Friday, February 28, 2020

Energy News Digest for February 28, 2020


The “Hot Shots” edition of the news digest is available on Facebook, and on Twitter.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS





HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Feds Reject Removal of Four Snake River Dams in Key Report (Associated Press)

As Puget Sound Energy Moves to Sell Colstrip Share, Critics Say NorthWestern Energy is Desperate to Keep Coal Plant Online (Utility Dive)

Environmental Evaluation for Proposed Chehalis River Flood Reduction Project Ready for Review (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Local Gray Whales Named ‘Sounders’ May Hold Clues to Mystery of 2019 Die-Off (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Coronavirus Expected to Spread as Washington State Prepares to Become First in Country to Perform In-State Testing (KNDO/KNDU – Tri-Cities, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.        Feds Reject Removal of Four Snake River Dams in Key Report
2.        Snake River Dams Should Stay, Concludes Court-Ordered Draft Federal Report
3.        Columbia River System Operations EIS Comment Period Open – February 28 - April 13
4.        As Puget Sound Energy Moves to Sell Colstrip Share, Critics Say NorthWestern Energy is Desperate to Keep Coal Plant Online
5.        Regulators Boost Pacific Gas & Electric’s Wildfire Fine to $2.1 Billion
6.        Massive New Bipartisan Senate Energy Legislative Package Could See Vote as Early as Next Week
7.        Landmark Bipartisan Energy Bill Includes Cantwell Provisions to Modernize, Protect America’s Energy Grid
8.        Local Gray Whales Named ‘Sounders’ May Hold Clues to Mystery of 2019 Die-Off
9.        Tensions rise ahead of B.C. herring fishery season
10.     Successful Blast Removes Portion of Big Bar Landslide Obstructing Fraser River Salmon Migration
11.     Op/Ed: Oregon’s Orcas, Too
12.     SpaceX May Be Eyeing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction for Rural Broadband Funding
13.     U.S. Senate OKs $1 Billion for Small Telecom Providers
14.     Why Are U.S. Broadband Prices So High?
15.     Cloud Computing Is Not the Energy Hog That Had Been Feared
16.     Google to Invest $10 Billion in Offices & Data Centers in 11 States This Year, Including Washington
17.     Many Internet of Things Projects Fail — Portland General Electric’s Approach Could Change That for Utilities
18.     Environmental Evaluation for Proposed Chehalis River Flood Reduction Project Ready for Review
19.     Lewis County Commissioners Up the Ante in Bottled Water Battle
20.     California Is Abnormally Dry after Low-Precipitation Winter
21.     Can Electric Cars Rise In Time To Save Us? Washington State Says Yes
22.     The Plug-In Electric Car Is Having Its Moment – Despite False Starts, Toyota Is Still Trying to Make the Fuel Cell Happen
23.     Earth Temporarily Captures New Moon the Size of a Car
24.     Biggest Explosion in the Universe Spotted by Astronomers
25.     Washington Agency Rejects Facebook Political Ad Settlement
26.     Op/Ed: Protecting More of the Olympic Peninsula Would Be a Win for Public Lands & the Economy
27.     Coronavirus Expected to Spread as Washington State Prepares to Become First in Country to Perform In-State Testing
28.     North Mason to re-run school support levy in April
29.     Suspect Killed in Gun Battle with State Troopers in Purdy
30.     Judge Blocks Trump from Using Kitsap Naval Base Funds on Border Wall

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Feds Reject Removal of Four Snake River Dams in Key Report (Associated Press)

2.      Snake River Dams Should Stay, Concludes Court-Ordered Draft Federal Report (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

3.      Columbia River System Operations EIS Comment Period Open – February 28 - April 13 (Columbia River System Operations)

4.      As Puget Sound Energy Moves to Sell Colstrip Share, Critics Say NorthWestern Energy is Desperate to Keep Coal Plant Online (Utility Dive)

5.      Regulators Boost Pacific Gas & Electric’s Wildfire Fine to $2.1 Billion (Associated Press)

6.      Massive New Bipartisan Senate Energy Legislative Package Could See Vote as Early as Next Week (Utility Dive)

7.      Landmark Bipartisan Energy Bill Includes Cantwell Provisions to Modernize, Protect America’s Energy Grid (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

8.      Local Gray Whales Named ‘Sounders’ May Hold Clues to Mystery of 2019 Die-Off (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

