Friday, March 1, 2019

Energy News Digest for March 1, 2019


After hibernating during Mason County’s whopping snowstorm last month and communing with public power supporters in a foreign land, the Energy News Digest is back. “Tanned, rested, and ready.”

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

Richland Nuclear Plant Kept Under Order to Heat the Frigid Northwest (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

Forecast Indicates Improved Coho Salmon Numbers in Puget Sound (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Broadband Bill Passes Out of Committee (Washington State Wire, Olympia)

Washington State’s Private Utilities Want More Time to Meet Green Goals (Crosscut Seattle)

Avista Starts $165 Million Smart-Meter Rollout in Spokane (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Richland Nuclear Plant Kept Under Order to Heat the Frigid Northwest
2.      Avista Starts $165 Million Smart-Meter Rollout in Spokane
3.      Washington State: Energy Companies Topped 2018 Consumer Complaint List
4.      Jefferson PUD to Offer Opt-Out for RF Meters – Commissioners to Meet with Citizens Board
5.      Grant PUD Commissioners Consider No Rate Increase for PUD Customers, Changes to Fiber Network & Pricing
6.      Because of Snow, Snohomish PUD Estimated Some February Power Bills
7.      Washington State Senate Confirms Reappointment of Utilities & Transportation Commission Chairman
8.      Bonneville Power Administration Adopts Settlement Agreement with Customers on Its Open Access Transmission Tariff
9.      March 20 – Kalispell, Montana Town Hall to Discuss Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty Regime
10.   Pacific Gas & Electric Admits Its Equipment Likely Sparked California’s Most Destructive Wildfire
11.   Rick Perry Warns Energy Grid Faces ‘Major Test’ in Coming Polar Vortex
12.   Arizona: Coal Plant Owners, Navajo Nation at Impasse over Takeover of Plant
13.   Resolutions Adopted on Grid Costs, Pole Attachments at Legislative Rally
14.   Forecast Indicates Improved Coho Salmon Numbers in Puget Sound
15.   Most Washington State Salmon Returns Predicted to be Worse than Last Year
16.   Orcas Gain Increasing Clout during Fishing Season Discussions
17.   NOAA Fisheries Issues BiOp Addressing Passage for Protected Puget Sound Salmon at Green River Dam; Help Orcas
18.   The World Is Losing Fish to Eat as Oceans Warm, Study Finds
19.   Washington State’s Private Utilities Want More Time to Meet Green Goals
20.   Bill to Expand Hydrogen Fuel Production Unanimously Passes Washington State Senate
21.   California’s San Bernardino County Slams the Brakes on Big Solar Projects
22.   Wind Turbine Shutdowns During Polar Vortex Stoke Midwest Debate
23.   Tennessee Valley Authority Staff Sees No Need to Add Solar Capacity Until 2023
24.   Washington State Broadband Bill Passes Out of Committee
25.   Microsoft Wants Washington State to Double Down on Infrastructure & Privacy
26.   5G for Rural America?
27.   Facebook & Telegram Are Hoping to Succeed Where Bitcoin Failed
28.   Tesla Is Closing All Its Stores So You Can Have a $35,000 Model 3
29.   Washington State Carbon Fee & Gas Tax Increase Proposed to Fund Transportation Projects
30.   What Oregon’s Cap-&-Trade Legislation Can’t Buy
31.   Lessons of the Failure of Initiative 1631: A Political Analysis
32.   Big U-S Pension Funds Ask Electric Utilities for Decarbonization Plans
33.   California Firefighters Fan Flames with Broken Window Post
34.   Oregon School District Creates Series of Pop Song Parodies to Announce Snow Days
35.   How Well Do You Know Your Energy Terminology?
36.   The Advent of Cheap, Renewable Hydrogen is Nigh
37.   Jay Inslee Wants to Be a Presidential Candidate for the Climate-Change Era
38.   Senators Propose Bill to Extend Biodiesel, Other Expired Tax Provisions
39.   Wild Winter Weather: Gov. Brown Declares State of Emergency in Ten Oregon Counties
40.   Fire, Rain, Floods. What’s Next – River Flood Swamps 2,000 Buildings in Northern California
41.   Claim Filed against City of Shelton over Divestiture of Solid Waste Service
42.   Boeing Grounds Tanker Jets – Air Force Worried about Loose Tools, Debris in Airplanes

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Gormless /GORM-luss/ Adjective - Chiefly British: lacking intelligence: stupid.

