Monday, December 2, 2019

The Energy News Digest for December 2, 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

Some British Columbia Salmon Runs Face ‘Meaningful Chance of Extinction’ after Landslide, Despite Rescue Mission-Critical Migration Route on Fraser River Blocked by Rock Slide (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Regulators Suggest $20 Million in Repairs at Colstrip Coal-Fired Power Plant (Associated Press)

Cowlitz PUD among U.S. Utilities Targeted in Cyberattacks (Longview Daily News, WA)

Idaho Power Will Drop Lawsuit against EPA Over Snake River Dams – Feds Allowing Warmer Water in Fish Habitat (Associated Press)

Mount Rainier Caps Swarm of Weekend Seismicity with 3.6 Magnitude Quake (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.        Regulators Suggest $20 Million in Repairs at Colstrip Coal-Fired Power Plant
2.        Cowlitz PUD among U.S. Utilities Targeted in Cyberattacks
3.        Avista Customers’ Bills in Idaho Will Fall by 1%
4.        Douglas PUD Sets Public Hearing for Larger Load Rates
5.        Industrial Development Feeds Umatilla Electric Cooperative Growth
6.        Pacific Gas & Electric Says Blackouts Limited Fires Despite One Likely Failure
7.        California Should Take Over Pacific Gas & Electric & Possibly Other Utilities, Former Top Regulator Says
8.        San Diego: Lawsuit Says City Utilities Department Leader Was Fired for Exposing Illegal Activity
9.        Re-Envisioning Public Power in the Tennessee Valley
10.     Op/Ed: Bitter Cold Stops Coal, While Nuclear Power Excels
11.     Some British Columbia Salmon Runs Face ‘Meaningful Chance of Extinction’ after Landslide, Despite Rescue Mission
12.     ‘Our Worst Nightmares Are Being Realized’: Experts Say First Nations Need More Power to Save British Columbia Salmon
13.     Idaho Power Will Drop Lawsuit against EPA Over Snake River Dams – Feds Allowing Warmer Water in Fish Habitat
14.     Federal Agencies Will Increase Columbia River’s Flows to Help Chum Salmon
15.     Ribbon Cutting Celebrated for New Coho Hatchery West of Ellensburg
16.     Cooke Aquaculture to Pay $2.75 Million over 2017 Net-Pen Collapse
17.     Portland Approves $51 Million Design Contract for Controversial Water Filtration Plant
18.     Another Settlement Reached Over Columbia & Snake River Dams Leaking Oil
19.     Remote British Columbia School Gets Most of Its Power from $450,000 Solar Energy System
20.     Chew on This: Farmers Are Using Food Waste to Make Electricity
21.     Disconnected: A New Broadband Provider in Clatskanie Wants Internet Decentralized
22.     Digital Inclusion: Feds Advancing the Internet-for-All-Concept with Digital Equity Act 2019
23.     Cantwell & U.S. Senate Democrats Propose Internet Privacy Regulation
24.     Undersea Telecommunications Cables That Connect the World Can Also Be Used to Detect Earthquakes
25.     Here’s the Main Problem with Tesla’s Supercharger Network – Not Enough Chargers
26.     Op/Ed: Too Much Wind & Solar Raises Power System Costs. Deep Decarbonization Requires Nuclear
27.     Salt Lake Tribune’s Publisher Says He’s Hearing Interest in Nonprofit Turn
28.     Idaho’s Stargazing Spots Could Be Affected by Boise’s Growing Population, Lights
29.     State Pausing Some Transportation Projects Because of $30 Car Tab Measure
30.     New Insurance Surcharge to Fight Wildfires to be Proposed by Washington State’s Lands Commissioner
31.     Marbled Murrelet Plan to Have Huge Impact on Junior Taxing Districts, Forks Official Says
32.     The Evergreen State College Sees Signs of Progress, But a Long Way to Go as It Looks to Stop Shrinking
33.     Mount Rainier Caps Swarm of Weekend Seismicity with 3.6 Magnitude Quake
34.     Fatal Head-On Crash on SR-302 Kills Lakebay Woman
35.     The Driest Pacific Northwest November in 43 Years
36.     Black Friday Online Sales Reach Record $7.4 Billion
37.     “Mason Health” – Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Unveils New Name
38.     Chris Petersen Steps Down, Jimmy Lake Named UW Huskies Head Football Coach
39.     Cosmic Crisp: New Washington State Apple Launched That ‘Lasts for a Year’

WORD OF THE DAY

Bon Vivant \bahn-vee-VAHNT\ Noun – Sociable person who has cultivated & refined tastes especially with respect to food & drink.

