Energy News Digest for April 2, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 2, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pa3kcks

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

Portland Nuclear Firm Hits another Small Module Milestone (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/portland-nuclear-firm-hits-another-small-module.html

Governor Issues Mandatory Water Cuts as California Snowpack Hits Record Low (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article17115506.html

Embattled Washington State Auditor Responds to Questions from Governor (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/embattled-state-auditor-responds-questions-inslee

Editorial: Proposal to Lease Click Merits Serious Consideration (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/01/3719467_proposal-to-lease-click-merits.html?rh=1

Including “Incremental Hydro”: House Committee Advances Three Senator Brown Bills (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/01/3490873_house-committee-advances-3-sen.html?rh=1

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Portland Nuclear Firm Hits another Small Module Milestone
2. Columbia River Coal Terminal Gets Oregon’s Water-Quality OK
3. Op/Ed: Dirty Fuel Exports Darken Pacific Northwest’s Earth Day
4. Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – March 31, 2015 Business Meeting
5. New U-S Senate Push for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
6. New York: Landlord’s Lawyer Blames Con Ed in East Village Explosion
7. U-S House Panel Inquiring into Former Energy Official’s, Dan Poneman, $1.7 Million Job
8. Columbia Tanglenets Fall Short of Expected Salmon Catch
9. Idaho Senate OKs Making Sage Grouse Protection Info Private
10. Are Orcas Making a Comeback in the Pacific Northwest?
11. The Price of Progress – Why the Spokane Tribe Says It's Still Owed for Grand Coulee Dam
12. Governor Issues Mandatory Water Cuts as California Snowpack Hits Record Low
13. Expected Yakima Basin Drought Worsens after March Brings Little Snow, Officials Say
14. Woodland Wastewater Utility Whistleblower Claims Retaliation by City
15. Including “Incremental Hydro”: House Committee Advances Three Senator Brown Bills
16. Northwest U-S Wind Power Output Falls in 2015
17. Renewable Portfolio Standards under Attack across America
18. Hawaii’s Utility is Approving a Backlog of More Than 3,000 Solar Installations
19. Why the Graphene Light Bulb Could Switch on a New Era of Innovation
20. Fix the Missing “And” – Maine Lawmakers Debating Solution for Mistaken Efficiency Funding Cut
21. April 15 Marks Hot Water Heater Regulations Affecting Homeowners
22. Ten Best Marijuana Strains of March
23. California Drought Is Worsened by Global Warming, Scientists Say
24. Composting Toilets Help Make This Seattle Building 'One of the Most Important in the World'
25. Editorial: Proposal to Lease Click Merits Serious Consideration
26. AT&T Shows Cupertino Precisely What Broadband Competition (Or the Lack Thereof) Looks Like
27. Comcast to Start Offering 2Gbps Internet Service in Atlanta Next Month
28. For 7% of Americans, Smartphone is Only Link to Internet
29. Good Bye Bellevue: Expedia to Move HQ to Seattle
30. Nine Things Brands Should Consider Before Launching a Blog
31. How to Optimize Social Media Images
32. The Internet’s First Gatekeepers Are Getting Older – The Web Is Leaving Them Behind
33. 29 People Who Can't Stand Your Stupid Branded April Fools' Joke
34. Embattled Washington State Auditor Responds to Questions from Governor
35. Embattled Washington State Auditor Skips Olympia Committee Hearing
36. Indiana Unveils Changes to Religion Bill; Arkansas in Flux
37. Mason Transit Authority’s Transit-Community Center Starts Off in High Gear
38. 125 Years, 100 Million Trees for Green Diamond
39. Two Separate Mason County Collisions Involving School Buses Wednesday
40. Mason PUD 1 Places Second in South Sound for AWWA Water Taste Test Competition

WORD OF THE DAY

Today’s word of the day has a stand-in: it’s a surprise visit from its cousin “phrase of the day”!

