Energy News Digest for March 26, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 26, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/p6f4n76

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:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Executives Reap Pay Raises despite Scandal, Indictment (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27785310/pg-e-executives-harvest-pay-raises?source=rss

Congressman Kilmer to Canadians: Get Off the Pot on Victoria Sewage (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/03/25/kilmer-to-canadians-get-off-the-pot-on-victoria-sewage/

Once-Starving Seals, Sea Lions Swarm Columbia River for Smelt, Salmon Runs (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/03/hungry_in_california_pinnipeds.html

Bill Would Allow Klickitat PUD to Sell Landfill Energy (Goldendale Sentinel, WA)

http://www.goldendalesentinel.com/story/2015/03/25/news/bill-would-allow-pud-to-sell-landfill-energy/5628.html

Washington State Environmentalists, Utilities at Odds over (State-Mandated) Green Power (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/03/environmentalists-utilities-at-odds-over-green-power/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. California: Pacific Gas & Electric Executives Reap Pay Raises despite Scandal, Indictment
2. Pacific Power Rates Go Up Three Percent Next Month
3. Obama’s Clean Energy Order Boosts NuScale’s Nuclear Profile
4. As World Expands Nuclear Power, U-S Grapples with Decades of Waste
5. $7.2 Million Grand Coulee Contract Awarded
6. Five Charts That Explain U-S Electricity Prices
7. Once-Starving Seals, Sea Lions Swarm Columbia River for Smelt, Salmon Runs
8. Video: Controversial Plan Would Kill Cormorants to Save Salmon
9. Congressman Kilmer to Canadians: Get Off the Pot on Victoria Sewage
10. Chelan PUD: Snowpack’s Low But Lake-Level Targets Should Be Hit
11. Drained Lake Tapps Exposes Underwater Forests, Lost Items
12. Op/Ed: Montana – Water Compact Damaging to State, Similar to Electrical Dereg
13. Bill Would Allow Klickitat PUD to Sell Landfill Energy
14. Washington State Environmentalists, Utilities at Odds over (State-Mandated) Green Power
15. Lifting State Limits on Local Power
16. Illinois Seizing Clean-Energy Funds to Balance Budget
17. Sacramento’s Greenleaf Power Announces Deal to Acquire Connecticut Biomass Facility
18. Geothermal Firm Sued under False Claims Act
19. Cities & Towns Choose Renewables to Save Money
20. PDF File Link – Governor Jay Inslee Honors Washington Industrial Energy Leaders
21. A Bright Idea: How Oregon’s Rural Schools Are Taming Power Bills
22. Ten Energy Saving Tips for Spring
23. Why You Can’t Call Marijuana ‘Organic’
24. U-S Supreme Court Appears Divided over MATS Rule
25. Editorial: Rocky Barker – Harder for Us in the West to Ignore This Climate
26. Clean Cars, Dirty Energy: Canada’s Electric Car Dilemma
27. Smartphones Make Up 75 Percent of Mobile Market
28. Op/Ed: National Broadband Plan & the Uncertain Future of the Internet
29. Facebook’s Messenger App to Mix Business with More Pleasure
30. Washington State Auditor Doesn’t Have Much Choice: Tough It Out or Quit
31. Troy Kelley: A Man of Mystery, Even to His Staff
32. Germanwings Co-Pilot, Andreas Lubitz, Deliberately Crashed Plane, Prosecutor Says
33. Lawsuit Filed Against Shelton Schools over Pool Closure
34. Community Kitchen in Shelton Forced to Close Its Doors
35. City of Shelton, & Chamber of Commerce Partnering for Downtown Vision Plan
36. Damage Caused by City Trees Rarely Covered by City’s Insurance
37. Bend among Nation’s Fastest-Growing Metros, Census Bureau Reports

WORD OF THE DAY

Verdigris • \VER-duh-grease\ • Noun – A green or bluish deposit formed on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces.

