Friday, June 28, 2019

Energy News Digest for June 28, 2019


The Hot Shots edition 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

Silver Rush: Ocean Salmon Fishing Season Opens with Mother Lode of Coho “…905,800 coho are projected to return…an increase of 619,600 fish from the 2018 forecast…” (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

High Winds, Rain Hammer Moses Lake, Ephrata Areas – Power Restored after Outages (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Washington State Official Recommends Long-Term Drought Plans (Associated Press)

H5 Data Centers Sues Grant County over 2018 Tax Assessment (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Local Beer, Coffee Companies Pull Any Support from Oregon’s Controversial Climate Bill (Oregonian, Portland)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      High Winds, Rain Hammer Moses Lake, Ephrata Areas – Power Restored after Outages
2.      Seattle: Power Restored After Crow Knocks Out Electricity to Thousands near Green Lake Friday Morning
3.      Pacific Power Launches Wildfire Safety, Preparedness Education Effort
4.      Washington State Clean Energy Transformation Act Establishes Aggressive Mandates for Grid Decarbonization & Renewable Energy Production
5.      Nuclear Power Industry Heading Toward Smaller, Cheaper, Faster Build Designs
6.      U.S. Senate Panel Takes Up What to Do with Nuclear Waste
7.      Venezuelans Charged in U.S. over Florida Energy Contract Bribes
8.      Op/Ed: Ontario’s Electricity Is Reliable & Clean, But It’s Way Too Expensive
9.      Silver Rush: Ocean Salmon Fishing Season Opens with Mother Lode of Coho
10.   Too Many Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Is a Win for Fish, Anglers & Bonneville Power Administration
11.   Idaho Workgroup Starts Efforts on Salmon, Steelhead Recovery
12.   North Atlantic Right Whales Are Dying in Horrific Ways
13.   Op/Ed: Oregon’s Beaver Conundrum
14.   Washington State Official Recommends Long-Term Drought Plans
15.   State Courts Side with Spokane River Advocates on Summer Minimum Flow Levels, Protecting Recreational Use
16.   Would You Drink Water Out of a Can? Pepsi Wants to Find Out
17.   Pipeline Spill Spoils Geothermal Project Announcement for Oil Company
18.   Air Conditioning Is the World’s Next Big Threat
19.   U.S. House Votes to Block FCC Plan to Kill San Francisco Broadband Law
20.   H5 Data Centers Sues Grant County over 2018 Tax Assessment
21.   Another Hacked Florida City Pays a Ransom, This Time for $460,000
22.   Bitcoin Mining Energy Costs Raise Concern, Prompt Little Action
23.   Local Beer, Coffee Companies Pull Any Support from Oregon’s Controversial Climate Bill
24.   British Columbians Would Fly Less to Reduce Carbon Emissions, BC Hydro Says
25.   Could Saturn’s Moon Sustain Life? A NASA Mission Powered by Idaho Nuclear Energy Will Find Out.
26.   Historic Mission Control Opens to Public 50 Years after Moon Landing
27.   Truckers, Loggers Circle Oregon Capitol amid Climate Fight
28.   Oregon Legislative Standoff: Eight Days Have Passed without a Senate Republican in Sight
29.   Washington State Senate to Conduct Review after Lawmaker Says She Experienced Sexism & Racism in Olympia
30.   Secretary in Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office Resigns amid Accusations That She Illegally Recorded Co-Workers
31.   Update: Wildfire in North Mason County Forest Nearly Contained
32.   Shelton Man Arrested after Allegedly Posing as a Cop
33.   Mason County Authorities Recover Body of Soldier Who Fell Off Cliff in April
34.   Man Accused of Running Over Two People at Washougal Park Says He Had Been Drinking
35.   Grays Harbor County Inmate Escapes After Hiding in Garbage Can

WORD OF THE DAY

Eructation • \ir-uck-TAY-shun\ • noun - An act or instance of belching

“Most impressive,” noted the Episcopalian priest after dainty, elderly, white-haired maiden emitted an unexpected and echoing eructation of the first order in the middle of his sermon. The performance did not go without note. The congregation was kept on edge for the remainder of the half-hour homily…expecting an encore.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    High Winds, Rain Hammer Moses Lake, Ephrata Areas – Power Restored after Outages (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

2.    Seattle: Power Restored After Crow Knocks Out Electricity to Thousands near Green Lake Friday Morning (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