9.      Tensions rise ahead of B.C. herring fishery season (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

10.   Successful Blast Removes Portion of Big Bar Landslide Obstructing Fraser River Salmon Migration (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

11.   Op/Ed: Oregon’s Orcas, Too (Oregonian, Portland)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

12.   SpaceX May Be Eyeing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction for Rural Broadband Funding (Telecompetitor)

13.   U.S. Senate OKs $1 Billion for Small Telecom Providers (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

14.   Why Are U.S. Broadband Prices So High? (Pots & Pans)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

15.   Cloud Computing Is Not the Energy Hog That Had Been Feared “…Some have been built near the Arctic for natural cooling & others beside huge hydroelectric plants in the Pacific Northwest…” (NY Times)

16.   Google to Invest $10 Billion in Offices & Data Centers in 11 States This Year, Including Washington (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

17.   Many Internet of Things Projects Fail — Portland General Electric’s Approach Could Change That for Utilities (Utility Dive)

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

18.   Environmental Evaluation for Proposed Chehalis River Flood Reduction Project Ready for Review (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

19.   Lewis County Commissioners Up the Ante in Bottled Water Battle (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

20.   California Is Abnormally Dry after Low-Precipitation Winter (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

21.   Can Electric Cars Rise In Time To Save Us? Washington State Says Yes (Forbes Magazine)

22.   The Plug-In Electric Car Is Having Its Moment – Despite False Starts, Toyota Is Still Trying to Make the Fuel Cell Happen (Washington Post)

VATS OF STEAMING GOO – POTPOURRI OF SCIENCE

23.   Earth Temporarily Captures New Moon the Size of a Car (Washington Examiner)

24.   Biggest Explosion in the Universe Spotted by Astronomers (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

25.   Washington Agency Rejects Facebook Political Ad Settlement (Associated Press)

26.   Op/Ed: Protecting More of the Olympic Peninsula Would Be a Win for Public Lands & the Economy (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

27.   Coronavirus Expected to Spread as Washington State Prepares to Become First in Country to Perform In-State Testing (KNDO/KNDU – Tri-Cities, WA)

28.   North Mason to re-run school support levy in April (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

29.   Suspect Killed in Gun Battle with State Troopers in Purdy (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA)

30.   Judge Blocks Trump from Using Kitsap Naval Base Funds on Border Wall (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

DREAM OF WHIRLED PEAS – DIVERSIONS

Scientists Made an Environmentally Friendly Gin from Peas. Yes, It Will Still Get You Drunk (Mashable)

Ontario’s New License Plates Have a Problem: You Can’t Read Them

Centuries-Old Law against Cursing in Public Repealed by Virginia Legislators

Tradition Behind Women Proposing on a Leap Year - And the Get-Out Clause for Men

SONG OF THE DAY

The Fifth Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

Dam Review Coming (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) — The Trump administration is expected to release today a new draft environmental impact statement for the system of federal dams along the Columbia River and its tributary, the Snake River. The dams produce nearly half of the nation's hydropower but also serve as major impediments for fish, including endangered salmon. Environmental groups have targeted four of the dams on the lower Snake River for removal — an option fiercely opposed by Republican lawmakers in eastern Washington, including Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse, who have won backing from the Trump administration.

Greens, who won the environmental review as part of a 2016 court ruling, are already panning the new environmental review. "At this critical point, when what were the world's most abundant salmon runs are nearing extinction, what we need are new solutions, not a repackaging of previous strategies that clearly haven't, and won't, deliver the recovery of salmon," said Tom France, the National Wildlife Federation's regional director for the Pacific Northwest.

Friday, February 21, 2020

The Energy News Digest for February 21, 2020


Programming Note:

The Energy News Digest will be haunting the halls of Congress next week with its public power cousins. If exciting news breaks, keep an eye on the News Digests Facebook and Twitter feeds. There may be a snap reaction to the Columbia River System Operators’ Environmental Impact Statement, expected next week. If so, The digest will try to rise from its jet lag stupor to provide news items of the falderal.

