Friday, April 3, 2020

The Energy News Digest for April 3, 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

Washington State Gov. Inslee Extends Stay-At-Home Order Until May 4 (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Con Edison Reaches 170 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 3 Deaths, As Risks Rise for Utility Workers (Utility Dive)

U.S. Senators Call for Quick Release of LIHEAP Funds (Daily Energy Insider)

Telecom Industry, Broadband Advocates Push for Internet Subsidies in Next Stimulus (Morning Consult)

Olympic Mountain Snowpack Above Normal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        U.S. Senators Call for Quick Release of LIHEAP Funds
2.        Environmental Groups Complain about Columbia River Dam Hearings Format
3.        Pacific Gas & Electric Request for Early Recovery of $899 Million Wildfire Money from Customers Troubles Ratepayer Advocates
4.        Con Edison Reaches 170 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 3 Deaths, As Risks Rise for Utility Workers
5.        Wahkiakum PUD Commission Declares Covid-19 Emergency
6.        Oregon: Central Lincoln PUD Offers Assistance
7.        Judge Allows Alaska Tribal Herring Lawsuit to Move Forward
8.        Olympic Mountain Snowpack Above Normal
9.        Cleanup of U.S. Nuclear Waste Takes Back Seat as Virus Spreads
10.     Permitting Issue Delays $1 Billion Nevada Solar Project
11.     California: Santa Barbara County Supervisors Deny Appeal of Lompoc-Area Wind Project Design
12.     Businesses Benefit from Money-Saving Advances in Outdoor Lighting Technology
13.     Telecom Industry, Broadband Advocates Push for Internet Subsidies in Next Stimulus
14.     Federal Broadband Stimulus Should Be Guided by State Experience
15.     Adapting to Online Learning Is Easier for Some Pierce Schools Than Others. Here’s Why
16.     Canadian Internet Providers Explain Why They’ve Hiked Prices Amid an Economic Downturn
17.     Zoom Now Under Investigation by at Least 2 States Over Security Complaints
18.     Zoombombing: What It Is & How to Prevent It in Zoom Video Chat
19.     Local Newspapers Are Facing Their Own Coronavirus Crisis
20.     U.S. Soccer Abandons Skill Argument in Women’s Equal Pay Lawsuit
21.     The Latest COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory Puts the Blame on 5G
22.     Conifer Is Top Tree in Urban Sound Absorption Test
23.     Washington State Gov. Inslee Extends Stay-At-Home Order Until May 4
24.     Trump Administration Scales Back Paid Leave in Coronavirus Relief Law
25.     Unemployment Relief Delayed Weeks for Some, Washington State System Overwhelmed
26.     Now 13 Positive COVID-19 Cases in Mason County
27.     Google Taps Vast Trove of Location Data to Aid Global Effort to Combat Coronavirus
28.     Porch Pirates & Auto Thieves Violating Stay-At-Home Order
29.     Idaho Earthquake Aftershocks Possible for Weeks, Years
30.     U.S. Economy Lost 701,000 Jobs in March, Ending Record Streak
31.     Amazon Execs, in Leaked Memo, Sought to Tar Fired Employee Who Organized Coronavirus Walkout
32.     WIAA Planning Contingencies for Spring Sports Season & Playoffs

WORD OF THE DAY

Meshuggener • \muh-SHUG-uhner\ • Noun – A foolish or crazy person

“Good Grief!” Exclaimed the vaudeville hall booking agent. “We asked for ‘Charlie McCarthy,’ and that meshuggener Edgar Bergen has the audacity to bring ‘Mortimer Snerd’ instead.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      U.S. Senators Call for Quick Release of LIHEAP Funds (Daily Energy Insider)

2.      Environmental Groups Complain about Columbia River Dam Hearings Format (Baker City Herald, OR)

3.      Pacific Gas & Electric Request for Early Recovery of $899 Million Wildfire Money from Customers Troubles Ratepayer Advocates (Utility Dive)

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS – THE CORONAVIRUS CONUNDRUM

4.      Con Edison Reaches 170 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 3 Deaths, As Risks Rise for Utility Workers (Utility Dive)

5.      Wahkiakum PUD Commission Declares Covid-19 Emergency (Wahkiakum Eagle, Cathlamet, EA)

6.      Oregon: Central Lincoln PUD Offers Assistance (Coastal Radio, Newport, WA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

7.      Judge Allows Alaska Tribal Herring Lawsuit to Move Forward (Associated Press)

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

8.      Olympic Mountain Snowpack Above Normal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

9.      Cleanup of U.S. Nuclear Waste Takes Back Seat as Virus Spreads (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Permitting Issue Delays $1 Billion Nevada Solar Project (Power Magazine)

11.   California: Santa Barbara County Supervisors Deny Appeal of Lompoc-Area Wind Project Design (Santa Ynez Valley News, Solvang, CA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

12.   Businesses Benefit from Money-Saving Advances in Outdoor Lighting Technology (South Florida Business Journal)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

13.   Telecom Industry, Broadband Advocates Push for Internet Subsidies in Next Stimulus (Morning Consult)

14.   Federal Broadband Stimulus Should Be Guided by State Experience (The Hill, Washington, DC)

15.   Adapting to Online Learning Is Easier for Some Pierce Schools Than Others. Here’s Why (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

16.   Canadian Internet Providers Explain Why They’ve Hiked Prices Amid an Economic Downturn (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

17.   Zoom Now Under Investigation by at Least 2 States Over Security Complaints (Gizmodo)

18.   Zoombombing: What It Is & How to Prevent It in Zoom Video Chat (C|Net News)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

19.   Local Newspapers Are Facing Their Own Coronavirus Crisis (Associated Press)

20.   U.S. Soccer Abandons Skill Argument in Women’s Equal Pay Lawsuit (Courthouse News Service)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

21.   The Latest COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory Puts the Blame on 5G (Fast Company)

22.   Conifer Is Top Tree in Urban Sound Absorption Test (British Broadcasting Corporation)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

23.   Washington State Gov. Inslee Extends Stay-At-Home Order Until May 4 (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

24.   Trump Administration Scales Back Paid Leave in Coronavirus Relief Law (NY Times)

25.   Unemployment Relief Delayed Weeks for Some, Washington State System Overwhelmed (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

26.   Now 13 Positive COVID-19 Cases in Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

27.   Google Taps Vast Trove of Location Data to Aid Global Effort to Combat Coronavirus (Washington Post)

28.   Porch Pirates & Auto Thieves Violating Stay-At-Home Order (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

29.   Idaho Earthquake Aftershocks Possible for Weeks, Years (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

30.   U.S. Economy Lost 701,000 Jobs in March, Ending Record Streak (Courthouse News Service)

31.   Amazon Execs, in Leaked Memo, Sought to Tar Fired Employee Who Organized Coronavirus Walkout (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

32.   WIAA Planning Contingencies for Spring Sports Season & Playoffs (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘Lean on Me,’ ‘Lovely Day’ Singer Bill Withers Dies at 81

Corona to Stop Brewing Beer after Mexico Deems It Non-Essential

Cardboard Cutouts Pose as Guests for Wedding Amid COVID-19

Oh, the Humanity – Truck Hauling Toilet Paper Catches Fire on Texas Interstate

SONG OF THE DAY

Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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