Energy News Digest for January 17, 2018

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SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 17, 2018

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Shelton City Manager Wheaton Resigns, Citing ‘A New Direction’ for City (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/shelton-city-manager-ryan-wheaton-resigns/article_78cf5fbe-fb82-11e7-899b-377963737728.html

Report: Montana Coal Generation Decline Continues (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/report-coal-generation-decline-continues-in-montana/514845/

Gov. Inslee Continues Washington State Carbon Tax Sales Pitch (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/868822/inslee-carbon-tax-sales-pitch/

21 States Sue to Keep Net Neutrality as Senate Democrats Reach 50 Votes (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/21-states-sue-to-keep-net-neutrality-as-senate-democrats-reach-50-votes-idUSKBN1F52JO

Port of Vancouver Votes to End Lease for West Coast Oil-by-Rail Terminal (The Energy Collective)

http://www.theenergycollective.com/desmog/2419713/port-vancouver-votes-end-lease-west-coast-oil-rail-terminal

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Report: Montana Coal Generation Decline Continues
• British Columbia: First Nations File Civil Lawsuit against Peace River Dam Project
• Port of Vancouver Votes to End Lease for West Coast Oil-by-Rail Terminal
• Auditors Agree with Jefferson PUD: Books ‘Fully Corrected’
• Snohomish PUD Lineworkers Working to Keep the Lights On
• Heater Likely Caused Kelso Fire
• Why Space Heaters Need Their Space
• City Of Oroville to Sue Over 2017 Spillway Emergency
• South Carolina: Dominion CEO Says SCANA Deal Off If Cost Recovery for Summer Plant Repealed
• 2017 Wholesale Power Prices Were Stable in the East – Increased in Texas, California
• Fish Recovery Project Could Empty Detroit Lake for Two Years
• Navy to Pay for Water-Filter System after Chemicals Found in Whidbey Island Wells
• West Coast Water Supply Is in Good Shape – About to Get Much Better
• Why Are the Newest Distribution System Buzzwords ‘Hosting Capacity Analysis’?
• Wind & Solar Energies Could Peter Out If Transmission Grid Is Not Expanded
• Gov. Inslee Continues Washington State Carbon Tax Sales Pitch
• Washington State Senators Hear Testimony on Carbon Tax
• Businesses Join Support for Washington Carbon Tax Measure
• Pacific Gas & Electric Launches Electric Vehicle Charging Network with 7,500 Stations
• 21 States Sue to Keep Net Neutrality as Senate Democrats Reach 50 Votes
• FCC Chair Proposes $500 Million Push for Rural Broadband
• HughesNet Satellite Users Say Service is Slowing to a Crawl
• High-Speed Internet Coming to Over 100 Coastal British Columbia Communities
• Bitcoin Sinks below $10,000, Losing Half Its Value in a Month
• What Is Blockchain?
• Here’s Why Your PR Nightmare Might Not Be a Long Term Crisis after All
• Six Environmental Issues to Watch in Olympia
• What Shuts Down During a U-S Government Shutdown: QuickTake Q&A
• U-S Chamber of Commerce Wants 25 Cent Increase in Federal Gas Tax to Pay for Infrastructure
• New California Declares “Independence” from Rest of State
• Shelton City Manager Wheaton Resigns, Citing ‘A New Direction’ for City
• Shelton City Manager Resigns
• Washington State Quarterback Tyler Hilinski Found Dead in Apparent Suicide
• 32 Foot Seas Expected Off Washington Coast Thursday
• Coffee & Parks Help Make Olympia One of the Best Small Cities in the U-S

WORD OF THE DAY

Forlorn • \fore-LORNE\ • Adjective – 1a: bereft, forsaken b: sad & lonely because of isolation or desertion: desolate 2: being in poor condition: miserable, wretched 3: nearly hopeless

Recipe for a Country Music Song:

Combine a dash of cheating girlfriend; broken down pickup truck; forlorn landscape with swirling dust; faithful dog; and, six-pack of warm beer. Shake vigorously.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Report: Montana Coal Generation Decline Continues (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/report-coal-generation-decline-continues-in-montana/514845/

British Columbia: First Nations File Civil Lawsuit against Peace River Dam Project (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/first-nations-file-civil-lawsuit-against-site-c-project-1.23146802

Port of Vancouver Votes to End Lease for West Coast Oil-by-Rail Terminal (The Energy Collective)

http://www.theenergycollective.com/desmog/2419713/port-vancouver-votes-end-lease-west-coast-oil-rail-terminal

