Wednesday, April 22, 2020

The Energy News Digest for April 22, 2020


To subscribe to The Energy News Digest, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Gov. Inslee: Washington State May Not Be Able to Lift Many Coronavirus Restrictions by May 4 (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

Pacific Ocean ‘Blobs’ Will Escalate Loss of Fish Stocks, Study Says (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Former TVA Boss, Pacific Gas & Electric Chief to Retire as California Utility Nears End of Its Bankruptcy Case (Sacramento Bee, CA)

This Year Is on Track to Be Earth’s Warmest on Record, Beating 2016, NOAA Says (Washington Post)

50 Years of Earth Day: What’s Better Today, & What’s Worse (NY Times)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Former TVA Boss, Pacific Gas & Electric Chief to Retire as California Utility Nears End of Its Bankruptcy Case
2.        APPA: Ditto Says Pandemic Highlights Issues That Need to Be Addressed for Power Sector
3.        Orcas Power & Light – The Winners Are: Dauciunas & Madsen for OPALCO Board; $50 Bill Credits for 20 Voters
4.        Benton PUD Honored with National Award for Outstanding Safety Practices
5.        Paycheck Protection Program: Congressional Lawmakers Ask for Electric Co-Op Clarity
6.        Pacific Ocean ‘Blobs’ Will Escalate Loss of Fish Stocks, Study Says
7.        Social Distancing & Stay Home Orders Halt Field Research on Salmon Migration
8.        50 Years of Earth Day: What’s Better Today, & What’s Worse
9.        Appellate Judges Say Sale of Land for Controversial Silicon Smelter Near Newport Was Legal
10.     Analyst Sees Opportunity for More Clean Energy Alternatives as Prices for Oil & Gas Plummet
11.     Op/Ed: Dear Efficiency Advocates: Don’t Fear Electrification
12.     Wyoming Internet Providers See Huge Surge in Internet Use, Interest in Broadband
13.     America’s Broadband Moment
14.     Another FCC Grant Disaster?
15.     Why Seattle Kids Were Among the Last in the Region to Start Receiving Laptops after Coronavirus Closed Schools
16.     Data Breach May Have Exposed Personal Information of Thousands of SBA Emergency Loan Applicants
17.     This Year Is on Track to Be Earth’s Warmest on Record, Beating 2016, NOAA Says
18.     The New White Lies of Lockdown
19.     Gov. Inslee: Washington State May Not Be Able to Lift Many Coronavirus Restrictions by May 4
20.     Franklin County Is Prepping a Lawsuit Against Governor Inslee During Statewide Stay at Home Orders
21.     Political Wrangling, Controversy Mark Re-Opening of U.S. States
22.     Feds Would Support Legal Action If Governors’ Restrictions Go ‘Too Far,’ Barr Says
23.     U.S. Senate Approves $483B Virus Aid Deal, Sends It to House
24.     Misinformation Rampant in Online Protest Groups
25.     Protesters Pushing to Reopen Economy Are ‘Idiots,’ Says Top Manufacturing Lobbyist
26.     Mass Release of Prisoners a Big Mistake, Sheldon Says (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
27.     ‘Pure Hell for Victims’ as Stimulus Programs Draw a Flood of Scammers
28.     March Unemployment Rate in Mason County
29.     Mason County Community ‘Adopts’ High School Seniors by Sponsoring Banners

WORD OF THE DAY

Primordial \PRIME-or-dee-ull\ Adjective - 1a: first created or developed: primeval b: existing in or persisting from the beginning c: earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ 2: fundamental, primary

The first soup and sandwich shop in town did a booming business…even with the slightly odd name of “Primordial Soup.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Former TVA Boss, Pacific Gas & Electric Chief to Retire as California Utility Nears End of Its Bankruptcy Case (Sacramento Bee, CA)

2.      APPA: Ditto Says Pandemic Highlights Issues That Need to Be Addressed for Power Sector (American Public Power Association)

3.      Orcas Power & Light – The Winners Are: Dauciunas & Madsen for OPALCO Board; $50 Bill Credits for 20 Voters (San Juan Islander, Friday Harbor, WA)

4.      Benton PUD Honored with National Award for Outstanding Safety Practices (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

5.      Paycheck Protection Program: Congressional Lawmakers Ask for Electric Co-Op Clarity (Politico)

FISH & WILDLIFE

6.      Pacific Ocean ‘Blobs’ Will Escalate Loss of Fish Stocks, Study Says (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

7.      Social Distancing & Stay Home Orders Halt Field Research on Salmon Migration (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

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

8.      50 Years of Earth Day: What’s Better Today, & What’s Worse (NY Times)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

9.      Appellate Judges Say Sale of Land for Controversial Silicon Smelter Near Newport Was Legal (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

10.   Analyst Sees Opportunity for More Clean Energy Alternatives as Prices for Oil & Gas Plummet (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

11.   Op/Ed: Dear Efficiency Advocates: Don’t Fear Electrification (Utility Dive)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

12.   Wyoming Internet Providers See Huge Surge in Internet Use, Interest in Broadband (Casper Tribune, WY)

13.   America’s Broadband Moment (Benton Foundation)

14.   Another FCC Grant Disaster? (Pots & Pans)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

15.   Why Seattle Kids Were Among the Last in the Region to Start Receiving Laptops after Coronavirus Closed Schools (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

16.   Data Breach May Have Exposed Personal Information of Thousands of SBA Emergency Loan Applicants (Washington Post)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

17.   This Year Is on Track to Be Earth’s Warmest on Record, Beating 2016, NOAA Says (Washington Post)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

18.   The New White Lies of Lockdown (Atlantic Magazine)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

19.   Gov. Inslee: Washington State May Not Be Able to Lift Many Coronavirus Restrictions by May 4 (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

20.   Franklin County Is Prepping a Lawsuit Against Governor Inslee During Statewide Stay at Home Orders (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

21.   Political Wrangling, Controversy Mark Re-Opening of U.S. States (Reuters)

22.   Feds Would Support Legal Action If Governors’ Restrictions Go ‘Too Far,’ Barr Says (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

23.   U.S. Senate Approves $483B Virus Aid Deal, Sends It to House (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

24.   Misinformation Rampant in Online Protest Groups (Associated Press)

25.   Protesters Pushing to Reopen Economy Are ‘Idiots,’ Says Top Manufacturing Lobbyist (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

26.   Mass Release of Prisoners a Big Mistake, Sheldon Says (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

27.   ‘Pure Hell for Victims’ as Stimulus Programs Draw a Flood of Scammers (NY Times)

28.   March Unemployment Rate in Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

29.   Mason County Community ‘Adopts’ High School Seniors by Sponsoring Banners (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Dog Found 4 Months After Being Stolen in San Francisco

Serving the ‘Tiger King’: Co-op Crews Recount Visits to Oklahoma’s Infamous G.W. Zoo

Powell’s Books’ Coronavirus Struggles Highlighted by PBS Newshour, Heralded as Portland’s Eiffel Tower

SONG OF THE DAY

Rosanne Cash - Dance with the Tiger

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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