sewage Spill Contaminates Port Angeles Harbor (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Op/Ed: ‘Double Paying’ for Clean Energy Hurts Consumers (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

6.9-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Off Northern California Coast (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Wanapum Dam Stabilized, But Fish Passage & Power Problems Remain Worries
  • British Columbia: Peace River’s Site C Dam Not Approved, Yet BC Hydro Planning Two Work Camps
  • Tacoma Could Gain State’s First Natural Gas Liquefaction Plant
  • Clark Public Utilities Earns Recognition for Its Service
  • Nuclear Plant Safety Improves Despite Lapses, Watchdog Group Says
  • After Fukushima, Utilities Prepare for Worst
  • Sequim Looks to Expand Utility Box Art Program; Designs, Sponsors Sought
  • Eliminating Federal Ties Would Be Credit Negative for Tennessee Valley Authority, Moody’s Says
  • Western Area Power Administration Seeks Comments on Draft Strategic Plan for the Next Ten Years
  • Check Your Utility Bill for Fraud from This New Scam
  • President’s Budget Request Includes $1 Billion for Bureau of Rec; $17 Million Basin Salmon Recovery
  • BPA Letter Explains Coded-Wire Tag Funding Policy to Northwest
  • Safeway & Kroger Won’t Sell Genetically Engineered Salmon
  • Major Sewage Spill Contaminates Port Angeles Harbor
  • Kalaloch’s Big Cedar Tree Split by March Storm
  • Op/Ed: ‘Double Paying’ for Clean Energy Hurts Consumers
  • Nippon Paper Mill Workers Back at Port Angeles Facility; Some Systems Still Coming Online
  • Google Reaps Tax Breaks in $1.4 Billion Clean Energy Bet
  • Solar Plants Threaten Tortoise, Greens Say
  • Mapping the World One Small Hydropower Plant at a Time
  • Energy Efficiency Ain’t Got No Respect
  • New Baby, What’s the Cost
  • Washington State Governor Inslee to GOP: Untwist Knickers over Carbon Standards
  • California State Mission: Connecting Electric Vehicles to the Grid
  • Idaho to Reimburse Schools That Skipped Wi-Fi Contract
  • FCC Seeks Input on Boosting E-Rate Broadband Speeds
  • Here’s What Lack Of Broadband Competition Looks Like In Map Form
  • For Once, A Facebook Redesign You Shouldn’t Hate
  • Facebook: Talking About ‘Us’ & ‘Them’
  • Trust in the Internet ‘Now Missing’
  • Public Comments: How Much Talk is Too Much?
  • OP/Ed: Stop Dinging State Schools for Timber Money
  • 6.9-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Off Northern California Coast
  • Skokomish River Flooding Makes for Hazardous Driving Conditions
  • Bible for Business-Site Selectors Overlooks Pacific Northwest
  • Transit Ridership Reaches Highest Level since 1956

WORD OF THE DAY

Billingsgate • \BILL-lings-gayt\ • Noun - Coarsely abusive language

Frantically the lion sought to scramble up the bole of the tree. Twice he leaped high enough to catch the lowest branches with his paws but both times, he fell backward to the earth. Each time he became more furious. His growls and roars were incessant and horrible. All the time Tarzan sat grinning down upon him taunting him in jungle billingsgate for his inability to reach him and mentally exulting that always, Numa was wasting his already waning strength.

“Tarzan the Untamed”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wanapum Dam Stabilized, But Fish Passage & Power Problems Remain Worries (Oregonian, Portland)

British Columbia: Peace River’s Site C Dam Not Approved, Yet BC Hydro Planning Two Work Camps (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

Tacoma Could Gain State’s First Natural Gas Liquefaction Plant (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Clark Public Utilities Earns Recognition for Its Service - Award puts utilities in the company of Apple, Amazon (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Nuclear Plant Safety Improves Despite Lapses, Watchdog Group Says (Los Angeles Times, CA)

After Fukushima, Utilities Prepare for Worst (NY Times)

Sequim Looks to Expand Utility Box Art Program; Designs, Sponsors Sought (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Eliminating Federal Ties Would Be Credit Negative for Tennessee Valley Authority, Moody’s Says (American Public Power Association)

Western Area Power Administration Seeks Comments on Draft Strategic Plan for the Next Ten Years (American Public Power Association)

Check Your Utility Bill for Fraud from This New Scam (Forbes Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

President’s Budget Request Includes $1 Billion for Bureau of Rec; $17 Million Basin Salmon Recovery (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

BPA Letter Explains Coded-Wire Tag Funding Policy to Northwest Congressional Delegation (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Safeway & Kroger Won’t Sell Genetically Engineered Salmon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Major Sewage Spill Contaminates Port Angeles Harbor (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Kalaloch’s Big Cedar Tree Split by March Storm (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Op/Ed: ‘Double Paying’ for Clean Energy Hurts Consumers (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Nippon Paper Mill Workers Back at Port Angeles Facility; Some Systems Still Coming Online (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Google Reaps Tax Breaks in $1.4 Billion Clean Energy Bet (Bloomberg News)

Solar Plants Threaten Tortoise, Greens Say (Courthouse News Service)

Mapping the World One Small Hydropower Plant at a Time (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency Ain’t Got No Respect (Renewable Energy World)

New Baby, What’s the Cost (Portland General Electric)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Inslee to GOP: Untwist Knickers over Carbon Standards (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

California State Mission: Connecting Electric Vehicles to the Grid (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Idaho to Reimburse Schools That Skipped Wi-Fi Contract (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

FCC Seeks Input on Boosting E-Rate Broadband Speeds (Multichannel News)

Here’s What Lack Of Broadband Competition Looks Like In Map Form (Consumerist)

SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING

For Once, A Facebook Redesign You Shouldn’t Hate (Washington Post)

Facebook: Talking About ‘Us’ & ‘Them’ (Facebook)

Trust in the Internet ‘Now Missing’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Public Comments: How Much Talk is Too Much? (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

OP/Ed: Stop Dinging State Schools for Timber Money (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

6.9-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Off Northern California Coast (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Skokomish River Flooding Makes for Hazardous Driving Conditions (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Bible for Business-Site Selectors Overlooks Pacific Northwest (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Transit Ridership Reaches Highest Level since 1956 (USA Today)

DIVERSIONS

Thousands of Bees Attack Woman in California

Seahawks: Tacoma Furniture Store Pays Up for Percy Harvin’s Super Bowl Kick Return

Shelton’s Paul Bunyan Statue is a Mysterious as its Fabled Namesake (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

22 Incredible Images Show What the Future Looked Like 100 Years Ago

SONG OF THE DAY

Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin (from the Album, Days of Future Passed)

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.