Friday, December 28, 2018

Energy News Digest for December 28, 2018


The Hot Shots edition of the Energy News Digest is available on Facebook, and on Twitter.

To subscribe to the Energy News Digest, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS





HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

911 Services Return, But Some Issues Remain (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

PacifiCorp Wants to Charge Californians for Upgrades to Out-Of-State Coal Plants (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Washington State Senator Renews Push for Carbon Fee (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Tesla Scrambles to Sell Cars Before a Tax Break Disappears (NY Times)

Washington State Sens. Schoesler, Short Offer GOP Perspective for Upcoming Legislative Session (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      PacifiCorp Wants to Charge Californians for Upgrades to Out-Of-State Coal Plants
2.      California: Whittier Gets a New Electricity Provider Come February, Here’s What That Means
3.      New York Sky Turns Bright Blue after Transformer Explosion
4.      Pakistan: 20,000 Workers Booked for Abetting in Power Theft
5.      Gray Whales Will Be Counted as They Migrate Along Oregon Coast
6.      Tesla Scrambles to Sell Cars Before a Tax Break Disappears
7.      Overheating in New York City Apartments Leads Tenants to Throw Money Out the Window
8.      Portland Sewage Flows into Willamette River
9.      Washington State Senator Renews Push for Carbon Fee
10.   Op/Ed: Forget the Carbon Tax for Now
11.   Inside Facebook’s Secret Rulebook for Global Political Speech
12.   Instagram’s Botched Experiment is a Reminder That the Future of Facebook is Stories
13.   New Study Says Sleep Texting is a Thing
14.   ‘No Good Option’ for Handling California Marijuana Funds, Report Finds
15.   Sad News: No More BLOB
16.   Washington State Sens. Schoesler, Short Offer GOP Perspective for Upcoming Legislative Session
17.   911 Services Return, But Some Issues Remain
18.   A Nationwide CenturyLink Outage is Disrupting 911 – The FCC is Investigating
19.   Washington State Auditor Criticizes City of Shelton over ‘Inadequate’ Accounting, Financial Statements
20.   Mason County’s November Unemployment Rises
21.   Walla Walla in Shock After Commissioner Dies Hours Before Being Sworn in to Office
22.   Wind, Heavy Rain This Weekend – Drying Out for New Year’s Eve

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU

Canorous /kuh-NORE-us/ Adjective - Pleasant sounding: melodious

The sounds of heaven
Canorous strains, Clair de Lune
Great work DeBussy!


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    PacifiCorp Wants to Charge Californians for Upgrades to Out-Of-State Coal Plants (Los Angeles Times, CA)

2.    California: Whittier Gets a New Electricity Provider Come February, Here’s What That Means (Whittier Daily News, CA)

3.    New York Sky Turns Bright Blue after Transformer Explosion (NY Times)

4.    Pakistan: 20,000 Workers Booked for Abetting in Power Theft (Dawn, Pakistan)

FISH & WILDLIFE

5.    Gray Whales Will Be Counted as They Migrate Along Oregon Coast (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

6.    Tesla Scrambles to Sell Cars Before a Tax Break Disappears (NY Times)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

7.    Overheating in New York City Apartments Leads Tenants to Throw Money Out the Window (Breaking Energy)

“CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE” – WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

8.    Portland Sewage Flows into Willamette River (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

9.    Washington State Senator Renews Push for Carbon Fee (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

10. Op/Ed: Forget the Carbon Tax for Now “…the climate movement has…turned this potentially useful tool into a fetish…” (NY Times)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

11. Inside Facebook’s Secret Rulebook for Global Political Speech (NY Times)

12. Instagram’s Botched Experiment is a Reminder That the Future of Facebook is Stories (Mashable)

13. New Study Says Sleep Texting is a Thing (Mashable)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

14. ‘No Good Option’ for Handling California Marijuana Funds, Report Finds (Courthouse News Service)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

15. Sad News: No More BLOB (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT


GENERAL NEWS

17. 911 Services Return, But Some Issues Remain (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

18. A Nationwide CenturyLink Outage is Disrupting 911 – The FCC is Investigating (Washington Post)

19. Washington State Auditor Criticizes City of Shelton over ‘Inadequate’ Accounting, Financial Statements (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

20. Mason County’s November Unemployment Rises (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

21. Walla Walla in Shock After Commissioner Dies Hours Before Being Sworn in to Office (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

22. Wind, Heavy Rain This Weekend – Drying Out for New Year’s Eve (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Washington State Social Worker Left Surprise $11 Million to Children’s Charities

Ohio Weed That Sprouted Holiday Cheer Mysteriously Uprooted

Tossed from a Car – Hundreds Offer to Rehome Snoop the Abandoned Dog

Frenchman, 71, Aims to Cross the Atlantic in a Giant Barrel

SONG OF THE DAY

Claude DeBussy – Clair de Lune (Ocean’s Eleven Soundtrack)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Energy News Digest for December 27, 2018


The Hot Shots edition of the Energy News Digest is available on Facebook, and on Twitter.

