Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Energy News Digest for January 29, 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

Pacific Gas & Electric Files for Bankruptcy. Electricity Prices Likely to Rise For Millions of Californians (Los Angeles Times, CA)

To Help Salmon, Fish Advocates Want To Kill Some Gulls (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Hoping to Hook a Chinook Salmon This Spring? This Year’s Run May Be Slim, Forecasts Say (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Apple to Patch Privacy Bug in Video-Calling Feature (Reuters)

Inslee Announces Appointment of Lisa Brown as Director of Washington State Department of Commerce (Washington State Wire, Olympia)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Files for Bankruptcy. Electricity Prices Likely to Rise for Millions of Californians
2.      Wyoming Lawmakers Look to Sue Washington State over Coal
3.      Bill Gates Comes to Washington, DC — Selling the Promise of Nuclear Energy
4.      An Emerging Push for Time-Of-Use Rates Sparks New Debates about Customer & Grid Impacts
5.      Western Energy Imbalance Market Looks to Expand its Authority
6.      Longtime Tillamook PUD Board Members Ended Their Terms in January
7.      U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions Increased in 2018 – Will Likely Fall in 2019 & 2020
8.      To Help Salmon, Fish Advocates Want To Kill Some Gulls
9.      Hoping to Hook a Chinook Salmon This Spring? This Year’s Run May Be Slim, Forecasts Say
10.   Oregon Biologists Killing California Sea Lions to Protect Threatened Salmon
11.   Apparently, Salmon’s Not the Only Thing on the Menu: Sea Lion Bites Alaska Fisherman, Tries to Drag Him into Sea
12.   British Columbia: Trans Mountain Pipeline Work Destroyed Salmon Habitat
13.   Near-Bankrupt PG&E Pulls Plug on a Hydropower License Renewal
14.   Renewables? Sorry, But You’ve Got a Gas Emissions Problem
15.   How ‘Bout a Little Hometown Love? Microsoft, Vermont Team Up to Increase Broadband Access, Digital Skills Training in Vermont
16.   Kagan: Broadband-Only Households to Reach 40.8 Million by 2023
17.   Apple to Patch Privacy Bug in Video-Calling Feature
18.   Feel Like You’ve Lost Control of Your Data? A Washington Lawmaker Wants to Change That
19.   Virtual Reality, Clean Energy Captivate Car Lovers at Portland Auto Show
20.   Dye: Completing the Columbia Basin Project Would Be a Game Changer for the Region
21.   How A Crumbling Dam in the Enchantments Could Change Our Understanding of the PNW Wilderness
22.   States Along Colorado River Working to Avert Crisis from 19-Year Drought
23.   Is It Climate Change? New Birds Are Here, Others Disappeared
24.   Flickr’s Top Photos of 2018 Aren’t Just About Clicks & Algorithms
25.   Oregon: Woodburn Hemp Company Lands $33 Million
26.   California Looks at Tax Cut to Boost Sluggish Pot Sales
27.   Liberals Grow Skeptical of Carbon Tax Proposal
28.   Inslee Announces Appointment of Lisa Brown as Director of Washington State Department of Commerce
29.   Everyone Wants to Clean Up State Energy Sector – Parties Disagree on How
30.   Hair Stylists Take Over Olympia, Fighting against Booth Renting Bill
31.   Boy in Highway 101 Hit & Run Not Expected to Live — Motorist Who Fled Scene Sought
32.   Life-Threatening Cold Grips U.S., Could Hit Minus 50 in the Midwest
33.   Perspective: Lowland Snow? It’s Possible for Some Areas Early Next Week
34.   Confirmed Measles Cases in Clark County Rise to 34

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Crocodile Tears /CROCK-uh-dial – teers/ Plural Noun – False or affected tears; hypocritical sorrow.