Look, cheap jewelry

Green on your skin, verdigris

Verdigris, lookit!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Executives Reap Pay Raises despite Scandal, Indictment (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27785310/pg-e-executives-harvest-pay-raises?source=rss

Pacific Power Rates Go Up Three Percent Next Month (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/03/25/3479347_pacific-power-rates-go-up-3-percent.html?rh=1

Obama’s Clean Energy Order Boosts NuScale’s Nuclear Profile (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/obamas-clean-energy-order-boosts-nuscales-nuclear.html

As World Expands Nuclear Power, U-S Grapples with Decades of Waste (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy/2015/0325/As-world-expands-nuclear-power-US-grapples-with-decades-of-waste

$7.2 Million Grand Coulee Contract Awarded (Star of the Grand Coulee, WA)

http://www.grandcoulee.com/story/2015/03/25/news/72-million-contract-awarded/5482.html

Five Charts That Explain U-S Electricity Prices (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/5-charts-that-explain-us-electricity-prices/378054/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Once-Starving Seals, Sea Lions Swarm Columbia River for Smelt, Salmon Runs (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/03/hungry_in_california_pinnipeds.html

Video: Controversial Plan Would Kill Cormorants to Save Salmon (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/green/2015/03/25/controversial-plan-would-kill-cormorants-to-save-salmon/70468296/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Congressman Kilmer to Canadians: Get Off the Pot on Victoria Sewage (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/03/25/kilmer-to-canadians-get-off-the-pot-on-victoria-sewage/

Chelan PUD: Snowpack’s Low But Lake-Level Targets Should Be Hit (RenewablesBiz)

http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/15/03/chelan-pud-snowpacks-low-lake-level-targets-should-be-hit

Drained Lake Tapps Exposes Underwater Forests, Lost Items (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Drained-Lake-Tapps-exposes-underwater-forests-6159822.php

Op/Ed: Montana – Water Compact Damaging to State, Similar to Electrical Dereg (Montana Standard, Butte)

http://mtstandard.com/news/opinion/guest/water-compact-damaging-to-state-similar-to-electrical-dereg/article_6f576a98-3cdc-5e0c-85d9-e84482d4a386.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Bill Would Allow Klickitat PUD to Sell Landfill Energy (Goldendale Sentinel, WA)

http://www.goldendalesentinel.com/story/2015/03/25/news/bill-would-allow-pud-to-sell-landfill-energy/5628.html

Washington State Environmentalists, Utilities at Odds over (State-Mandated) Green Power (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/03/environmentalists-utilities-at-odds-over-green-power/

Lifting State Limits on Local Power (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2015/03/lifting-state-limits-on-local-power?cmpid=rss

Illinois Seizing Clean-Energy Funds to Balance Budget (Crain’s Chicago Business, IL)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150325/NEWS11/150329881/illinois-seizing-clean-energy-funds-to-balance-budget

Sacramento’s Greenleaf Power Announces Deal to Acquire Connecticut Biomass Facility (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article16281935.html

Geothermal Firm Sued under False Claims Act (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/03/26/geothermal-firm-sued-under-false-claims-act.htm

Cities & Towns Choose Renewables to Save Money “…it’s becoming more common to see wind, solar, hydropower & biomass use…” (Scientific American)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cities-and-towns-choose-renewables-to-save-money/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

PDF File Link – Governor Jay Inslee Honors Washington Industrial Energy Leaders (Washington State University, Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/releases/Documents/20150325-Governor-Jay-Inslee-Honors-Washington-Industrial-Energy-Leaders.pdf

A Bright Idea: How Oregon’s Rural Schools Are Taming Power Bills (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/a-bright-idea-how-oregonsrural-schools-are-taming.html

Ten Energy Saving Tips for Spring (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/03/25/10-energy-saving-tips-for-spring/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Why You Can’t Call Marijuana ‘Organic’ (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/why-you-cant-call-marijuana-organic.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

U-S Supreme Court Appears Divided over MATS Rule (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/supreme-court-appears-divided-over-mats-rule/379611/

Editorial: Rocky Barker – Harder for Us in the West to Ignore This Climate (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/03/26/3718462_harder-for-us-in-the-west-to-ignore.html?rh=1

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Clean Cars, Dirty Energy: Canada’s Electric Car Dilemma (Triple Pundit)

http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/03/green-energy-canadas-electric-car-dilemma/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Smartphones Make Up 75 Percent of Mobile Market (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Smartphones-make-up-75-percent-of-mobile-market-6159074.php