 “STEAL MY THUNDER” – John Dennis, 1709

The Story behind It: John Dennis, English critic and playwright, invented a new way of simulating the sound of thunder on stage and used the method in one of his plays, Appius and Virginia. Dennis "made" thunder by using "troughs of wood with stops in them" instead of the large mustard bowls usually employed. The thunder was a great success, but Dennis's play was a dismal failure. The manager at Drury Lane, where the play was performed, canceled its run after only a few performances. A short time later, Dennis returned to Drury Lane to see Shakespeare's Macbeth. As he sat in the pit, he was horrified to discover that his method of making thunder was being used. Jumping to his feet, Dennis screamed at the audience, "That's my thunder, by God! The villains will not play my play but they steal my thunder." -- From Trivia-Library.com

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Portland Nuclear Firm Hits another Small Module Milestone (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/portland-nuclear-firm-hits-another-small-module.html

Columbia River Coal Terminal Gets Oregon’s Water-Quality OK (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/01/columbia-coal-terminal-gets-water-quality-ok/

Op/Ed: Dirty Fuel Exports Darken Pacific Northwest’s Earth Day (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/03/guest-opinion-dirty-fuel-exports-darken-nws-earth-day/

Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – March 31, 2015 Business Meeting (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1501

New U-S Senate Push for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/legislation/new-senate-push-for-liheap/79694

New York: Landlord’s Lawyer Blames Con Ed in East Village Explosion (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/nyregion/landlords-lawyer-blames-con-ed-in-east-village-explosion.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

U-S House Panel Inquiring into Former Energy Official’s, Dan Poneman, $1.7 Million Job (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/dan-poneman-centrus-house-panel-inquiry-116573.html#ixzz3W9RuOdI8

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Tanglenets Fall Short of Expected Salmon Catch (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2015/04/post_157.html

Idaho Senate OKs Making Sage Grouse Protection Info Private (Associated Press)

http://www.argusobserver.com/news/idaho-senate-oks-making-sage-grouse-protection-info-private/article_cadc3188-d88f-11e4-b600-770279abf44e.html

Are Orcas Making a Comeback in the Pacific Northwest? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0401/Are-orcas-making-a-comeback-in-the-Pacific-Northwest-video

The Price of Progress – Why the Spokane Tribe Says It's Still Owed for Grand Coulee Dam (The Inlander, Spokane, WA)

http://www.inlander.com/spokane/the-price-of-progress/Content?oid=2434910

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Governor Issues Mandatory Water Cuts as California Snowpack Hits Record Low (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article17115506.html

Expected Yakima Basin Drought Worsens after March Brings Little Snow, Officials Say (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/01/3490833/expected-yakima-basin-drought.html

Woodland Wastewater Utility Whistleblower Claims Retaliation by City (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2015/04/01/woodland-whistleblower-claims-retaliation-by-city/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Including “Incremental Hydro”: House Committee Advances Three Senator Brown Bills (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/01/3490873_house-committee-advances-3-sen.html?rh=1

Northwest U-S Wind Power Output Falls in 2015 (Argus Media)

http://www.argusmedia.com/News/Article?id=1017550

Renewable Portfolio Standards under Attack across America (Renewable Energy World)

http://theenergycollective.com/silviomarcacci/2212276/renewable-portfolio-standards-under-attack-across-america

Hawaii’s Utility is Approving a Backlog of More Than 3,000 Solar Installations (Green Tech Media)

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Hawaiis-Utility-is-Approving-a-Backlog-of-More-Than-3000-Solar-Installati

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Why the Graphene Light Bulb Could Switch on a New Era of Innovation (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/04/02/why-the-graphene-light-bulb-could-switch-on-a-new-era-of-innovation/?wprss=rss_national

Fix the Missing “And” – Maine Lawmakers Debating Solution for Mistaken Efficiency Funding Cut (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/maine-lawmakers-debating-fix-for-mistaken-efficiency-funding-cut/382398/

April 15 Marks Hot Water Heater Regulations Affecting Homeowners (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2015/04/01/naeca-hot-water-heater/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Ten Best Marijuana Strains of March (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2015/04/01/ten-best-marijuana-strains-of-march/#16788101=0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Drought Is Worsened by Global Warming, Scientists Say (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/science/california-drought-is-worsened-by-global-warming-scientists-say.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Composting Toilets Help Make This Seattle Building 'One of the Most Important in the World' (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/04/composting-toilets-help-make-this-seattle-building.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Editorial: Proposal to Lease Click Merits Serious Consideration (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/01/3719467_proposal-to-lease-click-merits.html?rh=1

