Monday, March 16, 2020

The Energy News Digest for March 16, 2020


The Hot Shots edition 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

Governor Inslee Orders Washington State Restaurants, Bars & Other Businesses to Close Citing ‘Explosion’ of Coronavirus (Northwest News Network)

For Health & Safety, Mason PUD 3 Closes Office Lobbies, Auditorium to the Public (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Public Comment on Snake River Dams Report Will Be Taken Telephonically Due to Coronavirus (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration Makes Another Hydro Deal with Investor-Owned Utility (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Advancing Rural Broadband, The Great Task of Our Generation (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        For Health & Safety, Mason PUD 3 Closes Office Lobbies, Auditorium to the Public
2.        Mason PUD 1 Taking Proactive Measures Due to COVID-19
3.        Grays Harbor PUD to Close Customer Service, Energy Service Lobbies
4.        Jefferson PUD Takes Precautionary Measures, Closes Offices to Public
5.        Clallam PUD: Coronavirus Concerns & Your PUD
6.        Lewis PUD: COVID-19 Precautionary Measures
7.        Snohomish County PUD Public Offices Closed, Non-Essential Business Paused
8.        Cowlitz PUD, City of Rainier to Restrict Public Access Due to Coronavirus
9.        Franklin PUD Closing Customer Service Area Starting Tuesday
10.     Benton PUD Closes Facility to the Public
11.     All Grant PUD Facilities Are Closed to the Public Until Further Notice
12.     Orcas Power & Light Offices to Close for Safety; Business Open
13.     Bonneville Power Administration’s Recent Actions in Responding to COVID-19
14.     Grid Operators Cancel Travel, Shift to Remote Meetings, As Industry Preps for Broad Coronavirus Absenteeism
15.     Key U.S. Health Agency Suffers Cyberattack During Coronavirus Response
16.     Public Comment on Snake River Dams Report Will Be Taken Telephonically Due to Coronavirus
17.     Statement from NW RiverPartners in Response to Governor Inslee’s Final Draft Report on the Lower Snake River Dams
18.     Editorial: Removal of Snake River Dams Would Harm Economy, Environment
19.     Op/Ed: Bring Our Salmon Back, Make Our Energy Clean & Affordable, Strengthen Communities
20.     Op/Ed: Decisions on Dams, Salmon Must Be Made Together
21.     Bonneville Power Administration Makes Another Hydro Deal with Investor-Owned Utility
22.     Idaho: Voters to Decide Revenue Bond for Moyie Hydro Repairs May 19
23.     New Law Refunds Money Transferred from LIHEAP Program for Coronavirus Response
24.     Watchdog Raises Concerns over Trump Energy Regulator
25.     Removal of Skamania County Dam Will Free Wildboy Creek after 55 Years
26.     Wind Plants Can Provide Grid Services Similar to Gas, Hydro, Easing Renewables Integration: CAISO
27.     EIA Projects Air-Conditioning Energy Use to Grow Faster Than Any Other Use in Buildings
28.     Advancing Rural Broadband, The Great Task of Our Generation
29.     Broadband Providers Brace for Coronavirus Stress Test
30.     Comcast Offers Free Wi-Fi Hot Spots, Eliminates Data Caps Nationwide in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak
31.     Op/Ed: Coronavirus Could Accelerate Moves Toward ‘Telemedicine’
32.     2020 Session Sees Some Environmental Progress, But Washington State Senate Fails to Pass Two Major Climate Bills
33.     Oregon Climate Change: Governor’s New Plan Leans on Supersizing the Clean Fuels Program
34.     Congressman Kilmer to Hold Telephone Town Hall Monday to Discuss COVID-19
35.     U.S. House Coronavirus Package Hits Snag
36.     Link to H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
37.     Governor Inslee Orders Washington State Restaurants, Bars & Other Businesses to Close Citing ‘Explosion’ of Coronavirus
38.     Shelton School District - All Schools Closed Starting Monday, March 16th
39.     Mason Health Announces Closures & Schedule Changes
40.     City of Shelton Announces Closures Due to COVID-19
41.     Timberland Regional Library Official Closure

WORD OF THE DAY

Humorectomy • \hyoom-or-ECK-tom-mee\ • Noun - The surgical removal of a person’s sense of humor.

