Thursday, February 21, 2019

Energy News Digest for February 21, 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

Report: Majority of Tested Washington School Taps Have Unsafe Lead Levels (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Solar Installers Are Struggling to Find Tesla Powerwall Battery Systems (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Split apart Pacific Gas & Electric? The Utility Is Open to It, But Warns Rates Would Likely Rise (Utility Dive)

Google’s Nest Hub Has a Microphone It Forgot to Mention (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Washington State Legislature’s Proposed Public Records Bill Is Dead, At Least for This Year (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Split apart Pacific Gas & Electric? The Utility Is Open to It, But Warns Rates Would Likely Rise
2.      De-Energize & Districted Energy Resources: The Tough Options Wildfires Pose for California Utilities
3.      Power Play – Satsop Business Park Aims to be the South Sound’s Next Employment Hub
4.      Cowlitz PUD: For Steve Kern, ‘It’s Good to Go Out on a High Note’
5.      Um, OK - Rep. Shewmake Sponsors Washington State Law to Require Info on Energy Sources
6.      Explain This Then: Fuel Mix Disclosure - Washington State Department of Commerce
7.      New Process Drives More Successful Outage Opportunities for Bonneville Power Administration
8.      Firm Seeks Witnesses, Plaintiffs for Possible Duke Energy Cybersecurity Suit
9.      Maine: Gov. Mills Signs onto Canada to U-S Power Line after CMP Sweetens Pot
10.   Canada: Hydro One Reports Fourth Quarter Profit Up from Year Ago, Helped by Weather & Lower Taxes
11.   Solar Installers Are Struggling to Find Tesla Powerwall Battery Systems
12.   Natural Gas-Fired Reciprocating Engines Increasingly Being Deployed to Balance Renewables, EIA Says
13.   Scandalous Abramoff Summoned to Take on the Green New Deal
14.   Someone Needs to Let Us Know: Ajit Pai Says Broadband Access Is Soaring—And That He’s the One to Thank
15.   Google’s Nest Hub Has a Microphone It Forgot to Mention
16.   Report: Majority of Tested Washington School Taps Have Unsafe Lead Levels
17.   Greenhouse Gas: Washington State Refrigeration Legislation Has Dye Hot
18.   U-S Judge Dismisses Boys’ Lawsuit against Trump Climate Rollbacks
19.   ‘They’re Going to Show It Until We Die’: How Zion Williamson’s Shoe Mishap Hurts Nike
20.   Washington State Legislature’s Proposed Public Records Bill Is Dead, At Least for This Year
21.   Massive Public Lands Bill Expected to Receive Easy Approval in the House
22.   Pacific Northwest in an Earthquake Lull According to New Study
23.   Audio: Some Sheriffs in Rural Washington Refuse to Enforce New Gun Law
24.   Video: ‘Clink’ on the Brink: The Story Behind Mason County’s Jail Crisis
25.   Tim Eyman Accused of Stealing Office Chair, Films Himself Bringing It Back

WORD OF THE DAY

Skullduggery • \skull-DUGG-ur-ree\ • Noun – Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; also, a devious device or trick

Unfortunately for the corporate leader, skullduggery of his support staff so undermined his credibility with stockholders that everything he said at the annual meeting was met with peals of laughter. Initially he thought that they were laughing along with him at some large, inside joke. That is, until his aide whispered in his ear, “Sir, they’re not laughing WITH you, they’re laughing BESIDE you. And that’s a BIG difference.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Split apart Pacific Gas & Electric? The Utility Is Open to It, But Warns Rates Would Likely Rise (Utility Dive)

2.    De-Energize & Districted Energy Resources: The Tough Options Wildfires Pose for California Utilities (Utility Dive)

3.    Power Play – Satsop Business Park Aims to be the South Sound’s Next Employment Hub (South Sound Business)


5.    Um, OK - Rep. Shewmake Sponsors Washington State Law to Require Info on Energy Sources (KGMI-Radio, Bellingham, WA0

6.    Explain This Then: Fuel Mix Disclosure - Washington State Department of Commerce (PDF – Washington State Department of Commerce)

7.    New Process Drives More Successful Outage Opportunities for Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville Power Administration)

8.    Firm Seeks Witnesses, Plaintiffs for Possible Duke Energy Cybersecurity Suit (Triangle Business Journal, Raleigh, NC)

9.    Maine: Gov. Mills Signs onto Canada to U-S Power Line after CMP Sweetens Pot (Washington Post)

10. Canada: Hydro One Reports Fourth Quarter Profit Up from Year Ago, Helped by Weather & Lower Taxes (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11. Solar Installers Are Struggling to Find Tesla Powerwall Battery Systems (Los Angeles Times, CA)

12. Natural Gas-Fired Reciprocating Engines Increasingly Being Deployed to Balance Renewables, EIA Says (Daily Energy Insider)

13. Scandalous Abramoff Summoned to Take on the Green New Deal (Washington Examiner)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

14. Someone Needs to Let Us Know: Ajit Pai Says Broadband Access Is Soaring—And That He’s the One to Thank (Ars Technica)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

15. Google’s Nest Hub Has a Microphone It Forgot to Mention (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

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

16. Report: Majority of Tested Washington School Taps Have Unsafe Lead Levels (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

17. Greenhouse Gas: Washington State Refrigeration Legislation Has Dye Hot (Washington Ag Network)

18. U-S Judge Dismisses Boys’ Lawsuit against Trump Climate Rollbacks (Reuters)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

19. ‘They’re Going to Show It Until We Die’: How Zion Williamson’s Shoe Mishap Hurts Nike (Yahoo Sports

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

20. Washington State Legislature’s Proposed Public Records Bill Is Dead, At Least for This Year (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

21. Massive Public Lands Bill Expected to Receive Easy Approval in the House (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

22. Pacific Northwest in an Earthquake Lull According to New Study (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

23. Audio: Some Sheriffs in Rural Washington Refuse to Enforce New Gun Law (National Public Radio)

24. Video: ‘Clink’ on the Brink: The Story Behind Mason County’s Jail Crisis (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

25. Tim Eyman Accused of Stealing Office Chair, Films Himself Bringing It Back (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Peter Tork of the Monkees dies at 77

Guy Webster, Master of the Album Cover Photograph, Dies at 79

Washington State Could Ban Eyeball Tattoos

World’s Biggest Bee, Once Thought Extinct, Has Been Found Alive

SONG OF THE DAY

The Monkees – Daydream Believer

John Stewart interview on writing “Daydream Believer”

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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