Political Story: SB 5849 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Guidelines

I). Introduction/Scope of the bill

II). Issue at hand/What the bill is doing

III). Quotes/EV sustainability

IV). Closing

Story: The Impact of SB 5849

PULLMAN, WASH. Owners and operators of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state of Washington can rejoice knowing that progressive action is finally being made on their behalf.

With the passing of WA SB 5849 in March, EV charging stations will soon feature more mandated signage indicating proper usage and functioning procedures.

The most significant aspect of the bill is the introduction of stiff fines to be handed out to violators who treat designated charging stations as parking spots for their non-electric vehicles.

This process, notoriously referred to by the EV community as ICE’ing (Internal Combustion Engine) has become an all too common occurrence according to Dan Davids, board chair at Plug In America, a non-profit coalition of EV drivers.

“It has unfortunately been a huge obstacle for EV drivers to overcome,” said Davids.

“People need to realize that this is just like parking your car in front of a conventional gas pump and then leaving it there overnight.”

Prior to the adoption of SB 5849, Davids and other EV owners feared that the abuse of charging stations would inhibit state legislators from recognizing their preferred methods of travel as a legitimate investment.

“We were making strides but EV operators desperately needed the law on our side in order to protect our rights to charge on the road,” said Davids.

Jeff Finn, the legislative issues coordinator for the Seattle Electric Vehicles Association (SEVA) said that state government officials fully supported the original SB 5849 proposal because they saw the positive environmental and economic impact of EV travel.

“EVs are beneficial to the state because they are clean and emission-free whilst using a resource we are more abundant in, electricity,” said Finn.

“I like to think of their use as a mini-boost to local economies because my wife and I spend money in whatever town we stop to charge in while traveling.”

One of the events commonly referred to as being a catalyst to the growth of the EV industry is National Plug In Day.

Tonia Buell, a project development and communications manager at WSDOT and three-time National Plug In Day participant says that the event raises awareness of electric vehicle availability and simplicity.

“It has been really exciting to see the growth of EVs turn into something more mainstream at this event,” said Buell.

“People from all over come to check out what EVs are all bout and I think they can see the benefits right away.”

Washington is one of the leading states in electric vehicle sales in the nation thanks to the low cost of hydroelectric power and a rise in the relative number of charging stations regionally.

This more easily allows EV users to travel from station to station on one four-hour charge including the trip from Pullman to Spokane, Bellingham to Pullman, etc.

In addition to National Plug In Day, the work grassroots organizations such as SEVA, Plug In America, and West Coast Green Highway have been instrumental in giving EV owners a collective voice and getting SB 5849 to come to fruition.

“The EV community is really shaping up to be a strong one and something more than just a fad,” said John Dorscher, a WSU student and Seattle EV owner.

“I hope to see this country continue to turn to more efficient means of living."

Finn wants all Americans to know that operating an EV would help to reduce their carbon footprint on the world with less gas meaning less pollution.

"Its about five times cheaper to fuel electric cars and it can be done conveniently at home, or on the road," said Finn.

With over 100,000 sold, EVs are growing in popularity as new technology arises and that only spells good things for the sustainability of our planet and natural environment.

Sources:

-Jeff Finn
(425)643-4694
jeff@voltrunner.com

-Dan Davids
(360)786-7694
dan@pluginamerica.com

-Tonia Buell
(206)696-0052
buellt@wsdot.wa.gov

-John Dorscher
(425)772-8772
john.dorscher@email.wsu.edu

Trend Story (Technology Beat): New "Search It" database at WSU Libraries coming soon

<strong>Outline:</strong>
-Introduction to trend
-Search It Nutgraph/Info
-Orbit Cascade Alliance
-General Consensus

<strong>Pullman, Wash.</strong> Washington State University students may find researching in the library a little less daunting when they boot up the computers in Holland and Terrell Libraries in January.

Over winter break, the school will be implementing “Search It”, an innovative new database tailored to the evolving needs of today’s college students.