Op/Ed: National Broadband Plan & the Uncertain Future of the Internet (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/236768-national-broadband-plan-and-the-uncertain-future-of-the

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook’s Messenger App to Mix Business with More Pleasure (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/technology/article/Facebook-s-Messenger-app-adding-more-ways-to-6158441.php

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Auditor Doesn’t Have Much Choice: Tough It Out or Quit (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150326/NEWS01/150329266

Troy Kelley: A Man of Mystery, Even to His Staff (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/troy-kelley-man-mystery-even-his-own-staff

GENERAL NEWS

Germanwings Co-Pilot, Andreas Lubitz, Deliberately Crashed Plane, Prosecutor Says (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/world/europe/germanwings-crash.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Lawsuit Filed Against Shelton Schools over Pool Closure (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22043-lawsuit-filed-against-shelton-schools-over-pool-closure

Community Kitchen in Shelton Forced to Close Its Doors (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22048-community-kitchen-closing-its-doors

City of Shelton, & Chamber of Commerce Partnering for Downtown Vision Plan (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14863

Damage Caused by City Trees Rarely Covered by City’s Insurance (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/damage-caused-by-city-trees-rarely-covered-by-city-s/article_5640da98-d341-11e4-82fa-a77c9d4d7909.html

Bend among Nation’s Fastest-Growing Metros, Census Bureau Reports (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/bend_among_fastest-growing_met.html

DIVERSIONS

USPS Driver Shows Off Athleticism by Throwing Package, Running Lap around Delivery Van

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/26/usps-driver-shows-off-athleticism-by-throwing-package-running-lap-around-delivery-van/

How Floating Soap Was Invented

http://gizmodo.com/how-floating-soap-was-invented-1693781360

NASA Wants to Orbit a Small Asteroid around the Moon

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0326/NASA-wants-to-orbit-a-small-asteroid-around-the-moon

Mysterious Bags of Smelly Goo Stump Officials on Bainbridge Island

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/03/mysterious_bags_of_smelly_goo.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Nigel Olsson - Little Bit of Soap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQSww1CZ7OE

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Energy News Digest for March 25, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 25, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nhxlozf

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://tinyurl.com/omj2snw

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Video: Bracing for a Big Power Grid Attack: ‘One Is Too Many’ (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/24/power-grid-physical-and-cyber-attacks-concern-security-experts/24892471/

Video: Tacoma Power Explains Alarming Stats about Grid Attacks (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/tacoma/2015/03/25/tacoma-power-explains-statistic-regarding-power-grid-attacks/70413858/

Benton PUD to Build the First Local Community Solar (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Benton-PUD-to-build-the-first-local-community-solar-297418601.html

Map: The State of Broadband in the States (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/03/25/map-the-state-of-broadband-in-the-states/

Power Companies Seek to End Losing Streak on EPA at Top U-S Court (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-24/power-companies-seek-to-end-losing-skid-on-epa-at-top-u-s-court

