Three Dead in Tacoma Alley Car vs. Utility Truck Crash “…car was going about 55 miles per hour through the alley, plowed through traffic barrier and then slammed into the back of a cable utility truck…” (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/tacoma/2-dead-2-injured-in-tacoma-car-crash/98545094

Grant County Sheriff Asks for Vigilance Regarding Power Facilities (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/crime-fire/sheriff-asks-for-vigilance-regarding-power-facilities/article_6a9d4b7c-f058-11e5-ae30-872ab4d2c82a.html

Cannabis Production on the Power Grid in Mason County (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1601

As Seattle Hosts Broadband Conference, Mayor Doubles Down on Refusal to Build Municipal Internet Network (The Stranger, Seattle, WA)

http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2016/03/22/23805858/as-seattle-hosts-broadband-conference-mayor-doubles-down-on-refusal-to-build-municipal-internet-network

To The Tune of $10 Million, Wind Power Pays Off for Oregon Landowners (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2016/03/to-the-tune-of-10m-wind-power-pays-off-for-oregon.html

Franklin PUD: No Rate Increase in 2016 (Franklin PUD, Pasco, WA)

(PASCO, WA) -- The Franklin PUD Commission voted unanimously today not to raise rates in 2016.

In July 2015, consistent with the recommendation of staff and our Rate Advisory Committee (RAC), the Board of Commissioners approved a 3% rate increase effective September 1, 2015 and a second rate increase of up to 5% effective May 1, 2016 with the understanding that the RAC would meet again to discuss and evaluate the PUD’s 2015 financial results.

The RAC met this past February and reviewed the revenue requirement assumptions and 2015 financial results.  Their recommendation to the Commission, along with staff, was not to implement any rate action in 2016, foregoing the approved 2016 rate increase of up to 5%.

Franklin PUD buys about 85% of its power from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the Pacific Northwest’s largest energy marketer. Power costs represent nearly 70% of the annual budget for the utility.  Franklin PUD is pleased that no rate action has to be taken in 2016 and we will continue to look for ways to cut internal costs wherever possible to keep rates as low as possible.  In addition, we will continue to monitor external programs and provide feedback to BPA on programs that continue to put upward pressure on customer rates.

Council Approves New Head of Seattle City Light (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2016/03/21/council-approves-new-head-seattle-city-light/82101792/

Oregon’s Top Utility Regulator Resigns (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregons-top-utility-regulator-resigns/

Carbon Emissions Highest in 66 Million Years, Since Dinosaur Age (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-carbon-idUSKCN0WN1QR

Legal Marijuana Sales Forecast to Hit $23B in 4 Years (USA Today)

http://www.cbs19.tv/story/31521142/legal-marijuana-sales-forecast-to-hit-23b-in-4-years

Pacific Power Rate Request Runs into Opposition (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/pacific-power-rate-request-runs-into-opposition/article_136e01b6-ecca-11e5-b06f-af7074c421f5.html

Longtime Northwest Power Council Leader Retires (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2016/03/longtime-northwest-power-council-leader-retires.html

REC Silicon Could Restart Production in June (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/rec-silicon-could-restart-production-in-june/article_abef0de6-ec6f-11e5-b6b2-2f145702d3b7.html

Google Greenlights New $600 Million Data Center in the Dalles (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2016/03/google_greenlights_new_600_mil.html

Twitter Heard You: The 140-Character Limit Is Here to Stay (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/03/18/twitter-heard-you-the-140-character-limit-is-here-to-stay/

Montana: Dam Hydroelectric Bill Clears Hurdle in House (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/03/15/dam-hydroelectric-bill-clears-hurdle-house/81832246/

British Columbia: Peace River Dam Construction Moves Ahead after Shutdown of Protests (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-site-c-dam-construction-moves-ahead-after-shutdown-of-protests/article29189556/?cmpid=rss1

Cable Worker Shocked by Live Wire in Kitsap County (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2016/03/15/cable-worker-shocked-by-live-wire-in-kitsap-county/

$2 Billion Loss for Generators as a Million U-S Roofs Get Solar (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-16/-2-billion-loss-for-generators-as-a-million-u-s-roofs-get-solar

Mason County Unemployment Rises in January (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/19565

Thousands in Washington State without Power as Crews Clear Downed Trees from Deadly Storm (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2016/03/14/thousands-without-power-as-crews-clear-downed-trees-from-deadly-storm/

Oregon: Sage Grouse Concerns Trip Up Steens Mountain Turbine Project (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/03/11/sage-grouse-concerns-trip-up-turbine-project.htm

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Propose Canceling Coho Season (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2016/03/11/tribes-propose-canceling-coho-season/81673070/

Internet Service Providers Also Blocking Google Fiber Pole Access in California (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ISPs-Also-Blocking-Google-Fiber-Pole-Access-in-California-136481

Power Outages Remain as More Rain, Wind Approaches (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/weather/2016/03/11/power-outages-remain-more-rain-wind-approaches/81640038/

U-S Senator Cantwell Says Trudeau Agreeable to Columbia River Talks (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article65364197.html

Google Fiber Strikes Utility Pole Deals across Portland, Oregon (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Fiber-Strikes-Utility-Pole-Deals-Across-Portland-Oregon-136470

Solar Industry Keeping Close Watch on Washington State Legislature’s Moves (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2931018/Solar-industry-keeping-close-watch-on-Legislatureaposs-moves

Special Session Begins Today as Washington State Legislators Deadlock over Budget (PubliCola)

http://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2016/3/11/special-session-begins-today-as-legislators-deadlock-over-budget

Day after Indictment – Former Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon Dies in Car Crash (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-chesapeake-enrgy-mcclendon-idUSKCN0W42ME

Oregon Lawmakers Approve Pioneering Pro Climate Coal Bill (Associated Press)

http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-03-02/oregon-lawmakers-approve-pioneering-pro-climate-coal-bill

Clean Nuclear Energy Future One Step Closer (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/2016/03/02/clean-nuclear-energy-future-one-step-closer/81203614/

U-S Supreme Court Justice Rejects State Request to Block Mercury & Air Toxics Standards Implementation (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/chief-justice-rejects-state-request-to-block-mats-implementation/414985/

Oregon Tax Breaks Approved for Comcast, Frontier, Google (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2016/03/02/tax-breaks-approved-for-comcast-frontier-google/

Two Large Outages in One Day Affect Mason PUD 3 Customers (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1597

Puget Sound Energy’s Proposed Higher-Voltage Power Poles Spark Debate over Safety & Need on Eastside (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/eastside/proposed-higher-voltage-power-poles-spark-debate-over-safety-and-need-on-eastside/

Cowlitz PUD Commission Votes to Oppose Carbon Initiative (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-commission-votes-to-oppose-carbon-initiative/article_e14fd07b-237e-5fd5-8977-e38dbbd1299b.html

Puget Sound Coho Return Forecasts 'Critical' in Most Areas (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2016/03/01/coho-return-forecasts-critical-most-areas/81182364/

Registration Opens March First for Mason PUD 1’s Community Solar (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/19320