Energy News Digest for July 23, 2015 – Hot Shots Edition

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 23, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pdy74b4

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 STORIES

Benton PUD’s Solar Panels Producing Savings for Investors (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/07/22/3662559/benton-puds-solar-panels-producing.html

Report: Wait Times for Rooftop Solar Interconnection Jumped 68% 2013-2014 (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/report-wait-times-for-rooftop-solar-interconnection-jumped-68-2013-2014/402786/

Copper Thieves Steal Power Lines, Leave Thousands without Power in Everett (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2787840/Copper-thieves-steal-power-lines-leave-thousands-without-power-in-Everett

Heat Wave, Low Snow Pack Wreaking Havoc on Fish Hatcheries (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Heat-wave-low-snow-pack-wreaking-havoc-on-fish-hatcheries-318227231.html

No Plans for Fishing Restrictions in Idaho despite Heat (Associated Press)

http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/No-plans-for-fishing-restrictions-in-Idaho-despite-heat--318276521.html

Comcast Has Finally Become an Internet-First Company (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/07/23/comcast-has-finally-become-an-internet-first-company/?wprss=rss_business

Project Update on Portland's LED Streetlight Switch (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Portland-LED-streetlight-switch-set-to-save-city-some-cash-energy-efficient-318303201.html

Hopper Fire at Simpson (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16179

Seahawks Rating Reaction Prompts Great 'Madden' Burn (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2015/07/22/seahawks-madden/30535985/

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their websites 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 July 22, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 22, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/q9a3ntt

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

Washington State Regulators Look at Cost of Retiring Coal Plants (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/State-regulators-look-at-cost-of-retiring-coal-plants-318057731.html

Small Modular Nuclear Plants Moving Ahead, But Slowly (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/small-modular-nuclear-plants-moving-ahead-but-slowly/402694/

Benton PUD Solar Project Tour Planned Wednesday (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/07/21/3660552_benton-pud-solar-project-tour.html?rh=1

Clallam PUD Declares Emergency to Bring Upper Fairview Water Quickly (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150722/news/307229991/clallam-public-utility-district-declares-emergency-to-bring-upper

All-Cash Marijuana Businesses Push for Change in Banking Law (McClatchy Syndication)

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article27507616.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Washington State Regulators Look at Cost of Retiring Coal Plants
• Small Modular Nuclear Plants Moving Ahead, But Slowly
• Pacific Power Warns Customers about New Scam
• Scam Targets Cowlitz PUD Customers
• Illinois Lineman Dies in Sinkhole Accident
• Virginia Linemen Beat the Clock to Save Customer
• Greens Urge U-S Supreme Court to Prevent Blackouts
• For Top Utilities, Customer Satisfaction Hinges on Empowerment
• 160,000-Plus Salmon Get New Waters to Hatch amid Oregon's Weather Fears
• Steelhead Hatchery Impact Study Opens for Public Comment
• Sammamish Residents Win Ruling to Block Subdivision near Salmon Bearing Stream
• Group Demands Change in Deschutes River Dam Operations to Protect Frog
• Clallam PUD Declares Emergency to Bring Upper Fairview Water Quickly
• Port Townsend City Council Declares Drought Emergency
• Port Angeles City Council Decides to Ask Voters If They Approve of Adding Fluoride to Drinking Water
• British Columbia: Faulty Meter Missed Millions of Cubic Meters of Water Piped to North Vancouver
• Benton PUD Solar Project Tour Planned Wednesday
• Op/Ed: Why Utility Ownership of Rooftop Solar Should Be Explored
• Study: Pepco Is the Country’s Worst Utility at Connecting Solar Power
• California ISO Approves Rules to Let Aggregated Solar, Storage into Wholesale Market
• Wind Industry Wins Key Victory in Senate
• Iberdrola Teams with D.C. on Largest City Wind Power Purchase in U-S History
• Why Is Hewlett Packard Harnessing Wind Power?
• Denmark Blows Away Wind Energy Records, While Australia Says Turbines Are Too Ugly
• Florida: Walmart Seeks to Opt Out of State Energy Conservation Costs
• History of the Air Conditioner
• All-Cash Marijuana Businesses Push for Change in Banking Law
• Colorado TV Station Puts the Kibosh on First Recreational Marijuana Ad amid Legality Questions
• Why Airlines Keep Pushing Biofuels: They Have No Choice
• Meanwhile in the Future: We Have Changed the Climate with Wind Turbines
• Idaho Sees More School Internet Savings
• Spokane County’s Fast Approval of Broadband-Boosting Towers Draws Complaint
• Some Landline Users Forced to Switch to Fiber
• FCC Set to Approve AT&T-DirecTV Deal
• Project Brings Broadband to Parts of Northern New Mexico
• Op/Ed: The Internet Is a Necessity
• How NASA Won the Internet
• Thirteen Instagram Marketing Tips from the Experts
• Google Maps Timeline Lets You Stalk Yourself
• U-S Gets Revenge against Nigerian Internet Scammers
• Belfair Shooting Update: Victim & Suspect Identified
• Mason County Unemployment Drops Slightly in June
• In Drier Washington State, Fire Chiefs Say Wildfires Could Scorch Any City
• El Niño Intensifying, Could Rival Strongest in Recorded History
• New NOAA Images Show El Niño & 'The Blob' in Stark Relief

