Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The Energy News Digest for March 24, 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

Governor Inslee Issues Washington State Stay-At-Home Order for Two Weeks Except for Thousands of ‘Essential’ Workers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Lewis PUD Suspends Basic Charge in April, Customers Should See $28.50 Reduction on Bill (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

Pacific Gas & Electric Reaches Deal with California – Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter as Bankruptcy Reorganization Deadline Nears (Utility Dive)

Rural Tribes Finally Have a Shot at Faster Internet (Crosscut Seattle)

U.S. Senate Appears Close to a Deal over Massive Coronavirus Stimulus Bill (CBS News)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Pacific Gas & Electric Reaches Deal with California – Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter as Bankruptcy Reorganization Deadline Nears
2.        Editorial: Don’t Let Snake River Dams Be a Coronavirus Casualty. Call in to Save Them
3.        Editorial: Extend Opportunity to Comment on Snake River Dams
4.        Coming to a Country Near You: A Russian Nuclear Power Plant
5.        Coal-Fired Power Plants Finding New Uses as Data Centers, Clean Energy Hubs
6.        Lewis PUD Suspends Basic Charge in April, Customers Should See $28.50 Reduction on Bill
7.        Okanogan PUD Rate Increase, Disconnects Suspended
8.        Grays Harbor PUD Says to Contact Them with Billing Concerns
9.        Idaho: Fall River Electric Alters Operations in Response to COVID-19 Virus
10.     Energy Adviser: Utility Commits to Service
11.     Utilities Beginning to See the Load Impacts of COVID-19 as Economic Shutdown Widens
12.     Americans Who Have Lost Wages amid Coronavirus Outbreak Worry They’ll Be Short Over $900 on Their Bills
13.     Gray Whales Return: Researchers Wonder Why ‘Sounders’ Seem Healthier Than Others
14.     Rural Tribes Finally Have a Shot at Faster Internet
15.     SpaceX Gets FCC License for 1 Million Satellite-Broadband User Terminals
16.     U.S. Senate Appears Close to a Deal over Massive Coronavirus Stimulus Bill
17.     Stock Futures Are Flat Following a Historic Rebound as Massive Stimulus Deal Nears
18.     Trump Hoping to See US Economy Reopened by Easter Amid Virus
19.     Washington State Legislative Leaders in Both Parties Back Inslee’s ‘Stay Home’ Order
20.     Governor Inslee Issues Washington State Stay-At-Home Order for Two Weeks Except for Thousands of ‘Essential’ Workers
21.     What Jobs Are Essential in Washington State Under Gov. Jay Inslee’s ‘Stay Home Stay Healthy’ Order?
22.     Changes to City of Shelton Operations to Follow Gov. Inslee’s ‘Stay at Home’ Order
23.     School Buses Become Meal Delivery for Mason County Kids During Coronavirus Shutdown
24.     Inmates Make Daring Escape from Yakima Jail; Six Remain on the Run
25.     Mason County Expected to Accept Loan for Belfair Sewer
26.     Wood Products Industry Makes Its Case for Being an Essential Industry
27.     Tokyo Olympics Officially Postponed to 2021

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Reaches Deal with California – Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter as Bankruptcy Reorganization Deadline Nears (Utility Dive)

2.      Editorial: Don’t Let Snake River Dams Be a Coronavirus Casualty. Call in to Save Them (Tri-City Herald, WA)

3.      Editorial: Extend Opportunity to Comment on Snake River Dams (Everett Herald, WA)

4.      Coming to a Country Near You: A Russian Nuclear Power Plant (NY Times)

5.      Coal-Fired Power Plants Finding New Uses as Data Centers, Clean Energy Hubs (Energy News Network)

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS – THE COVID CONUNDRUM

6.      Lewis PUD Suspends Basic Charge in April, Customers Should See $28.50 Reduction on Bill (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

7.      Okanogan PUD Rate Increase, Disconnects Suspended (Okanogan PUD, Okanogan, WA)

8.      Grays Harbor PUD Says to Contact Them with Billing Concerns (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

9.      Idaho: Fall River Electric Alters Operations in Response to COVID-19 Virus (Idaho Falls Post-Register, ID)

10.   Energy Adviser: Utility Commits to Service (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

11.   Utilities Beginning to See the Load Impacts of COVID-19 as Economic Shutdown Widens (Utility Dive)

12.   Americans Who Have Lost Wages amid Coronavirus Outbreak Worry They’ll Be Short Over $900 on Their Bills (CNBC)

FISH & WILDLIFE

13.   Gray Whales Return: Researchers Wonder Why ‘Sounders’ Seem Healthier Than Others (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

14.   Rural Tribes Finally Have a Shot at Faster Internet (Crosscut Seattle)

15.   SpaceX Gets FCC License for 1 Million Satellite-Broadband User Terminals (Ars Technica)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

16.   U.S. Senate Appears Close to a Deal over Massive Coronavirus Stimulus Bill (CBS News)

17.   Stock Futures Are Flat Following a Historic Rebound as Massive Stimulus Deal Nears (CNBC)

18.   Trump Hoping to See US Economy Reopened by Easter Amid Virus (Associated Press)

19.   Washington State Legislative Leaders in Both Parties Back Inslee’s ‘Stay Home’ Order (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

20.   Governor Inslee Issues Washington State Stay-At-Home Order for Two Weeks Except for Thousands of ‘Essential’ Workers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

21.   What Jobs Are Essential in Washington State Under Gov. Jay Inslee’s ‘Stay Home Stay Healthy’ Order? (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

22.   Changes to City of Shelton Operations to Follow Gov. Inslee’s “Stay at Home” Order (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

23.   School Buses Become Meal Delivery for Mason County Kids During Coronavirus Shutdown (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

24.   Inmates Make Daring Escape from Yakima Jail; Six Remain on the Run (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

25.   Mason County Expected to Accept Loan for Belfair Sewer (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

26.   Wood Products Industry Makes Its Case for Being an Essential Industry (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

27.   Tokyo Olympics Officially Postponed to 2021 (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Portland Strip Club Forced to Close, So Dancers Now Do Delivery

Providence Asks Public for Help Making Millions of Masks for Washington State Hospitals

‘Oh My Gosh’: Firefighters Help Woman Give Birth in Toilet Paper Aisle of Walmart Store

Simulated March Madness: Baylor Bears Crowned Champions

SONG OF THE DAY

Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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