Auditors Agree with Jefferson PUD: Books ‘Fully Corrected’ (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/news/auditors-agree-with-pud-books-fully-corrected/article_d2f71fe2-fb1c-11e7-9a26-f774b6f30ee5.html

Snohomish PUD Lineworkers Working to Keep the Lights On (Stanwood Camano News, WA)

https://www.scnews.com/news/article_783d5cf4-fa33-11e7-86b5-53efe16804b6.html

Heater Likely Caused Kelso Fire (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/heater-likely-caused-kelso-fire/article_450aa9bb-0984-5053-a820-05952e88b7ba.html

Why Space Heaters Need Their Space (Consumer Reports)

https://www.consumerreports.org/space-heaters/space-heater-safety-tips/

City Of Oroville to Sue Over 2017 Spillway Emergency (Associated Press)

http://www.kcra.com/article/city-of-oroville-to-sue-over-2017-spillway-emergency/15335142

South Carolina: Dominion CEO Says SCANA Deal Off If Cost Recovery for Summer Plant Repealed (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/dominion-ceo-scana-deal-off-if-cost-recovery-for-summer-plant-repealed/514932/

2017 Wholesale Power Prices Were Stable in the East – Increased in Texas, California (U-S Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=34552

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish Recovery Project Could Empty Detroit Lake for Two Years (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2018/01/fish_recovery_project_could_em.html

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

Navy to Pay for Water-Filter System after Chemicals Found in Whidbey Island Wells (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/navy-to-pay-for-water-filter-system-after-chemicals-found-in-whidbey-island-wells/

West Coast Water Supply Is in Good Shape – About to Get Much Better (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2018/01/west-coast-water-supply-is-in-good.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

Why Are the Newest Distribution System Buzzwords ‘Hosting Capacity Analysis’? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/why-are-the-newest-distribution-system-buzzwords-hosting-capacity-analysis/514219/

Wind & Solar Energies Could Peter Out If Transmission Grid Is Not Expanded (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2018/01/17/wind-and-solar-energies-could-peter-out-if-transmission-grid-is-not-expanded/#44a0b7614f3c

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Gov. Inslee Continues Washington State Carbon Tax Sales Pitch (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/868822/inslee-carbon-tax-sales-pitch/

Washington State Senators Hear Testimony on Carbon Tax (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/washington-state-senators-hear-testimony-carbon-tax

Businesses Join Support for Washington Carbon Tax Measure (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/37279928/businesses-join-support-for-washington-carbon-tax-measure

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

Pacific Gas & Electric Launches Electric Vehicle Charging Network with 7,500 Stations (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/17/pge-launches-electric-vehicle-charging-network-with-7500-stations/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

21 States Sue to Keep Net Neutrality as Senate Democrats Reach 50 Votes (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/21-states-sue-to-keep-net-neutrality-as-senate-democrats-reach-50-votes-idUSKBN1F52JO

FCC Chair Proposes $500 Million Push for Rural Broadband (engadget)

https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/16/fcc-ajit-pai-proposes-500-million-for-rural-broadband/

HughesNet Satellite Users Say Service is Slowing to a Crawl (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/HughesNet-Satellite-Users-Say-Service-is-Slowing-to-a-Crawl-141043

High-Speed Internet Coming to Over 100 Coastal British Columbia Communities (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fast-internet-bc-rural-1.4491557?cmp=rss

Bitcoin Sinks below $10,000, Losing Half Its Value in a Month (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bitcoin-price-20180117-story.html

What Is Blockchain? (Lifehacker)

https://lifehacker.com/what-is-blockchain-1822094625

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

Here’s Why Your PR Nightmare Might Not Be a Long Term Crisis after All (Fortune Magazine)

http://fortune.com/2017/09/28/why-companies-survive-pr-nightmares/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Six Environmental Issues to Watch in Olympia (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2018/01/6-environmental-issues-to-watch-in-olympia-washington-legislature/

What Shuts Down During a U-S Government Shutdown: QuickTake Q&A (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/what-shuts-down-during-a-us-government-shutdown-quicktake-qanda/2018/01/17/49c950e0-fb9a-11e7-9b5d-bbf0da31214d_story.html

U-S Chamber of Commerce Wants 25 Cent Increase in Federal Gas Tax to Pay for Infrastructure (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/chamber-of-commerce-wants-25-cent-increase-in-gas-tax-to-pay-for-infrastructure/article/2646084