AT&T Shows Cupertino Precisely What Broadband Competition (Or the Lack Thereof) Looks Like (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/blog/netneutrality/articles/20150401/05424230512/att-shows-cupertino-precisely-what-broadband-competition-lack-thereof-looks-like.shtml

Comcast to Start Offering 2Gbps Internet Service in Atlanta Next Month (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/04/02/comcast-2gbps-internet-atlanta/

For 7% of Americans, Smartphone is Only Link to Internet (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/04/01/smartphone-dependent-7-pew/70672728/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Good Bye Bellevue: Expedia to Move HQ to Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Expedia-to-move-HQ-to-Seattle-6174631.php

Nine Things Brands Should Consider Before Launching a Blog (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/04/02/blog-brands/

How to Optimize Social Media Images (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-optimize-social-media-images/

The Internet’s First Gatekeepers Are Getting Older – The Web Is Leaving Them Behind (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/04/01/the-internets-first-gatekeepers-are-getting-older-and-the-web-is-leaving-them-behind/?wprss=rss_business

29 People Who Can't Stand Your Stupid Branded April Fools' Joke – The Backlash is Real (AdWeek – Ed. Note: Why would ANYONE who has spent so much sweat and effort to make their brand a reliable, trusted source of information/service risk it all on a stupid April Fool’s joke. Remember this adage: one D-S erases ten “attaboys.”)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/29-people-who-cant-stand-your-stupid-branded-april-fools-joke-163799

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Embattled Washington State Auditor Responds to Questions from Governor (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/embattled-state-auditor-responds-questions-inslee

Embattled Washington State Auditor Skips Olympia Committee Hearing (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Embattled-state-auditor-skips-Olympia-committee-hearing-298333511.html

Indiana Unveils Changes to Religion Bill; Arkansas in Flux (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/28701140/indiana-unveils-changes-to-religion-bill-arkansas-in-flux

Bonus word of the day:

Embattled • \em-BATT-tulled\ • Adjective – Engaged in battle or conflict: surrounded by enemies; constantly criticized or attacked - 1a: ready to fight: prepared to give battle b: engaged in battle, conflict, or controversy 2a: being a site of battle, conflict, or controversy b: characterized by conflict or controversy

GENERAL NEWS

Mason Transit Authority’s Transit-Community Center Starts Off in High Gear (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22188-mta-s-transit-community-center-starts-off-in-high-gear

125 Years, 100 Million Trees for Green Diamond (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22185-125-years-for-green-diamond

Two Separate Mason County Collisions Involving School Buses Wednesday (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14898

Mason PUD 1 Places Second in South Sound for AWWA Water Taste Test Competition (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14906

DIVERSIONS

Why the April 4 Lunar Eclipse Will be Different

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0331/Why-this-next-lunar-eclipse-will-be-different

The Only Thing Better than a Chocolate Bunny is This Life-Size Chocolate Benedict Cumberbatch

http://time.com/3768686/benedict-cumberbatch-chocolate-sculpture/

“Let Them Eat Cake” – Ice-Cold Camembert' Blamed for Lawmaker’s Expenses Claims

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-32160250

Woman Who Chased Down Google Street View Car And Flashed It Could Now be Facing Charges

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/01/woman-who-chased-down-google-street-view-car-and-flashed-it-could-now-be-facing-charges/

SONG OF THE DAY

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga - The Lady is a Tramp

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

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 April 1, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 1, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/kkfzxuf

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

Tacoma Public Utilities Looks to Lease Click! to Wave Broadband (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/March-2015/TPU-looks-to-lease-Click-to-Wave-Broadband/

Wanapum Dam Pool Back to Normal Level (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/wanapum-dam-pool-back-to-normal-level/article_a3cabab2-d7fc-11e4-8503-f7beb2c95eb2.html

Mason PUD 3 Looking into Remote Meter Reading (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14895

