Friday, March 6, 2020

Energy News Digest for March 6, 2020 – Home Alone Edition II


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

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Avista Resource Plan Outlines Progress toward Clean-Energy Goals, Reducing Reliance on Colstrip Coal-Fired Plant (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

Low Returns Will Hamper Salmon Fisheries – Warming Conditions in the Pacific Ocean Continue to Hamper Species Recovery (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Initial Water Forecast at 100% Supply; Farmers Keep Their Fingers Crossed (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Oregon Legislative Session Ends Early after Republican No-Show over Cap & Trade (Oregonian, Portland)

Vice President Pence Visits Washington State in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak as Partisanship Takes a Break (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.        Avista Resource Plan Outlines Progress toward Clean-Energy Goals, Reducing Reliance on Colstrip Coal-Fired Plant
2.        Pumped Storage – Environmental Disaster or Key to a Clean Energy Future? A New Twist on Hydropower
3.        Grant PUD Commissioners to Vote on “Emerging Industries” Rate Increase
4.        Pacific Gas & Electric Tells Federal Judge It Can’t Commit to Specific Increases in Tree-Trimming Workforce
5.        Pacific Gas & Electric Seeks OK for $454 Million in Employee & Executive Bonuses
6.        Deal Reached to Refund Money Transferred from LIHEAP Program for Coronavirus Response
7.        Low Returns Will Hamper Salmon Fisheries – Warming Conditions in the Pacific Ocean Continue to Hamper Species Recovery
8.        Saving Salmon Means Taking Down Hydroelectric Power Dams—And It’s Not Easy
9.        Editorial: Protect Critical Salmon Streams from Dredge Mining
10.     USDA Broadband Investments Target Western Rural Areas, Including Mason County, WA
11.     Microsoft’s Airband Live in 25 States at Midpoint of Rural Broadband Project
12.     ‘Can Everyone Mute?’ Coronavirus Means We Must Telecommute. We’re Not Ready
13.     No Cell Signal, No Wi-Fi, No Problem. Growing Up Inside America’s ‘Quiet Zone’
14.     Washington State Utility – Penlight – Creates Digital Twin of Electricity Network
15.     Initial Water Forecast at 100% Supply; Farmers Keep Their Fingers Crossed
16.     Mussels Fetched from Kitsap Waters Give Insight into Contamination
17.     More Accurate Climate Change Model Reveals Bleak Outlook for Electricity, Water Use
18.     Oregon Legislative Session Ends Early after Republican No-Show over Cap & Trade
19.     Bill Mandating Sex Education in Washington State Schools Passes House
20.     Norma Smith (R-Clinton) Will Not Seek Re-Election to the Washington State House
21.     Vice President Pence Visits Washington State in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak as Partisanship Takes a Break
22.     Mason County Issues Proclamation of Coronavirus Emergency
23.     Shelton City Council Emergency Proclamation for COVID-19
24.     UW Medicine Ready to Test 1,000 People a Day for Coronavirus. Local Cases a ‘Priority’
25.     Federal Judge Rules against Bremerton’s Praying Ex-Football Coach
26.     Get Ready to Switch Your Clocks This Sunday for What Could Be the Last Time in Washington State

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Avista Resource Plan Outlines Progress toward Clean-Energy Goals, Reducing Reliance on Colstrip Coal-Fired Plant (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

2.      Pumped Storage – Environmental Disaster or Key to a Clean Energy Future? A New Twist on Hydropower (Los Angeles Times, CA)

3.      Grant PUD Commissioners to Vote on “Emerging Industries” Rate Increase (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

4.      Pacific Gas & Electric Tells Federal Judge It Can’t Commit to Specific Increases in Tree-Trimming Workforce (Utility Dive)

5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Seeks OK for $454 Million in Employee & Executive Bonuses (Courthouse News Service)

6.      Deal Reached to Refund Money Transferred from LIHEAP Program for Coronavirus Response (American Public Power Association)

FISH & WILDLIFE

7.      Low Returns Will Hamper Salmon Fisheries – Warming Conditions in the Pacific Ocean Continue to Hamper Species Recovery (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

8.      Saving Salmon Means Taking Down Hydroelectric Power Dams—And It’s Not Easy (Salon Magazine)

9.      Editorial: Protect Critical Salmon Streams from Dredge Mining (Everett Herald, WA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

10.   USDA Broadband Investments Target Western Rural Areas, Including Mason County, WA (Farm Progress)

11.   Microsoft’s Airband Live in 25 States at Midpoint of Rural Broadband Project (Fierce Wireless)

12.   ‘Can Everyone Mute?’ Coronavirus Means We Must Telecommute. We’re Not Ready (Los Angeles Times, CA)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

13.   No Cell Signal, No Wi-Fi, No Problem. Growing Up Inside America’s ‘Quiet Zone’ (NY Times)

14.   Washington State Utility – Penlight – Creates Digital Twin of Electricity Network (Smart Energy International)

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

15.   Initial Water Forecast at 100% Supply; Farmers Keep Their Fingers Crossed (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

16.   Mussels Fetched from Kitsap Waters Give Insight into Contamination (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

17.   More Accurate Climate Change Model Reveals Bleak Outlook for Electricity, Water Use (Courthouse News Service)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

18.   Oregon Legislative Session Ends Early after Republican No-Show over Cap & Trade (Oregonian, Portland)

19.   Bill Mandating Sex Education in Washington State Schools Passes House (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

20.   Norma Smith (R-Clinton) Will Not Seek Re-Election to the Washington State House (Everett Herald, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

21.   Vice President Pence Visits Washington State in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak as Partisanship Takes a Break (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

22.   Mason County Issues Proclamation of Coronavirus Emergency (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

23.   Shelton City Council Emergency Proclamation for COVID-19 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

24.   UW Medicine Ready to Test 1,000 People a Day for Coronavirus. Local Cases a ‘Priority’ (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

25.   Federal Judge Rules against Bremerton’s Praying Ex-Football Coach (KOMO News, Seattle WA)

26.   Get Ready to Switch Your Clocks This Sunday for What Could Be the Last Time in Washington State (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Seafood Salesman Smuggled £53 Million Worth of Live Eels Out of UK

California Mom Crushed to Learn Plant She Watered for Two Years Is Fake

Best Blunder Ever as RED WINE Flows from Water Taps in Italian Village after Winery Mix-Up

Tito’s Vodka: Please Don’t Use Our Booze as Coronavirus Hand Sanitizer

SONG OF THE DAY

War- Spill the Wine

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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