New California Declares “Independence” from Rest of State (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-california-declares-independence-from-rest-of-state/

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton City Manager Wheaton Resigns, Citing ‘A New Direction’ for City (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/shelton-city-manager-ryan-wheaton-resigns/article_78cf5fbe-fb82-11e7-899b-377963737728.html

Shelton City Manager Resigns (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/28836

Washington State Quarterback Tyler Hilinski Found Dead in Apparent Suicide (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pac-12/index.ssf/2018/01/washington_state_quarterback_tyler_hilinski_found.html

32 Foot Seas Expected Off Washington Coast Thursday (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/weather/article/32-foot-seas-expected-off-Washington-coast-12504719.php

Coffee & Parks Help Make Olympia One of the Best Small Cities in the U-S (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article194955444.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

R.I.P. Christmas Drones; Many Already Go Missing

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2018/01/14/r-p-christmas-drones-many-already-go-missing/1032957001/

People Totally Freaked Out Over the Meteor Above Michigan

http://mashable.com/2018/01/16/meteor-detroit-michigan/#XcHaAT7Noaq5

Hawaii Emergency Agency Password Caught on a Post-It in Public Photo

http://mashable.com/2018/01/16/hawaii-post-it-note-password-photo-missile-false-alarm/#roIyqvkgomqO

How Benny Goodman Orchestrated ‘The Most Important Concert in Jazz History’

https://www.npr.org/2018/01/16/578312844/how-benny-goodman-orchestrated-the-most-important-concert-in-jazz-history

SONG OF THE DAY

BBC Big Band Orchestra – Sing, Sing, Sing (Bennie Goodman)

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

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Energy News Digest for January 16, 2018

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SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 16, 2018

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Congressman Newhouse Urges State of Emergency for Rattlesnake Ridge Landslide Threat (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/local_news/20180116/newhouse_urges_state_of_emergency_for_rattlesnake_ridge

NorthWestern Energy Electric Rates in Montana: Still Among Highest in Region (KRTV-TV, Great Falls, MT)

http://www.krtv.com/story/37254850/northwestern-energy-electric-rates-in-mt-still-among-highest-in-region

Company, Idaho Energy Regulators at Odds over Battery Storage Plan (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/jan/13/company-idaho-regulators-at-odds-over-battery-stor/

Understanding Oregon’s ‘Cap & Invest’ Climate Bills (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/lawmakers_debate_greenhouse_ga.html

West Coast Business Group Asks Congress for Protection for Marijuana (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2018-01-16/business-group-asks-congress-for-protection-for-marijuana

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• NorthWestern Energy Electric Rates in Montana: Still Among Highest in Region
• Slideshow: Who Is Paying the Most for Electric Power in the U-S?
• Nuclear Power Provides a Whole Lot More than Just Energy
• British Columbia Utilities Regulator to Hear Final Pitch for Proposed Electricity Rate Freeze
• Washington State Lawmakers Debate Bill to Save Starving Orcas
• Oil Spills into Snake River at Lower Monumental Dam
• Possible Hirst Water Rights Fix Passes First Legislative Hurdle
• Company, Idaho Energy Regulators at Odds over Battery Storage Plan
• Electric Car ‘Batteries on Wheels’ Could Help Solve Renewable Energy’s Storage Issue
• Lewis County PUD Provides $100,000 Grant for Napavine School District; Washington State Chips in $7K
• West Coast Business Group Asks Congress for Protection for Marijuana
• Lewis County Sheriff: Trend of Large, Illegal Pot Grows Likely to Continue
• Oregon: Sustainable Practices Profit Cannabis Companies
• Understanding Oregon’s ‘Cap & Invest’ Climate Bills
• Washington State Governor Inslee’s Climate-Change Advisers Draw Scrutiny as His National Profile Rises
• Editorial: No Sense in Washington State Carbon Tax
• How Much Has ‘Climate Change’ Been Scrubbed From Federal Websites? A Lot.
• Electric Car Tax Incentive Soon to Expire in Washington, Just Starting in Oregon
• Montana: Businesses Sought for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
• Off-Road Alaska Town Offers Free Electric-Car Charging. First You Have to Get There.
• Ford Says It Will Spend $11 Billion in Electrification Investment
• The U-S Senate’s Push to Overrule the FCC on Net Neutrality Now Has 50 Votes, Democrats Say
• Municipal Broadband PDX Pushing for Portland to Make Internet a Public Utility
• CenturyLink Again Makes it Clear Rural Upgrades not a Priority
• CEO: We Don’t Need 5G for U-S Cellular Fixed Wireless, LTE Will Work Just Fine
• Harvard Study Shows Why Big Telecom Is Terrified of Community-Run Broadband
• Google Laying Three New Underwater Cables to Speed Up the Internet
• Tully’s Coffee Prepares to Lose Its Name after Suit by Keurig
• The Difficulties with Facebook’s News Feed Overhaul
• A Google App That Matches Your Face to Artwork Is Wildly Popular. It’s Also Raising Privacy Concerns.
• Op/Ed: City of Everett, Snohomish PUD Seek Balance on Cellular Technology
• Congressman Newhouse Urges State of Emergency for Rattlesnake Ridge Landslide Threat
• Voters to Consider New Mason County High School
• Shelton City Council Candidates Forum Wednesday
• Former Washington State Governor, King County Executive John Spellman Dies
• Sender of Hawaii’s Nuclear Missile False Alarm Is Reassigned, but Not Named
• Nestle Is Selling Its U-S Candy Business to Ferrero for About $2.8 Billion