3.    Pacific Power Launches Wildfire Safety, Preparedness Education Effort (Daily Energy Insider)

4.    Washington State Clean Energy Transformation Act Establishes Aggressive Mandates for Grid Decarbonization & Renewable Energy Production (National Law Review)

5.    Nuclear Power Industry Heading Toward Smaller, Cheaper, Faster Build Designs (Utility Dive)

6.    U.S. Senate Panel Takes Up What to Do with Nuclear Waste (Associated Press)

7.    Venezuelans Charged in U.S. over Florida Energy Contract Bribes (Bloomberg News)

8.    Op/Ed: Ontario’s Electricity Is Reliable & Clean, But It’s Way Too Expensive (Financial Post, Canada)

FISH & WILDLIFE

9.    Silver Rush: Ocean Salmon Fishing Season Opens with Mother Lode of Coho “…905,800 coho are projected to return…an increase of 619,600 fish from the 2018 forecast…” (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

10. Too Many Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Is a Win for Fish, Anglers & Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville Power Administration)

11. Idaho Workgroup Starts Efforts on Salmon, Steelhead Recovery (Associated Press)

12. North Atlantic Right Whales Are Dying in Horrific Ways (Atlantic Magazine)

13. Op/Ed: Oregon’s Beaver Conundrum (Oregonian, Portland)

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

14. Washington State Official Recommends Long-Term Drought Plans (Associated Press)

15. State Courts Side with Spokane River Advocates on Summer Minimum Flow Levels, Protecting Recreational Use (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

16. Would You Drink Water Out of a Can? Pepsi Wants to Find Out (NY Times)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

17. Pipeline Spill Spoils Geothermal Project Announcement for Oil Company (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18. Air Conditioning Is the World’s Next Big Threat (Atlantic Magazine)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19. U.S. House Votes to Block FCC Plan to Kill San Francisco Broadband Law (Ars Technica)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

20. H5 Data Centers Sues Grant County over 2018 Tax Assessment (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

21. Another Hacked Florida City Pays a Ransom, This Time for $460,000 (NY Times)

22. Bitcoin Mining Energy Costs Raise Concern, Prompt Little Action (Roll Call, Washington, DC)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23. Local Beer, Coffee Companies Pull Any Support from Oregon’s Controversial Climate Bill (Oregonian, Portland)

24. British Columbians Would Fly Less to Reduce Carbon Emissions, BC Hydro Says (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

25. Could Saturn’s Moon Sustain Life? A NASA Mission Powered by Idaho Nuclear Energy Will Find Out. (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

26. Historic Mission Control Opens to Public 50 Years after Moon Landing (Christian Science Monitor)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

27. Truckers, Loggers Circle Oregon Capitol amid Climate Fight (Associated Press)

28. Oregon Legislative Standoff: Eight Days Have Passed without a Senate Republican in Sight (Oregonian, Portland)

29. Washington State Senate to Conduct Review after Lawmaker Says She Experienced Sexism & Racism in Olympia (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

30. Secretary in Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office Resigns amid Accusations That She Illegally Recorded Co-Workers (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

31. Update: Wildfire in North Mason County Forest Nearly Contained (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

32. Shelton Man Arrested after Allegedly Posing as a Cop (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

33. Mason County Authorities Recover Body of Soldier Who Fell Off Cliff in April (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

34. Man Accused of Running Over Two People at Washougal Park Says He Had Been Drinking (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

35. Grays Harbor County Inmate Escapes After Hiding in Garbage Can (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

DOGS AGAINST DIABETES – DIVERSIONS

Stranger writes $5,000 check for Post Falls boy selling lemonade to buy diabetes alert dog

People Are Buying Fillers Online & Injecting Them into Their Own Faces

It’s So Hot in Spain That Manure Self-Ignited, Sparking a 10,000-Acre Wildfire

Man Breaks into King County Sheriff’s Office, Smokes a Cigar, Offers Deputies Doughnuts & Asks to Go to Jail

SONG OF THE DAY

Ohio Players – Fire

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, June 27, 2019

Energy News Digest for June 27, 2019


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

Pole Attachment Lawsuit Brings $3.4 Million to Pacific PUD (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

CalFire: Pacific Gas & Electric Power Lines Sparked Tuesday Blaze in California (Utility Dive)

Skagit PUD, Anacortes Ask Residents to Cut Water Usage as Drought Worsens (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oregon Approval of Aggressive Electric Vehicle Goals Overshadowed by Climate Bill Drama (Utility Dive)

