Thursday, May 7, 2020

The Energy News Digest for May 7, 2020


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SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS




HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

PUDs in the Forefront – Drive-In Wi-Fi Hotspots Launch Statewide Push for Universal Public Access Broadband (Washington State Department of Commerce, Olympia)

Oregon: Another Huge Hillsboro Data Center Will Start Construction This Summer (Oregonian, Portland)

Op/Ed: Depression Era’s ‘New Deal’ Given Renewed Purpose in Current Crisis – Wisdom of building hydroelectric projects during the Great Depression makes sense all these decades later. (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

Mason PUD 3 – Conservation in the Time of COVID 19 (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Douglas PUD Renewable Hydrogen Project Gets State Money (Wenatchee World, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Op/Ed: Depression Era’s ‘New Deal’ Given Renewed Purpose in Current Crisis
2.        Feds Give Thumbs-Up to West Texas Nuclear Waste Plan
3.        Daily Electricity Demand Impacts from COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts Differ by Region
4.        Utility CEO Sees Silver Lining in Working at Home: Saving Money
5.        How Do Salmon Always Find Their Way Home? Study Reveals a Remarkable GPS Embedded in Their Skin
6.        Douglas PUD Renewable Hydrogen Project Gets State Money
7.        Mason PUD 3 – Conservation in the Time of COVID 19
8.        Cities ‘Finally Waking Up’ to the Benefits of Smart Streetlights: Survey
9.        PUDs in the Forefront – Drive-In Wi-Fi Hotspots Launch Statewide Push for Universal Public Access Broadband
10.     Why Rural America’s Digital Divide Persists
11.     Universal Broadband Act Would Expand USF Contribution Base
12.     Loon Teams With AT&T to Provide Internet in Disasters
13.     Oregon: Another Huge Hillsboro Data Center Will Start Construction This Summer
14.     Marijuana Sales Surge During the Pandemic
15.     Venturing into the Land of Social Media Acronyms
16.     Why Stargazing Is Looking Up
17.     President Trump Says Will Announce New Members of Coronavirus Task Force by Monday
18.     What to Look for in the Fourth Federal Stimulus Bill
19.     Two More COVID-19 Cases in Mason County
20.     Rural Washington Counties Seize Opportunity to Accelerate Reopening
21.     Grays Harbor Commissioner ‘Frustrated’ by Washington State Steps Required for County Variance to Re-Open
22.     Walla Walla County Now Says No Coronavirus Parties Occurred
23.     Globemasters Will Rumble the Skies Above Puget Sound Friday
24.     City of Shelton Reopens Teresa Johnson Community Trail
25.     Mike Patti Appointed as Permanent Fire Chief
26.     Lawmakers Call on Alcoa to Negotiate with Workers
27.     The Promise & Pitfalls of Online Instruction

WORD OF THE DAY

Palooka • \puh-LOO-kuh\ • Noun - 1: an inexperienced or incompetent boxer 2: oaf, lout

“Man, this just doesn’t sound right Elia,” mumbled a sullen Marlon Brando. “You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a ‘palooka,’ which is what I am, let’s face it. It was you, Charley.” “OK,” sighed the director, “let’s replace ‘palooka’ with ‘bum.’ How’s that.” Brando instantly brightened, “Perfect!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Op/Ed: Depression Era’s ‘New Deal’ Given Renewed Purpose in Current Crisis – Wisdom of building hydroelectric projects during the Great Depression makes sense all these decades later. (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

2.      Feds Give Thumbs-Up to West Texas Nuclear Waste Plan (Courthouse News Service)

3.      Daily Electricity Demand Impacts from COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts Differ by Region (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

4.      Utility CEO Sees Silver Lining in Working at Home: Saving Money (Bloomberg News)

FISH & WILDLIFE


RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

6.      Douglas PUD Renewable Hydrogen Project Gets State Money (Wenatchee World, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

7.      Mason PUD 3 – Conservation in the Time of COVID 19 (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

8.      Cities ‘Finally Waking Up’ to the Benefits of Smart Streetlights: Survey (Utility Dive)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

9.      PUDs in the Forefront – Drive-In Wi-Fi Hotspots Launch Statewide Push for Universal Public Access Broadband (Washington State Department of Commerce, Olympia)

10.   Why Rural America’s Digital Divide Persists (NY Times)

11.   Universal Broadband Act Would Expand USF Contribution Base (Telecompetitor)

12.   Loon Teams With AT&T to Provide Internet in Disasters (The Daily Mail, UK)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

13.   Oregon: Another Huge Hillsboro Data Center Will Start Construction This Summer (Oregonian, Portland)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

14.   Marijuana Sales Surge During the Pandemic (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

15.   Venturing into the Land of Social Media Acronyms (Christian Science Monitor)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

16.   Why Stargazing Is Looking Up (Christian Science Monitor)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

17.   President Trump Says Will Announce New Members of Coronavirus Task Force by Monday (Reuters)

18.   What to Look for in the Fourth Federal Stimulus Bill (Yahoo Finance)

SICKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

19.   Two More COVID-19 Cases in Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

20.   Rural Washington Counties Seize Opportunity to Accelerate Reopening (Northwest News Network)

21.   Grays Harbor Commissioner ‘Frustrated’ by Washington State Steps Required for County Variance to Re-Open (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

22.   Walla Walla County Now Says No Coronavirus Parties Occurred (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

23.   Globemasters Will Rumble the Skies Above Puget Sound Friday (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

24.   City of Shelton Reopens Teresa Johnson Community Trail (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

25.   Mike Patti Appointed as Permanent Fire Chief (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

26.   Lawmakers Call on Alcoa to Negotiate with Workers (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA)

27.   The Promise & Pitfalls of Online Instruction (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

MERMAIDS IN THE POOL – DIVERSIONS

French Teens, Normandy Vets Swap Stories of Life in Lockdown

Mermaids returning to Montana tiki bar as it reopens

Gun-Waving SUV Driver Crashes Parade Celebrating Nurses (Irony, Was He Hospitalized?)

‘Darth Vader’ Enforces Lockdown in Philippine Village

SONG OF THE DAY

Maurice Jarre – The Longest Day Theme

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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