Monday, April 20, 2020

The Energy News Digest for April 20, 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

U.S. Energy Consumption Falls to 16-Year Low (Yahoo Finance)

Jefferson PUD Installs Wi-Fi Hotspots at Offices, Substations (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Chelan PUD & Local Internet Service Providers Teaming Up for Free Hotspots (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Quinault Nation Will Oppose Flood-Control Dam in Chehalis River System (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Researchers Seek Help from Waterfront Residents for Whale Sightings (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Energy Consumption Falls to 16-Year Low
2.      Oil Price Collapses to Below Zero as Demand Takes a Dive During Pandemic
3.      Clallam PUD Appointee Decides Against Running in November
4.      Tillamook PUD Rate Update – Board of Directors Postpone Rate Increase to Fall, 2020
5.      Op/Ed: Our Comments on the Snake River Environmental Impact Statement
6.      Now Trending: Utility Fire Mitigation Efforts
7.      Researchers Seek Help from Waterfront Residents for Whale Sightings
8.      5,000 Grant PUD-Managed Fish Die Due to Power Failure
9.      Bill Monroe: Complex Set of Sport Salmon Fishing Seasons Proposed
10.   Once Again, Orca Researchers Fail to Answer the Key Question on Snake River Dams
11.   Quinault Nation Will Oppose Flood-Control Dam in Chehalis River System
12.   Jefferson PUD Installs Wi-Fi Hotspots at Offices, Substations
13.   Chelan PUD & Local Internet Service Providers Teaming Up for Free Hotspots
14.   Alaska Broadband Project Scrapped After Virus Closes Company
15.   Editorial: High-Speed Internet Is a Necessity
16.   Young Climate Activists Slowed by Pandemic, But Not Defeated
17.   Seven Ways to Keep Up Day-to-Day Communications in a Time of Crisis
18.   Deep Newspaper Job Cuts Prompt Rare Plea for Federal Funding to News Media
19.   Native American Woman Removed from Land O’Lakes Packaging
20.   Ventilator from Old Car Parts? Afghan Girls Pursue Prototype
21.   Here’s What Washington School Districts Reported to the State About the Services They’re Providing During Coronavirus Closures
22.   Surge in Unemployment Continues as Clunky State Systems Await Upgrade
23.   Demonstrators Rally in Olympia Against Washington’s Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order
24.   Health Care Workers Block Denver Protesters Calling for End to Stay-At-Home Orders
25.   This Has Been Seattle’s Driest April Weather on Record So Far – Here Comes the Rain

WORD OF THE DAY

Deflagrate /DEFF-fluh-grate/ Verb – 1: to burn rapidly with intense heat and sparks being given off 2: to cause (something) to burn in such a manner

“This is stupid,” grunted a dispirited Neil Young, trapped in a mountain-sized writer’s block. “It’s better to deflagrate, than fade away,” he whispered. “It just doesn’t sing.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      U.S. Energy Consumption Falls to 16-Year Low (Yahoo Finance)

2.      Oil Price Collapses to Below Zero as Demand Takes a Dive During Pandemic (Los Angeles Times, CA)

3.      Clallam PUD Appointee Decides Against Running in November (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

4.      Tillamook PUD Rate Update – Board of Directors Postpone Rate Increase to Fall, 2020 (Tillamook Count Pioneer, OR)

5.      Op/Ed: Our Comments on the Snake River Environmental Impact Statement (Washington Policy Center)

6.      Now Trending: Utility Fire Mitigation Efforts (Utility Dive)

FISH & WILDLIFE

7.      Researchers Seek Help from Waterfront Residents for Whale Sightings (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

8.      5,000 Grant PUD-Managed Fish Die Due to Power Failure (iFIBER One News, Ephrata, WA)

9.      Bill Monroe: Complex Set of Sport Salmon Fishing Seasons Proposed (Oregonian, Portland)

10.   Once Again, Orca Researchers Fail to Answer the Key Question on Snake River Dams (Washington Policy Center)

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

11.   Quinault Nation Will Oppose Flood-Control Dam in Chehalis River System (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

12.   Jefferson PUD Installs Wi-Fi Hotspots at Offices, Substations (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

13.   Chelan PUD & Local Internet Service Providers Teaming Up for Free Hotspots (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

14.   Alaska Broadband Project Scrapped After Virus Closes Company (Associated Press)

15.   Editorial: High-Speed Internet Is a Necessity (Baker City Herald, OR)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

16.   Young Climate Activists Slowed by Pandemic, But Not Defeated (Associated Press)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

17.   Seven Ways to Keep Up Day-to-Day Communications in a Time of Crisis (Pioneer Utility Resources)

18.   Deep Newspaper Job Cuts Prompt Rare Plea for Federal Funding to News Media (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

19.   Native American Woman Removed from Land O’Lakes Packaging (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

20.   Ventilator from Old Car Parts? Afghan Girls Pursue Prototype (Associated Press)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

21.   Here’s What Washington School Districts Reported to the State About the Services They’re Providing During Coronavirus Closures (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

22.   Surge in Unemployment Continues as Clunky State Systems Await Upgrade (Northwest News Network)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

23.   Demonstrators Rally in Olympia Against Washington’s Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

24.   Health Care Workers Block Denver Protesters Calling for End to Stay-At-Home Orders (Huffington Post)

GENERAL NEWS

25.   This Has Been Seattle’s Driest April Weather on Record So Far – Here Comes the Rain (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Americans Stockpile Frozen Pizza, Causing Potential Shortage

Toilet Paper Thieves Try to Make Clean Getaway But Can’t Roll Away from Police

A Honey of a Heist: 120 Beehives Stolen Near George, WA

Amid Pandemic, Debate Rages in Mexico: Is Beer Essential?

SONG OF THE DAY

Tom T. Hall – I Like Beer

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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