Monday, March 9, 2020

The Energy News Digest for March 9, 2020 – Back in the Saddle Edition


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

Avista Will Refund $8.4 Million in Overcharges to Electric, Natural Gas Customers in Washington State (KREM-TV, Spokane, WA)

In Rural Washington, Coronavirus Outbreak Takes a Big Bite Out of Pulp & Shellfish Exports to China (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Utilities on High Alert as Phishing Attempts, Cyber Probing Spike Related to Coronavirus (Utility Dive)

Washington State Ranchers Are Losing Land to Solar Farms & Wine — Help Is on the Way (Crosscut Seattle)

Washington Dept. of Ecology Releases Report on Plan to Build a Flood-Control Dam on Chehalis River (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Avista Will Refund $8.4 Million in Overcharges to Electric, Natural Gas Customers in Washington State
2.        Utilities on High Alert as Phishing Attempts, Cyber Probing Spike Related to Coronavirus
3.        Coronavirus Prompts Cowlitz PUD to Urge Customers to Do Business by Phone & Online
4.        Groups Want More Time to Comment on Columbia River Plan
5.        Editorial: Feds Agree Removing Dams Would Be a Mistake
6.        Op/Ed: Removing Dams on the Lower Snake River Is Shortsighted
7.        The Smaller Is Better Movement in Nuclear Power
8.        Jefferson PUD Commission – Kenneth Collins Seeks Second Term
9.        Fall River Electric Coop: How a Local Power Company Is Giving Back to Its Customers
10.     Charities Take Florida Power & Light Money, Back FPL Rate Hikes
11.     Democratic U.S. Senators Push to Include FERC Reform in Comprehensive Senate Energy Bill
12.     Washington Dept. of Ecology Releases Report on Plan to Build a Flood-Control Dam on Chehalis River
13.     Can Oysters Be the Answer to Eroding California Shorelines?
14.     Washington State Ranchers Are Losing Land to Solar Farms & Wine — Help Is on the Way
15.     Op/Ed: Angry U.S. Landowners Are Killing Off Renewable Energy Projects
16.     Sierra Pacific to Provide Puget Sound Energy with Renewable Energy
17.     Utah’s Largest Power Company & Solar Advocates Fight over Rooftop Panels
18.     Arizona: Pumped Hydropower Dam Would Create 10-Mile Finger Lake on San Francisco River
19.     Energy Adviser: Review Utility Bill to Save Money
20.     Editorial: It’s Time for Clean-Fuel Standard in Washington State. Climate Change Is Coming at Us Hard
21.     Pot Entrepreneurs Flocking to the Bible Belt for Low Taxes
22.     Stop Annoying People with These Email Greetings & Signoffs
23.     Montana Gov. Steve Bullock to Run for Senate Against Daines
24.     Bureau of Land Management Exodus: Agency Loses Half of DC Staff Slated for Relocation
25.     In Rural Washington, Coronavirus Outbreak Takes a Big Bite Out of Pulp & Shellfish Exports to China
26.     Washington State Governor Weighs ‘Mandatory Measures’ as Coronavirus Outbreak Continues
27.     Oregon Declares State of Emergency to Fight New Coronavirus
28.     Senators Grill U.S. Energy Secretary on Hanford Cuts & What He’ll ‘Kick Down the Road’
29.     Western Washington State is Not Done with Cold & Snow
30.     Belfair Man Crashes near Tacoma Narrows Bridge
31.     Daylight Savings Year-Round Could Save Lives, Improve Sleep & Other Benefits

WORD OF THE DAY

Plunk • \PLUNK\ • Verb - 1: to pluck or hit so as to produce a quick, hollow, metallic, or harsh sound 2: to set down suddenly

