Monday, March 31, 2014

Four Injured in Natural Gas Pipeline Rupture near Plymouth (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Woman Electrocuted, Falls from Beaverton Electric Tower (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Federal Judge Sides with Wild-Fish Advocates on Hatchery Issue in Elwha River’s Restoration (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Snowpack in Cascades Checks Out OK (Everett Herald, WA)

Opinion: Tacoma Must Be Careful Not to be Left behind in Digital High-Speed Dust (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 31, 2014


Friday, March 28, 2014

Balancing Water & Wind – Bonneville Power Administration Issues Final Decision on Oversupply Rate (Bonneville Power Administration)

Pacific Gas & Electric: Federal Criminal Charges Likely in Gas Blast (Associated Press)

Fish-Eating Birds to Be Killed at Five Dams (Northwest Public Radio)

Strong Salmon Runs Expected in Upper Columbia River (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Utility Efficiency Programs Saving Enough to Power More than 12 Million Homes (Fierce Energy)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 28, 2014


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Lawsuit Claims Nest Thermostats Fail to Save Money or Correctly Measure Temperature (GigaOM)

Cracked Dam Causes Water Emergency in Washington State (National Public Radio)

Pacific County: Pot Has Potential to Pull Too Much Power (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Landers: Record Salmon Forecast Sparks Record Optimism (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Gone With the Wind? New Turbine Installation Down 93% in the U-S in 2013 (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 27, 2014


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Little Goose: Lock, Dam near Starbuck Closed to Snake River Traffic (Tri-City Herald, WA)

California: Emergency Convoy Trucking Salmon Hatchlings to Safety Downriver (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

New England Seeks to Tap Canadian Hydropower (Associated Press)

Cowlitz PUD Commissioners Give GM More Say in Negotiating Executives’ Contracts (Longview Daily News, WA)

Death Toll Expected to Climb as Mudslide Search Continues (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 26, 2014


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Energy Northwest Looking at Pricey Public Records Request (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Idaho Lawmakers Voice Columbia River Treaty Concerns (Capital Press)

Feds approve LNG exports from proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project in Coos Bay (Oregonian, Portland)

Feds Say Montana Rules Hinder Renewable Energy Projects - Small companies having trouble with renewable energy contracts (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

LED Bulb Efficiency Expected to Continue Improving as Cost Declines (The Energy Collective)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 25, 2014


Friday, March 14, 2014

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 11, 2014


Friday, March 7, 2014

Too Many Gawkers Spur Closing of Shoreline near Cracked Wanapum Dam on Columbia River (Associated Press)

Washington State Supreme Court Weighs Uses of Public Lands in Okanogan PUD Power Line Case (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes to Pay $18.3M for Kerr Dam; New Name Planned (The Missoulian, MT)

Anticipated Salmon Run Could Overwhelm Fraser River This Summer, Experts Say (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Tribes Challenge Snohomish PUD Tidal Turbine Proposal (South Whidbey Record, WA)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 7, 2014


We "Spring Ahead" Sunday Morning (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CENTRALIA, WA) -- We “spring ahead” one hour at 2 AM this Sunday morning as we begin Daylight Saving Time.  Local fire department officials say when you change your clocks it’s also a good time to change the batteries in the smoke detectors in your home.  Captain Casey Beck with the Chehalis Fire Department says if your smoke detector is more than five years old you should consider replacing it with a new one.  He says smoke detectors now on the market have newer technology.  Beck says combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are available that could help protect you from two silent killers.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Emergency Downgraded at Wanapum Dam (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Port Angeles Residents, City at Odds over Smart Meter Installation (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Washington State Senate OKs Fish Wars Bill, Heads to Governor (Associated Press)

Klamath Tribes, Southern Oregon Ranchers Strike Irrigation Deal for the Upper Klamath Basin (Associated Press)

Nearly 88 Percent of Mason County PUD 3 Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 6, 2014


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Drawdown of Reservoir Eases Pressure on Wanapum Dam Crack; Closed by One Inch (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Editorial: Senate Bill Would Treat Utilities Equally Under Renewable Energy Rules (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Energy Information Administration Posts Individual States’ Carbon Dioxide Emissions (American Public Power Association)

FCC Questions State Laws That Block Cities from Building Their Own Broadband Network (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Small Group of Gray Whales Return to Puget Sound (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 5, 2014