WORD OF THE DAY

Octothorpe • \AHK-tuh-thorp\ • Noun – The symbol #.

“Too many hashtags,” groused the company’s social media guru. “This fascination with the octothorpe will ruin us all.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Washington State Regulators Look at Cost of Retiring Coal Plants (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/State-regulators-look-at-cost-of-retiring-coal-plants-318057731.html

Small Modular Nuclear Plants Moving Ahead, But Slowly (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/small-modular-nuclear-plants-moving-ahead-but-slowly/402694/

Pacific Power Warns Customers about New Scam (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)

http://democratherald.com/news/local/pacific-power-warns-customers-about-new-scam/article_12ace715-14d9-52dc-80e1-406cb649d144.html

Scam Targets Cowlitz PUD Customers (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/scam-targets-pud-customers/article_d326be0e-19cc-5d48-991c-2cdced2ccc80.html

Illinois Lineman Dies in Sinkhole Accident (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/newsmakers/co-op-news-newsmakers/illinois-lineman-dies-in-sinkhole-accident/83111

Virginia Linemen Beat the Clock to Save Customer (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/virginia-electriclinemen-beat-the-clock-to-save-member/83036

Greens Urge U-S Supreme Court to Prevent Blackouts (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/greens-urge-supreme-court-to-prevent-blackouts/article/2568711

For Top Utilities, Customer Satisfaction Hinges on Empowerment – The new J.D. Power customer survey shows not enough to provide reliable, affordable power anymore (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/for-top-utilities-customer-satisfaction-hinges-on-empowerment/402618/

FISH & WILDLIFE

160,000-Plus Salmon Get New Waters to Hatch amid Oregon's Weather Fears (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/07/160k-plus-salmon-get-new-waters-to-hatch-amid.html

Steelhead Hatchery Impact Study Opens for Public Comment (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/07/21/tokul-creek-steelhead-hatchery-environmental-impact/30495357/

Sammamish Residents Win Ruling to Block Subdivision near Salmon Bearing Stream (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/eastside/sammamish-residents-win-ruling-to-block-subdivision-by-salmon-creek/

Group Demands Change in Deschutes River Dam Operations to Protect Frog (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Group-demands-change-in-dam-operations-to-protect-6397664.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Clallam PUD Declares Emergency to Bring Upper Fairview Water Quickly (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150722/news/307229991/clallam-public-utility-district-declares-emergency-to-bring-upper

Port Townsend City Council Declares Drought Emergency – Encourages Voluntary Reduction in Water Use (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150722/NEWS/307229986/port-townsend-city-council-declares-drought-emergency-encourages