From Paul Simon, “American Tune:”

Still, you don’t expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Regulators Suggest $20 Million in Repairs at Colstrip Coal-Fired Power Plant (Associated Press)

2.      Cowlitz PUD among U.S. Utilities Targeted in Cyberattacks (Longview Daily News, WA)

3.      Avista Customers’ Bills in Idaho Will Fall by 1% (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

4.      Douglas PUD Sets Public Hearing for Larger Load Rates (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

5.      Industrial Development Feeds Umatilla Electric Cooperative Growth (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)

6.      Pacific Gas & Electric Says Blackouts Limited Fires Despite One Likely Failure (Associated Press)

7.      California Should Take Over Pacific Gas & Electric & Possibly Other Utilities, Former Top Regulator Says (Los Angeles Times, CA)

8.      San Diego: Lawsuit Says City Utilities Department Leader Was Fired for Exposing Illegal Activity – uncovered $1 million in water & wastewater funds diverted to other city departments (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

9.      Re-Envisioning Public Power in the Tennessee Valley (Appalachian Voices, Boone, NC)

10.   Op/Ed: Bitter Cold Stops Coal, While Nuclear Power Excels (Forbes Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

11.   Some British Columbia Salmon Runs Face ‘Meaningful Chance of Extinction’ after Landslide, Despite Rescue Mission – Critical Migration Route on Fraser River Blocked by Rock Slide (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

12.   ‘Our Worst Nightmares Are Being Realized’: Experts Say First Nations Need More Power to Save British Columbia Salmon – Big Bar Landslide on Fraser River Brought Stocks ‘To Their Knees’ after Decades of Decline (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

13.   Idaho Power Will Drop Lawsuit against EPA Over Snake River Dams – Feds Allowing Warmer Water in Fish Habitat (Associated Press)

14.   Federal Agencies Will Increase Columbia River’s Flows to Help Chum Salmon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

15.   Ribbon Cutting Celebrated for New Coho Hatchery West of Ellensburg (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

16.   Cooke Aquaculture to Pay $2.75 Million over 2017 Net-Pen Collapse (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

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

17.   Portland Approves $51 Million Design Contract for Controversial Water Filtration Plant (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

18.   Another Settlement Reached Over Columbia & Snake River Dams Leaking Oil (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

19.   Remote British Columbia School Gets Most of Its Power from $450,000 Solar Energy System (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

20.   Chew on This: Farmers Are Using Food Waste to Make Electricity (National Public Radio)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

21.   Disconnected: A New Broadband Provider in Clatskanie Wants Internet Decentralized (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

22.   Digital Inclusion: Feds Advancing the Internet-for-All-Concept with Digital Equity Act 2019 (Ifiberone News, Ephrata, WA)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

23.   Cantwell & U.S. Senate Democrats Propose Internet Privacy Regulation (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

24.   Undersea Telecommunications Cables That Connect the World Can Also Be Used to Detect Earthquakes (Gizmodo)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

25.   Here’s the Main Problem with Tesla’s Supercharger Network – Not Enough Chargers (Jalopnik)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   Op/Ed: Too Much Wind & Solar Raises Power System Costs. Deep Decarbonization Requires Nuclear (Utility Dive)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

27.   Salt Lake Tribune’s Publisher Says He’s Hearing Interest in Nonprofit Turn (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

28.   Idaho’s Stargazing Spots Could Be Affected by Boise’s Growing Population, Lights (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

29.   State Pausing Some Transportation Projects Because of $30 Car Tab Measure (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

30.   New Insurance Surcharge to Fight Wildfires to be Proposed by Washington State’s Lands Commissioner (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

31.   Marbled Murrelet Plan to Have Huge Impact on Junior Taxing Districts, Forks Official Says (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

32.   The Evergreen State College Sees Signs of Progress, But a Long Way to Go as It Looks to Stop Shrinking (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

33.   Mount Rainier Caps Swarm of Weekend Seismicity with 3.6 Magnitude Quake (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

34.   Fatal Head-On Crash on SR-302 Kills Lakebay Woman (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

35.   The Driest Pacific Northwest November in 43 Years (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

36.   Black Friday Online Sales Reach Record $7.4 Billion (Courthouse News Service)

37.   “Mason Health” – Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Unveils New Name (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

38.   Chris Petersen Steps Down, Jimmy Lake Named UW Huskies Head Football Coach (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

39.   Cosmic Crisp: New Washington State Apple Launched That ‘Lasts for a Year’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Cat That Survived Three Weeks in Shipping Container Has Made Amazing Comeback

Found Frozen & Almost Perfectly Preserved in Permafrost, this 18,000-Year-Old Puppy Could Be a Huge Deal

