Tuesday, March 31, 2020

The Energy News Digest for March 31, 2020


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

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Wyden, Merkley Call for Utility-Customer Protections (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Staying at Home More Difficult for Pierce County Residents with Substandard or No Internet (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Pacific Gas & Electric Can’t Be Sued for Fire-Prevention Power Blackouts: Bankruptcy Judge (Courthouse News Service)

Proposed British Columbia Container Terminal Would Threaten Endangered Killer Whales, Review Panel Finds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Inslee: Thousands Are Calling About Stay-at-Home Violators; Online Complaint Forms to Fight Coronavirus (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Pacific Gas & Electric Can’t Be Sued for Fire-Prevention Power Blackouts: Bankruptcy Judge
2.        Coastal Gas Plant Will Shut Down by 2023 As Fossil Fuels Dry Up in California
3.        Op/Ed: No One Wants to Be Labeled an Un-Woke ‘Salmon Racist’
4.        Op/Ed: NorthWestern Energy’s Plans Flawed, Troubling
5.        Oregon’s U.S. Senators Wyden, Merkley Call for Utility-Customer Protections
6.        Utilities Aim to Keep Specially Trained Employees Healthy & Working
7.        Electricity Demand Decreases Due to Coronavirus Lockdowns
8.        Proposed British Columbia Container Terminal Would Threaten Endangered Killer Whales, Review Panel Finds
9.        Pacific Snake Eel, Rarely Seen in Oregon, Found near Astoria
10.     Trump Administration Scraps Obama Fuel-Efficiency Standard, Opts for Laxer Rule
11.     Will Data Flatten the Power Industry — Or Hand a New Advantage to Its Incumbents?
12.     Staying at Home More Difficult for Pierce County Residents with Substandard or No Internet
13.     School Shutdowns Raise Stakes of Digital Divide for Students
14.     Broadband Is Now Our Lifeline, 20 Million Still Lack Access
15.     Those Without Broadband Struggle in a Stuck-At-Home Nation
16.     Governing by Webcam: Councils, Boards Move Meetings Online
17.     Yes, Electric Cars Are Cleaner, Even When the Power Comes from Coal
18.     The Other First Responders: Local Journalists
19.     Editorial: Don’t Let Local News Become a Victim of Coronavirus
20.     Coronavirus: World Leaders’ Posts Deleted Over Fake News
21.     Inslee: Thousands Are Calling About Stay-at-Home Violators; Online Complaint Forms to Fight Coronavirus
22.     Coronavirus: Washington State’s Small Businesses Could Get Federal Aid. What You Need to Know
23.     Washington State Dept. of Licensing Offices Closing to Public
24.     Washington State Governor’s Office Says ‘Letter of Transit’ Rumors Aren’t True
25.     President Trump Pushes $2 Trillion Infrastructure Package in Next Coronavirus Bill, Saying It Must Be ‘VERY BIG & BOLD’
26.     Mason County COVID-19 Cases Increase to Five
27.     Experts Try to Understand Rural Spike in Positive COVID-19 Tests
28.     Coronavirus Updates: Scammers Targeting Stimulus Payments
29.     No Money for Rent or Mortgage? Here’s What to Do.
30.     Cold Air Blast & a Few Snowflakes in Western Washington State
31.     Swarm of 650 Earthquakes Rattles Utah, Idaho & California, Experts Say
32.     Washington State Launches Expedited Hiring Process for Correctional Officers amid Coronavirus Outbreak
33.     Report: Mass Breakout in Yakima Started as Jail Riot
34.     Marriott Says New Data Breach Affects 5.2 Million Guests

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Adjective /PLEN-uh-ree/ Adjective – 1: complete in every respect: absolute, unqualified, 2: fully attended or constituted by all entitled to be present.

