Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The Energy News Digest for February 5, 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

New Study Shows Washington Can Achieve a Clean Energy Future (Energy Northwest)

Resolution Would Position Idaho Against Removal of Snake, Columbia Dams (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

Wind Turbine Blades Can’t Be Recycled, So They’re Piling Up in Landfills (Bloomberg News)

Oregon Lawmakers Float Changes as Cap-&-Trade Debate Begins (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Idaho, Energy Department Ink Deal on Reactor’s Nuclear Waste (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      New Study Shows Washington Can Achieve a Clean Energy Future
2.      Energy Northwest Study Makes a Case for Small Modular Reactors in Future Power Mix
3.      Washington State Intends to Be the Clean Energy State – Nuclear Is Key
4.      Resolution Would Position Idaho Against Removal of Snake, Columbia Dams
5.      Oregon Senator Predicts Court Battle Over Coos Bay Area Pipeline Proposal
6.      Canadian Court Rejects Challenge to Pipeline, Tankers
7.      ‘All-Electric’ Movement Picks Up Speed, Catching Some Off Guard
8.      Pacific Gas & Electric Bankruptcy Exit Plan Advances with OK of Bondholder Deal
9.      Ilwaco High School Students Wired for Electrical Competition
10.   Coal Plants Are Closing Across the West. Here Are the Companies Sticking with Coal
11.   Washington’s Climatologist Presents Climate Impact on Salmon at NCRL Branches
12.   Op/Ed: Data Does Not Show Removing Snake River Dams Will Help Salmon Populations
13.   Mariners Urged to Beware as Endangered Whales Gather Off NE U.S.
14.   Idaho, Energy Department Ink Deal on Reactor’s Nuclear Waste
15.   West Clallam – Landslide Destroys Small Water System Near Lake Pleasant
16.   Wind Turbine Blades Can’t Be Recycled, So They’re Piling Up in Landfills
17.   Can the U.S. Wind Industry Beat the Coming Headwinds?
18.   At 54.6% - Sweden Had Highest Share of European Union Renewable Energy in 2018
19.   Bonneville Power Administration Celebrates Ten Years of Industrial Energy Efficiency Accomplishments
20.   Now a Smart Lightbulb System Got Hacked
21.   Over-The-Top Lighting Can Be an Inexpensive Way to Upgrade Your Home
22.   First-of-Its-Kind Congressional Hearing Held to Address America’s High-Speed Internet Access Shortfall
23.   Google Fiber Kills Its Traditional TV Service for New Customers
24.   FCC’s $9 Billion Rural 5G Fund Now Official
25.   A Man Walked Down a Street with 99 Phones in a Wagon. Google Maps Thought It Was a Traffic Jam.
26.   Banning Gas Cars? It’s a ‘Fringe Crazy Bill’ No Longer
27.   Oregon Lawmakers Float Changes as Cap-&-Trade Debate Begins
28.   More Than 500 Oregon Health Leaders Declare Climate Change a Public Health Emergency
29.   ‘We Feel Really Terrible About That,’ CEO of Firm Behind App That Ruined Iowa Caucuses Says
30.   Mason County Settles Public Records Lawsuit
31.   Businesses, Politicians Weigh in on Proposal for State Head Tax
32.   New Coronavirus Quarantine Facility to Be in North Bend
33.   Skokomish Valley Residents Voice Flooding Concerns
34.   Minor Flooding Expected on Nisqually River – Tacoma Power Releases More Water from LaGrande Dam
35.   Avalanche Warning in Effect at Stevens, Snoqualmie Passes
36.   Tacoma Community College Plunged into Darkness as Mystery Electrical Problem Hits Campus

WORD OF THE DAY

Cantankerous • \kan-TANK-er-us\ • Adjective - Difficult or irritating to deal with.