Villagers Fill Potholes with Rubber Ducks in Possibly the Most British Protest Ever (Includes Some PG-13 Content)

When the Security State is Insecure: Burglars Hit East German Secret Police Museum in Berlin

SONG OF THE DAY

Stringspace Jazz Band – Slow Boat to China

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Energy News Digest for November 27, 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

Reporter’s Notebook: 106 MPH Winds at Cape Blanco – Covering the 2019 Bomb Cyclone Snowstorm in Oregon (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Crews Responding to Thousands of Power Outages around Inland Northwest during High-Wind Warning (KHQ TV, Spokane, WA)

Columbia River Operators Increase Flows to Welcome Returning Chum Salmon (Bonneville Power Administration)

Columbia River Treaty Open House Scheduled for Mid-December (Washington Ag Network)

What’s in a Dam? National Report Cites High Hazards near Spokane – None Are Threatening Life, Property (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.        Crews Responding to Thousands of Power Outages around Inland Northwest during High-Wind Warning
2.        Columbia River Treaty Open House Scheduled for Mid-December
3.        Grant PUD Commissioners Approve 2020 Budget
4.        Jefferson PUD Operations Center Project Breaks Ground
5.        Fitch Raises Grays Harbor PUD Financial Outlook to Stable, Awards A-Rating
6.        Douglas County PUD Donates to North Central Educational Service District
7.        Copper Thieves Hammer Seattle Parks
8.        The Closure of the West’s Largest Coal Plant Could Be a Test for the Green New Deal
9.        Coal-Fired Electricity on Track for Its Biggest Annual Decline Ever
10.     Boulder Makes $94 Million ‘Final Offer’ for Xcel Energy Assets, in Bid to Avoid Condemnation
11.     U.S. Grid Reliability Threatened by Warming Rivers — Study
12.     Columbia River Operators Increase Flows to Welcome Returning Chum Salmon
13.     What’s in a Dam? National Report Cites High Hazards near Spokane – None Are Threatening Life, Property
14.     Montana Rejects NorthWestern’s Bid to End Net Metering, Add Separate Rate Class for Solar
15.     Cranberry Farmers Want to Build Solar Panels over Their Bogs
16.     Vancouver Begins Replacing Streetlights with Energy-Efficient LEDs
17.     Energy Adviser: Get a Pro to Inspect Heating System
18.     Bitcoin Is Hard to Understand. So Is Its Carbon Footprint.
19.     Electric Cars Too Quiet? Automakers Add Real or Fake Sound to Their Cabins
20.     Canada; Carbon Tax Must Hit $210 Per Ton by 2030 to Meet Paris Targets, Report Concludes
21.     With Climate Change, Washington, DC May Have Entered Era of More Blockbuster Snowstorms But Less Snow Overall
22.     Africa: A Crisis in the Water Is Decimating This Once-Booming Fishing Town
23.     The Port Townsend Leader Celebrates 130 Years, Thanks to Its Readers & Founders
24.     Apple Changes Crimea Map to Meet Russian Demands
25.     Baby Yoda GIFs Are Back after ‘Confusion’ Led to Removal
26.     King County Judge Pauses $30 Car Tabs While I-976 Goes to Court
27.     Judge Finds Obama Expansion of Oregon Monument Invalid
28.     Washington Public Ports Association Appoints Victoria Lincoln As Deputy Director
29.     Vietnam Era Veterans Honored at Belfair Ceremony
30.     President Trump Order Creates Task Force on Missing Native Americans, Alaska Natives
31.     737 Max Scandal Cuts Boeing’s Once Rock-Solid Image
32.     Reward Offered after Arson-Caused Haystack Fires in Grant County
33.     Crystal Mountain Resort Opens Friday; Other Ski Areas Could Soon Follow
34.     Reporter’s Notebook: 106 MPH Winds at Cape Blanco – Covering the 2019 Bomb Cyclone Snowstorm in Oregon
35.     Very Cold, North Puget Sound Very Windy in Western Washington through Thanksgiving
36.     Wind Advisory Issued for Wednesday across Central, Eastern Washington
37.     Blewett Pass Closed; Wind Advisory in Effect
38.     Tuesday Snow Squall Leads to Dozens of Crashes on I-90 near Spokane

WORD OF THE DAY

Beaucoup • \BOE-koo\ • adjective - Great in quantity or amount: many, much

Barty and Mildred were enjoying their holiday in France. Barty, however, sowed a crop of bad will with his “jocularity” at each small, snooty street café he visited. “Mercy Buckets,” he would shout at the retreating waiters & waitresses, chortling into his after-dinner espresso. His mangling of “thanks much” resulted in beaucoup trouble at the last night’s dinner, as a “clumsy” busboy “tripped” and cascaded dirty dishes and soapy rinse water over Barty’s finest evening wear.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Crews Responding to Thousands of Power Outages around Inland Northwest during High-Wind Warning (KHQ TV, Spokane, WA)

