Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Energy News Digest for March 18, 2020


The “Hot Shots” edition of The Energy News Digest is available on Facebook, and on Twitter.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

First Case of COVID-19 in Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Tacoma Public Utilities Approves $1 Million in Emergency Funding to Help Low-Income Customers amid the Impacts of the Coronavirus (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Meetings on Future of Snake River Dams Now Teleconferences: How to Access (Northwest Public Radio)

Facebook Bug Wrongly Deleted Authentic Coronavirus News (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Judge: Oregon Klamath Basin Water Regulators Exceeded Authority (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.        Tacoma Public Utilities Approves $1 Million in Emergency Funding to Help Low-Income Customers amid the Impacts of the Coronavirus
2.        Clark County, Vancouver Utilities Halt Shutoffs over Lack of Payment
3.        Grays Harbor PUD Board Passes Emergency Resolution
4.        Pacific County PUD Offers Coronavirus Relief
5.        Wahkiakum PUD Closes Facilities to Customer Access amid COVID-19 Concerns
6.        Worried About Bills? Here’s What Internet, Utility Companies Are Doing to Help
7.        Utilities Face Pressure to Stop Shutting Off Services amid Coronavirus Pandemic
8.        Utilities Keeping Customers Connected While Coronavirus Fears Intensify
9.        Meetings on Future of Snake River Dams Now Teleconferences: How to Access
10.     Have an Opinion on the Snake River Dams? It’s Time to Share It
11.     Montana: Billings-Area Electric Co-Op Rates Compare Well, at Average Usage, CEO Says
12.     Opinion: A Cautionary (Energy) Tale Unfolds in Whatcom County
13.     Nuclear Regulatory Commission Shows Dry Cask Storage Is Safe – Yet Again
14.     Feds Add Boston-Area Boat Restrictions for Rare Whale
15.     The FCC is Redlining Rural America
16.     Op/Ed: Our Internet Isn’t Ready for Coronavirus
17.     U.S. Government, Tech Industry Discussing Ways to Use Smartphone Location Data to Combat Coronavirus
18.     Judge: Oregon Klamath Basin Water Regulators Exceeded Authority
19.     Clark County Cannabis Sales Jump amid Virus Uncertainty
20.     Facebook Bug Wrongly Deleted Authentic Coronavirus News
21.     Inslee Signs Bill Package to Support Washington State Effort Combating the COVID-19 Outbreak
22.     Gov. Inslee Seeks Major Disaster Declaration So More Workers Can Get Unemployment
23.     Secretary of State Kim Wyman Asks Inslee to Cancel April Special Elections over Coronavirus Concerns
24.     President Trump Invokes Wartime Authority for Coronavirus Response
25.     U.S. Congress Races to Respond While Defying Ban on Mass Gatherings
26.     Coronavirus: Rand Paul Holds Up U.S. Senate Vote on Rescue Package with Doomed Amendment
27.     H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
28.     First Case of COVID-19 in Mason County
29.     Mason County COVID-19 Response Fund Created
30.     Surge of Coronavirus Patients Expected as Officials Marshal Emergency Supplies, Health Workers Test Positive
31.     U.S. Virus Plan Anticipates 18-Month Pandemic & Widespread Shortages
32.     New Seasons, Safeway & Albertsons Offering Shopping Hours for ‘Vulnerable’ Groups
33.     Four Teleworking Myths (and How to Power On)
34.     A 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Utah, Knocking Out Power to Thousands
35.     US-Canada Border to Close amid Virus Crisis
36.     McMenamins to Temporarily Lay Off 3,000 Workers, Close Most Locations

WORD OF THE DAY

Nonplus • \non-PLUSS\ • Verb - To cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do: perplex

The room dropped into immediate silence. It was that eerie silence like when a busboy drops a tub of plates in a busy restaurant. The esteemed doctor had adorned his hard, seamed face with a flinty grin, while challenging any of the fresh-faced interns to stump him on any question. The one question that left him nonplussed came from the fluffy, pink-faced dermatologist in the back of the room: “What do you call that thing in the back of your throat that hangs from the roof of your mouth?” (It’s the uvula; a small pendant fleshy lobe at the back of the soft palate.)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Tacoma Public Utilities Approves $1 Million in Emergency Funding to Help Low-Income Customers amid the Impacts of the Coronavirus (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

