Friday, January 17, 2020

The Energy News Digest for January 17, 2020


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

Huge Increase in Pacific Northwest Snowpack & Water Resources (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

Washington State Supreme Court OKs Lesser Version of Carbon Cap (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

California Launches Rulemaking to Manage Transition Away from Natural Gas (Utility Dive)

Herrera Beutler Calls Hatchery & Habitat Bill Critical to Preserving Salmon Habitat (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Microsoft: ‘Carbon-Negative’ by 2030 Even for Supply Chain (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        California Launches Rulemaking to Manage Transition Away from Natural Gas
2.        2020 Outlook: Natural Gas Faces Regulatory, Environmental Scrutiny – Still Wants Role in Carbon-Free Grid
3.        EIA Expects Lower Natural Gas Prices in 2020 as Production Outpaces Demand
4.        Work on Priest Rapids Dam Riverbank to Start This Winter
5.        PacifiCorp to Lower Yale Reservoir Because of Earthquake Risk
6.        Jefferson PUD to Begin Taking Advanced Meter Opt-Out Applications
7.        Ownership Dispute Threatens Power to Residents of Woodland Mobile-Home Park
8.        Project Models New Collaborative Approach for Transmission Expansion
9.        Bonneville Power Administration Chief Mainzer Discusses Industry Issues in NWPPA Magazine
10.     Op/Ed: Broader Perspective Needed on Columbia River Treaty
11.     Herrera Beutler Calls Hatchery & Habitat Bill Critical to Preserving Salmon Habitat
12.     Former Idaho Fish & Game Commissioners Fear for Future, Urge Prompt Salmon, Steelhead Response
13.     Mass Seabird Die-Off on West Coast Tied to Ocean ‘Blob’ – Fish the Birds Needed to Eat Simply Were Not There.
14.     Huge Increase in Pacific Northwest Snowpack & Water Resources
15.     Snowstorms Boost Anemic Snowpack in Oregon in Just Two Weeks
16.     Water Users Appeal Ruling on Central Idaho Water Diversions
17.     Lawsuit Over Lake Quinault Ownership Dismissed by Federal Court
18.     Op/Ed: We Have the Know-How & No Time to Waste to Save Puget Sound
19.     Blackout on Renewable-Energy Study Called Politically Expedient
20.     A Wind Power Pioneer’s Hard Lesson on Startup Funding
21.     Bitterly Cold Temperatures Are Here! How to Make Sure You Don’t Break the Bank When Heating Up Your Home
22.     Microsoft: ‘Carbon-Negative’ by 2030 Even for Supply Chain
23.     City of Quincy to Invest in Water Softening for Data Centers
24.     Washington State Supreme Court OKs Lesser Version of Carbon Cap
25.     Lawmakers Want Tougher Carbon-Reduction Goals, Even as Washington State Falls Short of Current Targets
26.     Oregon: Court Overturns Clarno, Reinstates Clean Energy Measures for 2020 Ballot Process
27.     Another Cap & Trade Walkout? Oregon Republican Leader Says It’s ‘On the Table’
28.     The Purple Haze Over Arizona Was Caused by a Marijuana Farm, But It’s Not What You Think
29.     Washington State Senate Passes Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban, Again
30.     Former Aide to U.S. Rep. Denny Heck Runs to Succeed His Former Boss
31.     Labor Shortage & Fall Weather Stack Up to Leave Apples Rotting in Orchards
32.     One Injured in Belfair Tahuya Road Crash
33.     Oregon Data Shows Pollution from Woodstoves Is on a Wildfire’s Scale
34.     Australia’s Bushfire-Stricken East Welcomes Drenching Rain
35.     A J.P. Patches License Plate? It Has Bipartisan Support in Olympia

WORD OF THE DAY

Coulrophobia • \KOLE-ruh-fobe-eeyah\ • Noun - An extreme fear of clowns.

The psychiatrist’s suggestion to his client, who was being treated for chronic coulrophobia. “Confront your fears, go to the circus,” he intoned. “If the circus performers attack,” he continued, “always go right for the juggler.”