Pacific Power: Oregon Jumping the Gun on Coal (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/pacific-power-oregon-jumping-gun-on-coal.html

March Was the Warmest on SeaTac Record (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/March-was-the-warmest-on-record-6172504.php

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Wanapum Dam Pool Back to Normal Level
2. Mason PUD 3 Looking into Remote Meter Reading
3. Pacific Power: Oregon Jumping the Gun on Coal
4. Montana: Interior Department Announces Plans to Partner with Crow Tribe on Yellowtail Afterbay Hydropower
5. Lawyer Who Helped Reorganize Bonneville Power, & Craft State Pot Rules, Named BPA General Counsel
6. Beginning April 6 – Oak Park Underground Power Line Replacement Project
7. Haven Energy Rejection Raises Questions about Possible Land Crunch at Port of Longview
8. State Senator Tim Sheldon to Receive Northwest Public Power Association Public Service Award
9. News Release: Smith Bill Would Investigate Unknown Costs to Washington Ratepayers from Montana Coal Plant Closure
10. GE Makes Once-a-Decade Bet on Big Turbines as Energy Use Surges
11. Texas Debates Bill to Eliminate Utility Fees for Low Demand Customers
12. The Doctor is In at Virginia Co-op
13. Fish Hatcheries: A 19th Century Fix That Won’t Die
14. Hatcheries Flow On Despite Evidence They Harm Salmon Recovery
15. Judge Tells Fisheries Service to Open Up over Central California Coast Steelhead
16. Op/Ed: Shining the Light on Solar Subsidies
17. A Biomass Mountain Rises
18. These States Are Early Leaders in U-S Energy Storage Market
19. Snohomish County PUD Offers Advice, Assistance
20. Oregon: Head of High-Profile Energy Efficiency Program, Clean Energy Works, Steps Down
21. Lawsuits against Legal Marijuana Point to Grand Failure of National Leadership
22. Colorado Marijuana Welfare Measure Heads to Governor’s Desk
23. March Was the Warmest on SeaTac Record
24. Are We Tired of Talking about Climate Change?
25. Could the Earth be Getting Greener? Satellite Data Say Yes
26. Forget “Bans” on Talking about Climate. These Florida Republicans Are Too Busy Protecting Their Coasts
27. New Tesla Offering Expected to be Home Battery Storage
28. Tacoma Public Utilities Looks to Lease Click! to Wave Broadband
29. Proposal to Lease Click! Merits Serious Consideration
30. Manweller, Washington State Representative, Pushes Tax Break for Quincy Server Farms
31. Poll Results: Yes, Oregonians Want Google Fiber
32. Alibaba 'Likely' To Choose Seattle for U-S Headquarters
33. Meerkat & Periscope Can Really Chew through Your Precious Data
34. Dueling State Budgets on the Table Now in Olympia
35. Five Mason County Schools Struggling – State Pledges Help
36. Kitsap County Starts Text-To-911 Service
37. Electrical Fault Corrected, 'Big Bang' Collider to Restart Soon
38. Road Hazard: Plastic Wrap Prank Hits Post Falls

WORD OF THE DAY

Angst • \ANG-st\ • Noun - A feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity.

There once was a feeling called angst

Over a gun that shot only blanks

The chamber was showing

The tension was growing

Over one of the new workers pranks

Whoo! There’s a stinker of a limerick.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wanapum Dam Pool Back to Normal Level (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/wanapum-dam-pool-back-to-normal-level/article_a3cabab2-d7fc-11e4-8503-f7beb2c95eb2.html

Mason PUD 3 Looking into Remote Meter Reading (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14895

Pacific Power: Oregon Jumping the Gun on Coal (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/pacific-power-oregon-jumping-gun-on-coal.html

Montana: Interior Department Announces Plans to Partner with Crow Tribe on Yellowtail Afterbay Hydropower (PR Web)

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/04/prweb12623040.htm

Lawyer Who Helped Reorganize Bonneville Power, & Craft State Pot Rules, Named BPA General Counsel (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/lawyer-who-helped-reorganize-bpa-and-craft-state.html

