Thursday, January 19, 2017

National Power Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions Fall Below Transportation Sector Emissions (U-S Energy Information Administration)

Spring Chinook Shortfall Threatens North Lewis River Restoration (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Mason/Kitsap Leaders Seek to Connect Bremerton Industrial Area to Belfair Sewer (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

A Matter of Records: Governments Look to Change Ways Public Gets Information (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

New York: With Indian Point Closing, Quebec Sees an Opportunity for Hydropower (Politico)

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Snake River Dams Ramp Up as Cold Weather Drives Demand for BPA Power (Bonneville Power Administration)

Carbon Footprint Shrinking in Pacific Northwest Thanks to Energy Efficiency – Oh, & Hydropower (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Why an Oregon Wave Energy Device Is Being Tested in Colorado (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Arizona Proposal Funds Rural High-Speed Internet with Phone Bill Fee (Associated Press)

It’s Finally Warmer — But Here Comes the Rain, With Potential for River Flooding, Avalanches (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

Credit, Debit Card Payments at Chehalis Restaurant Routed to Texas Business (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CHEHALIS, WA) -- The Sonic drive-in restaurant in Chehalis released a statement Friday regarding a credit card mixup in September that incorrectly routed payments from local cardholders to a tire store in Texas.
In September, the restaurant’s credit card machine was routing credit and debit payments to the store for approximately seven days.
The Chronicle reports in an effort to address the situation, the Chehalis Sonic refunded purchases routed to the tire store then re-charged customers’ cards. Guests should see credits to their accounts by the end of this week or Monday, Jan. 23, at the latest.

Friday, January 13, 2017

How Would Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s Proposed Carbon Tax Work? (Washington State Wire)

Tesla Contract with Aberdeen Will Be Voided, But May Be Re-Approved (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Kittitas County Places Temporary Moratorium on Commercial Renewable Energy Projects (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

In a Digital World, Americans Have Less Tolerance for Power Outages (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Energy Secretary Seeks to Lock in Free Speech for DOE Scientists (Christian Science Monitor)

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Energy News Digest for January 12, 2017 – Hot Shots Edition

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

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Snake River Dam Projects May Be Delayed (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Jefferson PUD Launches Meter Replacement Plan (Port Townsend Leader, WA

National Engineers Week – February 19-25 (DiscoverE)

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOT LOCKER

Sewer Line Replacement Planned for Shelton Neighborhood (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Oregon's Utility-Scale Solar Incentive Brings Flood of Projects (Portland Business Journal, OR)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Construction at Grays Harbor County Cannabis Growing Facility Proceeding Quickly (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Idaho Legislative Leaders: $8 Million Broadband Settlement Unlikely (Associated Press)

AT&T Promising Gigabit Speeds from Utility-Pole Antennas (Broadband Reports)

Browser Autofill Used to Steal Personal Details in New Phishing Attack (The Guardian, UK)

MARKETING & MEDIA

Five Ways to Repurpose Your Popular Social Media Posts (Social Media Examiner)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

In His Second Inaugural Address, Gov. Inslee Calls On Lawmakers to Fully Fund Public Education (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Government Leaders Discuss Issues at Special Meeting (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Missing Shelton Man Who Was Found Dead Identified (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Major Snow Bust Around Portland (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

We Simulated the Divisional Round Using Madden 17 – There Were Some Huge Road Wins

Russell Wilson Is Social Media's Most Valuable U-S Athlete

Nine Fun Tricks You Can Do with Static Electricity

Saturn’s ‘Death Star’ Moon Looks Spooky as Hell in New Cassini Photo

SONG OF THE DAY

NFL Films – Drive to Glory

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Environmental Groups Want Work Halted on Snake River Dams (Associated Press)

Canada; BC Hydro Offers Special Payment Plan Due to Cold Snap (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Oregon State University Wave Energy Test Center Looks to State for $4.6 Million (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Oregon: Nearly Half of Facebook’s Prineville Jobs in Flux as Data Centers Change Security Contractor (Oregonian, Portland)

Bipartisan Schools Funding Plan Proves Elusive as Washington State Legislature Convenes (Associated Press)

Monday, January 9, 2017

Washington State Senator Cantwell Slams House Speaker Ryan Over Grid Cybersecurity in Energy Bill Talks (Utility Dive)

Energy Demands in North Central Washington State Drop from Record Highs (North Central Washington Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

Former Snoqualmie PUD General Manager Pleads Guilty (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

Oregon Lawmakers Craft Bill Targeting Comcast’s Unpaid Taxes (Oregonian, Portland)

British Columbians Pay Tax on the Carbon Tax – One Vernon City Councilor Isn’t Happy About It (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Lewis County PUD Warns of Phone Scam (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CHEHALIS, WA) – Lewis County PUD is warning about a phone scam being perpetrated on its customers.