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Video: Bracing for a Big Power Grid Attack: ‘One Is Too Many’
2. Video: Tacoma Power Explains Alarming Stats about Grid Attacks
3. Cowlitz PUD Approves Three-Year Union Contract
4. Oregon’s Nuclear Startup Adds Execs to Prepare for Regulatory Push
5. Tentative agreement in Crescent Bar, Grant PUD dispute
6. Oregon State PIRG Students Are Pushing Oregon to Go Solar
7. Radioactive Politics: Inside the Renewed Push to Site Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain
8. Price for Refusing American Electric Power’s Smart Meters Negotiated Down to $24/Month
9. Part I: How Do You Teach Customers Algebra if They Don’t Know How to Multiply?
10. Part II: How Do You Teach Customers Algebra if They Don’t Know How to Multiply?
11. When Road Salt Seeps, Sometimes Manhole Covers Fly
12. Herring Harvest Continues to be Controversial on British Columbia Coast
13. Are Slaves Catching the Fish You Buy?
14. Committee on Natural Resources: Chairman’s Opening Statement at the Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans Oversight Hearing
15. Benton PUD to Build the First Local Community Solar
16. California: Birds Die as East Bay Wind Turbine Replacement Lags
17. Texas Weighs Bill to End Renewable Energy Incentives for Utilities
18. Which States Have The Cheapest Electricity? Those with the Most Renewable Energy
19. Editorial: Renewable Energy Isn’t Boosting Colorado Electric Bills Study Contends
20. Co-Ops Plead with Congress to Save Water Heaters Used for Demand Response
21. Bill Would Let Tribes Work with Washington State on Pot
22. Six Ways Companion Marijuana Bills in Congress Could Change America
23. Power Companies Seek to End Losing Streak on EPA at Top U-S Court
24. U-S Senator Rob Portman Bucks Global-Warming Rule – Wants State Exemptions from EPA’s Pending Requirements
25. Washington State: Four Charts Show Carbon Pollution Accountability Act is Still Awesome
26. Florida’s Unspeakable Issue Leaves Climate Change Official Tongue-Tied
27. The Weird Reason Why We Recycle Flat But Not Crumpled Up Paper
28. Map: The State of Broadband in the States
29. See How Fast Your State’s Broadband Is with This Interactive Map
30. Kitsap County: New Homeowner Has to Sell House Because of Comcast’s Incompetence, Lack of Competition
31. Google Fiber Adds Salt Lake City - Portland Still Pending
32. Switchboard: Google Has Averaged a White House Visit per Week during Obama’s Presidency
33. I Used a 56K Modem for a Week & It Was Hell on Earth
34. Google Wants Websites to be Mobile-Friendly – Plans to Punish Those That Aren’t
35. Media World Challenge: People Love News, But Won’t Pay for It
36. Republicans Renewing Calls for Washington State Auditor to Take Leave
37. Editorial: Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley Must Come Clean
38. Washington State Lawmakers Eye Pension Changes for New Public Sector Workers
39. Multistate Investigation Announced into Premera Cyberattack
40. Mason County Unemployment Down Slightly
41. Montesano Has a New City Council Member – It’s Ian Cope!
42. Massachusetts: Electrician Finds Home Wired to Explode During Inspection
43. Olympia Car Dealer Issues Apology after Consumers Complain about Ad

WORD OF THE DAY

Ulterior • \ult-TEER-ee-ur\ • Adjective – 1a: lying farther away: more remote b: situated on the farther side 2: going beyond what is openly said or shown.

Plush, soft upholstery

Encounter ulterior

Snores at TV sports

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Video: Bracing for a Big Power Grid Attack: ‘One Is Too Many’ (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/24/power-grid-physical-and-cyber-attacks-concern-security-experts/24892471/

Video: Tacoma Power Explains Alarming Stats about Grid Attacks (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/tacoma/2015/03/25/tacoma-power-explains-statistic-regarding-power-grid-attacks/70413858/

Cowlitz PUD Approves Three-Year Union Contract (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-approves--year-union-contract/article_4c4fc7cc-d2ad-11e4-8ec0-fb300051042f.html

Oregon’s Nuclear Startup Adds Execs to Prepare for Regulatory Push (Big News Network)

http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/231362587

Tentative agreement in Crescent Bar, Grant PUD dispute (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/tentative-agreement-in-crescent-bar-pud-dispute/article_392efde6-d287-11e4-80f0-6be81f81e907.html

Oregon State PIRG Students Are Pushing Oregon to Go Solar (Daily Emerald, Eugene, OR)

http://www.dailyemerald.com/2015/03/23/ospirg-students-pushing-oregon-go-solar/

Radioactive Politics: Inside the Renewed Push to Site Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/radioactive-politics-inside-the-renewed-push-to-site-nuclear-waste-at-yucc/378462/

Price for Refusing American Electric Power’s Smart Meters Negotiated Down to $24/Month (Columbus Business First, OH)

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/ohio-energy-inc/2015/03/price-for-refusing-aep-s-smart-meters-negotiated.html

Part I: How Do You Teach Customers Algebra if They Don’t Know How to Multiply? (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/part-i-how-do-you-teach-customers-algebra-if-they-dont-know-how-to-multip/371139/

Part II: How Do You Teach Customers Algebra if They Don’t Know How to Multiply? (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/part-ii-how-do-you-teach-customers-algebra-if-they-dont-know-how-to-multi/371183/