Worthless, inert mass
The mob’s gormless intellect
We’re watching “Cop Rock”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Richland Nuclear Plant Kept Under Order to Heat the Frigid Northwest (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

2.    Avista Starts $165 Million Smart-Meter Rollout in Spokane (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

3.    Washington State: Energy Companies Topped 2018 Consumer Complaint List (South Sound Business)

4.    Jefferson PUD to Offer Opt-Out for RF Meters – Commissioners to Meet with Citizens Board (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

5.    Grant PUD Commissioners Consider No Rate Increase for PUD Customers, Changes to Fiber Network & Pricing (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

6.    Because of Snow, Snohomish PUD Estimated Some February Power Bills (My Everett News, WA)

7.    Washington State Senate Confirms Reappointment of Utilities & Transportation Commission Chairman (Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission)

8.    Bonneville Power Administration Adopts Settlement Agreement with Customers on Its Open Access Transmission Tariff (Bonneville Power Administration)

9.    March 20 – Kalispell, Montana Town Hall to Discuss Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty Regime (Woodlands Online)

10. Pacific Gas & Electric Admits Its Equipment Likely Sparked California’s Most Destructive Wildfire (Los Angeles Times, CA)

11. Rick Perry Warns Energy Grid Faces ‘Major Test’ in Coming Polar Vortex (Washington Examiner)

12. Arizona: Coal Plant Owners, Navajo Nation at Impasse over Takeover of Plant (Associated Press)

13. Resolutions Adopted on Grid Costs, Pole Attachments at Legislative Rally (American Public Power Association)

FISH & WILDLIFE

14. Forecast Indicates Improved Coho Salmon Numbers in Puget Sound (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)


16. Orcas Gain Increasing Clout during Fishing Season Discussions (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

17. NOAA Fisheries Issues BiOp Addressing Passage for Protected Puget Sound Salmon at Green River Dam; Help Orcas (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

18. The World Is Losing Fish to Eat as Oceans Warm, Study Finds (NY Times)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

19. Washington State’s Private Utilities Want More Time to Meet Green Goals (Crosscut Seattle)

20. Bill to Expand Hydrogen Fuel Production Unanimously Passes Washington State Senate (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

21. California’s San Bernardino County Slams the Brakes on Big Solar Projects (Los Angeles Times, CA)

22. Wind Turbine Shutdowns During Polar Vortex Stoke Midwest Debate (Energy News Network)

23. Tennessee Valley Authority Staff Sees No Need to Add Solar Capacity Until 2023 (Utility Dive)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24. Washington State Broadband Bill Passes Out of Committee (Washington State Wire, Olympia)

25. Microsoft Wants Washington State to Double Down on Infrastructure & Privacy (GeekWire)

26. 5G for Rural America? (Pots & Pans)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

27. Facebook & Telegram Are Hoping to Succeed Where Bitcoin Failed (NY Times)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

28. Tesla Is Closing All Its Stores So You Can Have a $35,000 Model 3 (Axios)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

29. Washington State Carbon Fee & Gas Tax Increase Proposed to Fund Transportation Projects (NCW Life Channel, East Wenatchee, WA)

30. What Oregon’s Cap-&-Trade Legislation Can’t Buy (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

31. Lessons of the Failure of Initiative 1631: A Political Analysis (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

32. Big U-S Pension Funds Ask Electric Utilities for Decarbonization Plans (Reuters)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

33. California Firefighters Fan Flames with Broken Window Post (Associated Press)

34. Oregon School District Creates Series of Pop Song Parodies to Announce Snow Days (Oregonian, Portland)

35. How Well Do You Know Your Energy Terminology? (Bonneville Power Administration)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

36. The Advent of Cheap, Renewable Hydrogen is Nigh (Ars Technica)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

37. Jay Inslee Wants to Be a Presidential Candidate for the Climate-Change Era (The New Yorker)

38. Senators Propose Bill to Extend Biodiesel, Other Expired Tax Provisions (Reuters)

GENERAL NEWS

39. Wild Winter Weather: Gov. Brown Declares State of Emergency in Ten Oregon Counties (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

40. Fire, Rain, Floods. What’s Next – River Flood Swamps 2,000 Buildings in Northern California (Reuters)

41. Claim Filed against City of Shelton over Divestiture of Solid Waste Service (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

42. Boeing Grounds Tanker Jets – Air Force Worried about Loose Tools, Debris in Airplanes (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Drunken Hood-To-Coast Runner Gets Jail for Taking Honey Bucket Truck on Joy Ride & Driving over Another Runner

Fight Over Crab Legs Leads to Two Arrests at Huntsville Buffet

Lost Caravaggio Painting Found in Attic Could Fetch $171 Million at Auction

Police: Stolen Rare Coins Ended Up in Change Machines

SONG OF THE DAY

Michael Bublé – Pennies from Heaven

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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