California Sets Record for Solar, Renewable Curtailments (American Public Power Association)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      CalFire: Pacific Gas & Electric Power Lines Sparked Tuesday Blaze in California
2.      First of Four FERC Hearings Held in Coos County on Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas Project
3.      California: Oroville Dam – Despite Water Levels, Spillway Release ‘Unlikely’
4.      U.S. Tribes Are Being Left Out of Talks Over the Columbia River’s Fate. Why?
5.      Michael Catsi Named Tacoma Public Utilities Economic
6.      Op/Ed: Letter – Support for Pacific PUD Commissioners
7.      Massachusetts: Canadian Hydropower Contracts Approved by Utility Regulators
8.      U.S. Electricity Is Shifting, But Not Exactly Going Green
9.      Weaning U.S. Power Sector Off Fossil Fuels Would Cost $4.7 Trillion: Study
10.   Louisiana: Utility Worker Survives 14,000-Volt Shock in Catahoula Parish
11.   Frackers Go Electric as Low Natural Gas Prices Spur Fuel Switch
12.   Two More Gray Whales Found Dead in Alaska; Total Reaches 12
13.   Canoe Journey Parallels Tribal Efforts to Return Salmon to Upper Columbia River
14.   Fish & Wildlife Plant Hood Canal Oysters to Compensate for Lost Shellfish from 2012 Oil Spill
15.   As the Oceans Acidify, These Oyster Farmers Are Fighting Back
16.   Orcas Visit Dyes Inlet
17.   Skagit PUD, Anacortes Ask Residents to Cut Water Usage as Drought Worsens
18.   Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest & Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Moderate to Severe Drought; Above Normal Potential for Wildfire
19.   EPA Breathes New Life into Controversial Alaska Mining Project
20.   California Sets Record for Solar, Renewable Curtailments
21.   Largest Wind Turbine Blade Shipment Unloads in Vancouver
22.   Oregon House Backs $5,000 Home Solar Rebates
23.   After Two Years, Program to Install Brighter, Cheaper Streetlights Resumes in Yakima
24.   Heat Pump Water Heaters Can be Demand Response Assets
25.   Pole Attachment Lawsuit Brings $3.4 Million to Pacific PUD
26.   Anacortes Sets Internet Fees for City Network
27.   Broadband & Unemployment
28.   An Increasingly Popular Authoritarian Tool: Shutting Down the Internet
29.   Oregon Approval of Aggressive Electric Vehicle Goals Overshadowed by Climate Bill Drama
30.   Electric Cars Still Face a Major Roadblock
31.   Record-Breaking Heat Wave Cooks Europe
32.   A Record-Challenging Greenland Climate Pattern Is Boosting Extreme Weather in North America & Europe
33.   Americans Demand Climate Action – As Long as It Doesn’t Cost Much: Reuters Poll
34.   Most States Legalizing Marijuana Have Yet to Grapple with Energy Demand
35.   Twitter Adds Labels for Tweets That Break Its Rules
36.   Global Warming Is Only Going to Get Worse. One Reason: Those Cloud Trails Airplanes Leave Behind in the Sky
37.   Here’s What Jay Inslee Said in His Six Answers in the Democratic Presidential Debate
38.   How Oregon Senate Republicans Could Pay Walkout Expenses & Fines: Campaign Cash
39.   Washington State Gun Law Restrictions Effective July 1 Despite Controversy
40.   U.S. Regulator Cites New Flaw on Grounded Boeing 737 MAX
41.   41 Washington State Patrol Troopers Sworn in at State Capitol
42.   In Pacific Northwest, Only Portland Has Worse Drivers Than Seattle, New Report Says

WORD OF THE DAY

Scuttlebutt • \SKUTT-ul-butt\ • noun - Rumor, gossip

WORD ORIGIN, FROM MERRIAM-WEBSTER - Nowadays, office workers catch up on the latest scuttlebutt around the water cooler, and when they do, they are continuing a long-standing (although not necessarily honorable) tradition. That kind of gossip sharing probably also occurred on the sailing ships of yore. Back in the early 1800s, the cask containing a ship’s daily supply of freshwater was called a “scuttlebutt”; that name was later applied to a drinking fountain on a ship or at a naval installation. By the early 20th century, the term for the water source was also applied to the gossip and rumors generated around it, and the latest chatter has been called “scuttlebutt” ever since.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    CalFire: Pacific Gas & Electric Power Lines Sparked Tuesday Blaze in California (Utility Dive)

2.    First of Four FERC Hearings Held in Coos County on Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas Project (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