Port Angeles City Council Decides to Ask Voters If They Approve of Adding Fluoride to Drinking Water – Question will appear on Nov. 3 ballot (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150722/NEWS/307229971/port-angeles-city-council-decides-to-ask-voters-if-they-approve-of

British Columbia: Faulty Meter Missed Millions of Cubic Meters of Water Piped to North Vancouver (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Faulty+meter+missed+millions+cubic+metres+water+piped+North/11232158/story.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Benton PUD Solar Project Tour Planned Wednesday (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/07/21/3660552_benton-pud-solar-project-tour.html?rh=1

Op/Ed: Why Utility Ownership of Rooftop Solar Should Be Explored (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/why-utility-ownership-of-rooftop-solar-should-be-explored/402645/

Study: Pepco Is the Country’s Worst Utility at Connecting Solar Power (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/07/21/study-pepco-is-the-countrys-worst-utility-at-connecting-solar-power/

California ISO Approves Rules to Let Aggregated Solar, Storage into Wholesale Market (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=44244

Wind Industry Wins Key Victory in Senate (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wind-industry-wins-key-victory-in-senate/article/2568706

Iberdrola Teams with D.C. on Largest City Wind Power Purchase in U-S History (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/07/iberdrola-teams-with-d-c-on-largest-city-wind.html

Why Is Hewlett Packard Harnessing Wind Power? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0721/Why-is-Hewlett-Packard-harnessing-wind-power

Denmark Blows Away Wind Energy Records, While Australia Says Turbines Are Too Ugly (Takepart)

http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/07/20/wind-powers-denmark-australia-says-turbines-ugly

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Florida: Walmart Seeks to Opt Out of State Energy Conservation Costs (Tampa Bay Times, FL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/walmart-seeks-to-opt-out-of-state-energy-conservation-costs/2238200

History of the Air Conditioner (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/07/21/history-of-the-air-conditioner/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

All-Cash Marijuana Businesses Push for Change in Banking Law (McClatchy Syndication)

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article27507616.html

Colorado TV Station Puts the Kibosh on First Recreational Marijuana Ad amid Legality Questions (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/07/21/colorado-tv-station-puts-the-kibosh-on-first-recreational-marijuana-ad-amid-legality-questions/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Why Airlines Keep Pushing Biofuels: They Have No Choice (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_28516524/why-airlines-keep-pushing-biofuels-they-have-no

Meanwhile in the Future: We Have Changed the Climate with Wind Turbines (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/meanwhile-in-the-future-we-have-changed-the-climate-wi-1719130408

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Idaho Sees More School Internet Savings (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jul/22/idaho-sees-more-school-internet-savings/

Spokane County’s Fast Approval of Broadband-Boosting Towers Draws Complaint (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jul/22/countys-fast-approval-of-broadband-boosting/

Some Landline Users Forced to Switch to Fiber (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/money/2015/07/21/some-landline-users-forced-to-switch-to-fiber/30492069/

FCC Set to Approve AT&T-DirecTV Deal (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/07/21/fcc-set-approve-t-directv-deal/30484649/

Project Brings Broadband to Parts of Northern New Mexico (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article28082419.html

Op/Ed: The Internet Is a Necessity (Slate)

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/07/ada_25th_anniversary_the_internet_should_be_accessible_for_the_disabled.html

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

How NASA Won the Internet (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/how-nasa-won-the-internet-1719318683

Thirteen Instagram Marketing Tips from the Experts (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/13-instagram-marketing-tips-from-the-experts/

Google Maps Timeline Lets You Stalk Yourself (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/google-maps-timeline-lets-you-stalk-yourself-1719421034

U-S Gets Revenge against Nigerian Internet Scammers (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/u.s.-gets-revenge-against-nigerian-internet-scammers/article/2568192

GENERAL NEWS

Belfair Shooting Update: Victim & Suspect Identified (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16137

Mason County Unemployment Drops Slightly in June (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16139

In Drier Washington State, Fire Chiefs Say Wildfires Could Scorch Any City (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/drier-washington-state-fire-chiefs-say-wildfires-could-scorch-any-city

