Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Energy News Digest for May 1, 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





Wetter than Normal April to be Followed by a Very Dry Start to May (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Nearly Ten Percent – Avista Seeks Approval from UTC for Increasing Electric, Natural Gas Rates (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

Drought Predicted for Olympic Peninsula (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Large Grid Storage Project Near Klamath Falls Get Federal Approval (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

State Hydropower Bill Would Sabotage California’s Clean Energy Mandate, Critics Say (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Congress & White House Agree to Spend $2 Trillion on Infrastructure (Washington Post)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Nearly Ten Percent – Avista Seeks Approval from UTC for Increasing Electric, Natural Gas Rates
2.      Clark Public Utilities in No Rush to Nix Fossil Fuels
3.      Chelan PUD Examining How to Provide Power to Wenatchee Diamond Foundry
4.      California PUC Directs Pacific Gas & Electric to Reduce Risk of Power Shut-Offs as It Mostly OKs Utility Fire Plans
5.      Pacific Power to Initiate New Metering Technology in East Oregon
6.      Alaska: Final Environmental Impact Statement for Grant Lake Hydroelectric Project
7.      One in Four U.S. Homes Is All Electric
8.      Oregon: Critical Habitat Protected on Middle Fork of John Day River
9.      Large Grid Storage Project Near Klamath Falls Get Federal Approval
10.   State Hydropower Bill Would Sabotage California’s Clean Energy Mandate, Critics Say
11.   Biomass Follies -- Austin, Texas Is the Latest City to Find It Isn’t Easy Being Green
12.   A Vermont Utility Wants Batteries for All – Tesla Will Help
13.   Op/Ed: Energy-Wasting Lightbulbs Aren’t Worth Saving, So Why Is the Trump Administration Trying?
14.   Kitsap County Seeks Public Comment on Wireless Communication Facilities Code Update
15.   AT&T Withdraws from Lifeline Program
16.   Washington’s Benton PUD gets AMI solutions from Sensus
17.   Study Says Half of World Heritage Sites Could Lose Glaciers by 2100; Canadian Rockies, Olympics
18.   Op/Ed: Your Gas Stove Is Bad for You & the Planet
19.   Facebook Unveils Redesign as It Tries to Move Past Privacy Scandals
20.   Social Media Remains Key to Venezuela’s Opposition, Despite Efforts to Block It
21.   NASA Says Metals Fraud by Oregon Firm Caused $700 Million in Losses, Two Satellite Failures
22.   Congress & White House Agree to Spend $2 Trillion on Infrastructure
23.   Shelton City Council Decides against Setting Up Salary Commission
24.   Drought Predicted for Olympic Peninsula
25.   Firefighters Battle Train-Sparked Brush Fires near Grand Mound
26.   Teens Crash Car into Lake Cushman, Sustain Minor Injuries
27.   Car Takes Out Power Pole on Agate Road, Causing Big Blackout
28.   Copper Thefts Test the Mettle of Anchorage Businesses

WORD OF THE DAY

Virescent • \vuh-RESS-sunt\ • Adjective - Beginning to be green: greenish.

The lesser known brother of Theodore Geisel, Abner, was considered the more cerebral of the siblings. Whereas Ted waxed eloquently about “Green Eggs & Ham,” Abner’s treatise was titled “The Psychological Effects of Virescent Fried Chicken Embryos & Salt-Cured Pork Flesh on Anthropomorphic Creatures in Children’s Literature.” Understandably, Ted’s writings were much better sellers in every way.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Nearly Ten Percent – Avista Seeks Approval from UTC for Increasing Electric, Natural Gas Rates (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

2.      Clark Public Utilities in No Rush to Nix Fossil Fuels (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

3.      Chelan PUD Examining How to Provide Power to Wenatchee Diamond Foundry (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

4.      California PUC Directs Pacific Gas & Electric to Reduce Risk of Power Shut-Offs as It Mostly OKs Utility Fire Plans (Utility Dive)

5.      Pacific Power to Initiate New Metering Technology in East Oregon (Daily Energy Insider)

6.      Alaska: Final Environmental Impact Statement for Grant Lake Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

7.      One in Four U.S. Homes Is All Electric (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

FISH & WILDLIFE

8.      Oregon: Critical Habitat Protected on Middle Fork of John Day River (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

9.      Large Grid Storage Project Near Klamath Falls Get Federal Approval (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

10.   State Hydropower Bill Would Sabotage California’s Clean Energy Mandate, Critics Say (Los Angeles Times, CA)

11.   Biomass Follies -- Austin, Texas Is the Latest City to Find It Isn’t Easy Being Green ((Forbes Magazine)

12.   A Vermont Utility Wants Batteries for All – Tesla Will Help (Bloomberg News)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

13.   Op/Ed: Energy-Wasting Lightbulbs Aren’t Worth Saving, So Why Is the Trump Administration Trying? (The Hill, Washington, DC)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

14.   Kitsap County Seeks Public Comment on Wireless Communication Facilities Code Update (South Sound Business)

15.   AT&T Withdraws from Lifeline Program (Pots & Pans)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

16.   Washington’s Benton PUD gets AMI solutions from Sensus (Utility Products)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

17.   Study Says Half of World Heritage Sites Could Lose Glaciers by 2100; Canadian Rockies, Olympics (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

18.   Op/Ed: Your Gas Stove Is Bad for You & the Planet – To help solve the climate crisis, we need to electrify everything. (NY Times)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

19.   Facebook Unveils Redesign as It Tries to Move Past Privacy Scandals (NY Times)

20.   Social Media Remains Key to Venezuela’s Opposition, Despite Efforts to Block It (Washington Post)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

21.   NASA Says Metals Fraud by Oregon Firm Caused $700 Million in Losses, Two Satellite Failures (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

22.   Congress & White House Agree to Spend $2 Trillion on Infrastructure (Washington Post)

23.   Shelton City Council Decides against Setting Up Salary Commission (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

24.   Drought Predicted for Olympic Peninsula (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

25.   Firefighters Battle Train-Sparked Brush Fires near Grand Mound (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

26.   Teens Crash Car into Lake Cushman, Sustain Minor Injuries (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

27.   Car Takes Out Power Pole on Agate Road, Causing Big Blackout (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

28.   Copper Thefts Test the Mettle of Anchorage Businesses (KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Brinkmanship over Bowling Alley – He Threatened to Kill the City Council to Stop Demolition of Pacific Lanes, Charges Say

Romania’s Witches Harness the Powers of the Web

The Horror – Arizona Woman Attacked by Bees after Hive Falls on Her Head

This Woman Turned Her Tree Stump into a Little Free Library Fit for Magical Elves. It Went Viral

SONG OF THE DAY

Elvis Costello – Everyday I Write the Book

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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