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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Lawsuits Seek Over $1 Billion from Pacific Power Over
Beachie Creek Fire (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)
Idaho Rep. Simpson Defends Plan to Breach Snake River Dams,
Says Rising Costs Could Close Them Down Regardless (KTVB TV, Boise, ID)
12 States Sue Biden Over ‘Social Cost’ Calculation of
Greenhouse Gases (The Hill, Washington, DC)
WA State: Thoughts on the Massive Wind & Solar Farm?
Benton County Wants to Hear Them (Tri-City Herald, WA)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article249706893.html
U.S. House: Pelosi Pledges Swift Work on Major
Infrastructure Package (Public Broadcasting Service)
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/pelosi-pledges-swift-work-on-major-infrastructure-package
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Lawsuits Seek Over $1 Billion from Pacific Power
Over Beachie Creek Fire
2.
Idaho Rep. Simpson Defends Plan to Breach Snake
River Dams, Says Rising Costs Could Close Them Down Regardless
3.
Columbia County Commissioners Join Opposition to
U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson’s Plan for Salmon Recovery
4.
Op/Ed: Snake River Dams Plan Needed for Idaho
Salmon, Fiscal Responsibility & Social Justice
5.
Commentary: Saving Salmon Is a Ruse for
Breaching Our Dams
6.
Western Energy Imbalance Market Governing Body
Adopts Initiatives for Summer Reliability
7.
Tracey LeBeau Named Interim Administrator &
CEO of Western Area Power Administration
8.
Oregon: Eugene Puts Natural Gas Contract on Hold
9.
Here’s Why PG&E Electricity Prices Are High
& Soaring
10.
In the Shadow of Texas Outages, Disaster
Preparation at Home Is on the Radars of 2 in 5 Adults
11.
Why Every State Is Vulnerable to a Texas-Style
Power Crisis
12.
WA State: Thoughts on the Massive Wind &
Solar Farm? Benton County Wants to Hear Them
13.
$75 Million Richland Lab to Power Clean Energy
Innovation
14.
States, California IOUs Urge Changes to Trump
Energy Efficiency Policies, But Not Everyone Agrees
15.
Montana: Missoula County Adopts Energy Efficient
Building Policy, Set to Pursue Green Tariff
16.
Op/Ed: New Code Makes a Difference for Seattle’s
Buildings, But Local Action Isn’t Enough
17.
Keeping Cool: It’s a Good Time to Get Ready for
Summer Heat
18.
Four Simple Ways a Smart Thermostat Can Save You
Money
19.
Northwest’s Iconic Salmon Face Tough Conditions
During Ocean Journey
20.
The Incredible Life Cycle of Northwest Salmon
21.
Bloodsucking-Fish Fossils Overturn Once-Popular
Theory About Our Evolution
22.
Tacoma Sues Over Planned Wastewater Treatment
Requirements That Could Cost $1 Billion
23.
Op/Ed: Idaho Power Has No Claim to Water Above
Milner Dam
24.
12 States Sue Biden Over ‘Social Cost’
Calculation of Greenhouse Gases
25.
With Electric Cars Rolling, Washington Should
Now Turn to Electric Homes
26.
Arizona: Effort to Block Clean Energy Rules
Stumbles in Legislature
27.
WA State: Bill Would Expand Local Government
Broadband Authority
28.
Bills in Washington State Legislature Would
Allow Public Utility Districts into Retail Broadband
29.
WA State: Bothell-Based TV & Internet
Provider to Pay $900,00 After Charging Customers Hidden Fees
30.
Faced with Limited Resources, Indigenous
Communities Built Their Own Internet. Here’s How.
31.
Policy Study: Digital Divide Better Fought at
Local Level with Low Confidence in Large National Carriers
32.
‘Avoid Clicking on the Link’: Texting Scams
Increase by 300% During Pandemic
33.
Arizona: Salt River Project Offers Customers
$1,000 Rebate to Switch to Electric Cars
34.
Electric Vehicle Bills Moving Forward in Oregon
Legislature
35.
Commentary: Yes, Our Electricity Grid Can
Support an Electric Vehicle Future
36.
