Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The Energy News Digest for April 21, 2020


To subscribe to The Energy News Digest, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Mason PUD 3 to Roll Out Drive-By Wi-Fi Hotspots to Help Students during COVID-19 Emergency (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Gov. Inslee Bans Utilities from Cutting Off Water, Energy & Phone Service to Homes During Coronavirus Crisis (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

‘Megadrought’ in the West Could Become Worst Drought in History, Scientists Say (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Puyallup River One of Most Endangered in Nation, Environmental Group Says, Nearly 120 Year Old Dam Blamed (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Franklin County Votes to Defy Inslee’s Order, Reopen All Businesses (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Washington State Gov. Inslee Bans Utilities from Cutting Off Water, Energy & Phone Service to Homes During Coronavirus Crisis
2.        Power Shutoff Bans Amid Pandemic May Require Cost Recovery for Utilities
3.        Electricity Shut-Offs in a Pandemic: How COVID-19 Leads to Energy Insecurity, Burdensome Bills
4.        More Than 50 Lawmakers Voice Opposition to PMA/TVA Transmission Asset Sale Proposal
5.        Lawsuit Filed to Stop Idaho-Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline
6.        New Rules for Nuclear Plant Workers: 12-Hour Days for Two Weeks Straight
7.        114 Public Power Utilities Recognized for Providing Reliable & Safe Electric Service
8.        Wind, Natural Gas-Fired Generators Led U.S. Power Sector Capacity Additions In 2019
9.        Puyallup River One of Most Endangered in Nation, Environmental Group Says
10.     Chinook Fishing Season Starts Saturday in Hells Canyon
11.     Editorial: Bad Year for Salmon Signals Ongoing Ocean Crisis
12.     ‘Megadrought’ in the West Could Become Worst Drought in History, Scientists Say
13.     Federal Jurisdiction: Secretive Group’s Petition to FERC Could ‘End Net Metering as We Know It,’ Lawyers Say
14.     Opinion: Distressed Supply Chains Uniquely Impact Renewable Energy
15.     Mason PUD 3 to Roll Out Drive-By Wi-Fi Hotspots to Help Students during COVID-19 Emergency
16.     Rural Washington Residents Working from Home Adapt to Dearth of High-Speed Internet Connectivity
17.     Netflix Adds A Whopping 16 Million Subscribers Worldwide as Coronavirus Keeps People Home
18.     Cantwell, Kennedy, Klobuchar, Boozman Send Bipartisan Letter Urging Support for Local Media Outlets Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
19.     Franklin County Votes to Defy Inslee’s Order, Reopen All Businesses
20.     COVID-19 Is in Tacoma’s Sewers. Testing Them Will Prepare Us for Future Outbreaks, Scientists Say
21.     Residents of Rural Oregon Towns Ask Urban Dwellers to Stay Home
22.     Cowlitz County Seamstresses to Hit 3,000 Mask Mark This Weekend
23.     Boeing Workers Return to Their Factories to Find Hand-Washing Stations & a New Sense of Worry
24.     Our Community Credit Union Recognized as Among Healthiest Credit Unions in the U.S.
25.     Semi Rolls Over Monday, Blocks Highway 3

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Washington State Gov. Inslee Bans Utilities from Cutting Off Water, Energy & Phone Service to Homes During Coronavirus Crisis (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

2.      Power Shutoff Bans Amid Pandemic May Require Cost Recovery for Utilities (Utility Dive)

3.      Electricity Shut-Offs in a Pandemic: How COVID-19 Leads to Energy Insecurity, Burdensome Bills (Union of Concerned Scientists)

4.      More Than 50 Lawmakers Voice Opposition to PMA/TVA Transmission Asset Sale Proposal (American Public Power Association)

5.      Lawsuit Filed to Stop Idaho-Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline (Associated Press)

6.      New Rules for Nuclear Plant Workers: 12-Hour Days for Two Weeks Straight (Bloomberg News)

7.      114 Public Power Utilities Recognized for Providing Reliable & Safe Electric Service (American Public Power Association)

8.      Wind, Natural Gas-Fired Generators Led U.S. Power Sector Capacity Additions In 2019 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

FISH & WILDLIFE

9.      Puyallup River One of Most Endangered in Nation, Environmental Group Says, Nearly 120 Year Old Dam Blamed (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

10.   Chinook Fishing Season Starts Saturday in Hells Canyon (Baker City Herald, WA)

11.   Editorial: Bad Year for Salmon Signals Ongoing Ocean Crisis (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

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

12.   ‘Megadrought’ in the West Could Become Worst Drought in History, Scientists Say (Sacramento Bee, CA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   Federal Jurisdiction: Secretive Group’s Petition to FERC Could ‘End Net Metering as We Know It,’ Lawyers Say (Utility Dive)

14.   Opinion: Distressed Supply Chains Uniquely Impact Renewable Energy (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

15.   Mason PUD 3 to Roll Out Drive-By Wi-Fi Hotspots to Help Students during COVID-19 Emergency (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

16.   Rural Washington Residents Working from Home Adapt to Dearth of High-Speed Internet Connectivity (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

17.   Netflix Adds A Whopping 16 Million Subscribers Worldwide as Coronavirus Keeps People Home (Washington Post)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

18.   Cantwell, Kennedy, Klobuchar, Boozman Send Bipartisan Letter Urging Support for Local Media Outlets Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

19.   Franklin County Votes to Defy Inslee’s Order, Reopen All Businesses (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

20.   COVID-19 Is in Tacoma’s Sewers. Testing Them Will Prepare Us for Future Outbreaks, Scientists Say (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

21.   Residents of Rural Oregon Towns Ask Urban Dwellers to Stay Home (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

22.   Cowlitz County Seamstresses to Hit 3,000 Mask Mark This Weekend (Longview Daily News, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

23.   Boeing Workers Return to Their Factories to Find Hand-Washing Stations & a New Sense of Worry (Washington Post)

24.   Our Community Credit Union Recognized as Among Healthiest Credit Unions in the U.S. (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

25.   Semi Rolls Over Monday, Blocks Highway 3 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Florida Jogger Dons Costume to Cheer Up Neighborhood

A Century Later, Victory Gardens Connect Americans Again

Killers, Not Cuddlers, Seattle Feral Cats Find New Lives as Mousers in Industrial Shops

No Fines for Tennessee Brothers Who Hoarded Hand Sanitizer

SONG OF THE DAY

BBC Big Band Orchestra - Begin the Beguine

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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