Friday, January 31, 2020

The Energy News Digest for January 31, 2020


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

Flooding, High Winds, Power Outages Expected as Storms Blast Western Washington State (KOMO TV, Seattle, WA)

Mason PUD 3 Receives Federal Funding for Local Fiberhood (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Second Nuclear Reactor to Power the Northwest Is Being Studied for Richland. Here’s Why (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Grays Harbor PUD Offers Comment on Lower Snake River Dam Report (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Douglas PUD Commissioners Adopt Data Center, Cryptocurrency Rate Increases (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Second Nuclear Reactor to Power the Northwest Is Being Studied for Richland. Here’s Why
2.        Grays Harbor PUD Offers Comment on Lower Snake River Dam Report
3.        Editorial: Back Off, Seattle. Leave Snake River Dams Alone – Fix Your Own Yard
4.        Op/Ed: Thankful for Orcas Power & Light’s Change of Heart on Lower Snake River Dams
5.        Douglas PUD Commissioners Adopt Data Center, Cryptocurrency Rate Increases
6.        Columbia River Transboundary Conference: One River, One Future Summary Now Available
7.        Jefferson PUD Discussing Tree Management Updates
8.        Asotin County PUD Now Debt Free – Public Utility District Makes Final Payment on Loan from 2000
9.        You Are Invited to Join Us for East King County PUD’s Bellevue Kickoff
10.     California: Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bucks Creek Hydropower Project – Pacific Gas & Electric Company & City of Santa Clara
11.     Oregon Suspends Columbia River Reforms Review – Spring Chinook Allocation Also in Question
12.     Orca Research Extends Lower into Food Chain
13.     Washington State, Oregon OK Commercial Smelt Fishery, But Cowlitz Sport Dipping Uncertain
14.     Testing New Turbines Goes Swimmingly with Sensor Fish
15.     Fish ‘Nursery’ Renovation Enhances the Columbia River Estuary
16.     Eight Harmful Chemicals Detected in Puget Sound ‘Hot Spots’
17.     Low Snow to Snowmageddon: January Dumps Gave Needed Bump to Region’s Lagging Snowpack
18.     United Kingdom: Energy Firms Face Inquiry Over £1.3bn Green Power Cable – Two Years Late & Has Suffered Outages
19.     Seattle to Test Paying for Commercial Building Efficiency Through Long-Term PPAs
20.     Mason PUD 3 Receives Federal Funding for Local Fiberhood
21.     Mason PUD 3 Receives Federal Funding for Local Fiberhood, Public-Private Broadband Partnership
22.     Grant PUD’s 2020 Fiber Plan Reviewed – Expansion Scheduled for Quincy, Ephrata Areas
23.     U.S. Senator Cantwell Wants 5G Spectrum Auction to Fund Rural Broadband Expansion
24.     Ajit Pai Promised Faster Broadband Expansion—Comcast Cut Spending Instead
25.     Oh Look, More Giant ISPs Taking Taxpayer Money for Unfinished Networks
26.     Texas PUC Website ‘Defaced’ in Low-Level Attack as State Inks New Cybersecurity Contract
27.     Can the U.S. Power Sector Significantly Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2040? Not According to EIA
28.     Portland General Electric Gives Portland Schools $250,000 for Climate Change Curriculum
29.     State Proposal Would Let King County Tax Large Businesses to Pay for Homelessness & Housing
30.     Flooding, High Winds, Power Outages Expected as Storms Blast Western Washington State
31.     Heavy Mountain Rain, River Flooding, & Then a Major Cool-Down
32.     High Winds Expected in Tri-Cities. Watch Out for Flying Tumbleweeds
33.     Housing Kitsap Moves Ahead with Projects in Mason County
34.     Don’t Travel to China, U.S. State Department Warns Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

WORD OF THE DAY

Interminable • \in-TERM-nuh-bull\ • Adjective - Having or seeming to have no end; especially: wearisomely protracted

Sorry classical fans…my definition of interminable includes the “Impressionist” period. ‘Nuff Said. Baroque=Bach….yeah baby!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Second Nuclear Reactor to Power the Northwest Is Being Studied for Richland. Here’s Why (Tri-City Herald, WA)

2.      Grays Harbor PUD Offers Comment on Lower Snake River Dam Report (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