“Ahh…listen to the sweet, sustained sound of the ‘C’ chord on this mahogany ukulele,” sighed Joel before his friends…their heads stretched forward, straining to hear something more than the eloquently described plunky sound.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Avista Will Refund $8.4 Million in Overcharges to Electric, Natural Gas Customers in Washington State (KREM-TV, Spokane, WA)

2.      Utilities on High Alert as Phishing Attempts, Cyber Probing Spike Related to Coronavirus (Utility Dive)

3.      Coronavirus Prompts Cowlitz PUD to Urge Customers to Do Business by Phone & Online (Longview Daily News, WA)

4.      Groups Want More Time to Comment on Columbia River Plan (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

5.      Editorial: Feds Agree Removing Dams Would Be a Mistake (Capital Press)

6.      Op/Ed: Removing Dams on the Lower Snake River Is Shortsighted (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

7.      The Smaller Is Better Movement in Nuclear Power (Mother Jones)

8.      Jefferson PUD Commission – Kenneth Collins Seeks Second Term (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

9.      Fall River Electric Coop: How a Local Power Company Is Giving Back to Its Customers (East Idaho News)

10.   Charities Take Florida Power & Light Money, Back FPL Rate Hikes (Palm Beach Post, FL)

11.   Democratic U.S. Senators Push to Include FERC Reform in Comprehensive Senate Energy Bill (Utility Dive)

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

12.   Washington Dept. of Ecology Releases Report on Plan to Build a Flood-Control Dam on Chehalis River (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

13.   Can Oysters Be the Answer to Eroding California Shorelines? (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   Washington State Ranchers Are Losing Land to Solar Farms & Wine — Help Is on the Way (Crosscut Seattle)

15.   Op/Ed: Angry U.S. Landowners Are Killing Off Renewable Energy Projects (New York Post)

16.   Sierra Pacific to Provide Puget Sound Energy with Renewable Energy (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt Vernon, WA)

17.   Utah’s Largest Power Company & Solar Advocates Fight over Rooftop Panels (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

18.   Arizona: Pumped Hydropower Dam Would Create 10-Mile Finger Lake on San Francisco River (Silver City Daily Press, NM)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Energy Adviser: Review Utility Bill to Save Money (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

20.   Editorial: It’s Time for Clean-Fuel Standard in Washington State. Climate Change Is Coming at Us Hard (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

21.   Pot Entrepreneurs Flocking to the Bible Belt for Low Taxes (Associated Press)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

22.   Stop Annoying People with These Email Greetings & Sign-Offs (Fast Company)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

23.   Montana Gov. Steve Bullock to Run for Senate Against Daines (Associated Press)

24.   Bureau of Land Management Exodus: Agency Loses Half of DC Staff Slated for Relocation (The Hill, Washington, DC)

GENERAL NEWS

25.   In Rural Washington, Coronavirus Outbreak Takes a Big Bite Out of Pulp & Shellfish Exports to China (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

26.   Washington State Governor Weighs ‘Mandatory Measures’ as Coronavirus Outbreak Continues (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

27.   Oregon Declares State of Emergency to Fight New Coronavirus (Associated Press)

28.   Senators Grill U.S. Energy Secretary on Hanford Cuts & What He’ll ‘Kick Down the Road’ (Tri-City Herald, WA)

29.   Western Washington State is Not Done with Cold & Snow (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

30.   Belfair Man Crashes near Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

31.   Daylight Savings Year-Round Could Save Lives, Improve Sleep & Other Benefits (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Max von Sydow, Star of Films from ‘The Seventh Seal’ to ‘The Exorcist,’ Dead at 90

Led Zeppelin Did Not Steal ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Riff, Court Rules

Bacon Saved After Pedometer-Eating Pig’s Poo Starts Farm Fire

Sorry Costco Shoppers, The Enchanted Battle Ax Is Sold Out. Amid Coronavirus Panic, a Bay Area Wizard Trolled Preppers with Fake Signs for Magic Goods.

SONG OF THE DAY

Mary J Blige - Stairway to Heaven

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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