When Road Salt Seeps, Sometimes Manhole Covers Fly (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/When-the-road-salt-seeps-sometimes-the-manhole-6156119.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Herring Harvest Continues to be Controversial on British Columbia Coast – First Nations Say Stocks Are Fragile & Fishing Threatens Recovery (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/resources/Herring+harvest+continues+controversial+coast/10916377/story.html

Are Slaves Catching the Fish You Buy? (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27779163/are-slaves-catching-fish-you-buy

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Committee on Natural Resources: Chairman’s Opening Statement at the Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans Oversight Hearing (U-S House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources)

http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398211

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Benton PUD to Build the First Local Community Solar (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Benton-PUD-to-build-the-first-local-community-solar-297418601.html

California: Birds Die as East Bay Wind Turbine Replacement Lags (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Birds-die-as-wind-power-turbine-replacement-lags-6153949.php

Texas Weighs Bill to End Renewable Energy Incentives for Utilities (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-weighs-bill-to-end-renewable-energy-incentives-for-utilities/378574/

Which States Have The Cheapest Electricity? Those with the Most Renewable Energy (Sustainable Business – Doesn’t qualify the mix in Washington State, but we ALL know which renewable keeps our rates low!)

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/26211

Editorial: Renewable Energy Isn’t Boosting Colorado Electric Bills Study Contends (Denver Post, CO)

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thebalancesheet/2015/03/23/renewable-energy-isnt-boosting-electric-bills-study-contends/12570/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Co-Ops Plead with Congress to Save Water Heaters Used for Demand Response (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/co-ops-plead-with-congress-to-save-water-heaters-used-for-demand-response/378972/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Bill Would Let Tribes Work with Washington State on Pot – Cowlitz have no plans to enter marijuana market (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/mar/24/bill-would-let-tribes-work-with-state-on-pot/

Six Ways Companion Marijuana Bills in Congress Could Change America (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2015/03/24/six-ways-companion-marijuana-bills-in-congress-could-change-america/#31588101=0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Power Companies Seek to End Losing Streak on EPA at Top U-S Court (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-24/power-companies-seek-to-end-losing-skid-on-epa-at-top-u-s-court

U-S Senator Rob Portman Bucks Global-Warming Rule – Wants State Exemptions from EPA’s Pending Requirements (Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH)

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/03/rob_portman_bucks_global-warming_rule_wants_state_exemptions_from_epas_pending_requirements.html

Washington State: Four Charts Show Carbon Pollution Accountability Act is Still Awesome (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2015/03/24/four-charts-show-carbon-pollution-accountability-act-is-still-awesome/

Florida’s Unspeakable Issue Leaves Climate Change Official Tongue-Tied (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/23/climate-change-florida-official

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The Weird Reason Why We Recycle Flat But Not Crumpled Up Paper (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/25/youre-weird-humans-why-we-recycle-flat-but-not-crumpled-up-paper/?wprss=rss_national

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Map: The State of Broadband in the States (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/03/25/map-the-state-of-broadband-in-the-states/

See How Fast Your State’s Broadband Is With This Interactive Map (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/see-how-fast-your-states-broadband-is-with-this-interac-1693486969

Kitsap County: New Homeowner Has to Sell House Because of Comcast’s Incompetence, Lack of Competition (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/25/new-homeowner-has-to-sell-house-because-of-comcasts-incompetence-lack-of-competition/

Google Fiber Adds Salt Lake City - Portland Still Pending (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/03/google_fiber_adds_salt_lake_ci.html

Switchboard: Google Has Averaged a White House Visit per Week during Obama’s Presidency (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/03/25/switchboard-google-has-averaged-a-white-house-visit-per-week-during-obamas-presidency/?wprss=rss_technology

I Used a 56K Modem for a Week & It Was Hell on Earth (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/i-used-a-56k-modem-for-a-week-and-it-was-hell-on-earth-1693124620

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Google Wants Websites to be Mobile-Friendly – Plans to Punish Those That Aren’t (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/03/google-wants-websites-to-be-mobile-friendly-and.html

