Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Energy News Digest for June 5, 2019


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

Grant County: Highway 243 Fire Now Estimated at Almost 19,000 Acres (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Power Struggle on the Eastside: Crucial Ruling Ahead in Battle Over 16-Mile Power Line (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Pushback Against Superfast 5G Wireless Spreads to at Least Seven Pacific Northwest Cities (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

Grays Harbor PUD Board Passes Resolution Supporting Lower Snake River Hydroelectric Dams (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Attempt to Change California’s Definition of Renewable Energy Fails – Rule Says Dams Don’t Count Toward Goals (KSAT-TV, San Antonia, TX)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Power Struggle on the Eastside: Crucial Ruling Ahead in Battle Over 16-Mile Power Line
2.      Grays Harbor PUD Board Passes Resolution Supporting Lower Snake River Hydroelectric Dams
3.      What Caused 26 Power Poles to Collapse in South Seattle?
4.      Going to Cowlitz PUD: Steve Taylor Was a Thorough, Unflappable Kelso City Manager
5.      Op/Ed: Can the Bonneville Power Administration Be Saved?
6.      Sixth-Graders Cross Chelan PUD’s Rocky Reach Dam for Fishy Field Trip & Fun
7.      He Had Power-Pole Shaped Dent in His SUV. Police Arrested Him for Hit-And-Run Power Outage
8.      Grant PUD Line Crews Named Grand Marshals of Sage-n-Sun Festival Parade
9.      San Francisco Hires Financial Adviser as It Considers Buying Pacific Gas & Electric Power Lines
10.   New England’s Electric Power Grid Is Undergoing a Transformation
11.   Chatterjee Rejects Criticism of Violating FERC’s Neutrality with Use of #Freedomgas
12.   Two More Dead Gray Whales Wash Ashore in Western Washington
13.   Canada: Department of Fisheries to Test for Harmful Virus at British Columbia Fish Farms
14.   Bombs, Guns & Sea Lions on the Columbia River
15.   Orca Task Force Celebrates New Calf with Renewed Determination
16.   Salmon Merging onto New ‘Highway’ in Seattle, Complete with Rest Stops & Restaurants
17.   Fish Cannons, Koi Herpes & Other Tools to Combat Invasive Carp
18.   Editorial: Mining Skagit River Headwaters Invites Disaster
19.   Attempt to Change California’s Definition of Renewable Energy Fails – Rule Says Dams Don’t Count Toward Goals
20.   California Has Too Much Solar Power. That Might Be Good for Ratepayers
21.   GESS International to Build Six Biogas Plants in Idaho – Conversion of “Dairy-Air”
22.   U.S. Wind Turbine Collapses ‘Not Linked’, Says GE
23.   European Union Plan to Burn Wood Instead of Coal Threatens Forests
24.   Pushback Against Superfast 5G Wireless Spreads to at Least Seven Pacific Northwest Cities
25.   Port of Bellingham Plans to Build Faster Internet Access for Rural Areas
26.   Governor Inslee Meets with Orcas Power & Light to Talk Broadband, Clean Energy & Electric Ferries
27.   A New-Wave Broadband Firm Dials Up Frontier Communications
28.   How a Radio Frequency Is Delivering High Speed Internet to Small Towns
29.   Apple Announces It’s Getting Rid of iTunes
30.   How Extreme Weather Is Affecting People’s Opinions of Climate Change
31.   Kids, Feds Spar Over Climate Change Suit in Third Visit to Ninth Circuit
32.   Oregon’s Carbon-Reduction Plan Might Include Hefty Fuel Rebates
33.   Exploding Danger: U.S. Marijuana Oil Labs Pose Deadly, Destructive Hazard
34.   YouTube Updates Hate Speech Guidelines to Prohibit Videos
35.   Americans Think Fake News Is Big Problem, Blame Politicians
36.   Washington State Lawmaker Touts Kalama Methanol Plant – And Works for Company That’s Trying to Get It Built
37.   ‘Climate Candidate’ Jay Inslee Touts Mission to Keep Earth Inhabitable
38.   Op/Ed: Transportation Projects Will Suffer If Inslee Shifts Cash to Protect Fish
39.   Grant County: Highway 243 Fire Now Estimated at Almost 19,000 Acres
40.   Ostrom’s Mushroom Farm Near Lacey Is Closing, Laying Off 239 Workers
41.   Seattle Has Already Scored the Third Warmest Spring on Record
42.   Washington’s Roads Are Becoming Increasingly Deadly for People Who Walk or Bike, Data Show
43.   Fewer Kids Are Riding & Buying Bicycles – The Industry Is Worried
44.   Learning What Vets Could Not Tell: What They Did in World War II

WORD OF THE DAY

Colitas • \coe-LEET-uhs\ • - Tail, tail end, end

“On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas rising up through the air.”

