Monday, March 11, 2019

Energy News Digest for March 11, 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

Scientists See Improving Ocean Conditions Off West Coast, ‘We Are Not Quite Out of the Woods Yet’ (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Wild Salmon Council Calls for Immediate Actions to Increase British Columbia’s Wild Salmon (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Germany to Close All 84 of Its Coal-Fired Power Plants, Will Rely Primarily on Renewable Energy (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Oregon: Brooks Garbage Burner Asks for Oregon Renewable Energy Designation (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

With the Columbia River Treaty Set to Expire, Will There Be Rough Sailing Ahead? (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Germany to Close All 84 of Its Coal-Fired Power Plants, Will Rely Primarily on Renewable Energy
2.      And, a long Extension Cord: Norwegian-German Power Cable Being Installed
3.      Oil-Rich Norway Could Become Europe’s ‘Green Battery’
4.      With the Columbia River Treaty Set to Expire, Will There Be Rough Sailing Ahead?
5.      Washington State Renewable Energy Bill Would Exempt Clark Public Utilities
6.      California Wants to Reform Pacific Gas & Electric, But Just How Is Uncertain
7.      Nevada U-S Senator Masto Puts Hold on All DOE Nominees in a Bid to Fend Off Any More Secret Plutonium Shipments
8.      Power Station Blast Adds to Sense of Chaos in Venezuela
9.      Scientists See Improving Ocean Conditions Off West Coast, ‘We Are Not Quite Out of the Woods Yet’
10.   Wild Salmon Council Calls for Immediate Actions to Increase British Columbia’s Wild Salmon
11.   Fisheries Managers Face Mixed Forecast for Pacific Northwest Salmon, Concerns Over Endangered Orca
12.   Op/Ed: Canada’s Pipe Dream Would Be a Nightmare for Salish Sea & Our Orcas
13.   Pilchuck River Dam Removal Would Clear the Way for Salmon
14.   U-S Regulators Clear Path for Genetically Modified Salmon
15.   Oregon: Brooks Garbage Burner Asks for Oregon Renewable Energy Designation
16.   The Bogus Number at the Center of the GOP’s Green New Deal Attacks
17.   Op/Ed: 1,954-Mile ‘Energy Park’ Would Pay for Border Wall, Create Economic Boom
18.   U-S House Passes Bill to Promoted School Energy Efficiency
19.   Smart Lights Are the One Smart Home Gadget for Everyone
20.   Microsoft Soldiers on with Its TV White Spaces Initiative
21.   Tesla Walks Back Its Plan to Close Most Showrooms
22.   Washington State Is Taking a New Look at This Richland Radioactive Waste Plant
23.   Feds Inch Closer to Approving Alaska Mining Project Seen as a Threat to the Pacific Northwest
24.   Editorial: Washington State Alone Can’t Fix Climate Changes. National Approach Is Needed
25.   Op/Ed: Lisa Murkowski & Joe Manchin: It’s Time to Act on Climate Change — Responsibly
26.   Maine Becomes the Most Recent Blue State to Reject a Carbon Tax
27.   Editorial: Let Marijuana Businesses Open Bank Accounts
28.   Zuckerberg Says He’s Going All-In on Private Messaging. Facebook’s Declining User Numbers Tell Us Why.
29.   Musk Twitter Fight Goes to Court Again on SEC Contempt Charge
30.   Sorry Not Sorry: Democrats Are Bailing Out Trump, One Tone-Deaf Tweet at a Time
31.   Town by Town Local Journalism Is Dying in Plain Sight
32.   Why Do People Believe in Pseudoscience?
33.   Jay Inslee Could Become Ethanol’s Worst Enemy
34.   After Ethiopian Air Crash, 737 Max May Face Global Grounding
35.   Fire Levels Well-Known Thurston County Smokehouse
36.   State Patrol: Driver Falls Asleep at Wheel, Crashes into Hood Canal
37.   More Than One-Third of U-S Volcanoes Are Under-Monitored. Congress Is Noticing
38.   Following California, Washington State Lawmakers Vote to Make Daylight Saving Time Year-Round
39.   FINALLY! Springtime Warmth Is Coming to the Pacific Northwest

WORD OF THE DAY

Cognoscente • \conn-yuh-SHENT-tee\ • Noun - A person who has expert knowledge in a subject: connoisseur

“Ahhh,” sighed Albert as he reluctantly pulled his nose away from a freshly opened package of Life-Savers ‘Seven Flavors’ candy. As the company’s cognoscente on packaged candies, he relished every opportunity to take a whiff of newly opened bags. So much so that he tended to lurk around the vending machines in the third-floor break area; much to the chagrin of the steno pool.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Germany to Close All 84 of Its Coal-Fired Power Plants, Will Rely Primarily on Renewable Energy (Los Angeles Times, CA)

