Thursday, March 29, 2018

Energy News Digest for March 29, 2018


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SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Grant PUD Announces Drawdown at Priest Rapids Dam (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Another $3 Million Been Promised to Colstrip to Help the Community Transition beyond Coal (Montana Standard, Butte)

Idaho Tribes Want Fish Passage at Idaho Power’s Snake River Dams, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Associated Press)

Microsoft Contributing $200,000 to Grant PUD Fiber Buildout in George (IFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

REC Silicon Weighs In – Struggling U-S Polysilicon Producers Are a Forgotten Casualty in the Solar Trade War with China (GreenTech Media)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Grant PUD Announces Drawdown at Priest Rapids Dam
  • Leaking Found in Grant PUD’s Priest Rapids Dam
  • Another $3 Million Been Promised to Colstrip to Help the Community Transition beyond Coal
  • Energy Northwest in Richland to Help with New Type of Nuclear Reactor
  • Editorial: Your Utility Rates Were Spared, But BPA Is Still in President Trump’s Crosshairs
  • It’s the No. 1 Power Source, but Natural Gas Faces Headwinds
  • Ohio: FirstEnergy Solutions Will Close Its Nuclear Power Plants, But Is Silent on Bankruptcy Restructuring
  • Nuclear Industry Facing Crisis That Trump Must Address, Think Tank Says
  • FERC Denies Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Request for More Time to Cut Trees
  • House Panel Blasts Puerto Rico Power Agency for Trying to ‘Discredit’ Corruption Probe
  • Idaho Tribes Want Fish Passage at Idaho Power’s Snake River Dams, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
  • Mason PUD 3 on Osprey Watch
  • Olympic Mountain Goat Transfer Sparks New Law on Communication
  • REC Silicon Weighs In – Struggling U-S Polysilicon Producers Are a Forgotten Casualty in the Solar Trade War with China
  • American Electric Power Wants to Build America’s Largest Wind Farm, & Get Customers to Pay for It
  • Budweiser Adds New Renewable Energy Logo to Packaging
  • Microsoft Contributing $200,000 to Grant PUD Fiber Buildout in George
  • Audit Finds $1 Million Missing from New Mexico Broadband Project
  • Charter’s Plans for 6G
  • Whither the Weather - PUD 3 SmartHub App & Weather Data Gives Powerful Energy Insights
  • Can a Heat Pump Water Heater Installed in the Pacific Northwest Reduce Emissions Near the Grand Canyon?
  • An Idaho Mining Firm Executive Griped to Interior’s Zinke about Federal Pollution Rules. The Secretary Apologized.
  • EPA Staffers Get Talking Points Playing Down Human Role in Climate Change
  • Broadband & Booze: Virgin Is Giving Away a Free Case of Wine with Internet & TV Bundles
  • Mason County: Man Rescued from Under Vance Creek Bridge
  • Boeing Hit by Cyberattack, Says Jetliner Production Not Affected
  • Washington State Kicks Off Test of Pay-By-Mile Program
  • Washington State Farmers Complain of Labor Shortage as Asparagus Harvest Approaches
  • Felix Buys Into Changes Entering 10th Straight Mariners Opening Day Start
WORD OF THE DAY

Vertiginous • \ver-TIJ-uh-nus\ • adjective – 1a: characterized by or suffering from vertigo or dizziness b: inclined to frequent & often pointless change: inconstant *2: causing or tending to cause dizziness 3: marked by turning: rotary

Dilton was thankful for his double dose of Dramamine as he dangled precipitously from a rope in the yawning maw of an abandoned wishing well. His vertiginous position was unfortunately aided by two hulking friends who had devised a plan to plunder thousands of coins tossed into the well by hopeful spinsters and bachelors over the years. “This is just like a ‘Goonies’ adventure,” Dilton crowed as he neared the bottom of the slimy, stinking hole.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grant PUD Announces Drawdown at Priest Rapids Dam (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Leaking Found in Grant PUD’s Priest Rapids Dam (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Another $3 Million Been Promised to Colstrip to Help the Community Transition beyond Coal (Montana Standard, Butte)

Energy Northwest in Richland to Help with New Type of Nuclear Reactor (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

Editorial: Your Utility Rates Were Spared, But BPA Is Still in President Trump’s Crosshairs (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

It’s the No. 1 Power Source, but Natural Gas Faces Headwinds (NY Times)

Ohio: FirstEnergy Solutions Will Close Its Nuclear Power Plants, But Is Silent on Bankruptcy Restructuring (Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH)

Nuclear Industry Facing Crisis That Trump Must Address, Think Tank Says (Washington Examiner)

FERC Denies Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Request for More Time to Cut Trees (The News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA)

House Panel Blasts Puerto Rico Power Agency for Trying to ‘Discredit’ Corruption Probe (Washington Examiner)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho Tribes Want Fish Passage at Idaho Power’s Snake River Dams, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Associated Press)

Mason PUD 3 on Osprey Watch (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Olympic Mountain Goat Transfer Sparks New Law on Communication (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

REC Silicon Weighs In – Struggling U-S Polysilicon Producers Are a Forgotten Casualty in the Solar Trade War with China (GreenTech Media)

American Electric Power Wants to Build America’s Largest Wind Farm, & Get Customers to Pay for It (Bloomberg News)

Budweiser Adds New Renewable Energy Logo to Packaging (Packaging Digest)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Contributing $200,000 to Grant PUD Fiber Buildout in George (IFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

Audit Finds $1 Million Missing from New Mexico Broadband Project (Associated Press)

Charter’s Plans for 6G (Pots & Pans)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Whither the Weather - PUD 3 SmartHub App & Weather Data Gives Powerful Energy Insights (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Can a Heat Pump Water Heater Installed in the Pacific Northwest Reduce Emissions Near the Grand Canyon? (Northwest Power & Conservation Council)

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOT LOCKER

An Idaho Mining Firm Executive Griped to Interior’s Zinke about Federal Pollution Rules. The Secretary Apologized. (Washington Post)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA Staffers Get Talking Points Playing Down Human Role in Climate Change (Washington Post)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

Broadband & Booze: Virgin Is Giving Away a Free Case of Wine with Internet & TV Bundles (TechRadar)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County: Man Rescued from Under Vance Creek Bridge (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Boeing Hit by Cyberattack, Says Jetliner Production Not Affected (Bloomberg News)

Washington State Kicks Off Test of Pay-By-Mile Program (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Farmers Complain of Labor Shortage as Asparagus Harvest Approaches (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Felix Buys Into Changes Entering 10th Straight Mariners Opening Day Start (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Solved: Portrait of Mystery Massachusetts High Court Justice Identified

Burger Chain Sues Obnoxious Internet Troll

Baffled by Conceptual Art? So Are Will Ferrell & Joel McHale in This Museum’s Short Film

‘Ring Bearer Owl’ Attacks Best Man at Wedding Ceremony

SONG OF THE DAY

John Williams – Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter (BBC’s Proms)

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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. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.