Wikipedia: The term “colitas” in the first stanza of the song is a Spanish term for “little tails” and a reference to the buds of the Cannabis plant.

From the Straight Dope: This E-mail just in from Eagles management honcho Irving Azoff: “In response to your [recent] memo, in 1976, during the writing of the song ‘Hotel California’ by Messrs. Henley and Frey, the word `colitas’ was translated for them by their Mexican-American road manager as ‘little buds.’ You have obviously already done the necessary extrapolation. Thank you for your inquiry.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Power Struggle on the Eastside: Crucial Ruling Ahead in Battle Over 16-Mile Power Line (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

2.    Grays Harbor PUD Board Passes Resolution Supporting Lower Snake River Hydroelectric Dams (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

3.    What Caused 26 Power Poles to Collapse in South Seattle? (Crosscut Seattle)

4.    Going to Cowlitz PUD: Steve Taylor Was a Thorough, Unflappable Kelso City Manager (Longview Daily News, WA)

5.    Op/Ed: Can the Bonneville Power Administration Be Saved? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

6.    Sixth-Graders Cross Chelan PUD’s Rocky Reach Dam for Fishy Field Trip & Fun (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

7.    He Had Power-Pole Shaped Dent in His SUV. Police Arrested Him for Hit-And-Run Power Outage (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

8.    Grant PUD Line Crews Named Grand Marshals of Sage-n-Sun Festival Parade (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

9.    San Francisco Hires Financial Adviser as It Considers Buying Pacific Gas & Electric Power Lines (SF Chronicle)

10. New England’s Electric Power Grid Is Undergoing a Transformation (WBUR, Boston, MA)

11. Chatterjee Rejects Criticism of Violating FERC’s Neutrality with Use of #Freedomgas (Utility Dive)

FISH & WILDLIFE

12. Two More Dead Gray Whales Wash Ashore in Western Washington (Associated Press)

13. Canada: Department of Fisheries to Test for Harmful Virus at British Columbia Fish Farms (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

14. Bombs, Guns & Sea Lions on the Columbia River (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

15. Orca Task Force Celebrates New Calf with Renewed Determination (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

16. Salmon Merging onto New ‘Highway’ in Seattle, Complete with Rest Stops & Restaurants (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

17. Fish Cannons, Koi Herpes & Other Tools to Combat Invasive Carp (NY Times)

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

18. Editorial: Mining Skagit River Headwaters Invites Disaster (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

19. Attempt to Change California’s Definition of Renewable Energy Fails – Rule Says Dams Don’t Count Toward Goals (KSAT-TV, San Antonia, TX)

20. California Has Too Much Solar Power. That Might Be Good for Ratepayers (Los Angeles Times, CA)

21. GESS International to Build Six Biogas Plants in Idaho – Conversion of “Dairy-Air” (Associated Press)

22. U.S. Wind Turbine Collapses ‘Not Linked’, Says GE (ReCharge)

23. European Union Plan to Burn Wood Instead of Coal Threatens Forests (Courthouse News Service)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24. Pushback Against Superfast 5G Wireless Spreads to at Least Seven Pacific Northwest Cities (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

25. Port of Bellingham Plans to Build Faster Internet Access for Rural Areas (Bellingham Business Journal, WA)

26. Governor Inslee Meets with Orcas Power & Light to Talk Broadband, Clean Energy & Electric Ferries (San Juan Islander, Friday Harbor, WA)

27. A New-Wave Broadband Firm Dials Up Frontier Communications (Everett Herald, WA)

28. How a Radio Frequency Is Delivering High Speed Internet to Small Towns (National Public Radio)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

29. Apple Announces It’s Getting Rid of iTunes (CBS News)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

30. How Extreme Weather Is Affecting People’s Opinions of Climate Change (National Public Radio)

31. Kids, Feds Spar Over Climate Change Suit in Third Visit to Ninth Circuit (Courthouse News Service)

32. Oregon’s Carbon-Reduction Plan Might Include Hefty Fuel Rebates (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

33. Exploding Danger: U.S. Marijuana Oil Labs Pose Deadly, Destructive Hazard (Reuters)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

