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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Texas’ Head Utility Regulator Resigns Following Legislative
Hearing on Mass Blackouts (Utility Dive)
Microsoft Says Email Servers Hacked by Chinese Group
(Courthouse News Service)
https://www.courthousenews.com/microsoft-says-email-servers-hacked-by-chinese-group/
The United States Installed More Wind Turbine Capacity in
2020 Than in Any Other Year (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46976
Potholes, Grid Failures, Aging Tunnels & Bridges: US
Infrastructure Gets a C-Minus (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
An Above Normal Winter Snowpack for the Pacific Northwest is
Guaranteed! (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/03/an-above-normal-wind-snowpack-is.html
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Texas’ Head Utility Regulator Resigns Following
Legislative Hearing on Mass Blackouts
2.
Potholes, Grid Failures, Aging Tunnels &
Bridges: US Infrastructure Gets a C-Minus
3.
It’s Not Just Texas. The Energy Grid Needs an
Upgrade – Including in the Pacific Northwest
4.
Inland Power & Light Power: Snake River Dam
Removal Would Hurt Reliability, Raise Costs
5.
Nevada Lawmakers File Bill to Require Consent
for Nuclear Waste
6.
Tucson Electric Power to Resume Utility
Disconnections for Delinquent Accounts
7.
WA State: Seattle Councilmember Sawant Calls for
Investigation into Puget Sound Energy
8.
Scammers Continue to Threaten Power Shutoffs
9.
California: Mayor Opts for 100% Renewable Option
for City Of San Diego Facilities
10.
Columbia & Snake River Navigation Locks Will
Close March 6 for Annual Maintenance
11.
After the Texas Freeze, People Are Asking: Is
Electrifying Buildings Risky?
12.
Should California Link Electricity Bills to
Customer Incomes?
13.
Seattle Voters Approve Electric Utility Bonds on
March 4, 1902, Leading to Creation of Seattle City Light
14.
The United States Installed More Wind Turbine
Capacity in 2020 Than in Any Other Year
15.
Washington State Awards Low-Income Solar Project
Grants
16.
Oregon Community Solar Program Progresses, PUC
Approves First Projects
17.
New Mexico Homeowners Told They Can’t Connect
Solar Power Systems
18.
Regulators OK Groundbreaking Wave Energy Testing
Project Off Oregon Coast
19.
United Kingdom: Climate Change – Private
Hydropower Schemes ‘On Cliff Edge’
20.
Another Year of Low Salmon Returns Points Toward
2021 Season Similar to 2020
21.
WA State: ‘Looking Good’ – One-Day Smelt Fishery
Serves Up Plenty of Fish & Happy Dippers
22.
New Orca Baby Sparks Questions Over Naval
Training
23.
Why Salish Sea Researchers Are Targeting
Superbugs in Marine Mammals
24.
An Above Normal Winter Snowpack for the Pacific
Northwest is Guaranteed!
25.
Dry February Exacerbates Drought in California
26.
10th Circuit Rules Against Colorado in ‘Waters
of the US’ Dispute
27.
Energy-Related Emissions Up in December Despite
Pandemic
28.
Digital Maps Show How Climate Change’s Impact in
Washington State Isn’t Equal
29.
The Key to Passing Climate Policy? Rein in (Or
Win Over) Utilities Monopolies.
30.
Chattanooga, TN: Quantifying the Benefits of
Fiber
31.
Microsoft Says Email Servers Hacked by Chinese
Group
32.
Data Centers: Wyoming’s Next Powder River Basin?
33.
A Chinese Province Could Ban Bitcoin Mining to
Cut Down Energy Use
34.
Clark Public Utilities Charges Up Electric
Vehicle Incentive Program
35.
WA State: SnoPUD Offering $400 Charging Credit
for New Electric Vehicles
36.
Major Utilities Are Gearing Up to Install EV
Charging Stations Across 16 States
37.
Volvo Says It Will Be ‘Fully Electric’ by 2030
& Move Car Sales Online
38.
Amazon Changes App Logo That ‘Resembles Adolf
Hitler’
39.
Proposal for Cleaner Fuel in Washington State
Could Raise Gas Prices
40. Democrats in U.S. House Introduce Wide-Ranging Climate Bill
WORD OF THE DAY
Acolyte \ACK-uh-lite\ Noun - 1: one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties 2: one who attends or assists: follower
The college intern’s enthusiasm over her new position at PepsiCo hit rock bottom on the second day. That’s when she learned that she’d been assigned to the “Gatorade” division, with the inauspicious title of “electrolyte acolyte.” Somewhere a clever HR staffer is still giggling.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Texas’ Head Utility Regulator Resigns Following
Legislative Hearing on Mass Blackouts (Utility Dive)
2.
Potholes, Grid Failures, Aging Tunnels &
Bridges: US Infrastructure Gets a C-Minus (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
3.
It’s Not Just Texas. The Energy Grid Needs an Upgrade
– Including in the Pacific Northwest (Northwest Public Broadcasting)
4.
Inland Power & Light Power: Snake River Dam Removal
Would Hurt Reliability, Raise Costs (Capital Press)
5.
Nevada Lawmakers File Bill to Require Consent for
Nuclear Waste (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)
6.
Tucson Electric Power to Resume Utility
Disconnections for Delinquent Accounts (KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ)
7.
WA State: Seattle Councilmember Sawant Calls for
Investigation into Puget Sound Energy (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)
8.
Scammers Continue to Threaten Power Shutoffs
(KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)
https://www.kxro.com/scammers-continue-to-threaten-power-shutoffs/
9.