To Make Cannabis Green, We Need to Grow It
Outdoors
37.
How PepsiCo’s Energy Drink Sting Thought of a
Clever Way to Give Energy Conservation Tips to Consumers
38.
Americans Brace for a Rare and Creepy
Billion-Bug Invasion
39.
U.S. House: Pelosi Pledges Swift Work on Major
Infrastructure Package
40.
Federal Lawmakers Aim to Incentivize
Weatherizing Power Lines
41.
Editorial: Strike Deal for Infrastructure,
Environment & Jobs
42.
Army Corps Pick Hailed as ‘Game Changer’ for
Tribes
43. U.S. Senators Launch Latest Salvo in Forever War Over Daylight Saving Time
WORD OF THE DAY
Patagium \putt-TAY-jee-um\ Noun - 1: the fold of skin connecting the forelimbs and hind limbs of some tetrapods (as flying squirrels) 2: the fold of skin in front of the main segments of a bird’s wing.
“Flying Squirrel Man” was looking for his first real superhero adventure. Predictably, his first adventure was to find a cool costume that would accommodate his patagium without revealing his “naughty bits.”
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Lawsuits Seek Over $1 Billion from Pacific Power
Over Beachie Creek Fire (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)
2.
Idaho Rep. Simpson Defends Plan to Breach Snake
River Dams, Says Rising Costs Could Close Them Down Regardless (KTVB TV, Boise,
ID)
3.
Columbia County Commissioners Join Opposition to
U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson’s Plan for Salmon Recovery (The Waitsburg Times, WA)
4.
Op/Ed: Snake River Dams Plan Needed for Idaho Salmon,
Fiscal Responsibility & Social Justice (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article249832758.html
5.
Commentary: Saving Salmon Is a Ruse for
Breaching Our Dams (Lewiston Tribune, ID)
6.
Western Energy Imbalance Market Governing Body
Adopts Initiatives for Summer Reliability (American Public Power Association)
7.
Tracey LeBeau Named Interim Administrator &
CEO of Western Area Power Administration (American Public Power Association)
8.
Oregon: Eugene Puts Natural Gas Contract on Hold
(The Daily Emerald, Eugene, OR)
9.
Here’s Why PG&E Electricity Prices Are High &
Soaring (Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR)
10.
In the Shadow of Texas Outages, Disaster
Preparation at Home Is on the Radars of 2 in 5 Adults (Morning Consult)
https://morningconsult.com/2021/03/15/texas-weatherization-polling/
11.
Why Every State Is Vulnerable to a Texas-Style
Power Crisis (Vox)
https://www.vox.com/22308149/texas-blackout-power-outage-winter-uri-grid-ercot
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
12.
WA State: Thoughts on the Massive Wind &
Solar Farm? Benton County Wants to Hear Them (Tri-City Herald, WA)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article249706893.html
13.
$75 Million Richland Lab to Power Clean Energy
Innovation (KVEW/KAPP-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)
https://www.yaktrinews.com/75-million-richland-lab-to-power-clean-energy-innovation/#/questions
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
14.
States, California IOUs Urge Changes to Trump Energy
Efficiency Policies, But Not Everyone Agrees (Utility Dive)
15.
Montana: Missoula County Adopts Energy Efficient
Building Policy, Set to Pursue Green Tariff (Missoula Current, MT)
https://missoulacurrent.com/outdoors/2021/03/energy-green-tariff/
16.
Op/Ed: New Code Makes a Difference for Seattle’s
Buildings, But Local Action Isn’t Enough (Puget Sound Business Journal,
Seattle, WA)
https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/oped-new-code-makes-difference-for.html
17.
Keeping Cool: It’s a Good Time to Get Ready for Summer
Heat (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/mar/13/keep-cool-preparing-when-weather-gets-hot/
18.
Four Simple Ways a Smart Thermostat Can Save You
Money (C|Net News)
https://www.cnet.com/news/4-simple-ways-a-smart-thermostat-can-save-you-money/
FISH & WILDLIFE
19.
Northwest’s Iconic Salmon Face Tough Conditions
During Ocean Journey (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
20.