Cory Moses with PUD says customers are reporting they have been receiving calls from individuals claiming to be from the PUD demanding immediate payment of delinquent bills or your electricity will be shut off.


She says PUD will send out notices if your bill is delinquent but they do not make phone calls demanding immediate payment. Moses says if you receive such a call, don’t hesitate to call to confirm that the call is fraudulent. PUD says that you should also report the calls to your local law enforcement agency.

Friday, January 6, 2017

Public Power Council Elects Officers & Board Members for 2017-2018 (Public Power Council, Portland, OR)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- At its monthly members’ meeting on January 5, 2017, the Executive Committee of the Public Power Council elected officers for the 2017-2018 term.  Elected by unanimous decision were:

Daniel Peterson, Pend Oreille PUD, as Chairman

Matt Michel, Lane Electric Cooperative, as Vice Chair, Administration and Budget

Chris Robinson, Tacoma Power, as Vice Chair, Allocation/Rates/Contracts

Travis “Bear” Prairie, Idaho Falls Power, as Vice Chair, Long Range Planning

Debra Smith, Central Lincoln PUD, as Vice Chair, Fish and Wildlife

Also, at its Annual Meeting of Members on December 8, 2016, the Public Power Council announced the newly-elected Board Members who will serve a two-year term beginning January 2017 (Listed Below). 

Incoming Chairman, Dan Peterson, was previously the Vice Chair, Administration and Budget, for PPC.  He has served on the Board of PPC since 2007, and has served as a Commissioner at Pend Oreille PUD since 1996.

“With the current pace of change in the energy industry, this is an exciting time to take on the role as the Chairman of PPC,” said Dan Peterson.  “I look forward to working with the PPC members, PPC staff, and many others around the region to coordinate on creative approaches to the many issues ahead for public power.”

PPC Executive Director Scott Corwin said, “We have an expert team in place that is ready to take on the challenges facing the electricity industry in the Northwest.  The region is well served by these leaders, and PPC is in great hands with these Board Members and Officers at the helm.”

Elected to the Executive Committee (Board of Directors) of PPC for 2017-2018 are:

Dan Bedbury, Clark PUD, WA
Stephen Boorman, City of Cheney, WA
Scott Coe, Emerald PUD, OR
Craig Collar, Snohomish PUD, WA
Annette Creekpaum, Mason PUD No. 3, WA
Jo Elg, United Electric Cooperative, ID
John Gerstenberger, Hood River Electric Cooperative, OR
Mark Johnson, Flathead Electric Cooperative, MT
Frank Lawson, Eugene Water & Electric Board, OR
Matt Michel, Lane Electric Cooperative, OR
Tim Nies, Franklin PUD, WA
Kevin Nordt, Grant PUD, WA
Dan Peterson, Pend Oreille PUD, WA
Bear Prairie, Idaho Falls Power, ID
Will Purser, Clallam PUD, WA
Chris Robinson, Tacoma Power, WA
Debra Smith, Central Lincoln PUD, OR
Jim Smith, Klickitat PUD, WA
Les Teel, Columbia REA, WA
Chuck Thurman, Monmouth Power & Light, OR
Larry Weis, Seattle City Light, WA

The Public Power Council, established in 1966, is an association that represents over 100 consumer-owned electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest.  PPC’s mission is to preserve and protect the benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System for consumer-owned utilities, and is a forum to identify, discuss and build consensus around energy and utility issues.

Snow & Freezing Rain Possible for Mason County This Weekend (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration Load Tops 10,000 MW on Winter Storm (Platts)

Avista Spent $10 Million on Idaho Energy Efficiency Programs (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)



ESA-Listed Chum Salmon Below Bonneville Dam Show Good Spawning Rate – Flows Maintained to Cover Redds (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Northwest Cable News Set to Go Off Air Friday Night (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Near Record Demand for Electricity in Centralia (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CENTRALIA, WA) – Centralia City Light recorded a demand for electricity Thursday morning that nearly reached the all-time load for the system. City Light Manager M.L. Norton says the demand on the system was 71 megawatts, one megawatt shy of the record set during a cold snap in December 2009.  Norton says if we continue to have the cold temperatures we have had the past few mornings, Centralia City Light could likely experience a record high demand for electricity. Norton says City Light has the capacity to meet the increased demand, even it was to reach record levels.


Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Cold Temperatures Forecast for Western Washington State (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CENTRALIA, WA) -- Some of the coldest temperatures of the winter are expected over the next few days.
KELA/KMNT weatherman Dean Dahlin says some strong east winds are forecast through the Columbia Gorge and in the mountain passes that could affect the temperatures, especially at night when temps could drop to the mid teens in wind- sheltered areas and the mid 20s elsewhere.
Dean says daytime highs may not make it above freezing for the next couple of days.