WORD OF THE DAY

Halyard • \HAL-yerd\ • Noun - A rope used to raise or lower something such as a sail or flag.

Benny’s shoulders were cramping with fatigue. The self-proclaimed captain of the tramp steamer, the “Greasy Getaway” had ordered him to spell out the opening lines of “Moby Dick” using the signal flags for the rest of the rusty flotilla of ships. The squeaking sounds of the tackle as the halyard was pulled up and down was almost as excruciating as the aches in Ben’s shoulders.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

NorthWestern Energy Electric Rates in Montana: Still Among Highest in Region (KRTV-TV, Great Falls, MT)

http://www.krtv.com/story/37254850/northwestern-energy-electric-rates-in-mt-still-among-highest-in-region

Slideshow: Who Is Paying the Most for Electric Power in the U-S? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/slideshow/elp/2015/who-is-paying-the-most-for-electric-power-in-the-u-s.html

Nuclear Power Provides a Whole Lot More than Just Energy (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2018/01/16/nuclear-power-provides-a-whole-lot-more-than-just-energy/#1cdf9ddc5e7e

British Columbia Utilities Regulator to Hear Final Pitch for Proposed Electricity Rate Freeze (Globe & Mail, Canada)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-utilities-regulator-to-hear-final-pitch-for-ndps-proposed-hydro-rate-freeze/article37600866/?cmpid=rss1

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington State Lawmakers Debate Bill to Save Starving Orcas (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/article/news/local/lawmakers-debate-bill-to-save-starving-orcas/281-508455969

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOT LOCKER

Oil Spills into Snake River at Lower Monumental Dam (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

http://www.union-bulletin.com/news/oil-spills-into-snake-river-at-lower-monumental-dam/article_4b0bdf52-f7c3-11e7-b238-5f7a21699f0c.html

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

Possible Hirst Water Rights Fix Passes First Legislative Hurdle (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/political/20180115/possible_hirst_fix_passes_first_legislative_hurdle

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

Company, Idaho Energy Regulators at Odds over Battery Storage Plan (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/jan/13/company-idaho-regulators-at-odds-over-battery-stor/

Electric Car ‘Batteries on Wheels’ Could Help Solve Renewable Energy’s Storage Issue (Institution of Mechanical Engineers)

http://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/electric-car-%27batteries-on-wheels%27-could-help-solve-renewable-energy%27s-storage-issue

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Lewis County PUD Provides $100,000 Grant for Napavine School District; Washington State Chips in $7K (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/lewis-county-pud-provides-grant-for-napavine-school-district-state/article_7b622c96-f823-11e7-9022-8b9922b4c492.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

West Coast Business Group Asks Congress for Protection for Marijuana (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2018-01-16/business-group-asks-congress-for-protection-for-marijuana

Lewis County Sheriff: Trend of Large, Illegal Pot Grows Likely to Continue (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article194529434.html

Oregon: Sustainable Practices Profit Cannabis Companies (Bend Bulletin, OR)

http://www.bendbulletin.com/business/5904808-151/sustainable-practices-profit-cannabis-companies

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Understanding Oregon’s ‘Cap & Invest’ Climate Bills (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/lawmakers_debate_greenhouse_ga.html