Media World Challenge: People Love News, But Won’t Pay for It (USA Today)

http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2015/03/23/media-world-challenge-people-love-news-but-wont-pay-for-it/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Republicans Renewing Calls for Washington State Auditor to Take Leave (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Republicans-renewing-calls-for-state-auditor-to-take-leave-297431641.html

Editorial: Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley Must Come Clean (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/state-auditor-troy-kelley-must-come-clean/

Washington State Lawmakers Eye Pension Changes for New Public Sector Workers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/03/24/3706900_state-lawmakers-eye-pension-changes.html?rh=1

GENERAL NEWS

Multistate Investigation Announced into Premera Cyberattack (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Multistate-investigation-announced-into-Premera-cyberattack--297461461.html

Mason County Unemployment Down Slightly (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14855

Montesano Has a New City Council Member – It’s Ian Cope! (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/montesano-has-a-new-city-council-member/

Massachusetts: Electrician Finds Home Wired to Explode During Inspection (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national/electrician-finds-home-wired-explode-during-inspec/nkd6x/

Olympia Car Dealer Issues Apology after Consumers Complain about Ad (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Car-dealer-issues-apology-after-questionable-ad-297455961.html

DIVERSIONS

Driver Ticketed in Fife for ‘Most Interesting Man’ HOV Violation

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2015/03/24/driver-ticketed-for-most-interesting-man-hov-violation-in-fife/#17213101=0

These Sidewalk Games Only Appear When It Rains

http://gizmodo.com/these-sidewalk-games-only-appear-when-it-rains-1693507960

ISIS is Keeping Tourists from ‘Tatooine’

http://mashable.com/2015/03/25/tatooine-tourism-isis/

NASA’s Opportunity Rover Completes First-Ever Mars Marathon

http://mashable.com/2015/03/25/nasa-rover-mars-marathon/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7UWV_wea2E

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Energy News Digest for March 24, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 24, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/lyvjbcn

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Shelton Woman Dies in Crash on John’s Prairie Road (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14851

Homeowners’ Payments at Stake in Olympia Solar Debate (Investigate West)

http://www.invw.org/article/solar-payments-at-stake-1512

Oregon DOJ Launches Investigations of Tax Credits for University Solar Projects (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/department_of_justice_launches.html

Sabey Breaks Ground on New Quincy Data Center Building (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/sabey-breaks-ground-on-new-data-center-building/article_a6ee892c-d1b1-11e4-829c-fb2762b15b44.html

Seattle City Light’s Ethics Fight with Union Heats Up as Whistleblower Left Cold (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-City-Light-s-ethics-fight-with-union-6151940.php

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Seattle City Light’s Ethics Fight with Union Heats Up as Whistleblower Left Cold
2. Snohomish County PUD Rates to Increase in April
3. Phone Scam Warning Signs
4. Corps Delays Toutle River Sediment Study Due to Endangered Salmon
5. Idaho May Serve as a ‘Noah’s Ark’ for Trout
6. Homeowners’ Payments at Stake in Olympia Solar Debate
7. Oregon DOJ Launches Investigations of Tax Credits for University Solar Projects
8. Leased Solar Panels Can Complicate – Or Kill – A Home Sale
9. California: Alameda County Supervisors to Hear Appeal on Controversial Altamont Wind Turbines
10. California First State to Generate More Than 5% of Electricity from Utility-Scale Solar
11. Kansas Utility Targets Solar Customers for Higher Rate
12. Kansas Lawmakers Debate Axing Wind Energy Tax Exemptions to Fill Budget Hole
13. LED Streetlights in Brooklyn Are Saving Energy but Exhausting Residents
14. Solar Water Heaters
15. Rivers’ Bill on Washington State Medical Marijuana Draws Heat
16. Three Things to Understand about the Grow-Your-Own Marijuana Bill in Washington State
17. Truckers, Fuel Manufacturers Sue to Stop Oregon’s Clean Fuels Law
18. How the California Drought Became Ammunition in Climate Policy Debate
19. Amazon Forest Becoming Less of a Climate Change Safety Net
20. Will the Supreme Court Strike Down Obama’s Green Legacy?
21. Sabey Breaks Ground on New Quincy Data Center Building
22. Oregon Lawmakers Scramble to Fix Google Fiber Tax Law
23. Latest Click! Cable Contracts Show More Big Increases in Broadcaster Fees
24. FCC Sued by Broadband Companies over Net Neutrality Rules
25. Tennessee Sues FCC for Dismantling Its Muni-Broadband Ban
26. Did the National Broadband Plan Spur Innovation?
27. This Should Go Well – Comcast to Take More Complaints via Facebook & Twitter
28. Twitch Warns Users of Possible Data Breach
29. The Network Effect at the Center of the Twitter Gender Discrimination Lawsuit
30. NFL Suspending TV Blackout Rule for 2015 Season
31. Duke Energy Mounts New Advertising Campaign
32. FBI Sought Troy Kelley Records from Washington State Public Disclosure Commission
33. Mystery Figure in Scandal Has Long Ties to Washington State Auditor
34. Shelton Woman Dies in Crash on John’s Prairie Road
35. Swanson Group Purchases Olympic Panel Products – To Relocate Assets to Oregon
36. It’s the End of the Line for Weyerhaeuser Woods Railroad
37. Snow in Mountains May Give Brief Hope to Skiers
38. As Silence Falls on Chicago Trading Pits, a Working-Class Portal Also Closes