2.      Columbia River Treaty Open House Scheduled for Mid-December (Washington Ag Network)

3.      Grant PUD Commissioners Approve 2020 Budget (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

4.      Jefferson PUD Operations Center Project Breaks Ground (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

5.      Fitch Raises Grays Harbor PUD Financial Outlook to Stable, Awards A-Rating (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

6.      Douglas County PUD Donates to North Central Educational Service District (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

7.      Copper Thieves Hammer Seattle Parks (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

8.      The Closure of the West’s Largest Coal Plant Could Be a Test for the Green New Deal (Gizmodo)

9.      Coal-Fired Electricity on Track for Its Biggest Annual Decline Ever (Energy News Network)

10.   Boulder Makes $94 Million ‘Final Offer’ for Xcel Energy Assets, in Bid to Avoid Condemnation (Utility Dive)

11.   U.S. Grid Reliability Threatened by Warming Rivers — Study (E&E News)

FISH & WILDLIFE

12.   Columbia River Operators Increase Flows to Welcome Returning Chum Salmon (Bonneville Power Administration)

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

13.   What’s in a Dam? National Report Cites High Hazards near Spokane – None Are Threatening Life, Property (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   Montana Rejects NorthWestern’s Bid to End Net Metering, Add Separate Rate Class for Solar (Utility Dive)

15.   Cranberry Farmers Want to Build Solar Panels over Their Bogs (Associated Press)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

16.   Vancouver Begins Replacing Streetlights with Energy-Efficient LEDs (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

17.   Energy Adviser: Get a Pro to Inspect Heating System (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

18.   Bitcoin Is Hard to Understand. So Is Its Carbon Footprint. (Grist Online)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

19.   Electric Cars Too Quiet? Automakers Add Real or Fake Sound to Their Cabins (USA Today)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

20.   Canada; Carbon Tax Must Hit $210 Per Ton by 2030 to Meet Paris Targets, Report Concludes (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

21.   With Climate Change, Washington, DC May Have Entered Era of More Blockbuster Snowstorms But Less Snow Overall (Washington Post)

22.   Africa: A Crisis in the Water Is Decimating This Once-Booming Fishing Town (Washington Post)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

23.   The Port Townsend Leader Celebrates 130 Years, Thanks to Its Readers & Founders (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

24.   Apple Changes Crimea Map to Meet Russian Demands (British Broadcasting Corporation)

25.   Baby Yoda GIFs Are Back after ‘Confusion’ Led to Removal (Associated Press)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

26.   King County Judge Pauses $30 Car Tabs While I-976 Goes to Court (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

27.   Judge Finds Obama Expansion of Oregon Monument Invalid (Courthouse News Service)

28.   Washington Public Ports Association Appoints Victoria Lincoln As Deputy Director (Washington Public Ports Association – Links to PDF File)

GENERAL NEWS

29.   Vietnam Era Veterans Honored at Belfair Ceremony (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

30.   President Trump Order Creates Task Force on Missing Native Americans, Alaska Natives (Associated Press)

31.   737 Max Scandal Cuts Boeing’s Once Rock-Solid Image (National Public Radio)

32.   Reward Offered after Arson-Caused Haystack Fires in Grant County (NCW Life News, East Wenatchee, WA)

33.   Crystal Mountain Resort Opens Friday; Other Ski Areas Could Soon Follow (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

WEATHER NEWS – A THANKSGIVING CONVERSATION STARTER

34.   Reporter’s Notebook: 106 MPH Winds at Cape Blanco – Covering the 2019 Bomb Cyclone Snowstorm in Oregon (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

35.   Very Cold, North Puget Sound Very Windy in Western Washington through Thanksgiving (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

36.   Wind Advisory Issued for Wednesday across Central, Eastern Washington (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

37.   Blewett Pass Closed; Wind Advisory in Effect (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

38.   Tuesday Snow Squall Leads to Dozens of Crashes on I-90 near Spokane (Associated Press)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Act of Kindness Softens Police Sorrow over Spilled Doughnuts

Study Shows ‘Secret Santa’ Causes Too Much Anxiety for Some Working Millennials

Hikers Answer Plea to Find Wedding Ring Lost on Mountaintop

Seahawk Bobby Wagner Buys Groceries for West Seattle Safeway Customers

SONG OF THE DAY

Natalie Merchant – Kind & Generous

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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