Washington State Governor Inslee’s Climate-Change Advisers Draw Scrutiny as His National Profile Rises (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/gov-inslees-climate-change-advisers-draw-attention-as-his-national-profile-rises/

Editorial: No Sense in Washington State Carbon Tax (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/opinion/editorial/no-sense-in-carbon-tax/article_aeab5d33-296c-583a-aed8-a2091f45c1b1.html

How Much Has ‘Climate Change’ Been Scrubbed From Federal Websites? A Lot. (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/10/climate/climate-change-trump.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

Electric Car Tax Incentive Soon to Expire in Washington, Just Starting in Oregon (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

http://kuow.org/post/electric-car-tax-incentive-soon-expire-washington-just-starting-oregon

Montana: Businesses Sought for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (The Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/front_page_slider/20180114/businesses_sought_for_electric_vehicle_charging_stations

Off-Road Alaska Town Offers Free Electric-Car Charging. First You Have to Get There. (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

https://www.adn.com/business-economy/energy/2018/01/10/off-road-alaska-town-offers-free-electric-car-charging-first-you-have-to-get-there/

Ford Says It Will Spend $11 Billion in Electrification Investment (Associated Press)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ford-electrification-investment-20180115-story.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The U-S Senate’s Push to Overrule the FCC on Net Neutrality Now Has 50 Votes, Democrats Say (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/01/15/the-senates-push-to-overrule-the-fcc-on-net-neutrality-now-has-50-votes-democrats-say/

Municipal Broadband PDX Pushing for Portland to Make Internet a Public Utility (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://katu.com/news/local/municipal-broadband-pdx-fighting-for-portland-to-make-internet-a-public-utility

CenturyLink Again Makes it Clear Rural Upgrades not a Priority (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/CenturyLink-Again-Makes-it-Clear-Rural-Upgrades-not-a-Priority-141045

CEO: We Don’t Need 5G for U-S Cellular Fixed Wireless, LTE Will Work Just Fine (Telecompetitor)

http://www.telecompetitor.com/ceo-we-dont-need-5g-for-u-s-cellular-fixed-wireless-lte-will-work-just-fine/

Harvard Study Shows Why Big Telecom Is Terrified of Community-Run Broadband (Motherboard)

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d345pv/harvard-study-shows-why-big-telecom-is-terrified-of-community-run-broadband

Google Laying Three New Underwater Cables to Speed Up the Internet (Pacific Business Journal, HI)

https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2018/01/16/google-new-submarine-cables-curie-havfrue-hk-g.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

Tully’s Coffee Prepares to Lose Its Name after Suit by Keurig (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/tullys-coffee-prepares-to-lose-its-name-after-suit-by-keurig/

The Difficulties with Facebook’s News Feed Overhaul (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/technology/facebook-news-feed-overhaul.html

A Google App That Matches Your Face to Artwork Is Wildly Popular. It’s Also Raising Privacy Concerns. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/01/16/google-app-that-matches-your-face-to-artwork-is-wildly-popular-its-also-raising-privacy-concerns/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Op/Ed: City of Everett, Snohomish PUD Seek Balance on Cellular Technology (Everett Herald, WA)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/commentary-city-pud-seek-balance-on-cellular-technology/

GENERAL NEWS

Congressman Newhouse Urges State of Emergency for Rattlesnake Ridge Landslide Threat (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/local_news/20180116/newhouse_urges_state_of_emergency_for_rattlesnake_ridge

Voters to Consider New Mason County High School (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/local/communities/mason/2018/01/14/voters-consider-new-mason-county-high-school/1023030001/

Shelton City Council Candidates Forum Wednesday (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/28791

Former Washington State Governor, King County Executive John Spellman Dies (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/former-washington-governor-king-county-executive-john-spellman-dies/

Sender of Hawaii’s Nuclear Missile False Alarm Is Reassigned, but Not Named (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/15/us/hawaii-false-alarm-employee-reassigned.html

Nestle Is Selling Its U-S Candy Business to Ferrero for About $2.8 Billion (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/01/16/nestle-selling-its-u-s-candy-business-ferrero-2-9-b/1036675001/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Brinnon Shrimpfest Called Off This Year Due to Workloads, Lack of Volunteers

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/brinnon-shrimpfest-called-off-this-year-due-to-workloads-lack-of-volunteers/

Butcher Trapped In Freezer Uses Blood Sausage to Bash His Way Out

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/world_news/butcher-trapped-in-freezer-uses-sausage-to-bash-his-way/article_759de9cb-ddce-53ba-889e-06bb7c71ed16.html

Video Shows Firefighter Catching Baby Dropped from Burning Apartment (About 40 seconds in)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article194721379.html

Boeing Uses Potatoes Instead of People to Test Wi-Fi

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20813441

SONG OF THE DAY

Buck Owens - I’ll Catch You When You Fall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WMqPwK6alw

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.