3.    California: Oroville Dam – Despite Water Levels, Spillway Release ‘Unlikely’ (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

4.    U.S. Tribes Are Being Left Out of Talks Over the Columbia River’s Fate. Why? (Crosscut Seattle)

5.    Michael Catsi Named Tacoma Public Utilities Economic Development Manager (South Sound Business)

6.    Op/Ed: Letter – Support for Pacific PUD Commissioners (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

7.    Massachusetts: Canadian Hydropower Contracts Approved by Utility Regulators (New England Public Radio)

8.    U.S. Electricity Is Shifting, But Not Exactly Going Green (Bloomberg News)

9.    Weaning U.S. Power Sector Off Fossil Fuels Would Cost $4.7 Trillion: Study (Reuters)

10. Louisiana: Utility Worker Survives 14,000-Volt Shock in Catahoula Parish (KALB-TV, Alexandria, LA)

11. Frackers Go Electric as Low Natural Gas Prices Spur Fuel Switch (Bloomberg News)

FISH & WILDLIFE

12. Two More Gray Whales Found Dead in Alaska; Total Reaches 12 (Associated Press)

13. Canoe Journey Parallels Tribal Efforts to Return Salmon to Upper Columbia River (Courthouse News Service)

14. Fish & Wildlife Plant Hood Canal Oysters to Compensate for Lost Shellfish from 2012 Oil Spill (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

15. As the Oceans Acidify, These Oyster Farmers Are Fighting Back (Christian Science Monitor)

16. Orcas Visit Dyes Inlet (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

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

17. Skagit PUD, Anacortes Ask Residents to Cut Water Usage as Drought Worsens (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

18. Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest & Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Moderate to Severe Drought; Above Normal Potential for Wildfire (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

19. EPA Breathes New Life into Controversial Alaska Mining Project (Reuters)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

20. California Sets Record for Solar, Renewable Curtailments (American Public Power Association)

21. Largest Wind Turbine Blade Shipment Unloads in Vancouver (Oregonian, Portland)

22. Oregon House Backs $5,000 Home Solar Rebates (Portland Business Journal, OR)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

23. After Two Years, Program to Install Brighter, Cheaper Streetlights Resumes in Yakima (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

24. Heat Pump Water Heaters Can be Demand Response Assets (Greentech Media)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25. Pole Attachment Lawsuit Brings $3.4 Million to Pacific PUD (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

26. Anacortes Sets Internet Fees for City Network (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

27. Broadband & Unemployment (Pots & Pans)

28. An Increasingly Popular Authoritarian Tool: Shutting Down the Internet (Los Angeles Times, CA)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29. Oregon Approval of Aggressive Electric Vehicle Goals Overshadowed by Climate Bill Drama (Utility Dive)

30. Electric Cars Still Face a Major Roadblock (Atlantic Magazine)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

31. Record-Breaking Heat Wave Cooks Europe (British Broadcasting Corporation)

32. A Record-Challenging Greenland Climate Pattern Is Boosting Extreme Weather in North America & Europe (Washington Post)

33. Americans Demand Climate Action – As Long as It Doesn’t Cost Much: Reuters Poll (Reuters)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

34. Most States Legalizing Marijuana Have Yet to Grapple with Energy Demand (Energy News Network)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

35. Twitter Adds Labels for Tweets That Break Its Rules (Washington Post)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

36. Global Warming Is Only Going to Get Worse. One Reason: Those Cloud Trails Airplanes Leave Behind in the Sky (USA Today)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

37. Here’s What Jay Inslee Said in His Six Answers in the Democratic Presidential Debate (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

38. How Oregon Senate Republicans Could Pay Walkout Expenses & Fines: Campaign Cash (Oregonian, Portland)

GENERAL NEWS

39. Washington State Gun Law Restrictions Effective July 1 Despite Controversy (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

40. U.S. Regulator Cites New Flaw on Grounded Boeing 737 MAX (Reuters)

41. 41 Washington State Patrol Troopers Sworn in at State Capitol (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

42. In Pacific Northwest, Only Portland Has Worse Drivers Than Seattle, New Report Says (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘Hero’ 17-Year-Old Catches Falling Toddler

How Historians Can Now See Invisible Text on Ancient Manuscripts

Killer Whale Eats Fisherman’s Trophy Catch as He’s Reeling It In, Video Shows

Washington Court Upholds $40,000 Award Against Truck Owner in Neighbor Piano Lesson Dispute

SONG OF THE DAY

Billy Joel - Piano Man

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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