Beginning April 6 – Oak Park Underground Power Line Replacement Project (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1499

Haven Energy Rejection Raises Questions about Possible Land Crunch at Port of Longview (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/haven-energy-rejection-raises-questions-about-possible-land-crunch-at/article_14ad9db0-d5d9-11e4-8ee5-9f385eb42d41.html

State Senator Tim Sheldon to Receive Northwest Public Power Association Public Service Award (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14893

News Release: Smith Bill Would Investigate Unknown Costs to Washington Ratepayers from Montana Coal Plant Closure (Washington State House Republicans)

http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/news/smith-bill-would-investigate-unknown-costs-to-washington-ratepayers-from-montana-plant-closure/

GE Makes Once-a-Decade Bet on Big Turbines as Energy Use Surges (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-01/ge-makes-once-a-decade-bet-on-big-turbines-as-energy-use-surges

Texas Debates Bill to Eliminate Utility Fees for Low Demand Customers (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-debates-bill-to-eliminate-utility-fees-for-low-demand-customers/381827/

The Doctor is In at Virginia Co-op (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/newsmakers/local-initiatives/the-doctor-is-in-at-northern-virginia-electric-cooperativ/79487

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish Hatcheries: A 19th Century Fix That Won’t Die (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/03/hatcheries-a-19th-century-fix-that-wont-die/

Hatcheries Flow On Despite Evidence They Harm Salmon Recovery (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/03/hatcheries-part-2/

Judge Tells Fisheries Service to Open Up over Central California Coast Steelhead (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/04/01/judge-tells-fisheries-service-to-open-up.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Op/Ed: Shining the Light on Solar Subsidies (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/237404-shining-the-light-on-solar-subsidies

A Biomass Mountain Rises (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/x-prize-foundation/a-biomass-mountain-rises_b_6979770.html

These States Are Early Leaders in U-S Energy Storage Market (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/eric-wesoff/2209866/these-states-are-early-leaders-us-energy-storage-market

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Snohomish County PUD Offers Advice, Assistance (North County Outlook, Marysville, WA)

http://www.northcountyoutlook.com/story/2015/04/01/arts-and-leisure/snohomish-county-pud-offers-advice-assistance/7792.html

Oregon: Head of High-Profile Energy Efficiency Program, Clean Energy Works, Steps Down (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/head_of_clean_energy_works_a_s.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Lawsuits against Legal Marijuana Point to Grand Failure of National Leadership (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2015/03/31/lawsuits-against-legal-marijuana-point-to-grand-failure-of-national-leadership/#31739101=0&29340103=0&31507105=0

Colorado Marijuana Welfare Measure Heads to Governor’s Desk (Associated Press)

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/03/31/colorado-marijuana-welfare-measure-heads-to-governors-desk/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

March Was the Warmest on SeaTac Record (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/March-was-the-warmest-on-record-6172504.php

Are We Tired of Talking about Climate Change? (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32131142

Could the Earth be Getting Greener? Satellite Data Say Yes (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy/2015/0331/Could-the-Earth-be-getting-greener-Satellite-data-say-yes.

Forget “Bans” on Talking about Climate. These Florida Republicans Are Too Busy Protecting Their Coasts (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/31/the-unlikely-group-of-republicans-who-are-preparing-florida-for-climate-change/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

New Tesla Offering Expected to be Home Battery Storage (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27814985/new-tesla-offering-expected-be-home-battery-storage

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tacoma Public Utilities Looks to Lease Click! to Wave Broadband (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/March-2015/TPU-looks-to-lease-Click-to-Wave-Broadband/

Proposal to Lease Click! Merits Serious Consideration (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/01/3719467/proposal-to-lease-click-merits.html

Manweller, Washington State Representative, Pushes Tax Break for Quincy Server Farms (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/manweller-pushes-a-tax-break-for-quincy-server-farms/article_e2548b42-d7fb-11e4-a2a0-c3222547a0f1.html

Poll Results: Yes, Oregonians Want Google Fiber (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2015/04/poll-results-yes-oregonians-want-google-fiber.html