Energy News Digest for January 12, 2018

Occasionally clear the cache & history of your internet browser. It will help when trying to access news sites that count your visits.

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 12, 2018

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

U-S Supreme Court to Hear Washington State Appeal of Salmon Habitat Order (Associated Press)

http://q13fox.com/2018/01/12/justices-to-hear-washington-appeal-of-salmon-habitat-order/

California Faces $241 Million Bill to Close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-faces-241m-bill-to-close-diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant/

What’s in Your Warehouse: Puerto Rico Governor Calls for DOJ Probe after Power Equipment Stockpile Found (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/puerto-rico-governor-calls-for-doj-probe-after-power-equipment-stockpile-fo/514715/

REC Silicon Pens Letter to President Trump Over Chinese Trade Dispute (iFiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/rec-silicon-pens-letter-to-president-trump/article_02a5911c-f729-11e7-9fbd-6fbcf7fdc275.html

States (including Washington) Push Back after Net Neutrality Repeal (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/technology/net-neutrality-states.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• California Faces $241 Million Bill to Close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant
• What’s in Your Warehouse: Puerto Rico Governor Calls for DOJ Probe after Power Equipment Stockpile Found
• Governor Inslee Wants Washington State Removed from Coastal Oil Drilling Plan
• Senator Cantwell: Drilling Plan Carve-Out for Florida May Be Illegal
• Grant PUD 2018 Rates to Be Unveiled at January 23 Meeting
• NW Power& Conservation Council Taps Idaho’s Yost as New Chair, Montana’s Anders Vice-Chair
• Mason PUD 3 Helps WSP Train K-9s
• New Mexico Customers Could Be the First to See Rate Reductions as a Result of Lower Corporate Tax
• Berkshire Hathaway Utility Unit Shuffles Top Executives
• During Recent Cold Snap, the U-S Withdrew a Record Amount of Natural Gas from Storage
• Chinese Bitcoin Miners Eye Sites in Energy-Rich Canada
• Real Choices, Real Savings: Keeping the Lights On for Low-Income Customers
• U-S Supreme Court to Hear Washington State Appeal of Salmon Habitat Order
• Plaintiffs in Columbia River Spill for Fish Case File Reply Briefs in Ninth Circuit; Oral Arguments in March
• Study: Decline of Salmon Also Impacts Salmon Genetics
• Killing Barred Owls to See Impact on Spotted Owl Approved
• Seventeen Former Wildlife Officials Urge Interior to Rethink Easing Rules Against Killing Birds
• There Are Record Bald Eagle Numbers in North Idaho – Biologists Don’t Know Why
• Op/Ed: Rural Washington Hardest Hit by Hirst Water Ruling
• REC Silicon Pens Letter to President Trump Over Chinese Trade Dispute
• President Trump Says He Wishes U-S Would Use Hydropower. It Already Does
• A Smart Home Sounds Like a Great Idea. So Why Is It Still So Complicated?
• California’s Timber Industry Was Sacrificed for the Spotted Owl. Now Pot Farms Pose a New Threat
• It’s Time to Go Nuclear in the Fight against Climate Change
• Cutting Carbon Emissions While Earning Cash
• Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Survives, but G.M. & Tesla Aren’t Cheering
• CenturyLink’s Patel: Broadband Expansion Will Focus on Higher Speeds, Dense Areas
• Missouri: Broadband Access Helps Farmers Stay Competitive
• Congress Prepares To Knock Down Barriers to Broadband Expansion in Rural America
• FCC Plan to Lower Broadband Standards Is Met with “Mobile Only Challenge”
• Facebook Is Changing. What Does That Mean for Your News Feed?
• Facebook Shares Tumble after Changes to Its News Feed That Could Shrink Ad Revenue
• Four Optimization Strategies to Make Your Social Media Less ‘Normal’
• States (including Washington) Push Back after Net Neutrality Repeal
• Is There a Washington State Soda Tax in the Works?
• Interior Plans to Move Thousands of Workers in the Biggest Reorganization in Its History
• Rattlesnake Ridge Slide Date Keeps Changing. Authorities Caution That It Could Come Any Time
• Belfair’s Widened SR 3 Stretch to Get Crosswalk Flashers, Speed Sensor Signs
• Report: Maintaining I-5 through 2040 Will Cost State Billions
• State Farm Shuttering Two Washington State Call Centers
• Weak to Moderate La Nina Will Likely Continue through Winter, NOAA Says

