Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Mason PUD 3 Customers Should be on the Alert for Possible Telephone Scams (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Salmon Funds Approved for Ongoing Skokomish Restoration (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Biologists Identify Pot Gardens as Salmon Threat (Associated Press)

Green Diamond: From Shelton Roots to Klamath Falls Forests (South Sound Business Examiner)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 30, 2014


Centralia College Gets $10 Million Federal Clean Energy Grant (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CENTRALIA, WA) -- Centralia College and the Center for Excellence for Clean Energy, a Centralia College partnership, received word Monday they have been awarded a federal grant for nearly 10-million dollars.  According to the college, the project, called Washington Integrated Sector Employment or WISE, is a statewide initiative that will reach nearly 2,000 adults including veterans.  WISE brings together the clean energy, construction, and advanced manufacturing sectors to help prepare participants for employment in entry level, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship occupations. It will address the needs of unemployed, or under-employed dislocated workers, using innovative and sophisticated strategies.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Powering Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Vit Plant Could Save $300M, Study Says (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Devaluation of Wind Farms to Hit Government Coffers (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

California: Agencies at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles (San Diego Union-Tribune, VA)

Electric Vehicles Sell Power Back to the Grid - Delaware Test Fleet Makes Money by Serving as an Electricity Reserve (Wall Street Journal)

Sea Lions Thwart Salmon, Pacific Northwest Wildlife Managers (Electric Co-op Today)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 29, 2014


Dave Siburg Will Depart From Kitsap Public Utility District After 27 Years (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)


POULSBO — Dave Siburg, general manager of Kitsap Public Utility District for the past 27 years, will leave his post at the end of the year, according to PUD Commissioner Jim Civilla.

Civilla said the elected board did not ask Siburg to leave, but it agreed to his plan for a smooth transition. Siburg is completing work on a doctoral degree to take his career in a new direction, Civilla said, adding that the board wishes to thank him for his many years of service.

Siburg issued a written statement: "I have had a great 27 years with Kitsap PUD, helping it to grow and develop ... In an effort to make the transition as smooth as possible, the board has graciously allowed me to begin using my leave and to concentrate on my external sector engagements outside of the date-to-day operations of the PUD during this time.

"It's been an honor to serve the board for 27 years and a pleasure to work with all my gifted colleagues and friends at the PUD," he said.


Bob Hunter, the PUD's assistant manager, was placed in charge of PUD staff through the end of the year.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Frontier Communications Outage Frustrating Redmond Businesses (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

A Carbon Tax Would Push Washington State’s Gasoline Prices Higher (Crosscut Seattle)

Repairs Continuing at Wanapum Dam - Goal to fill pool part of the way by end of the year (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Richland Considers LED Lights for Developments (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Solar Advocates Fight Utilities over Grid Access (National Public Radio)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 26, 2014


Thursday, September 25, 2014

O’Brien, Clark Zap Sawant’s Seattle City Light Rate Proposal (Crosscut Seattle)

Nancy Mitman Named Bonneville Power Administration’s Chief Financial Officer (Bonneville Power Administration)

Portland’s Vestas Picks Up Another Big Texas Order from Duke (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Cities & Counties Hungry for Marijuana Tax Money (Everett Herald, WA)

President Obama to Expand Pacific Ocean Preserve to Six Times Size (Associated Press)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 25, 2014


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

$8 Billion Proposal Aims to Send Wyoming Wind Energy to Los Angeles Area within a Decade (Associated Press)

Tribes, Religious Leaders Call for Columbia River Treaty Updates (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Frontier Boosts Top Internet Speeds to 100 Mbps as Fiber War Heats Up (Oregonian, Portland)

Season’s First Storm Breaks Plenty of Records, But When Will It End? (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Sale Pending for Mason PUD 3’s Former Administration Building (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 24, 2014


Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Biologists Try to Figure Out Large Fall Chinook Runs (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

Port Angeles’ Nippon Biomass Cogeneration Plant Targets November 1 Start (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Editorial: It’s Time to Tweak Columbia River Treaty (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Human Role in Warming of Pacific Northwest Played Down (NY Times)

Simpson Lumber Company Explores Possible Sale (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 23, 2014


Monday, September 22, 2014

Snake River Sockeye Show Highest Returns to Sawtooth Valley since 1950’s (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Washington State’s Once Extinct Tahuya River Salmon Run on Its Own after Restoration Effort (Associated Press)

Puget Sound Energy to Give Back More of Proceeds from Jefferson County Sale — But Only to Current Customers (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Southwest Braces as Lake Mead Water Levels Drop (Associated Press)

Taking a Call for Climate Change to the Streets (NY Times)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 22, 2014


Friday, September 12, 2014

Shelton-Area Brush Fire Temporarily Shut Down Hwy 101 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Fire Danger: Mason County Red Flag Warning Remains in Effect through 9:00 Tonight (National Weather Service, Seattle)

Columbia River: Adult Fall Chinook Returns Shatter Single-Day Record Set Just One Year Ago (Bonneville Power Administration)

Puget Sound Energy Ordered to Share Gain with Ratepayers (South Sound Business Examiner)

Google’s Studied Silence on Net Neutrality Has Finally Broken (Washington Post)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 12, 2014


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Adult Fall Chinook Returns Shatter Single-Day Record Set Just One Year Ago (Bonneville Power Administration)

Historic fish returns predicated on a combination of work to improve fish conditions at all life stages in the Columbia River Basin and favorable ocean conditions

(PORTLAND, OR) -- Since Sunday, more than 180,354 adult fall chinook have climbed the fish ladders at Bonneville Lock and Dam on their annual migration into the Columbia River Basin.