Alibaba 'Likely' To Choose Seattle for U-S Headquarters (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2015/04/alibaba-likely-to-choose-seattle-for-u-s.html

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Meerkat & Periscope Can Really Chew through Your Precious Data (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/meerkat-and-periscope-can-really-chew-through-your-prec-1694855170

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Dueling State Budgets on the Table Now in Olympia (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150331/NEWS01/150409958

GENERAL NEWS

Five Mason County Schools Struggling – State Pledges Help (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14891

Kitsap County Starts Text-To-911 Service (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Kitsap-County-starts-text-to-911-service-298164801.html

Electrical Fault Corrected, 'Big Bang' Collider to Restart Soon (Reuters)

www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/31/us-science-cern-idUSKBN0MR27G20150331

Road Hazard: Plastic Wrap Prank Hits Post Falls (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.kxly.com/news/north-idaho-news/plastic-wrap-prank-hits-post-falls/32119840

DIVERSIONS

Pet Rock Creator Dies at 78 in Southern Oregon

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/03/creator_of_pet_rock_dies_at_78.html

Moses Lake Dog Rose from the Grave to Live Again

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/03/31/3488408_moses-lake-dog-rose-from-the-grave.html?rh=1

Exploding Head Syndrome is Common in College Students

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/04/01/exploding-head-syndrome-is-common-in-college-students/

Joni Mitchell in Intensive Care after Being Found Unconscious at Home

http://mashable.com/2015/04/01/joni-mitchell-hospital/

SONG OF THE DAY

Joni Mitchell – Free Man in Paris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQj6h8KpkiQ

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 31, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 31, 2015 – Note: Chance of mid-day thunderstorms. Winds breezy, 20-23 MPH.

http://tinyurl.com/q5owjgs

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://tinyurl.com/na3qwm2

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

Move Afoot to Oust Puget Sound Energy: Bainbridge Grassroots Group Wants to Start Public Utility (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/297813741.html

First Nation Occupies Fisheries Office in British Columbia as Herring Fight Escalates (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/first-nation-occupies-fisheries-office-in-bc-as-herring-fight-escalates/article23690720/?cmpid=rss1

Washington State Governor: No State-Funded Travel to Indiana (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Inslee-to-keep-funds-out-of-Indiana-to-protest-controversial-law-298078721.html

An Opportunity to Strengthen I-937 (Washington Business Alliance)

http://www.wacatalyst.org/strengthen-i937/

Castle Rock Seeking Free Wi-Fi for Cluster of Businesses (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/castle-rock-seeking-free-wi-fi-for-cluster-of-businesses/article_6a02ce98-d750-11e4-bc0a-e37c8931ad42.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Move Afoot to Oust Puget Sound Energy: Bainbridge Grassroots Group Wants to Start Public Utility
2. 30,000 Affected: Idaho Power Says Some Customers Coming Back Online after Widespread Power Outage
3. Op/Ed: Snake River Dams Are Assets That Must Remain
4. Bonneville Power Administration to Build $65 Million Idaho Transmission Line
5. Mary Jensen Named General Counsel at Bonneville Power Administration
6. Grays Harbor PUD Moving to New Accounting & Customer Billing System
7. Hello Pullman: Improbable Schweitzer Engineering ESOP Story – Growth Company That Stayed Put
8. Regulators Plan to Drop Case at Closed San Onofre Nuclear Plant
9. First Nation Occupies Fisheries Office in British Columbia as Herring Fight Escalates
10. Photos: Fourth Pacific Northwest Baby Orca Spotted
11. Stink Rising about Victoria Sewage from Both Sides of U-S/Canadian Border
12. Specialists Monitor Conditions to Predict Pacific Northwest’s Water Supply
13. An Opportunity to Strengthen I-937
14. Austin Energy Warns Residents about High-Pressure Contractor Tactics for Solar, Efficiency
15. California: Turlock Irrigation District to Host Solar Workshop
16. Pennsylvania: Judge Sides with Electric Utility in Solar Metering Case
17. Wave Energy Still Looking for a Game-Changing ‘First’
18. United Nations: New Renewables Broke through 100GW Barrier in 2014
19. Philips Sells 80 Percent of Lighting Components Unit for $2.8 Billion
20. Washington Legislature Considers Compacts with Tribes over Marijuana
21. Chart of the Week: 25-Month Average Wait Time from Legalization to Sales
22. Obama Unveils Blueprint to Cut Greenhouse Gases
23. Texas Town First of Many to Switch to 100% Renewable Power
24. Scientists Can Predict Your City’s Obesity Rate by Analyzing Its Sewage
25. Castle Rock Seeking Free Wi-Fi for Cluster of Businesses
26. City of Port Angeles Extends Comments on Cable Franchise
27. $10 Billion: Charter & Bright House Form the Latest Big Cable Union
28. It…Is…Balloon! Bringing Internet to the Far Corners of the Earth
29. Four Legal Issues Brands Need to Understand Before Livestreaming on Periscope or Meerkat
30. Thirteen Mind-Bending Thoughts about Photography
31. To Buy an Apple Watch, Make an Appointment
32. Washington State Governor: No State-Funded Travel to Indiana
33. Portland’s Mayor the Latest to Join Boycott-Indiana Movement, Calls Law ‘Blatant Discrimination’
34. Access Denied: Reporters Say Federal Officials, Data Increasingly Off Limits
35. City of Shelton Can Form Transportation Benefit District