The room of public power executives roared with laughter over Jay’s outrageous joke about energy traders. The one holdout was Barnabas. Because of his overactive tomfoolery as a child, he was subjected to a partial humorectomy, which left him immune to all forms of frivolity but one: circus clowns.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS – UTILITIES & COVID-19

1.      For Health & Safety, Mason PUD 3 Closes Office Lobbies, Auditorium to the Public (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

2.      Mason PUD 1 Taking Proactive Measures Due to COVID-19 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

3.      Grays Harbor PUD to Close Customer Service, Energy Service Lobbies (Grays Harbor PUD, Aberdeen, WA)

4.      Jefferson PUD Takes Precautionary Measures, Closes Offices to Public (Jefferson PUD, Port Townsend, WA)

5.      Clallam PUD: Coronavirus Concerns & Your PUD (Clallam PUD, Sequim, WA)

6.      Lewis PUD: COVID-19 Precautionary Measures (Lewis PUD< Chehalis, WA)

7.      Snohomish County PUD Public Offices Closed, Non-Essential Business Paused (My Edmonds News, WA)

8.      Cowlitz PUD, City of Rainier to Restrict Public Access Due to Coronavirus (Longview Daily News, WA)

9.      Franklin PUD Closing Customer Service Area Starting Tuesday (KAPP-TV, Yakima, WA)

10.   Benton PUD Closes Facility to the Public (Benton PUD, Kennewick, WA)

11.   All Grant PUD Facilities Are Closed to the Public Until Further Notice (Grant PUD, Ephrata, WA)

12.   Orcas Power & Light Offices to Close for Safety; Business Open (San Juan Islander, Friday Harbor, WA)

13.   Bonneville Power Administration’s Recent Actions in Responding to COVID-19 (Bonneville Power Administration)

14.   Grid Operators Cancel Travel, Shift to Remote Meetings, As Industry Preps for Broad Coronavirus Absenteeism (Utility Dive)

15.   Key U.S. Health Agency Suffers Cyberattack During Coronavirus Response (Bloomberg News)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

16.   Public Comment on Snake River Dams Report Will Be Taken Telephonically Due to Coronavirus (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

17.   Statement from NW RiverPartners in Response to Governor Inslee’s Final Draft Report on the Lower Snake River Dams (Northwest RiverPartners, Vancouver, WA)

18.   Editorial: Removal of Snake River Dams Would Harm Economy, Environment (Wenatchee World, WA)

19.   Op/Ed: Bring Our Salmon Back, Make Our Energy Clean & Affordable, Strengthen Communities (Salem Statesman-Journal)

20.   Op/Ed: Decisions on Dams, Salmon Must Be Made Together (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

21.   Bonneville Power Administration Makes Another Hydro Deal with Investor-Owned Utility (Portland Business Journal, OR)

22.   Idaho: Voters to Decide Revenue Bond for Moyie Hydro Repairs May 19 (Kootenai Valley Times, Bonners Ferry, ID)

23.   New Law Refunds Money Transferred from LIHEAP Program for Coronavirus Response (American Public Power Association)

24.   Watchdog Raises Concerns over Trump Energy Regulator (The Hill, Washington, DC)

FISH & WILDLIFE

25.   Removal of Skamania County Dam Will Free Wildboy Creek after 55 Years (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

26.   Wind Plants Can Provide Grid Services Similar to Gas, Hydro, Easing Renewables Integration: CAISO (Utility Dive)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

27.   EIA Projects Air-Conditioning Energy Use to Grow Faster Than Any Other Use in Buildings (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Advancing Rural Broadband, The Great Task of Our Generation (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

29.   Broadband Providers Brace for Coronavirus Stress Test (Axios)

30.   Comcast Offers Free Wi-Fi Hot Spots, Eliminates Data Caps Nationwide in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

31.   Op/Ed: Coronavirus Could Accelerate Moves Toward ‘Telemedicine’ (Los Angeles Times, CA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

32.   2020 Session Sees Some Environmental Progress, But Washington State Senate Fails to Pass Two Major Climate Bills (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

33.   Oregon Climate Change: Governor’s New Plan Leans on Supersizing the Clean Fuels Program (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

34.   Congressman Kilmer to Hold Telephone Town Hall Monday to Discuss COVID-19 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

35.   U.S. House Coronavirus Package Hits Snag (Politico)

36.   Link to H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Congress.Gov)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

37.   Governor Inslee Orders Washington State Restaurants, Bars & Other Businesses to Close Citing ‘Explosion’ of Coronavirus (Northwest News Network)

38.   Shelton School District - All Schools Closed Starting Monday, March 16th (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

39.   Mason Health Announces Closures & Schedule Changes (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

40.   City of Shelton Announces Closures Due to COVID-19 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

41.   Timberland Regional Library Official Closure (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Man Who Tried to Sell Hand Sanitizer for $70 Per Bottle Must Now to Donate Them to Charity

Who Needs Google? Meet the 17-Year-Old Behind a Website Tracking Coronavirus Cases That Is Now a Vital Global Resource

Tacoma-Area Distillery Is Making Hand Sanitizer & Giving It Out Free While Supplies Last

Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video)

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beach Boys – Don’t Worry Baby

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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