Monday, March 25, 2019

It’s Back, Y’All! -- Energy News Digest for March 25, 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

Breaching Snake River Dams Could Save Salmon & Orcas, But Destroy Livelihoods (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

With Columbia River Treaty Set to Expire, Will There Be Rough Waters Ahead? (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Cryptocurrency Miners Go to Federal Court to Block ‘Crippling’ Electric Rate Hike (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

Avista Strikes Deal to Purchase Wind Energy from New Facility in Washington State (Daily Energy Insider)

Measure in Olympia Would Boost Broadband’s Reach in Underserved Communities, But Only Make a Dent (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Cryptocurrency Miners Go to Federal Court to Block ‘Crippling’ Electric Rate Hike
2.      Mainzer Reports to Congress on Bonneville Power Administration’s Competitiveness, Strategy
3.      Clallam PUD Tables Proposal for a Lower Opt-Out Fee on Smart Meters
4.      Clark Public Utility Customers to Get Credit on April Bill
5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Objects to Judge’s Proposals to Prevent Wildfires
6.      Arizona: Navajo Nation Votes to End Efforts to Purchase Coal-Fired Power Plant, Sealing the Facility’s Fate
7.      Georgia: Feds Reach Reaches Financial Close for Additional Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant Loan Guarantees
8.      Power Sector Pushed Domestic U-S Natural Gas Consumption to New Record In 2018
9.      Texas Boy Scouts’ Deaths Spur Power Line Safety Legislation
10.   Philly Verizon Worker Suspended for Using Work Equipment to Rescue Cat from Pole
11.   Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling Wants Back into the Energy Business
12.   With Columbia River Treaty Set to Expire, Will There Be Rough Waters Ahead?
13.   Montana: Lincoln County Residents Call for Compensation in Revised Columbia River Treaty
14.   Breaching Snake River Dams Could Save Salmon & Orcas, But Destroy Livelihoods
15.   Pacific Ocean Salmon Expedition Reports Unexpected Findings
16.   Report: Ocean Conditions Appear to Be Heading in Right Direction for Improving Salmon-Steelhead Runs
17.   Report on 2018 BPA Fish/Wildlife Costs Released for Comment; $16.8 Billion Since 1981
18.   Fishery Science & Policy Manager Picked to Lead Washington State’s Salmon Recovery Office
19.   Fish Managers Say Late Smelt Run Doesn’t Justify Fishery
20.   Avista Strikes Deal to Purchase Wind Energy from New Facility in Washington State
21.   Wind Turbines Coming to Tilikum Crossing
22.   Montana: Judge Temporarily Halts Construction on Crazy Mountain Wind Project
23.   Measure in Olympia Would Boost Broadband’s Reach in Underserved Communities, But Only Make a Dent
24.   Tacoma Public Utility Board to Negotiate Contract with Rainier Connect
25.   Oregon: Better Rural Broadband Speed – Fiber Optic Comes to Maupin
26.   Microsoft Slams FCC for Inaccurate Measures of Broadband Availability
27.   Ending Bans on Public Broadband Deployment
28.   Norsk Hydro Recuperating from Cyberattack
29.   Op/Ed: New Trump Tech Czar Seeks ‘American Dominance,’ Focus on 5G, Internet Access, Drones
30.   Everybody Wants Electric Vehicles Charging Stations, But Barely Anyone Is Building Them
31.   What First Responders Don’t Know About Fiery Electric Vehicles
32.   Washington State Gets an ‘F’ for Efforts to Remove Lead from School Drinking Water
33.   Canadian Company Applies for Permit for Exploratory Mining in Headwaters of Skagit River
34.   Spin Control: Senate Committee Airs Out a Cap-&-Trade Proposal for Washington State
35.   Bingo & Bongs: More Seniors Seek Pot for Age-Related Aches
36.   Tribes at Odds with California Officials Over the Right to Sell Marijuana
37.   Going Electric: Cooking Schools in the First Half of the 20th Century
38.   Who Was Garamond, Anyway? The History Behind Five Classic Typefaces
39.   Here’s How Much Electricity Was Measured in One Thundercloud
40.   FERC Commission: Coal Companies Join with Rick Perry to Derail Trump Nominee
41.   FERC Chief of Staff Pugliese Steps Down
42.   Inslee Visits Portland Electrical Workers Union to Talk Green Jobs
43.   Western Washington State Braces for Tough Year of Wildfires
44.   As Pollen Levels Spike in Washington, Allergy Experts Offer Tips for Relief
45.   Crowds Cheer on Wounded Kittitas Officer as He Leaves Seattle Hospital
46.   Olympic Peninsula Not Best, Not Worst in Health Rankings
47.   Portland to Clarkston Cruise: Luxury River Cruise Ship ‘American Song’ Finds New Home on Columbia River

WORD OF THE DAY – THE HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Concrete \CON-creet\ Noun – 1: a mass formed by concretion or coalescence of separate particles of matter in one body 2: a hard strong building material made by mixing a cementing material (such as portland cement) & a mineral aggregate (such as sand & gravel) with sufficient water to cause the cement to set & bind the entire mass 3: a waxy essence of flowers prepared by extraction & evaporation & used in perfumery

Ribbons of concrete
Connected to who knows where
Welcome to Dallas


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Cryptocurrency Miners Go to Federal Court to Block ‘Crippling’ Electric Rate Hike (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