WORD OF THE DAY

Bowdlerize • \BOWD-ler-ize\ • Verb – 1: to expurgate by omitting or modifying parts considered vulgar *2: to modify by abridging, simplifying, or distorting in style or content

“Call it ‘editing for clarity’ or protecting young minds from overexposure to egg references,” grumbled Winston Smith. “Bowdlerizing ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ will not protect anyone from egg-related cholesterol ingestion!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Seattle City Light’s Ethics Fight with Union Heats Up as Whistleblower Left Cold (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-City-Light-s-ethics-fight-with-union-6151940.php

Snohomish County PUD Rates to Increase in April (My Edmonds News, WA)

http://myedmondsnews.com/2015/03/snohomish-county-pud-rates-to-increase-in-april/

Phone Scam Warning Signs (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/28595714/phone-scam-warning-signs

FISH & WILDLIFE

Corps Delays Toutle River Sediment Study Due to Endangered Salmon (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/corps-delays-toutle-river-sediment-study-due-to-endangered-salmon/article_586c5ca4-d0ec-11e4-a6f2-7744bc2f1414.html

Idaho May Serve as a ‘Noah’s Ark’ for Trout (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/03/21/3710028_idaho-may-serve-asnoahs-arkfor.html?rh=1

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Homeowners’ Payments at Stake in Olympia Solar Debate (Investigate West)

http://www.invw.org/article/solar-payments-at-stake-1512

Oregon DOJ Launches Investigations of Tax Credits for University Solar Projects (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/department_of_justice_launches.html

Leased Solar Panels Can Complicate – Or Kill – A Home Sale (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-harney-20150322-story.html

California: Alameda County Supervisors to Hear Appeal on Controversial Altamont Wind Turbines (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/green-energy/ci_27766851/alameda-county-supervisors-hear-appeal-controversial-altamont-wind

California First State to Generate More Than 5% of Electricity from Utility-Scale Solar (U-S Energy Information Administration)

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=20492

Kansas Utility Targets Solar Customers for Higher Rate (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2015/03/24/kansas-utility-targets-solar-customers-for-higher-rate/

Kansas Lawmakers Debate Axing Wind Energy Tax Exemptions to Fill Budget Hole (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/kansas-lawmakers-debate-axing-wind-energy-tax-exemptions-to-fill-budget-hol/378567/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

LED Streetlights in Brooklyn Are Saving Energy but Exhausting Residents (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/nyregion/new-led-streetlights-shine-too-brightly-for-some-in-brooklyn.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Solar Water Heaters (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/03/20/solar-water-heaters/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Rivers’ Bill on Washington State Medical Marijuana Draws Heat (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/mar/23/sen-ann-rivers-bill-medical-marijuana-draws-heat/

Three Things to Understand about the Grow-Your-Own Marijuana Bill in Washington State (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2015/03/23/3-things-to-understand-about-the-grow-your-own-marijuana-bill-in-washington/#31507101=0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Truckers, Fuel Manufacturers Sue to Stop Oregon’s Clean Fuels Law (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/truckers-fuel-manufacturers-sue-to-stop-oregons.html