Search It features a simplified, streamlined search box function that will in theory allow students to find what they’re looking for faster and grant them better and more plentiful results.

“Think of it as a way to collect resources that used to be separated from each other so that students can get one big bucket full of results quickly instead of having to look in a bunch of different places,” said web services librarian Ray Henry.

Corresponding with the adaptation of the new search interface, the WSU library system will also officially join the Orbis Cascade Alliance, a collection of 37 Pacific Northwest institutions for higher learning.

The main purpose of Orbis Cascade Alliance is the sharing of educational materials between each university, college, and community college that comprises the group, a growing trend within academic institutions.

Search It serves as the network that will neatly tie millions of new materials together for the participating schools.

According to Henry, six universities have already begun using Search It with rave reviews.

“The general consensus is that the program has been as good as advertised,” said Henry.

“It was rocky at first as all new technology is but as far as I know students are finding resources as available, and information is being transported between libraries.”

Beth Blakesley, the Associate Dean of Libraries at WSU, said she feels the project will be a big hit with students after receiving complaints regarding the complexities and unreliability of the library’s previous search technology.

“A lot of clicking and entering of key terms students currently have to do in terms of the article will now be more condensed and user-friendly,” said Blakesley.

“It seems to work better than our previous technologies because results will be more relevant and materials will be easier to get a hold of.”

Another advantage Search It offers over the previous Griffin technology is the ability for web administrators to more easily update and troubleshoot within the technology.

“The new cloud-based system will be more technically sound and any new developments in the technology will be brought to surface faster than before,” said Alex Merrill, digital initiatives librarian.

Victor Vargas, a library staff assistant said he is grateful for the changes being made because he always found the old system unnecessarily complicated.

“I’ve seen Search It in action at Western Washington University and I know its going to provide a welcome boost to the student experiences with research here at the library,” said Vargas.

Librarians will be on hand to guide students through operating Search It if necessary but Blakesley’s hope and intuition is that the program is self-explanatory and doesn’t cause students any headaches.

“Our librarians are going to make sure they’re properly supporting students through this change but for the most part we feel students will make a clean transition,” said Blakesley.

Students can expect to take advantage of the new library technology on the first day of spring semester.

<strong>Sources:</strong>

-Beth Blakesley
beth.blakesley@wsu.edu

-Ray Henry
ray.henry@wsu.edu

-Victor Vargas
509-431-4217

-Alex Merrill
merilla@wsu.edu

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Whitman County Humane Society Update

The WCHS is always in need of not only volunteers to help keep the shelter operating smoothly but also various items used in the everyday care and comfort of the animals.

Via their Facebook page, WCHS mentioned that they are in dire need of paper towels; down to three rolls as of today, Monday, November 4th. 

The shelter also stated their desire for high-quality dry puppy food including such brands as Hill's Science Diet and Purina.

WCHS is ALWAYS appreciate of ANY help and/or donations and wants any individuals interested in donating in between the hours of 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on any day except Sunday. 

The shelter staff will accept donations tomorrow (Tuesday) even though the shelter will be closed for a deep cleaning. 

The WCHS would like to thank everyone for their support.

WSU College of Veterinary Medicine's Art in the Library Series

Art in the Library presents: Claire Tousley

Please join us on Friday, November 1st, to meet 3rd year veterinary student Claire Tousley, featured artist, to view her collection of photographs now on display in the Animal Health Library. Many of her pictures depict her travels through the West. She loves Western scenery, cattle, and horses, and these subjects find their way into most of her pictures.

November 1, 2013 4:30–6:00 P.M.

ANIMAL HEALTH LIBRARY  WEGNER 170
Wine, Cheese, and Fruit
RSVP Vicki Croft  croft@vetmed.wsu.edu  509-335-5544

Art in the Library features artwork with animal themes and artists with a connection to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. If you are interested in displaying your art in the Animal Health Library, please contact Vicki Croft atcroft@vetmed.wsu.edu

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/news/art/index.aspx

Halloween Update: Fundraiser/Volunteers

Fundraiser:

Whitman County Humane Society wants animal lovers in the area to celebrate Halloween with them.