2.    Mainzer Reports to Congress on Bonneville Power Administration’s Competitiveness, Strategy (Bonneville Power Administration)

3.    Clallam PUD Tables Proposal for a Lower Opt-Out Fee on Smart Meters (Sequim Gazette, WA)

4.    Clark Public Utility Customers to Get Credit on April Bill (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

5.    Pacific Gas & Electric Objects to Judge’s Proposals to Prevent Wildfires (Associated Press)

6.    Arizona: Navajo Nation Votes to End Efforts to Purchase Coal-Fired Power Plant, Sealing the Facility’s Fate (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

7.    Georgia: Feds Reach Reaches Financial Close for Additional Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant Loan Guarantees (American Public Power Association)

8.    Power Sector Pushed Domestic U-S Natural Gas Consumption to New Record In 2018 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

9.    Texas Boy Scouts’ Deaths Spur Power Line Safety Legislation (KXAS-TV, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX)

10. Philly Verizon Worker Suspended for Using Work Equipment to Rescue Cat from Pole (The Epoch Times)

11. Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling Wants Back into the Energy Business (CNBC)

TRUSTING IN THE TREATY

12. With Columbia River Treaty Set to Expire, Will There Be Rough Waters Ahead? (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

13. Montana: Lincoln County Residents Call for Compensation in Revised Columbia River Treaty (The Missoulian, MT)

FISH & WILDLIFE

14. Breaching Snake River Dams Could Save Salmon & Orcas, But Destroy Livelihoods (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

15. Pacific Ocean Salmon Expedition Reports Unexpected Findings (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

16. Report: Ocean Conditions Appear to Be Heading in Right Direction for Improving Salmon-Steelhead Runs (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

17. Report on 2018 BPA Fish/Wildlife Costs Released for Comment; $16.8 Billion Since 1981 (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

18. Fishery Science & Policy Manager Picked to Lead Washington State’s Salmon Recovery Office (South Sound Business)

19. Fish Managers Say Late Smelt Run Doesn’t Justify Fishery (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

20. Avista Strikes Deal to Purchase Wind Energy from New Facility in Washington State (Daily Energy Insider)

21. Wind Turbines Coming to Tilikum Crossing (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

22. Montana: Judge Temporarily Halts Construction on Crazy Mountain Wind Project (Livingston Enterprise, MT)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

23. Measure in Olympia Would Boost Broadband’s Reach in Underserved Communities, But Only Make a Dent (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

24. Tacoma Public Utility Board to Negotiate Contract with Rainier Connect (South Sound Business)

25. Oregon: Better Rural Broadband Speed – Fiber Optic Comes to Maupin (Hood River News, OR)

26. Microsoft Slams FCC for Inaccurate Measures of Broadband Availability (MeriTalk)

27. Ending Bans on Public Broadband Deployment (Pots & Pans)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28. Norsk Hydro Recuperating from Cyberattack (Renewable Energy World)

29. Op/Ed: New Trump Tech Czar Seeks ‘American Dominance,’ Focus on 5G, Internet Access, Drones (Washington Examiner)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30. Everybody Wants Electric Vehicles Charging Stations, But Barely Anyone Is Building Them (Fast Company)

31. What First Responders Don’t Know About Fiery Electric Vehicles (Bloomberg News)

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

32. Washington State Gets an ‘F’ for Efforts to Remove Lead from School Drinking Water (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

33. Canadian Company Applies for Permit for Exploratory Mining in Headwaters of Skagit River (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

34. Spin Control: Senate Committee Airs Out a Cap-&-Trade Proposal for Washington State (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

35. Bingo & Bongs: More Seniors Seek Pot for Age-Related Aches (Associated Press)

36. Tribes at Odds with California Officials Over the Right to Sell Marijuana (Washington Post)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

37. Going Electric: Cooking Schools in the First Half of the 20th Century (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

38. Who Was Garamond, Anyway? The History Behind Five Classic Typefaces (Fast Company)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

39. Here’s How Much Electricity Was Measured in One Thundercloud (The Weather Network)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

40. FERC Commission: Coal Companies Join with Rick Perry to Derail Trump Nominee (Politico)

41. FERC Chief of Staff Pugliese Steps Down (Utility Dive)

42. Inslee Visits Portland Electrical Workers Union to Talk Green Jobs (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

GENERAL NEWS

43. Western Washington State Braces for Tough Year of Wildfires (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

44. As Pollen Levels Spike in Washington, Allergy Experts Offer Tips for Relief (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

45. Crowds Cheer on Wounded Kittitas Officer as He Leaves Seattle Hospital (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

46. Olympic Peninsula Not Best, Not Worst in Health Rankings (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

47. Portland to Clarkston Cruise: Luxury River Cruise Ship ‘American Song’ Finds New Home on Columbia River (Oregonian, Portland)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

There Is Only One Perfect NCAA Tournament Bracket Left Entering Sweet 16

Forget Lost Productivity, March Madness Provides Huge Benefits to Office Morale & Motivation, Study Finds

Shoppers Get Drunk, Go Online, And Spend Money on Amazon “…roughly $48 billion on drunken purchases every year…”

Uri Geller Urges Mass-Telepathy Against Brexit

SONG OF THE DAY

Willie Nelson – Waltz Across Texas

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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