California: Mayor Opts for 100% Renewable Option
for City Of San Diego Facilities (Sand Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
10.
Columbia & Snake River Navigation Locks Will
Close March 6 for Annual Maintenance (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
11.
After the Texas Freeze, People Are Asking: Is
Electrifying Buildings Risky? (Grist Online)
https://grist.org/energy/after-the-texas-freeze-people-are-asking-is-electrifying-buildings-risky/
12.
Should California Link Electricity Bills to
Customer Incomes? (Green Tech Media)
13.
Seattle Voters Approve Electric Utility Bonds on
March 4, 1902, Leading to Creation of Seattle City Light (History Link)
https://www.historylink.org/File/2317
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
14.
The United States Installed More Wind Turbine
Capacity in 2020 Than in Any Other Year (U.S. Energy Information
Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46976
15.
Washington State Awards Low-Income Solar Project
Grants (PV Magazine)
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/02/26/washington-state-awards-low-income-solar-project-grants/
16.
Oregon Community Solar Program Progresses, PUC
Approves First Projects (PV Magazine)
17.
New Mexico Homeowners Told They Can’t Connect
Solar Power Systems (KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM)
18.
Regulators OK Groundbreaking Wave Energy Testing
Project Off Oregon Coast (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
19.
United Kingdom: Climate Change – Private Hydropower
Schemes ‘On Cliff Edge’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-wales-56242378
FISH & WILDLIFE
20.
Another Year of Low Salmon Returns Points Toward
2021 Season Similar to 2020 (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)
21.
WA State: ‘Looking Good’ – One-Day Smelt Fishery
Serves Up Plenty of Fish & Happy Dippers (Longview Daily News, WA)
22.
New Orca Baby Sparks Questions Over Naval Training
(KIRO News, Seattle, WA)
https://mynorthwest.com/2650939/new-orca-baby-navy-seals-parks/
23.
Why Salish Sea Researchers Are Targeting
Superbugs in Marine Mammals (Crosscut Seattle, WA)
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
24.
An Above Normal Winter Snowpack for the Pacific
Northwest is Guaranteed! (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/03/an-above-normal-wind-snowpack-is.html
25.
Dry February Exacerbates Drought in California (Courthouse
News Service)
https://www.courthousenews.com/dry-february-exacerbates-drought-in-california/
26.
10th Circuit Rules Against Colorado in ‘Waters
of the US’ Dispute (Courthouse News Service)
https://www.courthousenews.com/10th-circuit-rules-against-colorado-in-waters-of-the-u-s-dispute/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
27.
Energy-Related Emissions Up in December Despite
Pandemic (Associated Press)
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Energy-related-emissions-up-in-December-despite-15992394.php
28.
Digital Maps Show How Climate Change’s Impact in
Washington State Isn’t Equal (Crosscut Seattle, WA)
https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/03/digital-maps-show-how-climate-changes-impact-wa-isnt-equal
29.
The Key to Passing Climate Policy? Rein in (Or
Win Over) Utilities Monopolies. (Grist Online)
https://grist.org/fix/investor-owned-utilities-climate-policy/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
30.
Chattanooga, TN: Quantifying the Benefits of
Fiber (Pots & Pans)
https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2021/03/03/10564/
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
31.
Microsoft Says Email Servers Hacked by Chinese
Group (Courthouse News Service)
https://www.courthousenews.com/microsoft-says-email-servers-hacked-by-chinese-group/
32.
Data Centers: Wyoming’s Next Powder River Basin?
(WyoFile)
https://www.wyofile.com/data-centers-wyomings-next-powder-river-basin/
33.
A Chinese Province Could Ban Bitcoin Mining to
Cut Down Energy Use (Gizmodo)
https://earther.gizmodo.com/a-chinese-province-could-ban-bitcoin-mining-to-cut-down-1846397717
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
34.
Clark Public Utilities Charges Up Electric
Vehicle Incentive Program (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/mar/03/clark-public-utilities-charges-up-ev-incentive-program/
35.
WA State: SnoPUD Offering $400 Charging Credit
for New Electric Vehicles (My Edmonds News, WA)
https://myedmondsnews.com/2021/02/snopud-offering-400-charging-credit-for-new-electric-vehicles/
36.
Major Utilities Are Gearing Up to Install EV
Charging Stations Across 16 States (Gizmodo)
https://earther.gizmodo.com/major-utilities-are-gearing-up-to-install-ev-charging-s-1846399234
37.
Volvo Says It Will Be ‘Fully Electric’ by 2030 &
Move Car Sales Online (CNBC)
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
38.
Amazon Changes App Logo That ‘Resembles Adolf
Hitler’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56266514
GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
39.
Proposal for Cleaner Fuel in Washington State Could
Raise Gas Prices (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)
40.
Democrats in U.S. House Introduce Wide-Ranging Climate
Bill (Reuters)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Gang of 100 Feral Chickens Terrorize Town, Chase Joggers
https://www.wideopenpets.com/feral-chickens-terrorizing-town/
Connecticut Man Finds Bowl from Ming Dynasty at Yard Sale
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/02/972742607/connecticut-man-finds-bowl-from-ming-dynasty-at-yard-sale
Man Trapped under Massive Hay Bale. He Was Trying To Steal
It, Say Franklin Deputies
Women Who Worked at Same Restaurant Find Out They’re
Biological Sisters
SONG OF THE DAY
Steely Dan – Aja
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-FMrz7OwLo
LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY
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