Washington State Carbon Initiative Aims to Raise & Cut Taxes (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/12/30/initiative-732-carbon-tax-washington/78106628/

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Details How Much Your Bill Will Rise in 2016 (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/PG-E-details-how-much-your-bill-will-rise-in-2016-6728373.php

Oregon: Canadian Company Plans 10-Megawatt Solar Farm near Redmond (Associated Press)

http://www.ktvz.com/news/canadian-company-plans-solar-farm-near-redmond/37193852

Number of Species Awaiting Endangered Protection Drops to All-Time Low (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/1230/Number-of-species-awaiting-endangered-protection-drops-to-all-time-low

Water Reservoir Proposal Could Help Economy & Ecosystem of Yakima Basin (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/proposal-could-help-economy-and-ecosystem-of-yakima-basin/article_85b7fa40-af8c-11e5-881b-2f6254ac370f.html

Feds Say No to Klickitat PUD Energy Project (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/lower_valley/feds-say-no-to-klickitat-energy-project/article_64298b20-aec7-11e5-b221-6732a6a1e1f9.html

Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Impact Statement Delayed (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/29/power-line-impact-statement-delayed/

‘Revenue Neutral’ Carbon-Tax Initiative Could Cost Washington State $675 Million (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/politics-government/article52077085.html

Pacific Northwest Snow Piles Up Ahead of Schedule (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/northwest-snow-piles-up-ahead-of-schedule/

Tax Breaks, Falling Costs Are Boosting Wind & Solar (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2015/12/29/460812946/tax-breaks-falling-costs-are-boosting-wind-and-solar

Bonneville Power Administration selects new vice president of Transmission Planning and Asset Management (Bonneville Power Administration)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Bonneville Power Administration has selected Jeff Cook to be its vice president of Transmission Planning and Asset Management. He will begin his new position Dec. 27.

“Jeff has over two decades of experience in the utility industry driving and leading innovative solutions to complex problems,” said Richard Shaheen, senior vice president for Transmission Services. “He is the right candidate to guide our efforts in proactively preserving and enhancing the value of BPA’s transmission system for the benefit of the greater Northwest.”

As leader of BPA’s Planning and Asset Management organization, Cook will oversee the transmission system asset management program to promote the reliability, efficiency and economical use of all transmission-related physical assets.

Cook also will guide the development of an asset management system framework that will help inform decisions on near- and long-term activities and strategies to meet the predicted future demands on BPA’s transmission system, achieve its desired performance levels and realize the lowest life-cycle costs for these assets.

“Dynamic market changes, and heightened regional and inter-regional planning and technology advancements will significantly impact the Northwest transmission networks,” Cook said. “I am thrilled about being a part of this exciting season in the electric utility industry and am honored to lead our Transmission Planning and Asset Management team.”

Cook came to BPA in March of 2004 as an electrical engineer for its control and communication systems. He later managed the Customer Service Engineering group and Transmission’s Communication and Grid Modeling group. Last spring, Cook became the acting vice president of Engineering and Technical Services and then moved to the acting vice president of Planning and Asset Management, the position he now assumes in a permanent role.

Prior to BPA, Cook worked for several utility and communication companies, including CenturyTel and Pacific Power and Light. Cook earned his bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University in 1990. He holds a professional engineering license in Oregon.

California Billionaire Backing Washington Climate Change Effort (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/calif-billionaire-backing-washington-climate-chang/npms8/

Oregon: Warm Springs Tribes Approve Marijuana Sales in Historic Vote (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2015/12/warm_springs_tribe_approves_ma.html

Rainstorms, Flood Stage Rivers Make It Difficult to Maintain Target Flows for Spawning Chum (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/435729.aspx

Aluminum Industry Woes Felt Deeply in Washington State (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.theheraldbusinessjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20151218/BIZ/151219040

Mason EDC Exec: Sierra Pacific Arrival Bringing Some Jobs (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/December-2015/Mason-EDC-exec-Sierra-Pacific-arrival-bringing-some-jobs/

Winter Storm Warning Means 1-2 Feet of Snow in the Cascades in Just 24 Hours (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/17/winter-storm-warning-means-1-2-feet-of-snow-in-the-cascades-in-just-24-hours/