Schultz mea culpa
“Sorry I sold the Sonics”
Mere crocodile tears

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Pacific Gas & Electric Files for Bankruptcy. Electricity Prices Likely to Rise for Millions of Californians (Los Angeles Times, CA)

2.    Wyoming Lawmakers Look to Sue Washington State over Coal (Associated Press)

3.    Bill Gates Comes to Washington, DC — Selling the Promise of Nuclear Energy (Washington Post)

4.    An Emerging Push for Time-Of-Use Rates Sparks New Debates about Customer & Grid Impacts (Utility Dive)

5.    Western Energy Imbalance Market Looks to Expand its Authority (RTO Insider)

6.    Longtime Tillamook PUD Board Members Ended Their Terms in January (Tillamook County Pioneer, OR)

7.    U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions Increased in 2018 – Will Likely Fall in 2019 & 2020 (U-S Energy Information Administration)

FISH & WILDLIFE


9.    Hoping to Hook a Chinook Salmon This Spring? This Year’s Run May Be Slim, Forecasts Say (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

10. Oregon Biologists Killing California Sea Lions to Protect Threatened Salmon (SF Chronicle)

11. Apparently, Salmon’s Not the Only Thing on the Menu: Sea Lion Bites Alaska Fisherman, Tries to Drag Him into Sea (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

12. British Columbia: Trans Mountain Pipeline Work Destroyed Salmon Habitat – Biologist calls the work on the Stewart Creek crossing in Chilliwack ‘amateur hour’ (Columbia Valley Pioneer, BC)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13. Near-Bankrupt PG&E Pulls Plug on a Hydropower License Renewal (Renewable Energy World)

14. Renewables? Sorry, But You’ve Got a Gas Emissions Problem (Grist Online)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

15. How ‘Bout a Little Hometown Love? Microsoft, Vermont Team Up to Increase Broadband Access, Digital Skills Training in Vermont (Telecompaper)

16. Kagan: Broadband-Only Households to Reach 40.8 Million by 2023 (Multichannel News)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

17. Apple to Patch Privacy Bug in Video-Calling Feature (Reuters)

18. Feel Like You’ve Lost Control of Your Data? A Washington Lawmaker Wants to Change That (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

19. Virtual Reality, Clean Energy Captivate Car Lovers at Portland Auto Show (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

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

20. Dye: Completing the Columbia Basin Project Would Be a Game Changer for the Region (Washington Ag Network)

21. How A Crumbling Dam in the Enchantments Could Change Our Understanding of the PNW Wilderness (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

22. States Along Colorado River Working to Avert Crisis from 19-Year Drought (National Public Radio)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23. Is It Climate Change? New Birds Are Here, Others Disappeared (Everett Herald, WA)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

24. Flickr’s Top Photos of 2018 Aren’t Just About Clicks & Algorithms (Fast Company)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

25. Oregon: Woodburn Hemp Company Lands $33 Million (Portland Business Journal, OR)

26. California Looks at Tax Cut to Boost Sluggish Pot Sales (Courthouse News Service)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

27. Liberals Grow Skeptical of Carbon Tax Proposal (Washington Examiner)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

28. Inslee Announces Appointment of Lisa Brown as Director of Washington State Department of Commerce (Washington State Wire, Olympia)

29. Everyone Wants to Clean Up State Energy Sector – Parties Disagree on How (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

30. Hair Stylists Take Over Olympia, Fighting against Booth Renting Bill (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

31. Boy in Highway 101 Hit & Run Not Expected to Live — Motorist Who Fled Scene Sought (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

32. Life-Threatening Cold Grips U.S., Could Hit Minus 50 in the Midwest (Reuters)

33. Perspective: Lowland Snow? It’s Possible for Some Areas Early Next Week (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

34. Confirmed Measles Cases in Clark County Rise to 34 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Missing Toddler Found Alive Says He Was ‘With a Bear for Two Days’

Mom Accidentally Donates Mug with $6,500 Stashed Inside

Canada Dry Planning to Change Labelling after ‘Made from Real Ginger’ Lawsuits

Taking Tune from “The Office” Episode, Man Helps Save Woman’s Life

SONG OF THE DAY

Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive (Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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