34. YouTube Updates Hate Speech Guidelines to Prohibit Videos (Associated Press)

35. Americans Think Fake News Is Big Problem, Blame Politicians (Associated Press)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

36. Washington State Lawmaker Touts Kalama Methanol Plant – And Works for Company That’s Trying to Get It Built (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

37. ‘Climate Candidate’ Jay Inslee Touts Mission to Keep Earth Inhabitable (Courthouse News Service)

38. Op/Ed: Transportation Projects Will Suffer If Inslee Shifts Cash to Protect Fish (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

39. Grant County: Highway 243 Fire Now Estimated at Almost 19,000 Acres (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

40. Ostrom’s Mushroom Farm Near Lacey Is Closing, Laying Off 239 Workers (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

41. Seattle Has Already Scored the Third Warmest Spring on Record (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

42. Washington’s Roads Are Becoming Increasingly Deadly for People Who Walk or Bike, Data Show (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

43. Fewer Kids Are Riding & Buying Bicycles – The Industry Is Worried (Washington Post)

44. Learning What Vets Could Not Tell: What They Did in World War II (NY Times)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Gainesville Gator Crashes Couples Romantic Lakeside Picnic

Florida Thief Takes Blowtorch to ATM, Welds It Shut Instead

Those Tiny Hotel Toiletry Bottles Are on Their Way Out

Family Discovers Graduation Cake Made of Plastic Foam

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beach Boys – Graduation Day

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

Friday, May 31, 2019

Energy News Digest for May 31, 2019


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

TransAlta to Buy 49 Percent Interest in Skookumchuck Wind Project (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

Moses Lake: These Solar Workers Will Lose Their Jobs If Trump Doesn’t Get a China Deal (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Chinook Bust on the Columbia: Spring Returns Worse Than Forecast on Northwest’s Largest River (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Utility Watchdog OK’s Pacific Gas & Electric Wildfire Prevention Plan (Courthouse News Service)

Olympia Sewage Spill Threatens Budd Inlet, Capitol Lake & Percival Creek (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Utility Watchdog OK’s Pacific Gas & Electric Wildfire Prevention Plan
2.      More Hearings Set for Boardman-To-Hemingway Transmission Project
3.      Mason PUD 1’s Ron Gold Elected to Nuclear Board
4.      Colorado: Boulder, Xcel Settle Lawsuit over Municipalization
5.      New Hampshire: Safety, Reliability Key When Maintaining 97-Year Old, 17.5 MW Hydropower Assets
6.      Chinook Bust on the Columbia: Spring Returns Worse Than Forecast on Northwest’s Largest River
7.      Fish & Wildlife Make Changes in Puget Sound Summer Salmon Fisheries for 2019
8.      British Columbia Chinook Salmon Populations in Decline: Scientists
9.      Rare White Young Killer Whale Swimming Off the British Columbia Coast
10.   Drone Video of a Sea Lion Hunting in the Middle of Salmon Bait Ball
11.   Olympia Sewage Spill Threatens Budd Inlet, Capitol Lake & Percival Creek
12.   Idaho Couple Appeals Government Wetlands Ruling on Property
13.   TransAlta to Buy 49 Percent Interest in Skookumchuck Wind Project
14.   Moses Lake: These Solar Workers Will Lose Their Jobs If Trump Doesn’t Get a China Deal
15.   Utah: Facebook to Run Data Center with Power from First Solar Project
16.   Sacramento Municipal Utility District Set to Develop Its Largest Solar Array with Lendlease
17.   Utah Lays Claim to World’s Largest Renewable Storage Project
18.   Massachusetts Looks to Beef up Commitment to Offshore Wind
19.   Ocean Energy Could Be the Wave of the Future
20.   Tired of Sluggish Internet Service? This Deal Could Punch Up Tri-Cities’ Speeds
21.   Experts Are Furious Over the FCC’s Rosy Picture of Broadband Access
22.   T-Mobile’s Sprint Deal Should Be on Death Watch
23.   Internet Satellites: Are Elon Musk & SpaceX About to Ruin Seattle’s View of the Night Sky?
24.   Protesting 5G
25.   Oregon’s Cap on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Opposed by Groups on Both Sides
26.   Too Much Pot in Oregon: State Wants to Rein in Licenses
27.   Cannabis Companies Push F.D.A. to Ease Rules on CBD Products
28.   Are Likes & Followers the Problem with Social Media?
29.   One Killed after Six Climbers Caught in Rockfall on Mt. Rainier
30.   Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Drifts into Five U.S. States
31.   Boeing’s 737 Max Crisis May Cost It the Upper Hand
32.   More on the Washington State Drought Situation
33.   It’s Mason County Forest Festival Time This Weekend in Shelton
34.   Beer by the Numbers: Craft Beer Jobs Grow While Big Beer Stalls, New Study Finds
35.   Washington State’s #1 Rated Disc Golf Course Is Hiding at Shelton Springs