2.      Clark County, Vancouver Utilities Halt Shutoffs over Lack of Payment (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

3.      Grays Harbor PUD Board Passes Emergency Resolution (Grays Harbor PUD, Aberdeen, WA)

4.      Pacific County PUD Offers Coronavirus Relief (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

5.      Wahkiakum PUD Closes Facilities to Customer Access amid COVID-19 Concerns (Wahkiakum Eagle, Cathlamet, WA)

6.      Worried About Bills? Here’s What Internet, Utility Companies Are Doing to Help (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

7.      Utilities Face Pressure to Stop Shutting Off Services amid Coronavirus Pandemic (Grist Online)

8.      Utilities Keeping Customers Connected While Coronavirus Fears Intensify (Power Engineering Magazine)

9.      Meetings on Future of Snake River Dams Now Teleconferences: How to Access (Northwest Public Radio)

10.   Have an Opinion on the Snake River Dams? It’s Time to Share It (Tri-Cities Journal Of Business, WA)

11.   Montana: Billings-Area Electric Co-Op Rates Compare Well, at Average Usage, CEO Says (KTVH, Helena MT)

12.   Opinion: A Cautionary (Energy) Tale Unfolds in Whatcom County (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

13.   Nuclear Regulatory Commission Shows Dry Cask Storage Is Safe – Yet Again (Forbes Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Feds Add Boston-Area Boat Restrictions for Rare Whale “…a federal offense to come within 500 feet of a right whale…” (Courthouse News Service)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

15.   The FCC is Redlining Rural America “…broadband usage & speeds in urban America is growing by leaps & bounds while broadband in rural America sits still…” (Pots & Pans)

16.   Op/Ed: Our Internet Isn’t Ready for Coronavirus (NY Times)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

17.   U.S. Government, Tech Industry Discussing Ways to Use Smartphone Location Data to Combat Coronavirus (Washington Post)

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

18.   Judge: Oregon Klamath Basin Water Regulators Exceeded Authority (Associated Press)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

19.   Clark County Cannabis Sales Jump amid Virus Uncertainty (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

20.   Facebook Bug Wrongly Deleted Authentic Coronavirus News (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

21.   Inslee Signs Bill Package to Support Washington State Effort Combating the COVID-19 Outbreak (Medium, Governor Jay Inslee)

22.   Gov. Inslee Seeks Major Disaster Declaration So More Workers Can Get Unemployment (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

23.   Secretary of State Kim Wyman Asks Inslee to Cancel April Special Elections over Coronavirus Concerns (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

24.   President Trump Invokes Wartime Authority for Coronavirus Response (Oregonian, Portland)

25.   U.S. Congress Races to Respond While Defying Ban on Mass Gatherings (NY Times)

26.   Coronavirus: Rand Paul Holds Up U.S. Senate Vote on Rescue Package with Doomed Amendment (Yahoo News)
https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-rand-paul-holds-senate-103200295.html

27.   H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Congress.Gov)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

28.   First Case of COVID-19 in Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

29.   Mason County COVID-19 Response Fund Created (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

30.   Surge of Coronavirus Patients Expected as Officials Marshal Emergency Supplies, Health Workers Test Positive (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

31.   U.S. Virus Plan Anticipates 18-Month Pandemic & Widespread Shortages (NY Times)

32.   New Seasons, Safeway & Albertsons Offering Shopping Hours for ‘Vulnerable’ Groups (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

33.   Four Teleworking Myths (and How to Power On) (Pioneer Utility Resources)

GENERAL NEWS

34.   A 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Utah, Knocking Out Power to Thousands (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

35.   US-Canada Border to Close amid Virus Crisis (British Broadcasting Corporation)

36.   McMenamins to Temporarily Lay Off 3,000 Workers, Close Most Locations (Portland Business Journal, OR)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

People Are Being Encouraged to Put up Christmas Lights to Spread Cheer While They’re Social Distancing

Russell Wilson, Ciara Pledge a Million Meals to Food Lifeline amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Gaming Usage Up 75 Percent amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Verizon Reports

New Mexico Man Says He Unknowingly Stole TVs While Drunk

SONG OF THE DAY

Journey – Lights

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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