The Incredible Life Cycle of Northwest Salmon (Bonneville
Power Administration)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7cNzXma91k
21.
Bloodsucking-Fish Fossils Overturn Once-Popular
Theory About Our Evolution (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/lamprey-fossils-1.5947054?cmp=rss
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
22.
Tacoma Sues Over Planned Wastewater Treatment
Requirements That Could Cost $1 Billion (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article249903303.html
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
23.
Op/Ed: Idaho Power Has No Claim to Water Above Milner
Dam (Idaho Falls Post-Register, ID)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
24.
12 States Sue Biden Over ‘Social Cost’
Calculation of Greenhouse Gases (The Hill, Washington, DC)
25.
With Electric Cars Rolling, Washington Should
Now Turn to Electric Homes (Morning Consult)
26.
Arizona: Effort to Block Clean Energy Rules
Stumbles in Legislature (Associated Press)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
27.
WA State: Bill Would Expand Local Government
Broadband Authority (The Business Institute of Washington)
https://thelens.news/2021/03/12/bill-would-expand-local-government-broadband-authority/
28.
Bills in Washington State Legislature Would
Allow Public Utility Districts into Retail Broadband (Broadband Breakfast)
29.
WA State: Bothell-Based TV & Internet
Provider to Pay $900,00 After Charging Customers Hidden Fees (KING-TV, Seattle,
WA)
30.
Faced with Limited Resources, Indigenous Communities
Built Their Own Internet. Here’s How. (Mashable)
https://mashable.com/article/how-indigenous-communities-build-their-own-internet/
31.
Policy Study: Digital Divide Better Fought at
Local Level with Low Confidence in Large National Carriers (Telecompetitor)
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
32.
‘Avoid Clicking on the Link’: Texting Scams
Increase by 300% During Pandemic (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
33.
Arizona: Salt River Project Offers Customers
$1,000 Rebate to Switch to Electric Cars (Electrek)
34.
Electric Vehicle Bills Moving Forward in Oregon
Legislature (Portland Business Journal, OR)
https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/electric-vehicle-bills-moving-forward.html
35.
Commentary: Yes, Our Electricity Grid Can
Support an Electric Vehicle Future (Energy News Network)
KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS
36.
To Make Cannabis Green, We Need to Grow It
Outdoors (Slate Magazine)
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
37.
How PepsiCo’s Energy Drink Sting Thought of a Clever
Way to Give Energy Conservation Tips to Consumers (Business Insider)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
38.
Americans Brace for a Rare and Creepy
Billion-Bug Invasion (Courthouse News Service)
https://www.courthousenews.com/americans-brace-for-a-rare-and-creepy-billion-bug-invasion/
GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
39.
U.S. House: Pelosi Pledges Swift Work on Major
Infrastructure Package (Public Broadcasting Service)
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/pelosi-pledges-swift-work-on-major-infrastructure-package
40.
Federal Lawmakers Aim to Incentivize
Weatherizing Power Lines (The Hill, Washington, DC)
41.
Editorial: Strike Deal for Infrastructure,
Environment & Jobs (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/strike-deal-for-infrastructure-environment-and-jobs/
42.
Army Corps Pick Hailed as ‘Game Changer’ for Tribes
(E&E News)
https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063727235
43.
U.S. Senators Launch Latest Salvo in Forever War
Over Daylight Saving Time (Gizmodo)
https://gizmodo.com/senators-launch-latest-salvo-in-forever-war-over-daylig-1846450808
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Governor Clarence D. Martin Signs into Law WA State Bill 186
Outlawing Dance Marathons Statewide on March 15, 1937
https://www.historylink.org/File/5599
NCAA Men’s Tournament Bracket Revealed: Gonzaga Earns Top
Seed
https://sports.yahoo.com/march-madness-bracket-ncaa-tournament-selection-sunday-2021-221032867.html
When Is the 2021 NCAA Women’s Tournament? Schedule, Key
Dates, Locations for March Madness
Australian Man’s Lost Surfboard Found 16 Months Later, 1,700
Miles Away
SONG OF THE DAY
Beach Boys - Catch a Wave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLgWbH-qhVo
LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY
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