To subscribe to the Energy News Digest, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Color Washington State Blue: How Does Your State Make Electricity? (NY Times)

Deal Reached on Use of First Small U-S Nuke Reactors in Idaho (Associated Press)

Idaho Public Utilities Commission Conducting Prudency Review of Avista Efficiency Programs (Daily Energy Insider)

Oregon Governor Establishes Rural Broadband Office (Eastern Oregonian, Pendleton)

Bloody Effluent Still Spewing from British Columbia Fish Processing Plant, Photographer Finds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Color Washington State Blue: How Does Your State Make Electricity?
2.      Deal Reached on Use of First Small U-S Nuke Reactors in Idaho
3.      Bonneville Power Administration Stays on Track to Join Western Energy Imbalance Market
4.      Snohomish PUD Plans a 1.3 Percent Electricity Rate Hike
5.      Orcas Power & Light Bills Go Up in January; Need help? Get Monthly Bill Credits with Energy Assist
6.      Pacific Power Customers May See Small Rate Increase in February
7.      Jefferson PUD to Fix Aging Port Ludlow Power Line
8.      Local Voices Included in Columbia River Treaty Report
9.      Mural Design Team for Central Lincoln PUD Building in Florence Chosen
10.   U-S Energy Department Warns against Chinese Hackers
11.   Bloody Effluent Still Spewing from British Columbia Fish Processing Plant, Photographer Finds
12.   Study: Northwest Salmon Not Immune to Ocean Acidification
13.   Washington to Release Chinook Fry after Power Outage
14.   Sea Lion Bill Signed into Law by President Trump
15.   Opponents Decry New Dam Agreement to Help Salmon
16.   As Salmon Spawn, Eagles Return in Numbers to Lake Coeur d’Alene
17.   Changing Climate, Water Flows Impact Bald Eagles’ Feasts on the Skagit River
18.   Massachusetts: National Grid Nixes Solar Project Unless Users Pay for Upgrades
19.   Oregon Governor Establishes Rural Broadband Office
20.   Bitcoin’s Terrible 2018 Doesn’t Bode Well for the Future of Crypto
21.   Remember Bitcoin? Some Investors Might Want to Forget
22.   Idaho Lab Protects U-S Infrastructure from Cyberattacks
23.   Idaho Public Utilities Commission Conducting Prudency Review of Avista Efficiency Programs
24.   Help Washington State DNR to Prioritize Puget Sound Cleanup Efforts with New App
25.   Editorial: Quality of Life in Our Region Depends Upon the Quality of Puget Sound’s Environment
26.   Pacific Northwest Mountain Snowpack Update
27.   Two Michigan Regulators Take Plea Deals in Flint Water Case
28.   80% of Mountain Glaciers in Alberta, British Columbia & Yukon Will Disappear within 50 Years: Report
29.   There’s No Threat Too Big for New York Rats, Even Climate Change
30.   Records Retention: The Government Has an Instagram Problem
31.   How to Respond to Negative Online Reviews
32.   2018 a Banner Year for Legal Marijuana Industry
33.   California Inc.: Marijuana Shops Do Big Business, But Where to Put All That Cash?
34.   Looking for Solar Panels on Distant Planets
35.   New Mason County Elected Officials Take Oath of Office
36.   As Shutdown Lingers, Only Guarantee for Federal Workers Is More Uncertainty
37.   Frustrated by Shutdown, States Spend to Keep National Parks Open
38.   Hoodsport Killing: Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Mother’s Beating Death
39.   Pedestrian Hit by Truck in Hoodsport in Highway 101 Accident
40.   Damage Climbs Past $2 Million as Most Power Returns after Solstice Eve Windstorm
41.   Census: More King County Residents Moving to Kitsap
42.   Pacific Northwest Sees Record Hops Production
43.   Seahawks Trying to Match NFL Record for Fewest Turnovers

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Enervate /ENN-err-vayt/ Verb – 1: to reduce the mental or moral vigor of; 2: to lessen the vitality or strength of.

