Tuesday, June 23, 2020

The Energy News Digest for June 23, 2020


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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Possible Paywall restrictions are noted in the media attribution. Now, go play.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington Issues Statewide Facial Covering Requirement (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

Tri-Cities Expected to Hit 100 Degrees This Week: How You Can Beat the Heat (KVEW-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Puerto Rico Power Company Gives Power System Reins to Private U.S., Canadian Firms (Associated Press)

Public Power Utilities Urged to Reach Out to Lawmakers in Support of Financial Aid Bill (American Public Power Association)

WSU-Supported Broadband Action Team Draws Interest from FCC Chairman (WSU Insider, Pullman, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Puerto Rico Power Company Gives Power System Reins to Private U.S., Canadian Firms
2.        Public Power Utilities Urged to Reach Out to Lawmakers in Support of Financial Aid Bill
3.        California: Pacific Gas & Electric Power Shut-Offs Are Coming Back. Here's What You Need to Know.
4.        Massachusetts Utility Ordered to Pay $53 Million Fine for Blasts That Killed 1
5.        Op/Ed: An Update on Lewis PUD Operations & Customer Support During COVID-19
6.        Trump Administration Invests $1.6 Billion in Rural Electric Infrastructure in 21 States
7.        Will Regulators Allow Utilities to Reap a Windfall Because of COVID-19?
8.        Tri-Cities Expected to Hit 100 Degrees This Week: How You Can Beat the Heat
9.        How Artificial Intelligence is Making Virtual Home Energy Audits a Reality
10.     Meet the Bonneville Power Administration Team That Helps Keep the Pacific Northwest Buzzing
11.     Despite Green Pledges, Amazon’s Carbon Footprint Grew 15%
12.     WSU-Supported Broadband Action Team Draws Interest from FCC Chairman
13.     Other Federal Broadband Monies Available Besides the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, Panelists Note
14.     2020 Fiber-to-the-Home Top 100
15.     Telemedicine Provides Care Options for Patients
16.     Here’s One Thing COVID-19 Hasn’t Shut Down: The State’s Move to Greener Ferries
17.     AP Changes Writing Style to Capitalize ″b″ in Black
18.     Saharan Dust Is Suppressing Hurricane Activity Over the Atlantic. Don’t Count on It Staying That Way.
19.     Over 700 Cash-Strapped Cities Halt Plans to Repair Roads, Water Systems or Make Other Key Investments
20.     Washington Issues Statewide Facial Covering Requirement
21.     Virus Is Taking Big Toll on Farm County in Washington State
22.     Seattle Coronavirus 'Vaccine' Peddler to Refund Customers amid State Lawsuit
23.     Mason County Unemployment Drops, But Remains High
24.     Washington State’s County Unemployment Rates Fall in May, But Not by Much
25.     Following Shootings, Fights at CHOP, Seattle’s Capitol Hill Residents Call on City Leaders to End the Chaos
26.     Due to Seattle’s ‘Unrest,’ Billion-Dollar Investment Firm Moving to Phoenix
27.     Washington Firefighters Prepare for Wildfires Amid Virus

WORD OF THE DAY

Hubris • \hyoo-bruss\ • Noun - Exaggerated pride or self-confidence

As the ancients described hubris, “Those whom the Gods would destroy, they first make proud.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Puerto Rico Power Company Gives Power System Reins to Private U.S., Canadian Firms (Associated Press)

2.      Public Power Utilities Urged to Reach Out to Lawmakers in Support of Financial Aid Bill (American Public Power Association)

3.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Power Shut-Offs Are Coming Back. Here's What You Need to Know. (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)

4.      Massachusetts Utility Ordered to Pay $53 Million Fine for Blasts That Killed 1 (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

5.      Op/Ed: An Update on Lewis PUD Operations & Customer Support During COVID-19 (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

6.      Trump Administration Invests $1.6 Billion in Rural Electric Infrastructure in 21 States – Includes: Yakama Power, Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative, Benton Rural Electric Association (High Plains Journal)

7.      Will Regulators Allow Utilities to Reap a Windfall Because of COVID-19? (Utility Dive)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

8.      Tri-Cities Expected to Hit 100 Degrees This Week: How You Can Beat the Heat (KVEW-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

9.      How Artificial Intelligence is Making Virtual Home Energy Audits a Reality (Power Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

10.   Meet the Bonneville Power Administration Team That Helps Keep the Pacific Northwest Buzzing (Bonneville Power Administration)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

11.   Despite Green Pledges, Amazon’s Carbon Footprint Grew 15% (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

12.   WSU-Supported Broadband Action Team Draws Interest from FCC Chairman (WSU Insider, Pullman, WA)

13.   Other Federal Broadband Monies Available Besides the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, Panelists Note (Broadband Breakfast)

14.   2020 Fiber-to-the-Home Top 100 (Broadband Communities)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

15.   Telemedicine Provides Care Options for Patients (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

16.   Here’s One Thing COVID-19 Hasn’t Shut Down: The State’s Move to Greener Ferries (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

17.   AP Changes Writing Style to Capitalize ″b″ in Black (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

18.   Saharan Dust Is Suppressing Hurricane Activity Over the Atlantic. Don’t Count on It Staying That Way. (Washington Post)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

19.   Over 700 Cash-Strapped Cities Halt Plans to Repair Roads, Water Systems or Make Other Key Investments (Washington Post)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN


21.   Virus Is Taking Big Toll on Farm County in Washington State (Associated Press)

22.   Seattle Coronavirus 'Vaccine' Peddler to Refund Customers amid State Lawsuit (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

23.   Mason County Unemployment Drops, But Remains High (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

24.   Washington State’s County Unemployment Rates Fall in May, But Not by Much (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

25.   Following Shootings, Fights at CHOP, Seattle’s Capitol Hill Residents Call on City Leaders to End the Chaos (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

26.   Due to Seattle’s ‘Unrest,’ Billion-Dollar Investment Firm Moving to Phoenix (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

27.   Washington Firefighters Prepare for Wildfires Amid Virus (Associated Press)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Court: Montana Family Owns Dinosaur Fossils Worth Millions

Loiter-Be-Gone – Spokane Bans High-Pitch Mosquito Devices at City Businesses

You Get What You Paid For – Botched Painting Restoration Gives Virgin Mary a Cartoon Face

Headache Leads Virginia Woman to $500,000 Lottery Jackpot

SONG OF THE DAY

Buster Poindexter – Hot Hot Hot