Thursday, February 20, 2020

The Energy News Digest for February 20, 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

Boeing Finds Debris – Tools, Rags – in Wing Fuel Tanks of Undelivered 737 MAXs, Orders Inspections (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

‘Blindsided’ – Oregon’s Rural Electric Co-ops Slam Gov. Kate Brown’s Position on Breaching Snake River Dams (Willamette Week, Portland, OR)

PacifiCorp Seeks Rate Hike, Touts Renewable Savings (Portland Business Journal, OR)

‘This Is Going to Be a Very Big Deal’ – Coronavirus Poised to Disrupt Storage, Solar Sectors (Utility Dive)

Washington State Utilities Panel OKs $1.35 Billion Sale of Frontier (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        ‘Blindsided’ – Oregon’s Rural Electric Co-ops Slam Gov. Kate Brown’s Position on Breaching Snake River Dams
2.        PacifiCorp Seeks Rate Hike, Touts Renewable Savings
3.        Chelan PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Hikes
4.        Oregon Denies Key Permit for Jordan Cove LNG Project on Eve of Federal Decision
5.        Key Hydropower Bill from Sen. Brad Hawkins Passes Washington State Senate Floor
6.        Mason PUD 1 Talks about 85th Anniversary – Accomplishments
7.        Mason PUD 3 Bond Sale Reduces Debt, Creates Savings
8.        Clark Public Utilities Offers Up to 50 Percent Credit for Qualifying Seniors
9.        Op/Ed: Terminate the Other Treaty with Canada – Columbia River Treaty
10.     Judge Scolds Feds for Not Turning Screw in Pacific Gas & Electric Criminal Case
11.     The Feds Try Yet Again to Sell Off Bonneville Power Administration & Tennessee Valley Authority
12.     Grid Mod: New Dynamic Training Tool Prepares Bonneville Power Administration Staff for Modern Operations
13.     Washington State to Open Fishing in May Despite Steelhead Drop
14.     States Agree on Columbia River Salmon Fisheries
15.     Anemic Chinook Return Predicted for Snake River
16.     Injured Transient Orca Appears Healthy Near Washington State
17.     Public Comment Accepted on Makah Whaling Proposal
18.     Washington State House Passes Chehalis River Basin Funding Bill
19.     Irrigation District Threatens to Take Tri-Cities Family Farm. It Plans a Huge Reservoir
20.     Analysis: The Dalles Water Supply Forecast Reaches Highest Level of Season, Remains Well Above Last Year
21.     President Trump Signs Order Diverting More Water to California Farmers
22.     ‘This Is Going to Be a Very Big Deal’ – Coronavirus Poised to Disrupt Storage, Solar Sectors
23.     Breaking Rooftop Solar’s Distortions: SMUD Readies Community Program for California Building Mandate
24.     Cash-Strapped Farms Are Growing a New Crop: Solar Panels
25.     Washington State Utilities Panel OKs $1.35 Billion Sale of Frontier
26.     Udall, Cantwell, Heinrich Introduce Federal Bill to Increase Tribal Broadband Access
27.     Challenging the FCC Broadband Maps
28.     University of Denver Professor: Municipal Broadband Experiments Failing Nationwide
29.     Oregon Approves Portland General Electric’s Transportation Electrification Plan, Setting Stage for 1 Million Electric Vehicles
30.     How Much Will State’s New Cap-&-Trade Bill Cost Oregonians?
31.     Washington State Lawmakers Want to Fund Solutions for Healthier Soil — And Less Gassy Cows
32.     Revenue Forecast Brings Good News for Washington State Lawmakers
33.     Battle Over ‘Missing Middle’ Housing Moves from City Hall to the Capitol
34.     Washington State Senate Honors U.S. Rep. Denny Heck for Career That Began in the State Legislature
35.     Boeing Finds Debris – Tools, Rags – in Wing Fuel Tanks of Undelivered 737 MAXs, Orders Inspections
36.     Boeing May Give Up Its Major Washington State Tax Break to Avoid European Tariffs
37.     Ah, Shuck: Oysters, Cherries, Other Northwest Products Back Up as Coronavirus Quarantines Trade
38.     Coronavirus Cruise – Finally Let Off Cruise, Passengers Desperate for Flight Home
39.     Cowlitz Tribe Celebrates 20 Years of Federal Acknowledgment Sunday
40.     Ouch, Shelton – Where Seattle Ranks Among Washington’s Safest & Least Safe Cities

WORD OF THE DAY

Brummagem • \BRUM-uh-jumm\ • Adjective - Not genuine: spurious; also: cheaply showy: tawdry