How the California Drought Became Ammunition in Climate Policy Debate (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0323/How-California-drought-became-ammunition-in-climate-policy-debate-video

Amazon Forest Becoming Less of a Climate Change Safety Net (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/science/earth/amazon-forest-becoming-less-of-a-climate-change-safety-net.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Will the Supreme Court Strike Down Obama’s Green Legacy? (National Journal)

http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/will-the-supreme-court-strike-down-obama-s-green-legacy-20150323

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Sabey Breaks Ground on New Quincy Data Center Building (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/sabey-breaks-ground-on-new-data-center-building/article_a6ee892c-d1b1-11e4-829c-fb2762b15b44.html

Oregon Lawmakers Scramble to Fix Google Fiber Tax Law (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/03/oregon_lawmakers_scramble_to_f.html

Latest Click! Cable Contracts Show More Big Increases in Broadcaster Fees (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/03/22/3701349_latest-click-cable-contracts-show.html?rh=1

FCC Sued by Broadband Companies over Net Neutrality Rules (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/24/us-usa-internet-neutrality-idUSKBN0MJ2DP20150324

Tennessee Sues FCC for Dismantling Its Muni-Broadband Ban (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Tennessee-Sues-FCC-For-Dismantling-Its-MuniBroadband-Ban-133085

Did the National Broadband Plan Spur Innovation? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/03/23/did-the-national-broadband-plan-spur-innovation/?wprss=rss_technology

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

This Should Go Well – Comcast to Take More Complaints via Facebook & Twitter (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/03/23/comcast-to-take-more-complaints-via-facebook-and-twitter/

Twitch Warns Users of Possible Data Breach (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2015/03/24/twitch-warning-breach/70366310/

The Network Effect at the Center of the Twitter Gender Discrimination Lawsuit (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/03/23/the-network-effect-at-the-center-of-the-twitter-gender-discrimination-lawsuit/?wprss=rss_technology

NFL Suspending TV Blackout Rule for 2015 Season (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/23/nfl-suspending-tv-blackout-rule-for-2015-season/

Duke Energy Mounts New Advertising Campaign (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2015/03/duke-energy-mounts-new-advertising-campaign.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

FBI Sought Troy Kelley Records from Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/fbi-sought-troy-kelley-records-public-disclosure-commission

Mystery Figure in Scandal Has Long Ties to Washington State Auditor (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Figure-in-budding-scandal-has-long-ties-to-state-auditor-297378301.html

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Woman Dies in Crash on John’s Prairie Road (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14851

Swanson Group Purchases Olympic Panel Products – To Relocate Assets to Oregon (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22009-swanson-group-purchases-olympic-panel-products

It’s the End of the Line for Weyerhaeuser Woods Railroad (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/it-s-the-end-of-the-line-for-weyerhaeuser-woods/article_df243936-d1d4-11e4-b995-4b17113ec02a.html

Snow in Mountains May Give Brief Hope to Skiers (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/snow-pass-may-give-brief-hope-skiers/nkdRL/

As Silence Falls on Chicago Trading Pits, a Working-Class Portal Also Closes (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/25/business/dealbook/as-silence-falls-on-chicago-trading-pits-a-working-class-portal-also-closes.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

DIVERSIONS

Feces Contains Gold Worth Millions

http://news.yahoo.com/feces-contains-gold-worth-millions-224632128.html

Truck Carrying 30,000 Pounds of Lobsters Overturns – All Survive to Become Dinner

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/19/truck-carrying-30000-pounds-of-lobsters-overturns-all-survive-to-become-dinner/

Washington State Girl Completes 600 Random Acts of Kindness

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/outreach/making-a-difference/2015/03/23/wash-girl-completes-600-random-acts-of-kindness/70357902/

Suspect in Maine Burglary Posts Online That He’s Hiding in Cabinet; Police Find Him in Same Cabinet

http://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2015/03/24/maine-police-track-suspect-through-social-media-messages

SONG OF THE DAY

John Stewart – Gold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-SjdN6kuew

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.