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      California Launches Rulemaking to Manage Transition Away from Natural Gas (Utility Dive)

2.      2020 Outlook: Natural Gas Faces Regulatory, Environmental Scrutiny – Still Wants Role in Carbon-Free Grid (Utility Dive)

3.      EIA Expects Lower Natural Gas Prices in 2020 as Production Outpaces Demand (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

4.      Work on Priest Rapids Dam Riverbank to Start This Winter (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

5.      PacifiCorp to Lower Yale Reservoir Because of Earthquake Risk (Longview Daily News, WA)

6.      Jefferson PUD to Begin Taking Advanced Meter Opt-Out Applications (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

7.      Ownership Dispute Threatens Power to Residents of Woodland Mobile-Home Park (Longview Daily News, WA)

8.      Project Models New Collaborative Approach for Transmission Expansion (Bonneville Power Administration)

9.      Bonneville Power Administration Chief Mainzer Discusses Industry Issues in NWPPA Magazine (Bonneville Power Administration)

10.   Op/Ed: Broader Perspective Needed on Columbia River Treaty (The Astorian, OR)

FISH & WILDLIFE

11.   Herrera Beutler Calls Hatchery & Habitat Bill Critical to Preserving Salmon Habitat (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

12.   Former Idaho Fish & Game Commissioners Fear for Future, Urge Prompt Salmon, Steelhead Response (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

13.   Mass Seabird Die-Off on West Coast Tied to Ocean ‘Blob’ – Fish the Birds Needed to Eat Simply Were Not There. (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

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

14.   Huge Increase in Pacific Northwest Snowpack & Water Resources (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

15.   Snowstorms Boost Anemic Snowpack in Oregon in Just Two Weeks (Associated Press)

16.   Water Users Appeal Ruling on Central Idaho Water Diversions (Associated Press)

17.   Lawsuit Over Lake Quinault Ownership Dismissed by Federal Court (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)’

18.   Op/Ed: We Have the Know-How & No Time to Waste to Save Puget Sound (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

19.   Blackout on Renewable-Energy Study Called Politically Expedient (Courthouse News Service)

20.   A Wind Power Pioneer’s Hard Lesson on Startup Funding (Bloomberg News)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

21.   Bitterly Cold Temperatures Are Here! How to Make Sure You Don’t Break the Bank When Heating Up Your Home (KAPP-TV, Yakima, WA)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

22.   Microsoft: ‘Carbon-Negative’ by 2030 Even for Supply Chain (Associated Press)

23.   City of Quincy to Invest in Water Softening for Data Centers (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   Washington State Supreme Court OKs Lesser Version of Carbon Cap (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

25.   Lawmakers Want Tougher Carbon-Reduction Goals, Even as Washington State Falls Short of Current Targets (Crosscut Seattle)

26.   Oregon: Court Overturns Clarno, Reinstates Clean Energy Measures for 2020 Ballot Process (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

27.   Another Cap & Trade Walkout? Oregon Republican Leader Says It’s ‘On the Table’ (Portland Business Journal, OR)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

28.   The Purple Haze Over Arizona Was Caused by a Marijuana Farm, But It’s Not What You Think (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

29.   Washington State Senate Passes Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban, Again (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

30.   Former Aide to U.S. Rep. Denny Heck Runs to Succeed His Former Boss (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

31.   Labor Shortage & Fall Weather Stack Up to Leave Apples Rotting in Orchards (Northwest News Network)

32.   One Injured in Belfair Tahuya Road Crash (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

33.   Oregon Data Shows Pollution from Woodstoves Is on a Wildfire’s Scale (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

34.   Australia’s Bushfire-Stricken East Welcomes Drenching Rain (Reuters)

35.   A J.P. Patches License Plate? It Has Bipartisan Support in Olympia (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Pigeon Wearing Tiny Sombrero Discovered in Reno

Man Hijacks Portland Airport Monitor To Play Video Games, Until PDX Officials Declare ‘Game Over’

A Tennis-Ball-Sized Diamond Is the Ultimate Status Symbol

University of British Columbia Snowball Fight Postponed on Account Of Snow

SONG OF THE DAY

Earth Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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