El Niño Intensifying, Could Rival Strongest in Recorded History (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/07/20/el-nino-intensifying-could-rival-strongest-in-history/

New NOAA Images Show El Niño & 'The Blob' in Stark Relief (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2015/07/el_nino_and_the_blob_shown_in.html

DIVERSIONS

Explore the Pacific Northwest: 17 Waterfalls You May Not Know

http://www.king5.com/story/travel/destinations/explore-the-pnw/2015/07/21/explore-the-pnw-waterfalls/30468419/

Photo of Dogs Hugging Saves Them from Euthanasia

http://koin.com/2015/07/22/photo-of-dogs-hugging-saves-them-from-euthanasia/

Everyone Likes Free Office Food Because We’re All Basically Cave People

http://consumerist.com/2015/07/20/everyone-likes-free-office-food-because-were-all-basically-cave-people/

Stroke of Luck: Man Who Survived Lightning Strike Wins Lottery

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/07/22/lightning-man-lottery-canada/30506469/

SONG OF THE DAY

Leo Sayer – Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-qxCWf0SCY

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 July 21, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 21, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pzkf9es

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

BC Hydro Peace River Dam Protest in Vancouver Cancelled Due to Concerns about Violence (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-hydro-site-c-protest-in-vancouver-cancelled-due-to-concerns-about-violence-1.3161532?cmp=rss

Grant PUD Commissioners Consider Change in Power Sales (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/pud-commissioners-consider-change-in-power-sales/article_fc59e938-2f35-11e5-8913-5b89895a82f8.html

Sockeye Salmon Suffer Infections in Warm Columbia River System (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2015/jul/17/sockeye-salmon-suffer-infections-warm-columbia-river-system/

Agency Reports Killing 158 Cormorants So Far to Help Salmon (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/agency-reports-killing-158-cormorants-so-far-to-help-salmon/

Kitsap PUD Seeks Input on Where to Expand Internet (Central Kitsap Reporter, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.centralkitsapreporter.com/news/315948131.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• BC Hydro Peace River Dam Protest in Vancouver Cancelled Due to Concerns about Violence
• Grant PUD Commissioners Consider Change in Power Sales
• Bidder Cries Foul on Snohomish PUD Turbine Contract
• Clark Public Utilities Receives J.D. Power Recognition for Electric Utilities Eight Years in a Row
• Co-ops Score Highest in Satisfaction Study
• Disaster Preparedness Kit: How to Pack Easily for Earthquake, Tsunami & More
• House Panel Unveils Sweeping Energy Bill
• Younger Brother Saves Older Brother from Electrocution in Pasco County, Florida
• Coal Power Plant Proposed for Thai Coast Sparks Outcry
• Sockeye Salmon Suffer Infections in Warm Columbia River System
• Agency Reports Killing 158 Cormorants So Far to Help Salmon
• The 'Phallic' Clam America Sells to China
• Drought Dings Quality of Winter Wheat in the Pacific Northwest
• Solar Industry Steams as Tax Credits Dry Up
• How Much Will Solar Power Cost You?
• Commentary: Utility Solar Costs Less, But It’s Also Worth Less
• U-S Senate Finance to Launch Annual Extenders Ritual
• California: Imperial Valley Cooperative Fights to Export More Renewable Energy
• Ohio’s Clean-Energy Mandates Likely to Be Cut as Legislative Panel Ends Work
• Energy Improvement Program Can Hobble Home Sales
• Boulder’s Simple Energy Gains Big New York Customer
• State Of The Climate Report: 2014 Was Earth’s Warmest Year on Record
• City of Seattle Says It's Just Looking, Not Touching Residents’ Garbage
• Kitsap PUD Seeks Input on Where to Expand Internet
• USDA Unveils $85 Million in New Funding for Rural Broadband
• Cablevision Sued for Turning User Routers into Public Hotspots
• Costco and Sam's Club Shut Down Photo Sites after Hackers Break In
• Looking Past the Power Lines
• Tacoma Strong-Mayor Proposal Mistakenly Deletes ‘Powers of the People’ Charter Section
• Man Killed, Woman Jailed in Mason County Shooting
• Not Enough Money for Stopping Washington State Wildfires Early, Lands Commissioner Says
• Tenacious Pt. Angeles Graffiti Foe Removes Tags Hours after They Appear