WORD OF THE DAY

Prothalamion • \proh-thuh-LAY-mee-un\ • Noun – A song in celebration of a marriage.

Arturo considered himself the pre-eminent prothalamion performer in the greater Matlock area of Mason County. With his $59 Casio Keyboard and syndrum machine, he would sing just about any song requested by the wedding couple. However, he drew the line at Michael Stookey’s “Wedding Song.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Move Afoot to Oust Puget Sound Energy: Bainbridge Grassroots Group Wants to Start Public Utility (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/297813741.html

30,000 Affected: Idaho Power Says Some Customers Coming Back Online after Widespread Power Outage (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/03/31/3727644_power-outage-affecting-thousands.html?rh=1

Op/Ed: Snake River Dams Are Assets That Must Remain (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2015/mar/28/snake-river-dams-are-asset-that-must-remain/

Bonneville Power Administration to Build $65 Million Idaho Transmission Line (Argus Media)

http://www.argusmedia.com/News/Article?id=1016065

Mary Jensen Named General Counsel at Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2015/03/mary-jensen-veteran-attorney-named.html

Grays Harbor PUD Moving to New Accounting & Customer Billing System (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/pud-asks-for-your-patience/

Hello Pullman: Improbable Schweitzer Engineering ESOP Story – Growth Company That Stayed Put (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maryjosephs/2015/03/30/improbable-schweitzer-engineering-esop-story-growth-company-that-stayed-put/

Regulators Plan to Drop Case at Closed San Onofre Nuclear Plant (KPBS-TV, San Diego, CA)

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/mar/30/regulators-plan-drop-case-closed-san-onofre-nuclea/

FISH & WILDLIFE

First Nation Occupies Fisheries Office in British Columbia as Herring Fight Escalates (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/first-nation-occupies-fisheries-office-in-bc-as-herring-fight-escalates/article23690720/?cmpid=rss1

Photos: Fourth Pacific Northwest Baby Orca Spotted (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Photos-Fourth-baby-orca-spotted-6170144.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Stink Rising about Victoria Sewage from Both Sides of U-S/Canadian Border (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150331/NEWS/303319986/stink-rising-about-victoria-sewage-from-both-sides-of-border

Specialists Monitor Conditions to Predict Pacific Northwest’s Water Supply (Puget Sound Public Radio)

http://wfae.org/post/specialists-monitor-conditions-predict-northwests-water-supply

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

An Opportunity to Strengthen I-937 (Washington Business Alliance)

http://www.wacatalyst.org/strengthen-i937/

Austin Energy Warns Residents about High-Pressure Contractor Tactics for Solar, Efficiency (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43499