A Price on Carbon Could Be Oregon’s New ‘Bottle Bill’ (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/12/a-price-on-carbon-could-be-oregons-new-bottle-bill.html

Snohomish PUD to Apply for License to Build Hydroelectric Plant (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/snohomish-county-pud-prepares-apply-license-build-/npmDZ/

New Research Suggests Warm Water ‘Blob’ Could Hurt Salmon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/warm-water-blob-pacific-ocean-oregon-state-university-salmon/

Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board to Add Marijuana Stores (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/washington-state-liquor-and-cannabis-board-to-add-marijuana-stores/

Energy News Digest for December 8, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 8, 2015

http://1.usa.gov/1TZrAbi

Wind Advisory for Western Washington, Including Mason County

http://1.usa.gov/1M1shug

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

More Flood Warnings & a Wind Advisory Tuesday (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/weather/2015/12/08/more-flood-warnings-and-wind-advisory-tuesday/76971186/

Without Oregon Utilities Nod, Coos Bay WindFloat Dead in the Water (Coos Bay Wortld, OR)

http://theworldlink.com/news/local/without-oregon-utilities-nod-coos-bay-windfloat-dead-in-the/article_095e12ca-6d7e-53e0-a313-05181d324cf3.html

Washington State’s Governor Signs Climate Change Agreements in Paris (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/30689565/washington-governor-signs-climate-change-agreements-in-paris

A Bad Year for Idaho Sockeye Could Mean a Promising Future (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/bad-year-idaho-sockeye-could-mean-promising-future

Potentially Toxic Lead Paint on Some Pacific Gas & Electric Power-Line Towers Flaking Off (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_29204894/potentially-toxic-lead-paint-some-pg-e-power?source=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Potentially Toxic Lead Paint on Some Pacific Gas & Electric Power-Line Towers Flaking Off
• Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Approve 2016 Budget
• Newhouse Votes to Support Hydropower, Rural Utilities
• PUD Association Recognizes Mason PUD 3 Employees; Awards Scholarship to Son of PUD 3 Employee
• Editorial: Central Lincoln PUD Move Is a Wise Decision
• Consumers Energy Offers 10 Electric Safety Tips for the Holiday Season
• Residents of Crimea Make Do While They’re without Power
• A Bad Year for Idaho Sockeye Could Mean a Promising Future
• Modoc Sucker, a Small Fish, Taken Off Endangered List
• California Mulls New Water Plan to Save Imperiled Salmon
• Beards Cove, Skokomish Delta – Two Mason County Shoreline Restoration Projects Receive State Grants
• Columbia Gorge Water Bottling Ban Closer to Ballot
• Without Oregon Utilities Nod, Coos Bay WindFloat Dead in the Water
• Vestas Boosts Wind Energy Market Share with Acquisition
• U-S Lawmakers Propose Five-Year Phase-Out of Renewable Tax Credits
• A Solar Champion Predicts Immediate Spike, Future Slowdowns as Incentive Expires
• U-S to Join World in Push for LED Lights
• How Much Are LED Holiday Lights Going To Save American Families This Year?
• Three Years In, Legal Marijuana Sales Soaring in Washington State
• Washington State’s Governor Signs Climate Change Agreements in Paris
• News Release: Inslee Solidifies International Partnerships to Take Action on Climate Change, Cites Snohomish PUD Project
• Oregon: Titles Released for Anti-Clean Fuels Ballot Measures
• Carbon Tax Increase Would Jeapordize LNG Economy, Says Industry
• The House Designed to Pay Your Energy Bill Actually Works
• The Violent Afterlife of a Recycled Plastic Bottle
• Google Fiber Eyes Chicago & Los Angeles; Portland Still Waiting
• Are You Allergic to Wi-Fi?
• Why Brands Are Ditching Twitter’s 6-Second Vine App
• YouTube Seeking Rights to TV Shows & Movies, Report Says
• Five Ways to Improve Your Social Media Results
• Voice-Over Actors Are Talking Up the Apps That Help Them Get Work
• Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Resolution to Impeach Auditor Kelley
• More Flood Warnings & a Wind Advisory Tuesday
• Wondering Where All the Snow Is? Mount Rainier Forecast to Get More Than 15 Feet This Week