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Unusual Crack in Wanapum Dam on Columbia River is Serious, But Won’t Cause Flooding (Associated Press)

Energy Northwest Suing Company That Made Parts for Condenser System (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Tacoma’s Simpson Paper Mill Getting a New Owner - Will use the proceeds from the sale to enhance its lumber & door business (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Bonneville Power Administration Touts Mason PUD 3 Conservation Efforts (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Twitter Accidentally Reset Its Users’ Passwords (Gizmodo)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 4, 2014


Centralia City Light Turbine Repairs to Cost More (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CENTRALIA, WA) It's going to cost more than originally estimated to get the Number 3 turbine generator at Centralia City Light's Yelm Hyrdo Project back producing electricity. It went down in November because of an electrical ground.  City Light Manager M. L. Norton says the original estimate to repair the generator was $1.5 million. During the repairs workers discovered some unexpected problems. Norton says those problems have boosted the cost of repairs to $2.3 million. He says the additional cost will be covered using some of City Light’s reserves and by delaying other projects to 2015. It’s anticipated the generator will be back on line by late April or early May.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Energy Northwest Appoints New PIO/Manager of Public Affairs (Northwest Public Power Association)

(RICHLAND, WA) -- Washington state joint operating agency Energy Northwest, located in Richland, Wash., recently announced Mike Paoli as its new public information officer and manager of public affairs. Paoli has been with the agency since late 2009, and served previously as the public affairs assistant manager. He brings more than 24 years of experience to the job.

“We’ve been very pleased with how his team has responded to attempts by anti-nuclear groups to spread misinformation about Columbia Generating Station,” said Brent Ridge, vice president and Energy Northwest chief financial and risk officer. “He’s speaks honestly and plainly, a style we feel is essential for maintaining public trust and support for the value Energy Northwest and public power bring to the region.”

Prior to Energy Northwest, Paoli directed the Air Force Press Desk at the Pentagon, where he was part of a team that earned the Public Relations Society of America’s Best of Silver Anvil award for the dignified transfers of service members killed in combat and returned to American soil. He also commanded a NATO support squadron in Norway; directed public affairs for the Air Force’s largest combat wing in Okinawa, Japan; and directed the Air Force’s National Media Outreach office in New York, NY.


Paoli is a graduate of New Mexico State University and holds master degrees in human relations from the University of Oklahoma, and military operational art and science from the Air Force’s Air University. He is an Air War College graduate, has served as adjunct professor at the Defense Information School, and currently volunteers as an employee communication trainer for the City of Kennewick.

Hermiston Energy Services Announces Nate Rivera to Be New Superintendent (Northwest Public Power Association)

(HERMISTON, OR) -- On February 27, City Manager Ed Brookshier announced the appointment of Nate Rivera as the City's new superintendent for its electric distribution utility, Hermiston Energy Services (Ore.). Rivera has been employed by Umatilla Electric Cooperative as its community relations representative for approximately 10 years.

Rivera will assume his new duties on March 24. He will succeed Russ Dorran, the City's first electric superintendent, who passed away in January.

In announcing Rivera's appointment, Brookshier noted that in addition to business management of the utility and the City's operational contact with Umatilla Electric, he expects Rivera will actively work on regional hydroelectric advocacy matters and water development needs affecting the City's interests, and that he will be a member of the City's economic development team.

"I've had the opportunity to work with Nate on a variety of projects and issues over the years and have gained a great deal of respect for his abilities. We are proud to have him on the City team," Brookshier said.

Commenting on his new position, Rivera said, "I'm honored and incredibly excited to serve the citizens of Hermiston in this position as we face the challenges of the future. I'm looking forward to building upon the great foundation the City and Russ Dorran have created. I'm thankful for the City's confidence in me and look forward to getting started."

Nate and his family make their home in Hermiston. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska.

Grant PUD Lowering Water behind Wanapum Dam, Closing Boat Launches (IFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

Heavy Snow, High Avalanche Danger Close I-90 across Cascades (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

Federal Agency Approves Snohomish PUD’s Plans for Study of Proposed Dam (Everett Herald, WA)

Mason Lake Resident John Komen Announces Candidacy for Mason PUD 3 Commission (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

FCC Approves Rural Internet Experiments (Courthouse News Service)

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for March 3, 2014