Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Energy News Digest for January 22, 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

Decade of Heavy Storms Has Helped Northwest Glaciers – Don’t Expect That to Last, Studies Show (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Montana Lawmaker Wants State to Buy Beleaguered Colstrip Power Plant (Associated Press)

Scientists ID Another Possible Threat to Orcas: Pink Salmon (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Oregon Could Effectively Ban Solar Farms – First, a Bunch of New Ones Will Be Built (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

National Weather Service: Flood Watch, Heavy Rains Forecast for Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Montana Lawmaker Wants State to Buy Beleaguered Colstrip Power Plant
2.      Bank Stabilization Planned at Priest Rapids Dam
3.      Clallam PUD Orders Smart Meters, Offers Opt-Out Provision
4.      Flood of Response Pushes Completion of Latest Tacoma Liquefied Natural Gas Review to March
5.      Public Power Council Elects Officers & Board Members for 2019-2020
6.      Editorial: Another Dam Study? Give Us a Break
7.      Judge Says Uninsulated Power Conductors Caused California Fires
8.      Pacific Gas & Electric Lines Up $5.5 Billion to Fund Two-Year Bankruptcy Process
9.      Southern California Edison Sues Santa Barbara County over Last Year’s Deadly Mudslides
10.   Is Nuclear Power Worth the Risk? These five people changed their minds about nuclear power. Are you next?
11.   Scientists ID Another Possible Threat to Orcas: Pink Salmon
12.   River Advocate: Removing Dams Won’t Help Orcas, Environment, Economy
13.   Former WDFW Director, NWIFC’S Chair Take Aim at Seattle Times Salmon-Orca Column
14.   Salmon Policies Debate Continues Between States
15.   Victims of Bycatch – Declining Fraser River Sturgeon Stocks Lead to Calls for Gill Net Restrictions
16.   Oceans Are Getting Louder, Posing Potential Threats to Marine Life
17.   Oregon Could Effectively Ban Solar Farms – First, a Bunch of New Ones Will Be Built
18.   In Wisconsin, Farmers May Soon Be Milking the Profits of Solar Energy Instead of Cows
19.   Power Companies Lose Fight over Transmission Costs in Texas, a Win for Renewables
20.   European Power Firms Aim to Harness Electric Car Batteries
21.   Rock Island Accelerates Fiber to Town of Friday Harbor
22.   Anacortes, Washington, Solidifies Plans for Better Connectivity with Muni Network
23.   Internet Service for Rural Georgia Could Come from Power Companies
24.   Google Is Fined $57 Million Under Europe’s Data Privacy Law
25.   The Pushback Against Smart Cities
26.   Seattle Recycling Company Settles Lawsuit Over River Pollution
27.   Decade of Heavy Storms Has Helped Northwest Glaciers – Don’t Expect That to Last, Studies Show
28.   Is the Public Willing to Pay to Help Fix Climate Change?
29.   Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee Is Running for President on Climate: Climate Hasn’t Caught On
30.   New Yorker Article About Marijuana Strikes Nerve with Researchers
31.   Certain People—Maybe Even You—Have Special Poop That Can Save Lives
32.   End Daylight Saving Time in Washington State? Why a State Lawmaker Thinks the Effort Has a Chance This Year
33.   National Weather Service: Flood Watch, Heavy Rains Forecast for Mason County
34.   Clark County Confirms 22nd Measles Case, Plans Calls to Those Exposed
35.   Ballots for Mason County Special Election in the Mail
36.   Timberland Regional Library Board Issued Harsh Rebuke to Director over Facilities Plan Rollout
37.   This Could Be Seattle’s Warmest January Weather on Record

WORD OF THE DAY

Campestral • \cam-PESS-trull\ • Adjective - Of or relating to fields or open country: rural

“Come on Fred, have a little creativity,” the Bonneville Power Administration contract manager exhorted to his hesitant project team member. “Think of it: a ‘Campestral Discount’ sounds so much more lyrical than ‘Low Density Discount.’ “