Cold, empty spaces
No plenary session here
Cancelled by COVID


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Can’t Be Sued for Fire-Prevention Power Blackouts: Bankruptcy Judge (Courthouse News Service)

2.      Coastal Gas Plant Will Shut Down by 2023 As Fossil Fuels Dry Up in California (Los Angeles Times, CA)

3.      Op/Ed: No One Wants to Be Labeled an Un-Woke ‘Salmon Racist’ (Idaho State Journal)

4.      Op/Ed: NorthWestern Energy’s Plans Flawed, Troubling (Billings Gazette, MT)

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS – COVID CONUNDRUM

5.      Oregon’s U.S. Senators Wyden, Merkley Call for Utility-Customer Protections (Portland Business Journal, OR)

6.      Utilities Aim to Keep Specially Trained Employees Healthy & Working (National Public Radio)

7.      Electricity Demand Decreases Due to Coronavirus Lockdowns (Power Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

8.      Proposed British Columbia Container Terminal Would Threaten Endangered Killer Whales, Review Panel Finds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

9.      Pacific Snake Eel, Rarely Seen in Oregon, Found near Astoria (Oregonian, Portland)

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

10.   Trump Administration Scraps Obama Fuel-Efficiency Standard, Opts for Laxer Rule (USA Today)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   Will Data Flatten the Power Industry — Or Hand a New Advantage to Its Incumbents? (Forbes Magazine)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

12.   Staying at Home More Difficult for Pierce County Residents with Substandard or No Internet (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

13.   School Shutdowns Raise Stakes of Digital Divide for Students (Associated Press)

14.   Broadband Is Now Our Lifeline, 20 Million Still Lack Access (The Hill, Washington, DC)

15.   Those Without Broadband Struggle in a Stuck-At-Home Nation (Associated Press)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

16.   Governing by Webcam: Councils, Boards Move Meetings Online (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

17.   Yes, Electric Cars Are Cleaner, Even When the Power Comes from Coal (Forbes Magazine)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

18.   The Other First Responders: Local Journalists (Christian Science Monitor)

19.   Editorial: Don’t Let Local News Become a Victim of Coronavirus (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

20.   Coronavirus: World Leaders’ Posts Deleted Over Fake News (British Broadcasting Corporation)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

21.   Inslee: Thousands Are Calling About Stay-at-Home Violators; Online Complaint Forms to Fight Coronavirus (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

22.   Coronavirus: Washington State’s Small Businesses Could Get Federal Aid. What You Need to Know (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

23.   Washington State Dept. of Licensing Offices Closing to Public (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

24.   Washington State Governor’s Office Says ‘Letter of Transit’ Rumors Aren’t True (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

25.   President Trump Pushes $2 Trillion Infrastructure Package in Next Coronavirus Bill, Saying It Must Be ‘VERY BIG & BOLD’ (Washington Post)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

26.   Mason County COVID-19 Cases Increase to Five (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

27.   Experts Try to Understand Rural Spike in Positive COVID-19 Tests (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

28.   Coronavirus Updates: Scammers Targeting Stimulus Payments (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

29.   No Money for Rent or Mortgage? Here’s What to Do. (Washington Post)

GENERAL NEWS

30.   Cold Air Blast & a Few Snowflakes in Western Washington State (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

31.   Swarm of 650 Earthquakes Rattles Utah, Idaho & California, Experts Say (Sacramento Bee, CA)

32.   Washington State Launches Expedited Hiring Process for Correctional Officers amid Coronavirus Outbreak (Associated Press)

33.   Report: Mass Breakout in Yakima Started as Jail Riot (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

34.   Marriott Says New Data Breach Affects 5.2 Million Guests (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

GOATS & VAN GOUGH – DIVERSIONS

Dutch Museum Closed by Virus Has Van Gogh Painting Stolen

Fauci Socks, Fauci Doughnuts, Fauci Fan Art: The Coronavirus Expert Attracts a Cult Following

Wild Goats Roam Through an Empty Welsh Town

Town Creates Neighborhood ‘Safari’ for Kids During Pandemic

SONG OF THE DAY

The Carpenters – Solitaire

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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