WORD OF THE DAY

Nidifugous • \nye-DIFF-yuh-gus\ • adjective - Leaving the nest soon after hatching

One of my favorite comic bits comes from Paula Poundstone, as she recounts her nidifugous adventures as an infant, “I was born in Alabama, but I had only lived there a month before I had done everything that there is to do. Even as an infant I was bored and crawled to the state line.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Utility Watchdog OK’s Pacific Gas & Electric Wildfire Prevention Plan (Courthouse News Service)

2.    More Hearings Set for Boardman-To-Hemingway Transmission Project (LaGrande Observer, OR)

3.    Mason PUD 1’s Ron Gold Elected to Nuclear Board (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

4.    Colorado: Boulder, Xcel Settle Lawsuit over Municipalization (American Public Power Association)

5.    New Hampshire: Safety, Reliability Key When Maintaining 97-Year Old, 17.5 MW Hydropower Assets (Renewable Energy World)

FISH & WILDLIFE

6.    Chinook Bust on the Columbia: Spring Returns Worse Than Forecast on Northwest’s Largest River (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

7.    Fish & Wildlife Make Changes in Puget Sound Summer Salmon Fisheries for 2019 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

8.    British Columbia Chinook Salmon Populations in Decline: Scientists (Global News, Canada)

9.    Rare White Young Killer Whale Swimming Off the British Columbia Coast (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)


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

11. Olympia Sewage Spill Threatens Budd Inlet, Capitol Lake & Percival Creek (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

12. Idaho Couple Appeals Government Wetlands Ruling on Property (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13. TransAlta to Buy 49 Percent Interest in Skookumchuck Wind Project (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

14. Moses Lake: These Solar Workers Will Lose Their Jobs If Trump Doesn’t Get a China Deal (Los Angeles Times, CA)

15. Utah: Facebook to Run Data Center with Power from First Solar Project (Bloomberg News)

16. Sacramento Municipal Utility District Set to Develop Its Largest Solar Array with Lendlease (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

17. Utah Lays Claim to World’s Largest Renewable Storage Project (Utility Dive)

18. Massachusetts Looks to Beef up Commitment to Offshore Wind (Associated Press)

19. Ocean Energy Could Be the Wave of the Future (Sciences News for Students)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

20. Tired of Sluggish Internet Service? This Deal Could Punch Up Tri-Cities’ Speeds (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

21. Experts Are Furious Over the FCC’s Rosy Picture of Broadband Access (The Verge)

22. T-Mobile’s Sprint Deal Should Be on Death Watch (Bloomberg News)

23. Internet Satellites: Are Elon Musk & SpaceX About to Ruin Seattle’s View of the Night Sky? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

24. Protesting 5G (Pots & Pans)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25. Oregon’s Cap on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Opposed by Groups on Both Sides (National Public Radio)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

26. Too Much Pot in Oregon: State Wants to Rein in Licenses (Courthouse News Service)

27. Cannabis Companies Push F.D.A. to Ease Rules on CBD Products (NY Times)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

28. Are Likes & Followers the Problem with Social Media? (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

29. One Killed after Six Climbers Caught in Rockfall on Mt. Rainier (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

30. Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Drifts into Five U.S. States (Associated Press)

31. Boeing’s 737 Max Crisis May Cost It the Upper Hand (Bloomberg News)

32. More on the Washington State Drought Situation (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

33. It’s Mason County Forest Festival Time This Weekend in Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

34. Beer by the Numbers: Craft Beer Jobs Grow While Big Beer Stalls, New Study Finds (Oregonian, Portland)

35. Washington State’s #1 Rated Disc Golf Course Is Hiding at Shelton Springs (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Scripps Spelling Bee Names Eight Champions after 47 Perfect Spellings

Kids Keep Baseball Game Going Even as Tornado Moves Through the Area

Deputies: Florida Man Calls 911 to Brag after Fleeing Traffic Stop “…No cop can catch me in my Hyundai Elantra, that thing is fast…”

Singer Leon Redbone Dies at 69

SONG OF THE DAY

Leon Redbone- I’ll See You in My Dreams

Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel - Baby, It’s Cold Outside

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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