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Montana Lawmaker Wants State to Buy Beleaguered Colstrip Power Plant (Associated Press)

2.    Bank Stabilization Planned at Priest Rapids Dam (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)


4.    Flood of Response Pushes Completion of Latest Tacoma Liquefied Natural Gas Review to March (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

5.    Public Power Council Elects Officers & Board Members for 2019-2020 (Public Power Council, Portland, OR)

6.    Editorial: Another Dam Study? Give Us a Break (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

7.    Judge Says Uninsulated Power Conductors Caused California Fires (NBC News)

8.    Pacific Gas & Electric Lines Up $5.5 Billion to Fund Two-Year Bankruptcy Process (Los Angeles Times, CA)

9.    Southern California Edison Sues Santa Barbara County over Last Year’s Deadly Mudslides (Los Angeles Times, CA)

10. Is Nuclear Power Worth the Risk? These five people changed their minds about nuclear power. Are you next? (Grist Online)

FISH & WILDLIFE

11. Scientists ID Another Possible Threat to Orcas: Pink Salmon (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

12. River Advocate: Removing Dams Won’t Help Orcas, Environment, Economy (Capital Press)

13. Former WDFW Director, NWIFC’S Chair Take Aim at Seattle Times Salmon-Orca Column (Northwest Sportsman)

14. Salmon Policies Debate Continues Between States (Bend Bulletin, OR)

15. Victims of Bycatch – Declining Fraser River Sturgeon Stocks Lead to Calls for Gill Net Restrictions (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

16. Oceans Are Getting Louder, Posing Potential Threats to Marine Life (NY Times)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

17. Oregon Could Effectively Ban Solar Farms – First, a Bunch of New Ones Will Be Built (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

18. In Wisconsin, Farmers May Soon Be Milking the Profits of Solar Energy Instead of Cows (National Public Radio)

19. Power Companies Lose Fight over Transmission Costs in Texas, a Win for Renewables (Houston Chronicle, TX)

20. European Power Firms Aim to Harness Electric Car Batteries (Reuters)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

21. Rock Island Accelerates Fiber to Town of Friday Harbor (The Islands’ Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

22. Anacortes, Washington, Solidifies Plans for Better Connectivity with Muni Network (Community Networks)

23. Internet Service for Rural Georgia Could Come from Power Companies (Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

24. Google Is Fined $57 Million Under Europe’s Data Privacy Law (NY Times)

25. The Pushback Against Smart Cities (Pots & Pans)

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

26. Seattle Recycling Company Settles Lawsuit Over River Pollution (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

27. Decade of Heavy Storms Has Helped Northwest Glaciers – Don’t Expect That to Last, Studies Show (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

28. Is the Public Willing to Pay to Help Fix Climate Change? (Associated Press)

29. Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee Is Running for President on Climate: Climate Hasn’t Caught On (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

30. New Yorker Article About Marijuana Strikes Nerve with Researchers (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

31. Certain People—Maybe Even You—Have Special Poop That Can Save Lives (Gizmodo)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

32. End Daylight Saving Time in Washington State? Why a State Lawmaker Thinks the Effort Has a Chance This Year (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

33. National Weather Service: Flood Watch, Heavy Rains Forecast for Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

34. Clark County Confirms 22nd Measles Case, Plans Calls to Those Exposed (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

35. Ballots for Mason County Special Election in the Mail (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

36. Timberland Regional Library Board Issued Harsh Rebuke to Director over Facilities Plan Rollout (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

37. This Could Be Seattle’s Warmest January Weather on Record (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Cat Rescued after Sliding Down Indiana Dam’s Spillway

Praying Mantises Hidden in Christmas Tree Take Over Woman’s Home

Parts of Niagara Falls Have Frozen, Leaving Majestic Views

Video Captures Moose Chasing Skiers at Colorado Resort

SONG OF THE DAY

Paul Simon - Slip Slidin’ Away

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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