California: Turlock Irrigation District to Host Solar Workshop (Turlock City News, CA)

http://turlockcitynews.com/news/item/4866-tid-to-host-solar-workshop

Pennsylvania: Judge Sides with Electric Utility in Solar Metering Case (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/03/31/Federal-judge-sides-with-Pennsylvania-electric-utility-in-solar-metering-case/stories/201504070006

Wave Energy Still Looking for a Game-Changing ‘First’ (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/03/30/wave-energy-still-looking-for-a-game-changing-first/

United Nations: New Renewables Broke through 100GW Barrier in 2014 (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32119463

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Philips Sells 80 Percent of Lighting Components Unit for $2.8 Billion (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/31/us-philips-divestiture-go-scale-idUSKBN0MR0FI20150331

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Washington Legislature Considers Compacts with Tribes over Marijuana (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/washington-legislature-considers-compacts-with-tribes-over-marijuana/

Oregon Chooses Kansas Company to Build Marijuana-Selling Apps (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2015/03/oregon-chooses-kansas-company-to-build-pot.html

Chart of the Week: 25-Month Average Wait Time from Legalization to Sales (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/chart-week-25-months-wait-time-legalization-sales/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama Unveils Blueprint to Cut Greenhouse Gases (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/31/obama-climate-change-blueprint-united-nations/70713680/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Texas Town First of Many to Switch to 100% Renewable Power (The Motley Fool)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/03/30/texas-town-first-of-many-to-switch-to-100-renewabl.aspx

Scientists Can Predict Your City’s Obesity Rate by Analyzing Its Sewage (Mother Jones)

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2015/03/wisconsin-scientists-obesity-sewage-sludge

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Castle Rock Seeking Free Wi-Fi for Cluster of Businesses (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/castle-rock-seeking-free-wi-fi-for-cluster-of-businesses/article_6a02ce98-d750-11e4-bc0a-e37c8931ad42.html

City of Port Angeles Extends Comments on Cable Franchise (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/10569

$10 Billion: Charter & Bright House Form the Latest Big Cable Union (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2015/0331/Charter-and-Bright-House-form-the-latest-big-cable-union

It…Is…Balloon! Bringing Internet to the Far Corners of the Earth (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2015/03/30/396391960/bringing-internet-to-the-far-corners-of-the-earth

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Four Legal Issues Brands Need to Understand Before Livestreaming on Periscope or Meerkat (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/5-things-brands-need-know-about-shooting-live-perispcope-or-meerkat-163767

Thirteen Mind-Bending Thoughts about Photography (Mashable – Prepare yourself for number 13)

http://mashable.com/2015/03/30/photography-thoughts/

To Buy an Apple Watch, Make an Appointment (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2015/0330/To-buy-an-Apple-Watch-make-an-appointment-video

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor: No State-Funded Travel to Indiana (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Inslee-to-keep-funds-out-of-Indiana-to-protest-controversial-law-298078721.html

Portland’s Mayor the Latest to Join Boycott-Indiana Movement, Calls Law ‘Blatant Discrimination’ (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/03/portland_latest_to_join_boycot.html

Access Denied: Reporters Say Federal Officials, Data Increasingly Off Limits (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/access-denied-reporters-say-federal-officials-data-increasingly-off-limits/2015/03/30/935b4962-c04b-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html

GENERAL NEWS

City of Shelton Can Form Transportation Benefit District (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22144-city-of-shelton-can-form-tbd

DIVERSIONS

Here’s How to Play Pac-Man on Google Maps

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2015/03/31/pac-man-google/70715966/

Oregon Farmers Agree Slugs Are a Problem – But What to Do?

http://news.yahoo.com/oregon-farmers-agree-slugs-problem-205545925.html

When Did the Eiffel Tower Open, & Why Was It ‘A Truly Tragic Street Lamp’?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Horizons/2015/0331/When-did-the-Eiffel-Tower-open-and-why-was-it-a-truly-tragic-street-lamp

Idaho Man Calls 911 Twelve Times over Bar Bill, Now Faces $1,000 Fine & Jail Time

http://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2015/03/31/police-idaho-man-calls-911-a-dozen-times-about-bar-bill

SONG OF THE DAY

The Guess Who – No Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqeSUAlI5uI

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.