2.    And, a long Extension Cord: Norwegian-German Power Cable Being Installed (Statnett – 2018)

3.    Oil-Rich Norway Could Become Europe’s ‘Green Battery’ (Portico – 2016)

4.    With the Columbia River Treaty Set to Expire, Will There Be Rough Sailing Ahead? (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

5.    Washington State Renewable Energy Bill Would Exempt Clark Public Utilities (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

6.    California Wants to Reform Pacific Gas & Electric, But Just How Is Uncertain (SF Chronicle)

7.    Nevada U-S Senator Masto Puts Hold on All DOE Nominees in a Bid to Fend Off Any More Secret Plutonium Shipments (The Nevada Independent, Las Vegas)

8.    Power Station Blast Adds to Sense of Chaos in Venezuela (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

9.    Scientists See Improving Ocean Conditions Off West Coast, ‘We Are Not Quite Out of the Woods Yet’ (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

10. Wild Salmon Council Calls for Immediate Actions to Increase British Columbia’s Wild Salmon (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

11. Fisheries Managers Face Mixed Forecast for Pacific Northwest Salmon, Concerns Over Endangered Orca (Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR)

12. Op/Ed: Canada’s Pipe Dream Would Be a Nightmare for Salish Sea & Our Orcas (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

13. Pilchuck River Dam Removal Would Clear the Way for Salmon (Everett Herald, WA)

14. U-S Regulators Clear Path for Genetically Modified Salmon (The Columbia Valley Pioneer, BC)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15. Oregon: Brooks Garbage Burner Asks for Oregon Renewable Energy Designation (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

16. The Bogus Number at the Center of the GOP’s Green New Deal Attacks (Politico)

17. Op/Ed: 1,954-Mile ‘Energy Park’ Would Pay for Border Wall, Create Economic Boom (Washington Examiner)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18. U-S House Passes Bill to Promoted School Energy Efficiency (Associated Press)

19. Smart Lights Are the One Smart Home Gadget for Everyone (NY Times)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

20. Microsoft Soldiers on with Its TV White Spaces Initiative (Fierce Wireless)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

21. Tesla Walks Back Its Plan to Close Most Showrooms (Associated Press)

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

22. Washington State Is Taking a New Look at This Richland Radioactive Waste Plant (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

23. Feds Inch Closer to Approving Alaska Mining Project Seen as a Threat to the Pacific Northwest (McClatchy, DC)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24. Editorial: Washington State Alone Can’t Fix Climate Changes. National Approach Is Needed (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

25. Op/Ed: Lisa Murkowski & Joe Manchin: It’s Time to Act on Climate Change — Responsibly (Washington Post)

26. Maine Becomes the Most Recent Blue State to Reject a Carbon Tax (Forbes Magazine)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

27. Editorial: Let Marijuana Businesses Open Bank Accounts (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

28. Zuckerberg Says He’s Going All-In on Private Messaging. Facebook’s Declining User Numbers Tell Us Why. (Washington Post)

29. Musk Twitter Fight Goes to Court Again on SEC Contempt Charge (Bloomberg News)

30. Sorry Not Sorry: Democrats Are Bailing Out Trump, One Tone-Deaf Tweet at a Time (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

31. Town by Town Local Journalism Is Dying in Plain Sight (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32. Why Do People Believe in Pseudoscience? (Gizmodo)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

33. Jay Inslee Could Become Ethanol’s Worst Enemy (Washington Examiner)

GENERAL NEWS

34. After Ethiopian Air Crash, 737 Max May Face Global Grounding (Washington Post)

35. Fire Levels Well-Known Thurston County Smokehouse (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

36. State Patrol: Driver Falls Asleep at Wheel, Crashes into Hood Canal (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

37. More Than One-Third of U-S Volcanoes Are Under-Monitored. Congress Is Noticing (McClatchy, DC)

38. Following California, Washington State Lawmakers Vote to Make Daylight Saving Time Year-Round (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

39. FINALLY! Springtime Warmth Is Coming to the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

The Electric Spark That Changed the Guitar Forever

‘Catnip Cocktail’ Causing Bizarre Behavior Among Humans

Jaguar Claws Arizona Woman Who Climbed Zoo Barrier to Take a Selfie

Meanwhile in … France, Lightsaber Dueling Is Now a Recognized Sport.

MUSIC OF THE DAY

Alex Chadwick – 100 Riffs (A Brief History of Rock N’ Roll)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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