Banging and popping sounds from the jury-rigged still made it sound like a cantankerous family member stumbling into the house after an all-night bender. “Oh, but what sweet music,” cackled the toothless caretaker of the nectar-producing contraption.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      New Study Shows Washington Can Achieve a Clean Energy Future (Energy Northwest)

2.      Energy Northwest Study Makes a Case for Small Modular Reactors in Future Power Mix (Power Magazine)

3.      Washington State Intends to Be the Clean Energy State – Nuclear Is Key (Forbes Magazine)

4.      Resolution Would Position Idaho Against Removal of Snake, Columbia Dams (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

5.      Oregon Senator Predicts Court Battle Over Coos Bay Area Pipeline Proposal (Associated Press)

6.      Canadian Court Rejects Challenge to Pipeline, Tankers (Associated Press)

7.      ‘All-Electric’ Movement Picks Up Speed, Catching Some Off Guard (NY Times)

8.      Pacific Gas & Electric Bankruptcy Exit Plan Advances with OK of Bondholder Deal (Courthouse News Service)

9.      Ilwaco High School Students Wired for Electrical Competition (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

10.   Coal Plants Are Closing Across the West. Here Are the Companies Sticking with Coal (Los Angeles Times, CA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

11.   Washington’s Climatologist Presents Climate Impact on Salmon at NCRL Branches (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

12.   Op/Ed: Data Does Not Show Removing Snake River Dams Will Help Salmon Populations (Washington Ag Network)

13.   Mariners Urged to Beware as Endangered Whales Gather Off NE U.S. (Associated Press)

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

14.   Idaho, Energy Department Ink Deal on Reactor’s Nuclear Waste (Associated Press)

15.   West Clallam – Landslide Destroys Small Water System Near Lake Pleasant (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16.   Wind Turbine Blades Can’t Be Recycled, So They’re Piling Up in Landfills (Bloomberg News)

17.   Can the U.S. Wind Industry Beat the Coming Headwinds? (Forbes Magazine)

18.   At 54.6% - Sweden Had Highest Share of European Union Renewable Energy in 2018 (Bioenergy Insight)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Bonneville Power Administration Celebrates Ten Years of Industrial Energy Efficiency Accomplishments (Bonneville Power Administration)

20.   Now a Smart Lightbulb System Got Hacked (USA Today)

21.   Over-The-Top Lighting Can Be an Inexpensive Way to Upgrade Your Home (Washington Post)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

22.   First-of-Its-Kind Congressional Hearing Held to Address America’s High-Speed Internet Access Shortfall (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

23.   Google Fiber Kills Its Traditional TV Service for New Customers (Venture Beat)

24.   FCC’s $9 Billion Rural 5G Fund Now Official (Telecompetitor)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

25.   A Man Walked Down a Street with 99 Phones in a Wagon. Google Maps Thought It Was a Traffic Jam. (Washington Post)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

26.   Banning Gas Cars? It’s a ‘Fringe Crazy Bill’ No Longer (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

27.   Oregon Lawmakers Float Changes as Cap-&-Trade Debate Begins (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

28.   More Than 500 Oregon Health Leaders Declare Climate Change a Public Health Emergency (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

29.   ‘We Feel Really Terrible About That,’ CEO of Firm Behind App That Ruined Iowa Caucuses Says (Gizmodo)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT


31.   Businesses, Politicians Weigh in on Proposal for State Head Tax (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

32.   New Coronavirus Quarantine Facility to Be in North Bend (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

33.   Skokomish Valley Residents Voice Flooding Concerns (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

34.   Minor Flooding Expected on Nisqually River – Tacoma Power Releases More Water from LaGrande Dam (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

35.   Avalanche Warning in Effect at Stevens, Snoqualmie Passes (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

36.   Tacoma Community College Plunged into Darkness as Mystery Electrical Problem Hits Campus (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘Artist’ Apologizes for Telling Plane Passengers He’s Infected with Coronavirus for Viral Video

Newly Hired Gas Station Worker Stole $17,000 on His First Shift, Police Say

Package Labeled ‘Bag Full of Drugs’ Leads to Florida Arrests

Doctor Steps in to Deliver Mid-Flight Baby

SONG OF THE DAY

Jackson Brown – The Pretender (Live, Acoustic)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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