WORD OF THE DAY

Imprecate • \IM-prih-kayt\ • verb – to invoke evil on: curse

“Bubble, bubble, toilet trouble,” intoned the three witches over their steaming cauldron. They weren’t really evil, just annoying. They never did imprecate anyone seriously. The worst they ever did was to place a curse on the Coca Cola executive who thought coming up with a “new Coke” campaign was an outstanding idea.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BC Hydro Peace River Dam Protest in Vancouver Cancelled Due to Concerns about Violence (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-hydro-site-c-protest-in-vancouver-cancelled-due-to-concerns-about-violence-1.3161532?cmp=rss

Grant PUD Commissioners Consider Change in Power Sales (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/pud-commissioners-consider-change-in-power-sales/article_fc59e938-2f35-11e5-8913-5b89895a82f8.html

Bidder Cries Foul on Snohomish PUD Turbine Contract (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150721/NEWS01/150729860

Clark Public Utilities Receives J.D. Power Recognition for Electric Utilities Eight Years in a Row (Clark Public Utilities)

http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com/index.cfm/aboutus/newsroom/archives/news-release-7152015/

Co-ops Score Highest in Satisfaction Study (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/trends-reports-analyses/co-ops-score-highest-in-customer-satisfaction-study/82963

Disaster Preparedness Kit: How to Pack Easily for Earthquake, Tsunami & More (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/07/disaster_preparedness_kit_how.html

House Panel Unveils Sweeping Energy Bill (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/house-panel-unveils-sweeping-energy-bill/article/2568644

Younger Brother Saves Older Brother from Electrocution in Pasco County, Florida (WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, FL)

http://www.wptv.com/news/state/younger-brother-saves-older-brother-from-electrocution-in-pasco-county-florida

Coal Power Plant Proposed for Thai Coast Sparks Outcry (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/coal-plant-proposed-pristine-thai-coast-sparks-outcry-085807554.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sockeye Salmon Suffer Infections in Warm Columbia River System (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2015/jul/17/sockeye-salmon-suffer-infections-warm-columbia-river-system/

Agency Reports Killing 158 Cormorants So Far to Help Salmon (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/agency-reports-killing-158-cormorants-so-far-to-help-salmon/

The 'Phallic' Clam America Sells to China (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33261666

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Drought Dings Quality of Winter Wheat in the Pacific Northwest (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_28511450/drought-dings-quality-winter-wheat-northwest

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Solar Industry Steams as Tax Credits Dry Up (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/solar-industry-steams-as-tax-credits-dry-up/article/2568634

How Much Will Solar Power Cost You? (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/how-much-will-solar-power-cost-you/83016

Commentary: Utility Solar Costs Less, But It’s Also Worth Less (Midwest Energy News)

http://midwestenergynews.com/2015/07/20/commentary-utility-solar-costs-less-but-its-also-worth-less/

U-S Senate Finance to Launch Annual Extenders Ritual (Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition)

http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/?p=13828

California: Imperial Valley Cooperative Fights to Export More Renewable Energy (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/21/imperial-valley-power-exports/

Ohio’s Clean-Energy Mandates Likely to Be Cut as Legislative Panel Ends Work (Columbus Dispatch, OH)

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/07/20/energy-mandates-committee-finishes-work.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Improvement Program Can Hobble Home Sales (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article27528559.html

Boulder’s Simple Energy Gains Big New York Customer (Denver Business Journal, CO)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2015/07/boulder-s-simple-energy-lands-big-new-york.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

State Of The Climate Report: 2014 Was Earth’s Warmest Year on Record (Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/434533.aspx