Using passive voice
Enervates your turgid prose
Use the active voice!

(You know, the little voice in your head…)


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Color Washington State Blue: How Does Your State Make Electricity? (NY Times)

2.    Deal Reached on Use of First Small U-S Nuke Reactors in Idaho (Associated Press)

3.    Bonneville Power Administration Stays on Track to Join Western Energy Imbalance Market (RTO Insider)

4.    Snohomish PUD Plans a 1.3 Percent Electricity Rate Hike (Everett Herald, WA)

5.    Orcas Power & Light Bills Go Up in January; Need help? Get Monthly Bill Credits with Energy Assist (San Juan Islander, Friday Harbor, WA)

6.    Pacific Power Customers May See Small Rate Increase in February (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

7.    Jefferson PUD to Fix Aging Port Ludlow Power Line (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

8.    Local Voices Included in Columbia River Treaty Report (Eknow, Canada)

9.    Mural Design Team for Central Lincoln PUD Building in Florence Chosen (The Siuslaw News, Florence, OR)

10. U-S Energy Department Warns against Chinese Hackers (Daily Energy Insider)

FISH & WILDLIFE

11. Bloody Effluent Still Spewing from British Columbia Fish Processing Plant, Photographer Finds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)


13. Washington to Release Chinook Fry after Power Outage (Associated Press)

14. Sea Lion Bill Signed into Law by President Trump (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, Wa)

15. Opponents Decry New Dam Agreement to Help Salmon (Associated Press)

16. As Salmon Spawn, Eagles Return in Numbers to Lake Coeur d’Alene (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

17. Changing Climate, Water Flows Impact Bald Eagles’ Feasts on the Skagit River (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

18. Massachusetts: National Grid Nixes Solar Project Unless Users Pay for Upgrades (Greenfield Recorder, MA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19. Oregon Governor Establishes Rural Broadband Office (Eastern Oregonian, Pendleton)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

20. Bitcoin’s Terrible 2018 Doesn’t Bode Well for the Future of Crypto (Reuters)

21. Remember Bitcoin? Some Investors Might Want to Forget (NY Times)

22. Idaho Lab Protects U-S Infrastructure from Cyberattacks (SF Chronicle)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

23. Idaho Public Utilities Commission Conducting Prudency Review of Avista Efficiency Programs (Daily Energy Insider)

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOT LOCKER

24. Help Washington State DNR to Prioritize Puget Sound Cleanup Efforts with New App (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

25. Editorial: Quality of Life in Our Region Depends Upon the Quality of Puget Sound’s Environment (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

26. Pacific Northwest Mountain Snowpack Update (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

27. Two Michigan Regulators Take Plea Deals in Flint Water Case (Courthouse News Service)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

28. 80% of Mountain Glaciers in Alberta, British Columbia & Yukon Will Disappear within 50 Years: Report (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

29. There’s No Threat Too Big for New York Rats, Even Climate Change (Grist Online)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA


31. How to Respond to Negative Online Reviews (SF Chronicle)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

32. 2018 a Banner Year for Legal Marijuana Industry (Associated Press)

33. California Inc.: Marijuana Shops Do Big Business, But Where to Put All That Cash? (Los Angeles Times, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

34. Looking for Solar Panels on Distant Planets (Atlantic Magazine)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

35. New Mason County Elected Officials Take Oath of Office (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

36. As Shutdown Lingers, Only Guarantee for Federal Workers Is More Uncertainty (NY Times)

37. Frustrated by Shutdown, States Spend to Keep National Parks Open (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

38. Hoodsport Killing: Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Mother’s Beating Death (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

39. Pedestrian Hit by Truck in Hoodsport in Highway 101 Accident (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

40. Damage Climbs Past $2 Million as Most Power Returns after Solstice Eve Windstorm (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

41. Census: More King County Residents Moving to Kitsap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

42. Pacific Northwest Sees Record Hops Production (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

43. Seahawks Trying to Match NFL Record for Fewest Turnovers (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

PowerPoint Is the Most Efficient Way for Kids to Manage Their Parents (NY Times)

American Man, from Portland, First to Solo Across Antarctica Unaided

Man Finds a $10,000 Surprise Inside Designer Bag on Subway

Nail Guns Vs. Real Guns: Armed Customers Foil Tool Thieves

SONG OF THE DAY

Hoyt Curtin – Jonny Quest Theme Song

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.