WORD OF THE DAY

Orphic • \ORR-fick\ • Adjective - 1: of or relating to Orpheus or the rites or doctrines ascribed to him 2: of, relating to, being, or resembling an oracle: oracular, mystic 3: fascinating, entrancing

“Dude, your mom’s brownies are absolutely the BEST,” enthused the slacker student to his straight-laced roommate. With each bite, the orphic quality of the baked goods seemed to become more elevated. (I guess where you can see this feeble attempt at drug humor is going. Feel free to use your imagination to envision the effects of the next few helpings of these most excellent brownies.)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Potentially Toxic Lead Paint on Some Pacific Gas & Electric Power-Line Towers Flaking Off (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_29204894/potentially-toxic-lead-paint-some-pg-e-power?source=rss

Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Approve 2016 Budget (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/grays-harbor-pud-commissioners-approve-2016-budget/

Newhouse Votes to Support Hydropower, Rural Utilities (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/newhouse-votes-to-support-hydropower-rural-utilities/article_085bb958-9d3d-11e5-ba35-9fce8c7ef3e8.html

PUD Association Recognizes Mason PUD 3 Employees; Awards Scholarship to Son of PUD 3 Employee (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/18169

Editorial: Central Lincoln PUD Move Is a Wise Decision (Newport News-Times, OR)

http://www.newportnewstimes.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=88&story_id=50604

Consumers Energy Offers 10 Electric Safety Tips for the Holiday Season (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/detail_news.php?ID=556536&cat=;90

Residents of Crimea Make Do While They’re without Power (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2015/12/08/458887841/residents-of-crimea-make-do-while-theyre-without-power

FISH & WILDLIFE

A Bad Year for Idaho Sockeye Could Mean a Promising Future (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/bad-year-idaho-sockeye-could-mean-promising-future

Modoc Sucker, a Small Fish, Taken Off Endangered List (Associated Press)

http://koin.com/2015/12/07/modoc-sucker-a-small-fish-taken-off-endangered-list/

California Mulls New Water Plan to Save Imperiled Salmon (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article48615435.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Beards Cove, Skokomish Delta – Two Mason County Shoreline Restoration Projects Receive State Grants (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/18183

Columbia Gorge Water Bottling Ban Closer to Ballot (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/2015/12/07/columbia-gorge-water-bottling-ban-closer-ballot/76936018/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Without Oregon Utilities Nod, Coos Bay WindFloat Dead in the Water (Coos Bay Wortld, OR)

http://theworldlink.com/news/local/without-oregon-utilities-nod-coos-bay-windfloat-dead-in-the/article_095e12ca-6d7e-53e0-a313-05181d324cf3.html

Vestas Boosts Wind Energy Market Share with Acquisition (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/12/vestas-boosts-wind-energy-market-share-with.html

U-S Lawmakers Propose Five-Year Phase-Out of Renewable Tax Credits (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-lawmakers-propose-5-year-phase-out-of-renewable-tax-credits/410418/

A Solar Champion Predicts Immediate Spike, Future Slowdowns as Incentive Expires (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/12/a-solar-champion-predicts-immediate-spike-future.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

U-S to Join World in Push for LED Lights (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/u.s.-to-join-world-in-push-for-led-lights/article/2577782

How Much Are LED Holiday Lights Going To Save American Families This Year? (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2015/12/08/how-much-are-led-holiday-lights-going-to-save-american-families-this-year-infographic/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Three Years In, Legal Marijuana Sales Soaring in Washington State (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/dec/06/three-years-in-legal-marijuana-sales-soaring-in-wa/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State’s Governor Signs Climate Change Agreements in Paris (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/30689565/washington-governor-signs-climate-change-agreements-in-paris

News Release: Inslee Solidifies International Partnerships to Take Action on Climate Change, Cites Snohomish PUD Project (Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State)

http://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-solidifies-international-partnerships-take-action-climate-change

Oregon: Titles Released for Anti-Clean Fuels Ballot Measures (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/titles_released_for_anti-clean.html

