Monday, January 14, 2019

Energy News Digest for January 14, 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 to File for Bankruptcy Protection as California Wildfire Costs Mount (Utility Dive)

New Orca Calf Seen among Puget Sound’s Critically Endangered Killer Whales (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Washington State Lawmakers Propose New Strategy after Voters Nix Carbon Tax (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Hearing Held on Newport Silicon Smelter Land Sale (Spokane Public Radio, WA)

Port Angeles Police Warn of Fake City Workers (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric to File for Bankruptcy Protection as California Wildfire Costs Mount
2.      Pacific Gas & Electric Customers Face Higher Bills after Bankruptcy amid Wildfire Woes
3.      Port Angeles Police Warn of Fake City Workers
4.      Clark Public Utilities Takes Steps to Improve Sustainability, Efficiency of Its Vehicle Fleet
5.      Tennessee Senator Supports Yucca Mountain for Nuclear Waste Storage
6.      President Trump Can’t Stop U.S. Coal Plants from Retiring
7.      Clean, Abundant Energy: Fusion Dreams Never End
8.      Question for Democrats: What is a ‘Green New Deal’?
9.      New Orca Calf Seen among Puget Sound’s Critically Endangered Killer Whales
10.   Government Shutdown Threatens Idaho’s Hatchery-Based Steelhead Season
11.   British Columbia: First Nation Sues Feds over Atlantic Salmon Farming in Pacific Waters
12.   Seals Are Stranded in a Canadian Town – People Wonder What to Do
13.   Can Robotic ‘Sensor Fish’ Save Salmon from Hydroelectric Dams?
14.   Hearing Held on Newport Silicon Smelter Land Sale
15.   Five Quick Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bills in Winter
16.   How Bad is the Digital Divide?
17.   Verizon Promises Not to Over-Hype 5G, Immediately Proceeds to Over-Hype 5G
18.   How Polluted Is Your Neighborhood? This New Tool Will Tell You
19.   Washington State Lawmakers Propose New Strategy after Voters Nix Carbon Tax
20.   Inslee: Defeated Twice, A Top Climate Change Crusader Has a Wake-Up Call Some Democrats Won’t Want to Hear
21.   The Oceans Are Warming Faster Than We Thought. Scientists Suggest We Brace for Impact
22.   New Washington State Website Makes It Easier to Search through Historical Newspapers
23.   An Egg, Just a Regular Egg, Is Instagram’s Most-Liked Post Ever
24.   Editorial: A Critical To-Do List for the 2019 Washington State Legislature
25.   Washington State Senator Ranker Resigns amid Workplace Conduct Investigation
26.   Now Being Held Hostage by the Shutdown: Your Favorite Craft Brewery
27.   New Fire Station Proposed for Belfair
28.   Former Tonasket Officer Says Mayor Asked Him to Change Name Because ‘Jose’ Sounded Too Hispanic
29.   ‘A Travesty to This Nation’: People Are Destroying Joshua Trees in Joshua Tree National Park

WORD OF THE DAY

Mea Culpa /may-uh KOOL-puh/ Noun – A formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error – Latin, “through my fault”.

“Too late MISTER Brown; too late,” intoned the pink, moist lump of flesh, otherwise known as the pit boss. “Your mea culpa for cheating the house out of $10 million is laudable,” the corpulent supervisor murmured softly, his words wafting through the darkened room like the fragrance of rancid incense. “Fortunately for us, you DO have a future in this casino. Unfortunately for you, it will be as a stack of poker chips,” the Jabba-like personage cackled. “Take him away lads.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Pacific Gas & Electric to File for Bankruptcy Protection as California Wildfire Costs Mount (Utility Dive)

2.    Pacific Gas & Electric Customers Face Higher Bills after Bankruptcy amid Wildfire Woes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

3.    Port Angeles Police Warn of Fake City Workers (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

4.    Clark Public Utilities Takes Steps to Improve Sustainability, Efficiency of Its Vehicle Fleet (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

5.    Tennessee Senator Supports Yucca Mountain for Nuclear Waste Storage (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

6.    President Trump Can’t Stop U.S. Coal Plants from Retiring (Reuters)

7.    Clean, Abundant Energy: Fusion Dreams Never End (NY Times)

8.    Question for Democrats: What is a ‘Green New Deal’? (Politico)

FISH & WILDLIFE

9.    New Orca Calf Seen among Puget Sound’s Critically Endangered Killer Whales (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

10. Government Shutdown Threatens Idaho’s Hatchery-Based Steelhead Season (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

11. British Columbia: First Nation Sues Feds over Atlantic Salmon Farming in Pacific Waters (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

12. Seals Are Stranded in a Canadian Town – People Wonder What to Do (NY Times)

13. Can Robotic ‘Sensor Fish’ Save Salmon from Hydroelectric Dams? (GeekWire)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14. Hearing Held on Newport Silicon Smelter Land Sale (Spokane Public Radio, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15. Five Quick Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bills in Winter (Associated Press)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

16. How Bad is the Digital Divide? (Pots & Pans)

17. Verizon Promises Not to Over-Hype 5G, Immediately Proceeds to Over-Hype 5G (Wireless)

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

18. How Polluted Is Your Neighborhood? This New Tool Will Tell You (Crosscut Seattle)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

19. Washington State Lawmakers Propose New Strategy after Voters Nix Carbon Tax (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

20. Inslee: Defeated Twice, A Top Climate Change Crusader Has a Wake-Up Call Some Democrats Won’t Want to Hear (NBC News)

21. The Oceans Are Warming Faster Than We Thought. Scientists Suggest We Brace for Impact (Washington Post)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

22. New Washington State Website Makes It Easier to Search through Historical Newspapers (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

23. An Egg, Just a Regular Egg, Is Instagram’s Most-Liked Post Ever (NY Times)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

24. Editorial: A Critical To-Do List for the 2019 Washington State Legislature (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

25. Washington State Senator Ranker Resigns amid Workplace Conduct Investigation (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

26. Now Being Held Hostage by the Shutdown: Your Favorite Craft Brewery (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

27. New Fire Station Proposed for Belfair (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

28. Former Tonasket Officer Says Mayor Asked Him to Change Name Because ‘Jose’ Sounded Too Hispanic (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

29. ‘A Travesty to This Nation’: People Are Destroying Joshua Trees in Joshua Tree National Park (Washington Post)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

School Urges Rich Kids to Stop Wearing — And Losing — $350 Beanies

Company in Kentucky Makes Slippers to Look Just Like Your Pet

Utah Teen Attempts ‘Bird Box Challenge,’ Crashes Car While Eyes Are Covered

This Is the World’s Most Beautiful Bookstore

SONG OF THE DAY

Miles Davis Quintet - I Could Write a 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.