WORD OF THE DAY

Xanadu • \ZAN-uh-doo\ • noun – An idyllic, exotic, or luxurious place

“Ahh. Whenever I hear the word Xanadu I think of the former glory of the Mongol Empire,” sighed Bataar.

“I think of Charles Foster Kane!” shouted Jim Gettys,

“I imagine Olivia Newton John, resplendent in spandex,” said Sonny Malone in a dreamy, far away voice.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California Faces $241 Million Bill to Close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-faces-241m-bill-to-close-diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant/

What’s in Your Warehouse: Puerto Rico Governor Calls for DOJ Probe after Power Equipment Stockpile Found (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/puerto-rico-governor-calls-for-doj-probe-after-power-equipment-stockpile-fo/514715/

Governor Inslee Wants Washington State Removed from Coastal Oil Drilling Plan (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/37248311/gov-inslee-wants-washington-removed-from-drilling-plan

Senator Cantwell: Drilling Plan Carve-Out for Florida May Be Illegal (Associated Press)

https://www.apnews.com/2777e5bb1de144ef878bd8f03ddff48b

Grant PUD 2018 Rates to Be Unveiled at January 23 Meeting (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/local_news/20180112/grant_pud_2018rates_to_be_unveiled_at_jan_23_meeting

NW Power& Conservation Council Taps Idaho’s Yost as New Chair, Montana’s Anders Vice-Chair (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/440065.aspx

Mason PUD 3 Helps WSP Train K-9s (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/28766

New Mexico Customers Could Be the First to See Rate Reductions as a Result of Lower Corporate Tax (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-mexico-customers-could-be-the-first-to-see-rate-reductions-as-a-result/514651/

Berkshire Hathaway Utility Unit Shuffles Top Executives (Associated Press)

http://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article194161944.html

During Recent Cold Snap, the U-S Withdrew a Record Amount of Natural Gas from Storage (U-S Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=34512

Chinese Bitcoin Miners Eye Sites in Energy-Rich Canada (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-bitcoin-china/chinese-bitcoin-miners-eye-sites-in-energy-rich-canada-idUSKBN1F10BU

Real Choices, Real Savings: Keeping the Lights On for Low-Income Customers (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/real-choices-real-savings-keeping-lights-low-income-customers

FISH & WILDLIFE

U-S Supreme Court to Hear Washington State Appeal of Salmon Habitat Order (Associated Press)

http://q13fox.com/2018/01/12/justices-to-hear-washington-appeal-of-salmon-habitat-order/

Plaintiffs in Columbia River Spill for Fish Case File Reply Briefs in Ninth Circuit; Oral Arguments in March (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/440073.aspx

Study: Decline of Salmon Also Impacts Salmon Genetics (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/state_news/study-decline-of-salmon-also-impacts-salmon-genetics/article_023f7494-d3df-5a87-a498-551bc99f9e7b.html

Killing Barred Owls to See Impact on Spotted Owl Approved (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/killing-barred-owls-see-impact-spotted-owl-approved/

Seventeen Former Wildlife Officials Urge Interior to Rethink Easing Rules Against Killing Birds (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/01/12/17-former-wildlife-officials-urge-interior-to-rethink-easing-rules-against-killing-birds/

There Are Record Bald Eagle Numbers in North Idaho – Biologists Don’t Know Why (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/there-are-record-bald-eagle-numbers-north-idaho-and-biologists-dont-know-why

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

Op/Ed: Rural Washington Hardest Hit by Hirst Water Ruling (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/rural-washington-hardest-hit-by-hirst-water-ruling/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

REC Silicon Pens Letter to President Trump Over Chinese Trade Dispute (Ifiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/rec-silicon-pens-letter-to-president-trump/article_02a5911c-f729-11e7-9fbd-6fbcf7fdc275.html

President Trump Says He Wishes U-S Would Use Hydropower. It Already Does (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/10/trump-says-he-wishes-us-would-use-hydropower-it-already-does.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