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

City of Seattle Says It's Just Looking, Not Touching Residents’ Garbage (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2786806/City-says-itaposs-just-looking-not-touching-residents-garbage

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Kitsap PUD Seeks Input on Where to Expand Internet (Central Kitsap Reporter, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.centralkitsapreporter.com/news/315948131.html

USDA Unveils $85 Million in New Funding for Rural Broadband (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/USDA-Unveils-85-Million-in-New-Funding-For-Rural-Broadband-134540

Cablevision Sued for Turning User Routers into Public Hotspots (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cablevision-Sued-for-Turning-User-Routers-into-Public-Hotspots-134542

Costco and Sam's Club Shut Down Photo Sites after Hackers Break In (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/costco-and-sams-club-shut-down-photo-sites-after-hacker-1719246572

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Looking Past the Power Lines (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/looking-past-the-power-lines/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Tacoma Strong-Mayor Proposal Mistakenly Deletes ‘Powers of the People’ Charter Section (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/politics-government/article27446731.html

GENERAL NEWS

Man Killed, Woman Jailed in Mason County Shooting (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Man-killed-woman-jailed-in-Mason-County-shooting-317811131.html

Not Enough Money for Stopping Washington State Wildfires Early, Lands Commissioner Says (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/politics-government/article26775331.html

Tenacious Pt. Angeles Graffiti Foe Removes Tags Hours after They Appear (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Tenacious-Pt-Angeles-graffiti-foe-obliterates-tags--317802331.html

DIVERSIONS

World Santa Congress Brings July Christmas Cheer to Copenhagen

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/21/us-denmark-santa-idUSKCN0PU1QN20150721

Boston Bus Driver Treats Passengers at Lemonade Stand

http://news.yahoo.com/boston-bus-driver-treats-passengers-lemonade-stand-201157545.html

Spanish Town's Summer Advice: Don't Skip Your Siesta

http://news.yahoo.com/spanish-towns-summer-advice-dont-skip-siesta-122217960.html

Los Angeles Burglar Records Video Selfie with Victim's Phone

http://news.yahoo.com/los-angeles-burglar-records-video-selfie-victims-phone-022608002.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Roy Orbison – Dream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYmoTQQJ4to

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 July 17, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 16, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ohhdhw9

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

Washington State Restricts Fishing on Many Rivers Due to Drought (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Washington-restricts-fishing-on-many-rivers-due-to-drought-316068281.html

Sturgeon Fishing on Columbia River Halted July 18 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/07/16/3654637_sturgeon-fishing-on-columbia-river.html?rh=1

42 States Are Reducing Emissions Ahead of the Final Clean Power Plan Rules (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/report-42-states-are-reducing-emissions-ahead-of-the-final-clean-power-pla/402370/

Washington State’s Record-Long Session Produced Surprisingly Few New Laws (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/record-long-session-produced-surprisingly-few-new-laws

The Evolving Role of News on Twitter & Facebook (Pew Research Center)

