Monday, December 16, 2019

The Energy News Digest for December 16, 2019


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

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SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS






HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Results of Inslee’s Dam Breaching Review Out Friday – Online Survey Continues Through January 24 (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

Dry Conditions Fuel Salmon Die-Off on Oregon Coast (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

In Puget Sound Energy Territory – Bellingham Looking For 100% Renewable Energy by 2035. Here’s the Plan (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

As Climate Change Melts Alaska’s Permafrost, Roads Sink, Bridges Tilt & Greenhouse Gases Release (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Ocean Waters Off West Coast Acidifying at Twice the Rate of Global Average, NOAA Researcher Finds (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.        Results of Inslee’s Dam Breaching Review Out Friday – Online Survey Continues Through January 24
2.        In Puget Sound Energy Territory – Bellingham Looking For 100% Renewable Energy by 2035. Here’s the Plan
3.        Gavin Newsom Rejects Pacific Gas & Electric Bankruptcy Plan, demands ‘Radically Restructured’ California Utility
4.        British Columbia: Hydro Pole Crashes Are on the Rise. Here’s What to Do If It Happens to You
5.        Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to Aid Power Grid Modernization Effort
6.        Op/Ed: Opinion: 40 Years After Creation, Northwest Power & Conservation Council at a Crossroads
7.        Homeowner Says Puget Sound Energy Won’t Restore Power Until She Pays for New Power Pole
8.        Arizona Public Service Apologizes for Rate Tool Escapade, Offers More Money to Customers
9.        Florida: As Jackson Electric Authority Meets with Bidders, Controversy Mounts — Here’s What You Need to Know
10.     The Next Nuclear Plants Will Be Small, Svelte, & Safer
11.     European Union Leaders Include Nuclear Energy in Green Transition
12.     Pull the Plug on Electrical Fires with Fire Safety Tips to Keep your Family Safe
13.     Dry Conditions Fuel Salmon Die-Off on Oregon Coast
14.     Canada: Trudeau Sets 2025 Deadline to Remove British Columbia Fish Farms
15.     News Release: Opinion – A Home for Orcas
16.     Ocean Waters Off West Coast Acidifying at Twice the Rate of Global Average, NOAA Researcher Finds
17.     Hydropower Industry Launches Major International Project to Demonstrate Flexibility
18.     Southern Cities’ Renewable Energy Push Could Be Stifled as the Tennessee Valley Authority Locks Them into Longer Contracts
19.     Comcast Set to Raise Rates
20.     Why Flawed Broadband Speed Tests Have Devastating Consequences
21.     FCC’s “Illogical” Claim That Broadband Isn’t Telecommunications Faces Appeal
22.     The Impact of 5G on Utilities Starts Now
23.     New Orleans City Hall Hit by Ransomware in Cyber-Attack: What We Know, Don’t Know
24.     As Climate Change Melts Alaska’s Permafrost, Roads Sink, Bridges Tilt & Greenhouse Gases Release
25.     Villains or Visionaries? Hedge Funds Short Companies They Say ‘Greenwash’
26.     How Much Can One Person Do to Limit Climate Change? A Graphic.
27.     Hallmark Reverses Position on Same-Sex Couple Ads after Public Outcry
28.     How Ethanol Plant Shutdowns Deepen Pain for U.S. Corn Farmers
29.     U.S. Supreme Court Lets Stand Idaho Ruling That Protects Homeless Who Sleep on Sidewalk
30.     $6.9 Million Misappropriated from Pierce County Housing Authority by Finance Director, Auditor’s Report Says
31.     Foundation Seeking Names, Birthdates of Hundreds of Thousands of Government Workers
32.     More Flu Cases Reported Than Normal in Washington State
33.     Shutdown Likely at Boeing Renton as 737 MAX Crisis Extends
34.     Good News for Northwest Snow
35.     Kennewick Resident Charged for Reckless Burning of Arborvitaes
36.     Spokane to Vote on Noise-Emitting Devices to Deter Loiterers
37.     Theft of Christmas Trees from Family Farm Leads to Federal Way Arrest

WORD OF THE DAY

Craggy • \KRAGG-ee \ • Adjective - 1: full of crags 2: rough, rugged

The closer Richard Boone came to the camera, the more distinct his craggy features became. A relief map of the Sierra Nevada Mountains flashed before the young cameraman’s eyes as the actor’s approach continued.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Results of Inslee’s Dam Breaching Review Out Friday – Online Survey Continues Through January 24 (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