A Smart Home Sounds Like a Great Idea. So Why Is It Still So Complicated? (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2018/01/12/smart-home-sounds-like-great-idea-so-why-still-so-complicated/1016657001/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

California’s Timber Industry Was Sacrificed for the Spotted Owl. Now Pot Farms Pose a New Threat (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article194216219.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

It’s Time to Go Nuclear in the Fight against Climate Change (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/article/its-time-to-go-nuclear-in-the-fight-against-climate-change/

Cutting Carbon Emissions While Earning Cash (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/business/cutting-carbon-emissions-earning-cash.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Survives, but G.M. & Tesla Aren’t Cheering (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/business/electric-vehicles-taxes-tesla-gm.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CenturyLink’s Patel: Broadband Expansion Will Focus on Higher Speeds, Dense Areas (Fierce Telecom – For Rural $500 Million for 10 Mbps. Meh)

https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/centurylink-s-patel-broadband-expansion-will-focus-higher-speeds-dense-areas

Missouri: Broadband Access Helps Farmers Stay Competitive (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2018-01-12/broadband-access-helps-farmers-stay-competitive

Congress Prepares To Knock Down Barriers to Broadband Expansion in Rural America (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/11/congress-prepares-knock-down-barriers-broadband-expansion-rural-america/1020426001/

FCC Plan to Lower Broadband Standards Is Met with “Mobile Only Challenge” (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/01/yes-americans-actually-do-need-home-internet-advocates-tell-fcc/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

Facebook Is Changing. What Does That Mean for Your News Feed? (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/technology/facebook-news-feed-changes.html

Facebook Shares Tumble after Changes to Its News Feed That Could Shrink Ad Revenue (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://beta.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-facebook-shares-20180112-story.html

Four Optimization Strategies to Make Your Social Media Less ‘Normal’ (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/digital/garrett-moon-coschedule-guest-post-4-optimization-strategies-to-make-your-social-media-less-normal/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

States (including Washington) Push Back after Net Neutrality Repeal (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/technology/net-neutrality-states.html

Is There a Washington State Soda Tax in the Works? (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/864622/washington-soda-tax-house-bill/

Interior Plans to Move Thousands of Workers in the Biggest Reorganization in Its History (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/01/10/interior-plans-to-move-thousands-of-workers-in-the-biggest-reorganization-in-its-history/

GENERAL NEWS

Rattlesnake Ridge Slide Date Keeps Changing. Authorities Caution That It Could Come Any Time (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/slide/slide-date-keeps-changing-but-authorities-caution-that-it-could/article_bb1a69dc-f69a-11e7-bd63-0f8d0e796033.html

Belfair’s Widened SR 3 Stretch to Get Crosswalk Flashers, Speed Sensor Signs (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/local_news/belfair-s-widened-sr-stretch-to-get-crosswalk-flashers-speed/article_963fc7f6-f62c-11e7-9471-4f39f4965ff6.html

Report: Maintaining I-5 through 2040 Will Cost State Billions (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/865970/maintaining-i-5-through-2040/

State Farm Shuttering Two Washington State Call Centers (Associated Press)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/state_news/state-farm-shuttering-washington-state-call-centers/article_3b4cfb3c-0abb-57f2-bc62-81c4465be233.html

Weak to Moderate La Nina Will Likely Continue through Winter, NOAA Says (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/weather/la-nina-winter-but-not-la-nina-weather/507475787

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

A Lofty Proposal: ‘Marry Me’ Etched In Snow, Seen from Above

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/a-lofty-proposal-marry-me-etched-in-snow-seen-from/article_e448b104-dabc-5cf3-a3a8-e1e68bd47dde.html

Woman Returns Christmas Tree to Costco ‘Because It’s Dead’

http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Woman-returns-Christmas-tree-to-Costco-because-12491223.php

Thick Ice Sheets Found Below the Surface of Mars Could Help Us Explore the Red Planet

http://mashable.com/2018/01/11/mars-ice-sheets-human-exploration-climate-history/#sEnCYogw_qqT

Darwin Awards: Warning Issued after Teens Eat Laundry Detergent Pods for New Internet Challenge

http://fox59.com/2018/01/10/warning-issued-after-teens-eat-laundry-detergent-pods-for-new-internet-challenge/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Fifth Dimension – Wedding Bell Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWs2qshwXxI

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

GET SOCIAL WITH THE NEWS DIGEST

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

Follow the Energy News Digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices.

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.