http://www.journalism.org/2015/07/14/the-evolving-role-of-news-on-twitter-and-facebook/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Landmark Pacific Northwest Study Reveals Smart Grid Pros & Cons
• U-S Nuclear Outages Are Low During Summer Peak Electricity Demand Season
• Fate of Okanogan PUD’s Enloe Dam Still on Hold
• 3K-Plus Hydropower Experts Flood Portland at Energetic Convention
• Children Get Hands-On Lesson at Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s Hydromania
• Remote Co-ops Face Power Challenges
• What's Going On in Germany?
• Washington State Restricts Fishing on Many Rivers Due to Drought
• Sturgeon Fishing on Columbia River Halted July 18
• Biologists Bring Sockeye into Idaho on Trucks to Get Them Out of Hot Water
• Still No Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon – Advocacy Groups Sue NOAA
• Federal Judge Rules on Quileute, Quinault Fishing Grounds after Makah Lawsuit
• Can Montana’s Smith River Survive a Nearby Mine?
• Renewable Energy Advocates Say Montana-Dakota Utilities' Fee Is Unfair
• Nineteen Graphs That Explain Solar Panels for Home Owners – With Maps
• New Software Offerings Helps Utilities Boost Community Solar Program
• Oregon's Pot Trade Heading Up
• U-S Senate Majority Leader McConnell Uses Clout to Help Hemp Industry
• 42 States Are Reducing Emissions Ahead of the Final Clean Power Plan Rules
• California: Wondering Where Cap-And-Trade Dollars Go? Website Maps Out Projects
• Mini Ice Age in 15 Years? Three Reasons Not to Worry
• In Colorado, an Environmental Group Is Caught Misleadingly Listing Companies as Supporters
• Swap Your Noisy AC for This Room Cooling Dining Table
• New Program Helps Low-Income Families Get Broadband
• Do You Think the City of Seattle Should Provide Municipal Broadband?
• Serial Fiber Cutter Strikes Again in California
• What Is Adobe Flash, and How Can You Get Rid of It?
• Police: Taco Bell Customer Upset over Lack of Wi-Fi Dumped Water on Teens, Then Pulled a Knife
• The Evolving Role of News on Twitter & Facebook
• Spam Email Levels at 12-Year Low
• Five Tips for Writing a Blog That People Actually Want to Read
• Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
• Washington State’s Record-Long Session Produced Surprisingly Few New Laws
• Washington State Continues Modest Job Growth in June
• Why Prepare Your Family for an Emergency? Beyond the ‘Doom & Gloom’

WORD OF THE DAY

Ziggurat • \ZIG-uh-ra \ • noun - An ancient Mesopotamian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top; also: a structure or object of similar form

“They’ll never find me under this ziggurat of couch cushions,” muttered Abercrombie with glee. Unfortunately, the tipsy structure in his palatial office was topped with his “employee of the month” trophy, which upset the entire pile, burying him under soft, velour boulders for the rest of the day.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Landmark Pacific Northwest Study Reveals Smart Grid Pros & Cons (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=44211

U-S Nuclear Outages Are Low During Summer Peak Electricity Demand Season (U-S Energy Information Administration)

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=22112

Fate of Okanogan PUD’s Enloe Dam Still on Hold (Okanogan Gazette-Tribune, Oroville, WA)

http://www.gazette-tribune.com/news/fate-of-puds-enloe-dam-still-on-hold/70417/

3K-Plus Hydropower Experts Flood Portland at Energetic Convention (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/07/3k-plus-hydropower-experts-flood-portland-at.html

Children Get Hands-On Lesson at Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s Hydromania (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/local-news/20150716/children-get-hands-on-lesson-at-hydromania

Remote Co-ops Face Power Challenges (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/energy-environment/remote-co-ops-face-power-challenges/82973

What's Going On in Germany? “…Germany has been filling the hole created by the nuclear shutdown mainly with coal…” (Real Clear Energy)

http://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2015/07/16/whats_going_on_in_germany_108594.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington State Restricts Fishing on Many Rivers Due to Drought (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Washington-restricts-fishing-on-many-rivers-due-to-drought-316068281.html

Sturgeon Fishing on Columbia River Halted July 18 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/07/16/3654637_sturgeon-fishing-on-columbia-river.html?rh=1

Biologists Bring Sockeye into Idaho on Trucks to Get Them Out of Hot Water (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/07/17/3898654_biologists-bring-sockeye-into.html?rh=1

Still No Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon – Advocacy Groups Sue NOAA (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/07/still_no_recovery_plan_for_coh.html

Federal Judge Rules on Quileute, Quinault Fishing Grounds after Makah Lawsuit (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150716/news/307169986/federal-judge-rules-on-quileute-quinault-fishing-grounds-after-makah

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Can Montana’s Smith River Survive a Nearby Mine? (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/travel/can-montanas-smith-river-survive-a-nearby-mine.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable Energy Advocates Say Montana-Dakota Utilities' Fee Is Unfair (Associated Press)