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The Energy News Digest is available online. The Hot Shots edition 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

Washington State Agency Releases Climate-Change Plan, With Calls for More Renewable Projects (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Criticizes Governor Over Endorsement of Dam Removal (Baker City Herald, OR)

Spokane Tribe Celebrates Federal Compensation for Damage Caused by Grand Coulee Dam (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

State of California Sues Trump Administration Over New Federal Water Rules (Courthouse News Service)

Time Warner to Pay $18.8M to Settle Lawsuit Over Internet Speeds (Courthouse News Service)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Criticizes Governor Over Endorsement of Dam Removal
2.        Editorial: Oregon Governor Is Off Base. Breaching the Snake River Dams Is Not the Answer
3.        Spokane Tribe Celebrates Federal Compensation for Damage Caused by Grand Coulee Dam
4.        Montana Energy Panel Won’t Disclose Cost of NorthWest Energy’s Colstrip Coal Contract
5.        Grant PUD to Purchase Portable Transformer
6.        Alaska Lawmakers Take Another Look at the Susitna-Watana Hydro Project
7.        Tacoma Power Recognized by Arbor Day Foundation
8.        What’s Happening with Plans to Restructure Pacific Gas & Electric
9.        ‘It’s Not Even Close to Perfect’: Judge Blasts Pacific Gas & Electric Vegetation Management Work
10.     Trapped Paraglider Rescued from Power Lines in California
11.     FERC Deals Blow to New York Renewable, Storage Projects, Adding Hurdles to NYISO Capacity Market
12.     Canada: Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro Billing Error Sends Electric Bills Soaring on the Coast of Labrador
13.     Hourly Electricity Consumption Varies Throughout the Day & Across Seasons
14.     The Power Plant of the Future Could Run on Nuclear Waste
15.     Tribes Worry a Canadian Mine Could Poison Washington State Salmon
16.     Bald Eagles Flock to the Southern Oregon Border
17.     King County Wants to Shoot Fireworks to Keep Bald Eagles from Landfill
18.     State of California Sues Trump Administration Over New Federal Water Rules
19.     Colorado River: Climate Change Has Stolen More Than a Billion Tons of Water from the West’s Most Vital River
20.     Study Highlights Urban-Rural Divide Over the Environment
21.     Washington State Agency Releases Climate-Change Plan, With Calls for More Renewable Projects
22.     Solar Manufacturer Expanding on Bellingham’s Waterfront
23.     Editorial: Another Alternative Story Unfolds
24.     California Regulator OKs Solar Farm Alternative to Rooftop Panel Mandate
25.     As Solar Energy’s Price Has Dropped, More Companies Get Onboard
26.     Canada: BC Hydro Considers Replacing Thousands of Old Streetlights with Brighter, More Energy-Efficient LEDs
27.     Time Warner to Pay $18.8M to Settle Lawsuit Over Internet Speeds
28.     U.S. Rep. Newhouse: More Needs to Be Done Connecting Rural America
29.     Look How Far Cable TV Has Fallen – Cord-Cutting Story in 2019 Was Outright Defection from Pricey TV Packages
30.     Cyber Hackers Have New Target: Local Schools
31.     Why Rudy Giuliani’s Twitter Typos Are a Security Fail
32.     Hot Wheels Made a Mini Tesla Cybertruck Complete with Broken Window Stickers
33.     Oregon’s Cap & Trade Climate Bill: A Tax or Not? It Depends
34.     Computer Scientist Who Pioneered ‘Copy’ & ‘Paste’ Has Died
35.     Washington State Senate Releases Capital Budget
36.     Bill Could Ban Single-Family Zoning in Washington State
37.     Report Slams DOE Efforts to Prevent Catastrophic Failures at Hanford Nuclear Site
38.     False Alert Indicating Radiological Incident Went Out for Wave Customers in Jefferson County
39.     Potential Loss of Anacortes Ferry ‘Devastating to This Community,’ Mayor Says
40.     Another Sunny Day Before Clouds, Rain Return This Weekend
41.     When Does Daylight Saving Time Begin in 2020?
42.     Canada: Trudeau Convenes Meeting with Key Cabinet Ministers, Will Hold News Conference on Railroad Blockades

WORD OF THE DAY

Cartographer• \car-TAH-gruh-fer \ • Noun - One that makes maps

The 14th century artist backed away from his world map…pleased with the colors, shapes of the continents, & the symmetrical arrangement of the land masses. “It’s a good thing we won’t be using this for navigation,” mused the Genoan sailor to his first mate. “That big land mass painted by this ‘so-called’ cartographer between us & Indies would keep our hands off the spice trade for years.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Criticizes Governor Over Endorsement of Dam Removal (Baker City Herald, OR)

2.      Editorial: Oregon Governor Is Off Base. Breaching the Snake River Dams Is Not the Answer (Tri-City Herald, WA)

3.      Spokane Tribe Celebrates Federal Compensation for Damage Caused by Grand Coulee Dam (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