The tinker had an eye for genuine articles…and could spot the various brummagem trinkets hawked at the community fair as “treasures from afar.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES


2.      PacifiCorp Seeks Rate Hike, Touts Renewable Savings (Portland Business Journal, OR)

3.      Chelan PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Hikes (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

4.      Oregon Denies Key Permit for Jordan Cove LNG Project on Eve of Federal Decision (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

5.      Key Hydropower Bill from Sen. Brad Hawkins Passes Washington State Senate Floor (KOHO Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

6.      Mason PUD 1 Talks about 85th Anniversary – Accomplishments (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)


8.      Clark Public Utilities Offers Up to 50 Percent Credit for Qualifying Seniors (The Reflector, Battleground, WA)

9.      Op/Ed: Terminate the Other Treaty with Canada – Columbia River Treaty (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

10.   Judge Scolds Feds for Not Turning Screw in Pacific Gas & Electric Criminal Case (Courthouse News Service)

11.   The Feds Try Yet Again to Sell Off Bonneville Power Administration & Tennessee Valley Authority (Forbes Magazine)

12.   Grid Mod: New Dynamic Training Tool Prepares Bonneville Power Administration Staff for Modern Operations (Bonneville Power Administration)

FISH & WILDLIFE

13.   Washington State to Open Fishing in May Despite Steelhead Drop (Associated Press)


15.   Anemic Chinook Return Predicted for Snake River (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

16.   Injured Transient Orca Appears Healthy Near Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

17.   Public Comment Accepted on Makah Whaling Proposal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

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

18.   Washington State House Passes Chehalis River Basin Funding Bill (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

19.   Irrigation District Threatens to Take Tri-Cities Family Farm. It Plans a Huge Reservoir (Tri-City Herald, WA)

20.   Analysis: The Dalles Water Supply Forecast Reaches Highest Level of Season, Remains Well Above Last Year (S&P Global)

21.   President Trump Signs Order Diverting More Water to California Farmers (Courthouse News Service)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

22.   ‘This Is Going to Be a Very Big Deal’ – Coronavirus Poised to Disrupt Storage, Solar Sectors (Utility Dive)

23.   Breaking Rooftop Solar’s Distortions: SMUD Readies Community Program for California Building Mandate (Utility Dive)

24.   Cash-Strapped Farms Are Growing a New Crop: Solar Panels (Grist Online)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   Washington State Utilities Panel OKs $1.35 Billion Sale of Frontier (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

26.   Udall, Cantwell, Heinrich Introduce Federal Bill to Increase Tribal Broadband Access (U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs)

27.   Challenging the FCC Broadband Maps (Pots & Pans)

28.   University of Denver Professor: Municipal Broadband Experiments Failing Nationwide (Complete Colorado)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Oregon Approves Portland General Electric’s Transportation Electrification Plan, Setting Stage for 1 Million Electric Vehicles (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

30.   How Much Will State’s New Cap-&-Trade Bill Cost Oregonians? (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

31.   Washington State Lawmakers Want to Fund Solutions for Healthier Soil — And Less Gassy Cows (Crosscut Seattle)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

32.   Revenue Forecast Brings Good News for Washington State Lawmakers (Associated Press)

33.   Battle Over ‘Missing Middle’ Housing Moves from City Hall to the Capitol (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

34.   Washington State Senate Honors U.S. Rep. Denny Heck for Career That Began in the State Legislature (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

35.   Boeing Finds Debris – Tools, Rags – in Wing Fuel Tanks of Undelivered 737 MAXs, Orders Inspections (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

36.   Boeing May Give Up Its Major Washington State Tax Break to Avoid European Tariffs (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

37.   Ah, Shuck: Oysters, Cherries, Other Northwest Products Back Up as Coronavirus Quarantines Trade (Northwest News Network)

38.   Coronavirus Cruise – Finally Let Off Cruise, Passengers Desperate for Flight Home (Associated Press)

39.   Cowlitz Tribe Celebrates 20 Years of Federal Acknowledgement Sunday (Longview Daily News, WA)

40.   Ouch, Shelton – Where Seattle Ranks Among Washington’s Safest & Least Safe Cities (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Betelgeuse Mystery Solved? New Deep-Space Image Stirs Up Fresh Theories Behind Dimming Star

Gallon-Sized Jars of Human Tongues Found Under Florida Home

Burger King Breaks the Mold with New Advertising Campaign

After Residents Cry Fowl: Miami to Relocate Pack of Peacocks

SONG OF THE DAY

Adron & Blair Crimmins - Galaxy Song

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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