If you're still in the market for a costume, visit Wholesale Costume Club and enter the code FUN1750 at checkout between now and October 30. Customers who do so will earn 15% of the sale going toward the WCHS.

Volunteers Needed:

WCHS wants volunteers to assist Pullman Kiwanis in the monitoring of WSU parking lots on Halloween Thursday in two different shifts: from 2:30-5 pm and 5-7:45 pm. Doing so will raise $12 per hour for WCHS. Volunteers will be rewarded with free food and drinks for their service.

Rescued python dies suddenly - The Daily Evergreen: Campus

Rescued python dies suddenly - The Daily Evergreen: Campus

WSU Veterinary medical professionals handle an 11-foot python recently adopted by the College of Veterinary Sciences.

Members of the WSU College of Veterinary Science rescued an 11-foot python on Oct. 8 that was badly burned after wrapping itself around a bathroom heater.

After an unexpected turn on Saturday, the snake died due to unknown circumstances.

“Rarely do we go and rescue an animal,” said Charlie Powell, public information officer for the college of veterinary medicine. “Only in unique cases like the snake, because we don’t have the resources.”

Renters of a Colfax house had abandoned the snake, but the veterinary school is puzzled by the death because the snake’s recovery had been going well.

“Nothing definitive at this time - the snake did show signs of dehydration and muscle wasting,” said Powell. “When you see an animal with dehydration and muscle wasting it is often a combination of insults that cascade to death.”

Nickol Finch, clinical assistant professor of zoological animal medicine and who deals with exotic animals, said, “I was a bit surprised, I thought we had her going in the right direction. The only thing she hadn’t done was eat for herself, which is normal after trauma.”

Powell said the snake’s death seemed sudden considering the treatment she was receiving.

“At the time of its death the snake was receiving food, water, subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, in a warm place and away from anything that could have preyed upon it,” Powell said. “The death is unusual.”

The veterinary school has had success with helping snakes recover in the past. The school has nursed the animals back to life and has found new homes for them.

“This is the third snake - two boas and this python. Both previous snakes were placed in homes and we had a number of inquiries about this python,” said Powell. “There were collectors interested. I got one call all the way from Delaware from someone that was interested in her.”

While animals brought to the veterinary school benefit from the services provided by the school, the school and Washington state taxpayers completely fund the program.

“All of the cost is borne by us,” Powell said. “We did have some donations, but majority falls on the tax payers of Washington state.”

From a teaching perspective, Powell said the snake gave pathology residents the opportunity to administer antibiotics and perform a necropsy – an animal autopsy - on a large reptile.

“On the flipside, there is not a lot of call for a necropsy on big snakes,” he said.

It is not uncommon for the veterinary school to receive a request for assistance with abandoned reptiles, Powell said. Animals are either reported or law enforcement turns them in.

“Several times a year we will have exotic animals seized by law enforcement; in the past there have been two alligators and quite a few iguanas found in apartments after students leave,” he said. “There is nothing humane about releasing an animal to fend for itself.”

Beat Update

Over the weekend, the Whitman County Animal Shelter hosted the 5th Annual "Mutt Strut" at Reaney Park in Pullman on Saturday October 5th.

All proceeds for this event went towards the support of Pooch Park, Pullman's very own off-leash dog park and the first in Whitman County.

In addition to the walk and meet-and-greet, visitors and their pets were given the opportunity to enter into a skills competition for dogs.

Events in the contest included:

Baseball- dogs complete a command at each base

Doggy Bob- hot dog chunk speed eating

Peanut Butter Spoons- peanut butter speed eating

Shed Under; Best Shedder- dog who sheds the most wins

Items for a silent auction and cash donations were also accepted towards Pooch Park.

The event was sponsored by Alpine Animal Hospital, Wysup Chrysler Jeep Dodge, DABCO Birch Hill Apartments, and WSU's Companion Animal Club.