Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Energy News Digest for June 18, 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

A Wetter than Normal Period Ahead (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)





HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Kremlin Warns of Cyberwar After Report of U.S. Hacking into Russian Power Grid (NY Times)

‘Extreme’ Wildfire Danger Possible Near Tri-Cities. Red Flag Warning Issued (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

Oregon’s Cap-And-Trade Bill Clears House, Heads to Senate (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Generator Failure That Killed Millions of Chinook Salmon Was Preventable, State Finds (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

“Et Tu, Brutus?” – Whale Watchers Accused of Loving Endangered Orcas to Death (National Public Radio)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Kremlin Warns of Cyberwar After Report of U.S. Hacking into Russian Power Grid
2.      Audio: Hacking the Russian Power Grid – Attacks by the U.S. Risk Escalating a Digital Cold War
3.      California Approved Utility Wildfire Plans. The Next Step Is to See If They’re Working
4.      Avista Warns of Scammers Continuing to Target Utility Customers
5.      Snohomish PUD Summertime Work Aimed at Enhancing System Reliability
6.      Chelan PUD Reveals Strong Standard & Poors Bond Rating
7.      Sacramento Municipal Utility District Recognized as 2019 Public Power Utility of the Year
8.      NERC Report Highlights Potential Summer Electricity Issues for Texas & California
9.      Southwest Power Pool to Launch Energy Imbalance Market as Alternative to California Independent System Operator
10.   Blackout in South America Raises Questions About Power Grid
11.   Generator Failure That Killed Millions of Chinook Salmon Was Preventable, State Finds
12.   “Et Tu, Brutus?” – Whale Watchers Accused of Loving Endangered Orcas to Death
13.   Coastal Recreational Salmon Season Opens June 22 with Higher Coho Quota
14.   Gray Whale Washes Up on Oregon Coast
15.   Fish Farms Face Threats to Growth Prospects from Climate Change & Antibiotics Overuse
16.   Every Week Is Pollinator Week at the Bonneville Power Administration
17.   Irrigation – and Dwindling Water Supplies – on the Horizon for Midwest Corn Farmers
18.   Arkansas: Two Dragonfly Execs Indicted in Wind Farm Scheme
19.   U.S. Solar Market Sees Best First Quarter in History
20.   Solar Training Programs Aim to Open Doors for Former Prison Inmates
21.   Palm Springs Windmill Catches Fire Off I-10, Then Reported Spinning Out of Control
22.   FCC Wants Faster Internet for Farmers
23.   Unleashing Broadband on Rural America Leads to Nearly $65 Billion in Economic Benefits Annually
24.   Utilities Bicker Over FCC Broadband Proposal as Industry Leader Rebrands
25.   AP Explains: Behind Libra, Facebook’s New Digital Currency
26.   Google Calendar Dies One Hour After Google Tweets About How Great It Is [Update]
27.   Volkswagen to Pay for Washington State’s New Fleet of Electric Buses
28.   Oregon’s Cap-And-Trade Bill Clears House, Heads to Senate
29.   Alaska Climate Change Forcing Some Villages to Relocate
30.   Fish & Chips Under Threat from Climate Change, Study Says
31.   Why Do Some People Capitalize Letters When They’re Trying to Make a Point?
32.   Washington State Senator Fined After Assistant Books Campaign-Related Event in Capitol Campus Building
33.   Tariffs Are Set to Affect Fireworks – No One’s Happy About It
34.   ‘Extreme’ Wildfire Danger Possible Near Tri-Cities. Red Flag Warning Issued
35.   Targeted Home Robbery in Belfair
36.   Boeing Apologizes for 737 Max Crashes as Airbus Rakes in Sales
37.   Undeliverable Boeing 737 Max Jets Spill Over to Central Washington State for Storage
38.   Mason General Hospital CEO Eric Moll Honored as Thurston Chamber Health Care Champion
39.   Shelton Relay for Life Set for Saturday
40.   Business of… Mason County

WORD OF THE DAY

Coulrophobia • \COOL-ruh-foe-bee-uh\ • noun - Fear of clowns

“Let’s go to the circus,” squealed little Nell to her indulgent parents. Her usually pliant father refrained with a shudder, a flash of coulrophobia rooting him to the spot. He had never fully recovered from a “seltzer bottle” incident in 1968 when clowns ruled the circus at the state fair. “The horror,” he whispered; “the horror.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Kremlin Warns of Cyberwar After Report of U.S. Hacking into Russian Power Grid (NY Times)