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/renewable-energy-advocates-say-montana-dakota-utilities-fee-is-unfair/article_85d4176c-8c8b-5ec8-9f74-7ed8492d8af7.html

Nineteen Graphs That Explain Solar Panels for Home Owners – With Maps (The Energy Collective)

http://www.theenergycollective.com/lindsay-wilson/2250142/19-graphs-explain-solar-panels-home-owners-maps

New Software Offerings Helps Utilities Boost Community Solar Programs (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-software-offerings-helps-utilities-boost-community-solar-programs/401498/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Oregon's Pot Trade Heading Up (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/jul/16/oregon-pot-trade-heading-up/

U-S Senate Majority Leader McConnell Uses Clout to Help Hemp Industry (Roll Call, Washington, DC)

http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/mcconnell-uses-clout-to-help-hemp-industry/?dcz=

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

42 States Are Reducing Emissions Ahead of the Final Clean Power Plan Rules (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/report-42-states-are-reducing-emissions-ahead-of-the-final-clean-power-pla/402370/

California: Wondering Where Cap-And-Trade Dollars Go? Website Maps Out Projects (Silicon Valley Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2015/07/17/wondering-where-cap-and-trade-dollars-go-website.html

Mini Ice Age in 15 Years? Three Reasons Not to Worry (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/weather/mini-ice-age-15-years-3-reasons-not-worry/nmyrc/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

In Colorado, an Environmental Group Is Caught Misleadingly Listing Companies as Supporters (National Review)

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/421271/colorado-environmental-group-wildearth-guardians-companies-supporters

Swap Your Noisy AC for This Room Cooling Dining Table (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/swap-your-noisy-ac-for-this-room-cooling-dining-table-1718200905

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

New Program Helps Low-Income Families Get Broadband (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/new-program-helps-low-income-families-get-broadban/nm2F5/

Do You Think the City of Seattle Should Provide Municipal Broadband? (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/07/do-you-think-the-city-of-seattle-should-provide.html

Serial Fiber Cutter Strikes Again in California (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Serial-Fiber-Cutter-Strikes-Again-in-California-134509

What Is Adobe Flash, and How Can You Get Rid of It? (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/what-is-adobe-flash-and-how-can-you-get-rid-of-124087958879.html

Police: Taco Bell Customer Upset over Lack of Wi-Fi Dumped Water on Teens, Then Pulled a Knife (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/07/10/police-taco-bell-customer-upset-over-lack-of-wifi-dumped-water-on-teens-then-pulled-a-knife/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

The Evolving Role of News on Twitter & Facebook (Pew Research Center)

http://www.journalism.org/2015/07/14/the-evolving-role-of-news-on-twitter-and-facebook/

Spam Email Levels at 12-Year Low (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33564016

Five Tips for Writing a Blog That People Actually Want to Read (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/07/17/oliver-emberton-blogging-tips/

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/07/17/consumerist-friday-flickr-finds-296/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State’s Record-Long Session Produced Surprisingly Few New Laws (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/record-long-session-produced-surprisingly-few-new-laws

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Continues Modest Job Growth in June (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16003

Why Prepare Your Family for an Emergency? Beyond the ‘Doom & Gloom’ (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/07/17/why-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-beyond-the-doom-and-gloom/

DIVERSIONS

How Much Can 39 Rolls of Duct Tape Be Worth? $20,000 to These Two Students

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/07/17/how-much-can-39-rolls-of-duct-tape-be-worth-20000-to-these-two-students/?wprss=rss_national

Here Are the Four Types of Drunks, According to Science

http://time.com/3962251/four-drunk-types-ernest-hemingway-mary-poppins-nutty-professor-mr-hyde/

Oregon Children Take Un-Detonated Mortar Shell to Play Date

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/15/us-usa-oregon-mortar-idUSKCN0PP2S620150715

Angry Bird Dive-Bombing Customers at Seattle Parking Lot

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Angry-bird-dive-bombing-customers-at-Seattle-parking-garage-315644631.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Leon Redbone – Champagne Charlie

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

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.