Carbon Tax Increase Would Jeapordize LNG Economy, Says Industry (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/carbon-tax-lng-1.3355429?cmp=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The House Designed to Pay Your Energy Bill Actually Works (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/house-designed-pay-your-energy-bill-actually-works

The Violent Afterlife of a Recycled Plastic Bottle (The Atlantic)

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/12/what-actually-happens-to-a-recycled-plastic-bottle/418326/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Fiber Eyes Chicago & Los Angeles; Portland Still Waiting (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/12/google_fiber_eyes_chicago_and.html

Are You Allergic to Wi-Fi? (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2015/12/08/are-you-allergic-to-wi-fi/

MARKETING & MEDIA

Why Brands Are Ditching Twitter’s 6-Second Vine App (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/why-brands-are-ditching-twitter-s-6-second-vine-app-168433

YouTube Seeking Rights to TV Shows & Movies, Report Says (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29199541/youtube-seeking-rights-tv-shows-and-movies-report?source=rss

Five Ways to Improve Your Social Media Results (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-ways-to-improve-your-social-media-results/

Voice-Over Actors Are Talking Up the Apps That Help Them Get Work (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29205032/voice-over-actors-are-talking-up-apps-that?source=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Resolution to Impeach Auditor Kelley (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/washington-lawmakers-introduce-resolution-impeach-auditor-kelley

GENERAL NEWS

More Flood Warnings & a Wind Advisory Tuesday (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/weather/2015/12/08/more-flood-warnings-and-wind-advisory-tuesday/76971186/

Wondering Where All the Snow Is? Mount Rainier Forecast to Get More Than 15 Feet This Week. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/12/08/wondering-where-all-the-snow-is-mt-rainier-forecast-to-get-over-15-feet-this-week/

DIVERSIONS

This Smart Car Seems to Have Tattled on Its Driver

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/12/07/this-smart-car-seems-to-have-tattled-on-its-driver/

Stunning Photos Show Now Defunct ‘Land of Oz’ Theme Park in North Carolina

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/07/stunning-photos-show-now-mostly-defunct-land-of-oz-theme-park-in-north-carolina/

UW Climatologist: Monday One of the Darkest Days in Nine Years

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2866450/UW-climatologist-Monday-one-of-the-darkest-days-in-9-years

To Whom It May Concern: Please Claim Your Boeing 747s

http://news.yahoo.com/whom-may-concern-please-claim-boeing-747s-112803730.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Lena Horne – Stormy Weather

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0HFuHFdPZ0

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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.

Forecasters Heavy Rain Means Landslide Danger and Flooding

Special Weather Statement for Heavy Rain & Landslide Danger

• Southwest Interior (South Mason County)
• Hood Canal Area (North Mason County)
• Western Whatcom County
• Western Skagit County
• Everett & Vicinity
• Tacoma Area
• Lower Chehalis Valley Area
• Western Strait of Juan de Fuca
• North Coast
• Central Coast
• East Puget Sound Lowlands
• Bellevue & Vicinity
• Seattle & Vicinity
• Bremerton & Vicinity

Heavy rainfall today through Wednesday will lead to an increased threat of landslides in western Washington State.

Periods of heavy rainfall over the past week have increased soil moisture to moderate levels across western Washington State. Heavy rainfall of 2 to 5 inches across the interior lowlands and 3 to 6 inches along the coast is expected today through Wednesday. This amount of rain will put extra pressure on soil instability, leading to an increased threat of landslides.

Flood Watch in Effect from Tuesday Morning through Wednesday Afternoon

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a flood watch for much of Western Washington State, including Mason County.

Excessive rain, especially in the mountains, will probably result in flooding on the more flood prone rivers of western Washington State beginning Tuesday or Tuesday night. Minor to moderate flooding is possible on most of the rivers that flow off the Olympic Mountains and the west slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Most rivers should crest Wednesday or Wednesday night.

A succession of strong fronts will bring around 5 to 11 inches of precipitation to the mountains of western Washington today through Tuesday night. The snow level will rise to 5500 to 6500 feet today and 8000 feet on Tuesday, then start falling late Tuesday night to around 3500 to 4500 feet late Wednesday.