2.    Audio: Hacking the Russian Power Grid – Attacks by the U.S. Risk Escalating a Digital Cold War (NY Times)

3.    California Approved Utility Wildfire Plans. The Next Step Is to See If They’re Working (Utility Dive)

4.    Avista Warns of Scammers Continuing to Target Utility Customers (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

5.    Snohomish PUD Summertime Work Aimed at Enhancing System Reliability (Mountlake Terrace News, WA)

6.    Chelan PUD Reveals Strong Standard & Poors Bond Rating (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

7.    Sacramento Municipal Utility District Recognized as 2019 Public Power Utility of the Year (American Public Power Association)

8.    NERC Report Highlights Potential Summer Electricity Issues for Texas & California (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

9.    Southwest Power Pool to Launch Energy Imbalance Market as Alternative to California Independent System Operator (Utility Dive)

10. Blackout in South America Raises Questions About Power Grid (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

11. Generator Failure That Killed Millions of Chinook Salmon Was Preventable, State Finds (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

12. “Et Tu, Brutus?” – Whale Watchers Accused of Loving Endangered Orcas to Death (National Public Radio)

13. Coastal Recreational Salmon Season Opens June 22 with Higher Coho Quota (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

14. Gray Whale Washes Up on Oregon Coast (Associated Press)


16. Every Week Is Pollinator Week at the Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville Power Administration)

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

17. Irrigation – and Dwindling Water Supplies – on the Horizon for Midwest Corn Farmers (Courthouse News Service)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

18. Arkansas: Two Dragonfly Execs Indicted in Wind Farm Scheme (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Littlerock, AR)

19. U.S. Solar Market Sees Best First Quarter in History (Solar Energy Industries Association)

20. Solar Training Programs Aim to Open Doors for Former Prison Inmates (Energy News Network)

21. Palm Springs Windmill Catches Fire Off I-10, Then Reported Spinning Out of Control (The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

22. FCC Wants Faster Internet for Farmers (C|Net)

23. Unleashing Broadband on Rural America Leads to Nearly $65 Billion in Economic Benefits Annually (American Farm Bureau Federation)

24. Utilities Bicker Over FCC Broadband Proposal as Industry Leader Rebrands (Morning Consult)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

25. AP Explains: Behind Libra, Facebook’s New Digital Currency (Associated Press)

26. Google Calendar Dies One Hour After Google Tweets About How Great It Is [Update] (Gizmodo)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

27. Volkswagen to Pay for Washington State’s New Fleet of Electric Buses (Crosscut Seattle)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

28. Oregon’s Cap-And-Trade Bill Clears House, Heads to Senate (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

29. Alaska Climate Change Forcing Some Villages to Relocate (Associated Press)

30. Fish & Chips Under Threat from Climate Change, Study Says (The Independent, UK)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31. Why Do Some People Capitalize Letters When They’re Trying to Make a Point? (Mashable)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

32. Washington State Senator Fined After Assistant Books Campaign-Related Event in Capitol Campus Building (Associated Press)

33. Tariffs Are Set to Affect Fireworks – No One’s Happy About It (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

34. ‘Extreme’ Wildfire Danger Possible Near Tri-Cities. Red Flag Warning Issued (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA)

35. Targeted Home Robbery in Belfair (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

36. Boeing Apologizes for 737 Max Crashes as Airbus Rakes in Sales (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

37. Undeliverable Boeing 737 Max Jets Spill Over to Central Washington State for Storage (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

38. Mason General Hospital CEO Eric Moll Honored as Thurston Chamber Health Care Champion (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

39. Shelton Relay for Life Set for Saturday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

40. Business of… Mason County (South Sound Business)

GOLDFISH IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Babe Ruth Jersey Knocks It Out of the Park, Sells for Record-Setting $5.64 Million at Auction

Scientists Take a Peek Behind Those Sad Puppy Dog Eyes

Warning About Flushing Pet Fish After Giant Goldfish Is Found in Niagara River

Someone wanted a Mariah Carey birthday cake. They got Marie Curie instead.

SONG OF THE DAY

Robert John – Sad Eyes

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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