4.      Montana Energy Panel Won’t Disclose Cost of NorthWest Energy’s Colstrip Coal Contract (KYVH-TV, Helena, MT)

5.      Grant PUD to Purchase Portable Transformer (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

6.      Alaska Lawmakers Take Another Look at the Susitna-Watana Hydro Project (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

7.      Tacoma Power Recognized by Arbor Day Foundation (South Sound Business)

8.      What’s Happening with Plans to Restructure Pacific Gas & Electric (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

9.      ‘It’s Not Even Close to Perfect’: Judge Blasts Pacific Gas & Electric Vegetation Management Work (Utility Dive)

10.   Trapped Paraglider Rescued from Power Lines in California (Associated Press)

11.   FERC Deals Blow to New York Renewable, Storage Projects, Adding Hurdles to NYISO Capacity Market (Utility Dive)

12.   Canada: Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro Billing Error Sends Electric Bills Soaring on the Coast of Labrador (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

13.   Hourly Electricity Consumption Varies Throughout the Day & Across Seasons (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

14.   The Power Plant of the Future Could Run on Nuclear Waste (Grist Online)

FISH & WILDLIFE

15.   Tribes Worry a Canadian Mine Could Poison Washington State Salmon (Crosscut Seattle)

16.   Bald Eagles Flock to the Southern Oregon Border (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

17.   King County Wants to Shoot Fireworks to Keep Bald Eagles from Landfill (KING TV, Seattle, WA)

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

18.   State of California Sues Trump Administration Over New Federal Water Rules (Courthouse News Service)

19.   Colorado River: Climate Change Has Stolen More Than a Billion Tons of Water from the West’s Most Vital River (Washington Post)

20.   Study Highlights Urban-Rural Divide Over the Environment (Washington Ag Network)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

21.   Washington State Agency Releases Climate-Change Plan, With Calls for More Renewable Projects (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

22.   Solar Manufacturer Expanding on Bellingham’s Waterfront (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA)

23.   Editorial: Another Alternative Story Unfolds (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

24.   California Regulator OKs Solar Farm Alternative to Rooftop Panel Mandate (Courthouse News Service)

25.   As Solar Energy’s Price Has Dropped, More Companies Get Onboard (National Public Radio)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

26.   Canada: BC Hydro Considers Replacing Thousands of Old Streetlights with Brighter, More Energy-Efficient LEDs (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   Time Warner to Pay $18.8M to Settle Lawsuit Over Internet Speeds (Courthouse News Service)

28.   U.S. Rep. Newhouse: More Needs to Be Done Connecting Rural America (Washington Ag Network)

29.   Look How Far Cable TV Has Fallen – Cord-Cutting Story in 2019 Was Outright Defection from Pricey TV Packages (Fast Company)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

30.   Cyber Hackers Have New Target: Local Schools (KOMO TV, Seattle, WA)

31.   Why Rudy Giuliani’s Twitter Typos Are a Security Fail (C|Net News)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

32.   Hot Wheels Made a Mini Tesla Cybertruck Complete with Broken Window Stickers (Gizmodo)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

33.   Oregon’s Cap & Trade Climate Bill: A Tax or Not? It Depends (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

34.   Computer Scientist Who Pioneered ‘Copy’ & ‘Paste’ Has Died (Associated Press)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

35.   Washington State Senate Releases Capital Budget (Washington State Wire)

36.   Bill Could Ban Single-Family Zoning in Washington State (KING TV, Seattle, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

37.   Report Slams DOE Efforts to Prevent Catastrophic Failures at Hanford Nuclear Site (Tri-City Herald, WA)

38.   False Alert Indicating Radiological Incident Went Out for Wave Customers in Jefferson County (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

39.   Potential Loss of Anacortes Ferry ‘Devastating to This Community,’ Mayor Says (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

40.   Another Sunny Day Before Clouds, Rain Return This Weekend (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

41.   When Does Daylight Saving Time Begin in 2020? (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

42.   Canada: Trudeau Convenes Meeting with Key Cabinet Ministers, Will Hold News Conference on Railroad Blockades (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

HORSE ON A PLANE – DIVERSIONS

Grays Harbor Seaport Retiring the Hawaiian Chieftain


This Cat Was Found Skinny & Scared in a Shipping Container from China. Now She’s Ready for Adoption

Jellyfish Hurl Venom ‘Grenades’ to Snare Prey

SONG OF THE DAY

Roger Whittaker – The Last Farewell

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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