3.      Editorial: Back Off, Seattle. Leave Snake River Dams Alone – Fix Your Own Yard (Tri-City Herald, WA)

4.      Op/Ed: Thankful for Orcas Power & Light’s Change of Heart on Lower Snake River Dams (The Journal of the San Juan Islands, Friday Harbor, WA)

5.      Douglas PUD Commissioners Adopt Data Center, Cryptocurrency Rate Increases (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

6.      Columbia River Transboundary Conference: One River, One Future Summary Now Available (Kimberly Bulletin, BC)

7.      Jefferson PUD Discussing Tree Management Updates (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

8.      Asotin County PUD Now Debt Free – Public Utility District Makes Final Payment on Loan from 2000 (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

9.      You Are Invited to Join Us for East King County PUD’s Bellevue Kickoff (Patch Bellevue, WA)

10.   California: Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bucks Creek Hydropower Project – Pacific Gas & Electric Company & City of Santa Clara (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

FISH & WILDLIFE

11.   Oregon Suspends Columbia River Reforms Review – Spring Chinook Allocation Also in Question (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

12.   Orca Research Extends Lower into Food Chain (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt Vernon, WA)

13.   Washington State, Oregon OK Commercial Smelt Fishery, But Cowlitz Sport Dipping Uncertain (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

14.   Testing New Turbines Goes Swimmingly with Sensor Fish (Tech Xplore)

15.   Fish ‘Nursery’ Renovation Enhances the Columbia River Estuary (Bonneville Power Administration)

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

16.   Eight Harmful Chemicals Detected in Puget Sound ‘Hot Spots’ (KOMO TV, Seattle, WA)

17.   Low Snow to Snowmageddon: January Dumps Gave Needed Bump to Region’s Lagging Snowpack (Northwest News Network)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

18.   United Kingdom: Energy Firms Face Inquiry Over £1.3bn Green Power Cable – Two Years Late & Has Suffered Outages (The Guardian, UK)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Seattle to Test Paying for Commercial Building Efficiency Through Long-Term PPAs (Utility Dive)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

20.   Mason PUD 3 Receives Federal Funding for Local Fiberhood (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

21.   Mason PUD 3 Receives Federal Funding for Local Fiberhood, Public-Private Broadband Partnership (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

22.   Grant PUD’s 2020 Fiber Plan Reviewed – Expansion Scheduled for Quincy, Ephrata Areas (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

23.   U.S. Senator Cantwell Wants 5G Spectrum Auction to Fund Rural Broadband Expansion (GeekWire)

24.   Ajit Pai Promised Faster Broadband Expansion—Comcast Cut Spending Instead (Ars Technica)

25.   Oh Look, More Giant ISPs Taking Taxpayer Money for Unfinished Networks (TechDird)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

26.   Texas PUC Website ‘Defaced’ in Low-Level Attack as State Inks New Cybersecurity Contract (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

27.   Can the U.S. Power Sector Significantly Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2040? Not According to EIA (Utility Dive)

28.   Portland General Electric Gives Portland Schools $250,000 for Climate Change Curriculum (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

29.   State Proposal Would Let King County Tax Large Businesses to Pay for Homelessness & Housing (Crosscut Seattle)

GENERAL NEWS

30.   Flooding, High Winds, Power Outages Expected as Storms Blast Western Washington State (KOMO TV, Seattle, WA)

31.   Heavy Mountain Rain, River Flooding, & Then a Major Cool-Down (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

32.   High Winds Expected in Tri-Cities. Watch Out for Flying Tumbleweeds (Tri-City Herald, WA)

33.   Housing Kitsap Moves Ahead with Projects in Mason County (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton – Paywall Advisory)

34.   Don’t Travel to China, U.S. State Department Warns Amid Coronavirus Outbreak (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

REPTILES IN THE RECLINER – DIVERSIONS

Man Finds Huge Snake Inside His Couch While Looking for His Keys

Google Searches for Corona Beer Surge as News of Coronavirus Outbreak Spreads

British Man Convicted of Trying to Steal Magna Carta

Navy Brings Emergency Beer to Fire-Hit Aussie Town

SONG OF THE DAY

Richard Rodgers – The Song of the High Seas (Victory at Sea Soundtrack)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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