2.      In Puget Sound Energy Territory – Bellingham Looking For 100% Renewable Energy by 2035. Here’s the Plan (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

3.      Gavin Newsom Rejects Pacific Gas & Electric Bankruptcy Plan, demands ‘Radically Restructured’ California Utility (Sacramento Bee, CA)

4.      British Columbia: Hydro Pole Crashes Are on the Rise. Here’s What to Do If It Happens to You (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

5.      Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to Aid Power Grid Modernization Effort (Daily Energy Insider)

6.      Op/Ed: Opinion: 40 Years After Creation, Northwest Power & Conservation Council at a Crossroads (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

7.      Homeowner Says Puget Sound Energy Won’t Restore Power Until She Pays for New Power Pole (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

8.      Arizona Public Service Apologizes for Rate Tool Escapade, Offers More Money to Customers (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)

9.      Florida: As Jackson Electric Authority Meets with Bidders, Controversy Mounts — Here’s What You Need to Know (Jacksonville Business Journal, FL)
https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2019/12/13/as-jea-meets-with-bidders-controversy-mounts-heres.html

10.   The Next Nuclear Plants Will Be Small, Svelte, & Safer (Wired Magazine)

11.   European Union Leaders Include Nuclear Energy in Green Transition (Associated Press)

12.   Pull the Plug on Electrical Fires with Fire Safety Tips to Keep your Family Safe (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

13.   Dry Conditions Fuel Salmon Die-Off on Oregon Coast (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

14.   Canada: Trudeau Sets 2025 Deadline to Remove British Columbia Fish Farms (Columbia Valley Pioneer, BC)

15.   News Release: Opinion – A Home for Orcas (Natural Resources Defense Council, New York City)

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

16.   Ocean Waters Off West Coast Acidifying at Twice the Rate of Global Average, NOAA Researcher Finds (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

17.   Hydropower Industry Launches Major International Project to Demonstrate Flexibility (Power Magazine)

18.   Southern Cities’ Renewable Energy Push Could Be Stifled as the Tennessee Valley Authority Locks Them into Longer Contracts (Inside Climate News)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19.   Comcast Set to Raise Rates (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

20.   Why Flawed Broadband Speed Tests Have Devastating Consequences (C|Net News)

21.   FCC’s “Illogical” Claim That Broadband Isn’t Telecommunications Faces Appeal (Ars Technica)

22.   The Impact of 5G on Utilities Starts Now (Transmission & Distribution World)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

23.   New Orleans City Hall Hit by Ransomware in Cyber-Attack: What We Know, Don’t Know (The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   As Climate Change Melts Alaska’s Permafrost, Roads Sink, Bridges Tilt & Greenhouse Gases Release (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

25.   Villains or Visionaries? Hedge Funds Short Companies They Say ‘Greenwash’ (Reuters)

26.   How Much Can One Person Do to Limit Climate Change? A Graphic. (Christian Science Monitor)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

27.   Hallmark Reverses Position on Same-Sex Couple Ads after Public Outcry (Reuters)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

28.   How Ethanol Plant Shutdowns Deepen Pain for U.S. Corn Farmers (Reuters)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

29.   U.S. Supreme Court Lets Stand Idaho Ruling That Protects Homeless Who Sleep on Sidewalk (Los Angeles Times, CA)

30.   $6.9 Million Misappropriated from Pierce County Housing Authority by Finance Director, Auditor’s Report Says (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

31.   Foundation Seeking Names, Birthdates of Hundreds of Thousands of Government Workers (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

32.   More Flu Cases Reported Than Normal in Washington State (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

33.   Shutdown Likely at Boeing Renton as 737 MAX Crisis Extends (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

34.   Good News for Northwest Snow (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

35.   Kennewick Resident Charged for Reckless Burning of Arborvitaes (KNDO/KNDU TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

36.   Spokane to Vote on Noise-Emitting Devices to Deter Loiterers (Associated Press)

37.   Theft of Christmas Trees from Family Farm Leads to Federal Way Arrest (Associated Press)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

The Cosmic Crisp, Washington’s Own Long-Awaited Apple, Lands in Grocery Stores

141-Year-Old Fruitcake Is a Michigan Family’s Heirloom

Council: Horse Manure Still OK on Texas City’s Beaches

Ray of Festive Cheer: Santa Feeds the Fish in Berlin

SONG OF THE DAY

The Empire Swings Back – If I Knew You Were Comin’ (I’d Have Baked a Cake)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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