Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Energy News Digest for January 2, 2012


All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wind Energy Tax Credits Survive as Congress Passes Fiscal Cliff Deal (GigaOM)

Corwin Resigns - Thurston PUD Down Another Commissioner (Olympian, WA)

Downtown Business Owners Push for Faster Broadband in Poulsbo - Kitsap PUD conducting pilot wireless program (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Supporters of Klamath Basin Restoration Deal Announce Renewal of Agreement (Associated Press)

It’s Lights Out for the 75-Watt Incandescent Light Bulb (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Corwin Resigns - Thurston PUD Down Another Commissioner
  • Draft Study Ready on Bonneville Power Administration Yakima Valley Power Line
  • Perverse Economics of the Electric Grid: As Generation Gets Cheaper, Transmission Costs Soar
  • 2013 Key Year for Southern Montana Electric Co-Op Bankruptcy Case
  • Southern Montana Electric Co-Op Members Face Nail-Biting Year
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for December 27, 2012 - Special Meeting
  • California – Pacific Gas & Electric Power Bills Will Rise In January, but Natural Gas Costs Will Decline
  • Supporters of Klamath Basin Restoration Deal Announce Renewal of Agreement
  • Barbed Hooks Now Banned On Many Oregon Rivers
  • Wind Energy Tax Credits Survive as Congress Passes Fiscal Cliff Deal
  • Idaho Power Proposal Clouds Solar Home Investments
  • It’s Lights Out for the 75-Watt Incandescent Light Bulb
  • Utilities Eye Greater Role in Building Codes
  • Editorial - Energy Retrofits for California Schools Will Pay Off Big Time
  • With Hines La Jolla Project, Net Zero Comes to Larger Office Buildings
  • Avis Buying Zipcar in Deal Worth Nearly $500 Million
  • Just Yell at This Voice-Controlled AC Unit When It Gets Too Cold
  • Downtown Business Owners Push for Faster Broadband in Poulsbo - Kitsap PUD conducting pilot wireless program
  • Grant County PUD Fiber Expands in Moses Lake
  • Internet Rivals Assail Cable Operators with Fiber-Optic Speeds
  • Connected Tennessee Releases Findings on Broadband Adoption in Healthcare Sector
  • LodgeNet Will File for Bankruptcy, Sell to Investment Firm
  • Federal Agency Wants Input on Broadband Funding
  • Wonkbook: Everything You Need To Know About the Fiscal Cliff Deal
  • ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal Protects Washington State Sales-Tax Break
  • Accused Shelton Killer Longshore Won’t Face Death Penalty
  • Oregon Expected to Hit Population Milestone in January
  • AAA: Average Price of Gasoline in Washington $3.40

WORD OF THE DAY

Scrumptious • \SKRUMP-shush\ • Adjective - Delightful, excellent; especially: delicious

Scrumptious: see home-made Almond Roca.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Corwin Resigns - Thurston PUD Down Another Commissioner (Olympian, WA)

Draft Study Ready on Bonneville Power Administration Yakima Valley Power Line (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Perverse Economics of the Electric Grid: As Generation Gets Cheaper, Transmission Costs Soar (Forbes Magazine)

2013 Key Year for Southern Montana Electric Co-Op Bankruptcy Case (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

Southern Montana Electric Co-Op Members Face Nail-Biting Year (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for December 27, 2012 - Special Meeting (Mason County PUD No. 3)

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Power Bills Will Rise In January, but Natural Gas Costs Will Decline “…for 1,200 kilowatt hours of usage, bills will average $307.13, up $5.59…” (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Supporters of Klamath Basin Restoration Deal Announce Renewal of Agreement (Associated Press)

Barbed Hooks Now Banned On Many Oregon Rivers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Energy Tax Credits Survive as Congress Passes Fiscal Cliff Deal (GigaOM)

Idaho Power Proposal Clouds Solar Home Investments (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

It’s Lights Out for the 75-Watt Incandescent Light Bulb (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Utilities Eye Greater Role in Building Codes (Midwest Energy News)

Editorial - Energy Retrofits for California Schools Will Pay Off Big Time (Sacramento Bee, CA)

With Hines La Jolla Project, Net Zero Comes to Larger Office Buildings (Forbes Magazine)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Avis Buying Zipcar in Deal Worth Nearly $500 Million (Associated Press)

Just Yell at This Voice-Controlled AC Unit When It Gets Too Cold (Gizmodo)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Downtown Business Owners Push for Faster Broadband in Poulsbo - Kitsap PUD conducting pilot wireless program (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Grant County PUD Fiber Expands in Moses Lake (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Internet Rivals Assail Cable Operators with Fiber-Optic Speeds (Kansas City Business Journal, MO)

Connected Tennessee Releases Findings on Broadband Adoption in Healthcare Sector (The Chattanoogan, TN)

LodgeNet Will File for Bankruptcy, Sell to Investment Firm (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Federal Agency Wants Input on Broadband Funding (Courthouse News Service)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Wonkbook: Everything You Need To Know About the Fiscal Cliff Deal (Washington Post)

‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal Protects Washington State Sales-Tax Break (Associated Press)

Full Text of the ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Bill Here (Links to PDF File)

GENERAL NEWS

Accused Shelton Killer Longshore Won’t Face Death Penalty (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Oregon Expected to Hit Population Milestone in January (Portland Business Journal, OR)

AAA: Average Price of Gasoline in Washington $3.40 (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Dying Trekkie Gets Private ‘Into Darkness’ Screening

Archaeologists Think Hidden Imperial Tomb May Be Too Deadly to Explore

Crown Teeth Tattoos Are Trending

Pet Chicken Reportedly Saves Couple from Fire

SONG OF THE DAY

Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town