Sunday’s count of 67,024 chinook was soon surpassed by Monday’s return of 67,521 – marking the largest, single-day return since counting began with the construction of the dam in 1938. The previous record of 63,870 had been set less than a year ago on Sept. 9, 2013. On Tuesday, the numbers held strong with 45,809 chinook swimming past the fish counting windows at the dam.

The fish are among the 359,258 fall chinook seen thus far at Bonneville Dam. These numbers are only a fraction of the predicted 1.5 million adult fall chinook returning by the end of 2014. These returns are the result of a host of federal, tribal, state and non-profit organizations in the region working together over the past decade to improve conditions in the tributaries and main stem river using an “all H” approach – harvest, habitat, hydro and hatcheries – as well as favorable ocean conditions.

“With our many partners, we work to balance the needs and interests of the region with large-scale improvements for fish,” said David Ponganis, Northwestern Division Programs Director for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “These record-breaking numbers show that the structural and operational improvements made at the dams have resulted in safer passage conditions for juvenile and adult fish.”

These efforts represent one of the largest fish and wildlife programs in the nation, largely paid for by the region’s electric ratepayers along with funding from federal taxpayers.


“The results we are seeing reflect a tremendous collaborative effort within the Columbia River Basin,” said BPA Administrator Elliot Mainzer. “We look forward to working with our existing and future partners towards a common vision of continuing to bring back more fish to the rivers.”

Washington’s Indoor Pot Grows Could Be Big Power Suck (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Chinook Going Coo-Coo Crazy on the Columbia (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Grant PUD Announces Milestone in Wanapum Dam Fix (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Human Impact on Northwest: 1.3 Degrees Fahrenheit (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Major Websites Participate in “Internet Slowdown Day” (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 10, 2014


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Cities Prepare for Warm Climate without Saying So (Associated Press)

APPA, Other Groups Urge Court to Reject Bid to Recover Damages from Power Outages (Associated Press)

Migratory Fish Return to Upper Elwha River for the First Time in Over a Century (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Montana Lawmakers Give Renewable Energy Standard Green Light (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

As Wind Power Surges, Opposition Grows (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Word Cloud - News Digest for September 9, 2014


Friday, September 5, 2014

State of Montana PSC Approves NW Energy’s $870M Purchase of PPL’s Hydroelectric Dams (Montana Standard, Butte)

NOAA Fisheries Releases Pacific Northwest Hatchery Management Plan (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

U-S FCC Chief: Internet Speed Critical in Broadband Competition (Reuters)

Why Twitter’s Users Are in Open Revolt (Washington Post)

Environmentalists’ Campaign Spending on Midterms to See Huge Jump This Year (Washington Post)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 5, 2014


Thursday, September 4, 2014

Internet Outage Hits North Olympic Peninsula & Beyond (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

New Bull Trout Plan No Numbers Game - The elimination of numerical goals frustrates conservation groups (Associated Press)

Nevada ‘Gigafactory’ Brings Tesla Closer to Electric Car for the Masses (Christian Science Monitor)

Community Solar Program Pursued - Clark Public Utilities Customers Can Buy Shares (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Pacific Gas & Electric Plans to Appeal $1.4 Billion Penalty in Deadly Blast (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 4, 2014


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Pacific Gas & Electric to Be Penalized $1.4 Billion for San Bruno Explosion (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Google Grant Helps Explore Broadband in Rural Oregon (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Faster Broadband Begets Faster Broadband, Report Says (Washington Post)

SolarWorld AG Reports Strong Demand as Shipments Reach Near-Record Levels (Oregonian, Portland)

Governor Intent on Meeting Water Supply Demands in Eastern Washington (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 3, 2014


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Word Cloud - Energy News Digest for September 2, 2014


Lewis County Sheriff's Office Investigating Wire Theft from Street Lights (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CENTRALIA, WA) -- The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a large amount of copper wire from street lights along Rush Road.  Stacy Brown with the Sheriff’s Office says on Wednesday deputies contacted the Lewis County Public Works Department in regards to the theft that happened in the 1600 block of Rush Road sometime between August 22 and August 25.  According to Brown, county officials say up to a mile of insulated and non-insulated copper wire was taken.  At this time there is no dollar estimate of the loss.  The investigation is ongoing.