Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Energy News Digest for March 6, 2019


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

Solar Project, with More Than a Half-Million Panels, Proposed for Private & State Lands Near Columbia River (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Record U-S Electricity Generation In 2018 Driven by Record Residential, Commercial Sales (U-S Energy Information Administration)

Can Washington State Maintain Affordable Energy? (The Lens, Business Institute of Washington)

Moses Lake: REC Silicon Will Continue to Operate as Company Seeks Clarity on Trade Negotiations with China (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

Rainier Connect Recommended in Public-Private Click Option for Tacoma (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Record U-S Electricity Generation In 2018 Driven by Record Residential, Commercial Sales
2.      Can Washington State Maintain Affordable Energy?
3.      Editorial: 100 Percent Clean Electricity Achievable in Washington
4.      Chelan PUD Commission Reviews Probe of Rock Island Dam Fatality
5.      Pacific Gas & Electric ‘Unsafe’ Actions, ‘Dismal’ Prevention, Caused Wildfires: Judge
6.      NorthWestern Energy Warns Customers About Imposter Utility Scams
7.      Wyoming Passes Coal Support Bill in Spate of Western Action to Save Ailing Plants
8.      Good News! European Electric Grid Will Still Work When Earth Crumbles
9.      Restoring Pacific Northwest Waterways: Eighteenmile Creek
10.   Solar Project, with More Than a Half-Million Panels, Proposed for Private & State Lands Near Columbia River
11.   Moses Lake: REC Silicon Will Continue to Operate as Company Seeks Clarity on Trade Negotiations with China
12.   Energy Adviser: Green Lights Curbs Carbon, Benefits Kids
13.   Rainier Connect Recommended in Public-Private Click Option for Tacoma
14.   Jefferson PUD Approves NoaNet Loan
15.   Public Power Voices Support for Bill to Overturn FCC Pole Contact Order
16.   New Net Neutrality Bill Would Strip the FCC of Its Power to Mess with the Internet
17.   Coming to a City Near You, 5G. Fastest Wireless Yet Will Bring New Services
18.   South Dakota U-S Sen. Thune Schedules Rural Broadband Hearing
19.   Utilities Rev Up the Electric Vehicle Renaissance
20.   4,000 Gallons of Sewage Spills from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
21.   School Lessons Increasingly a Target for Climate Skeptics
22.   Extreme Weather Alert: How Utilities Are Adapting to a Changing Climate
23.   John Kerry, Chuck Hagel Lead Former National Security Officials in Rebuke of President Trump’s Climate Skeptic Panel
24.   Washington State Ferries’ Haiku Contest Returns to Twitter This Week
25.   Toledo Indian Mascot, ‘Tomahawk Chop’ Are Out
26.   Finalists from Smithsonian Magazine’s 2018 Photo Contest
27.   ‘Brilliant’ Man, Inventor of the Calculator, Dies
28.   Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Passes Washington Senate
29.   Washington State House Passes Bill to Limit Measles Vaccine Exemption
30.   Idaho Secretary of State Forgot to Budget for Primary
31.   More Than 30,000 Pounds of Washington State Beef Products Recalled Over Contamination Concerns
32.   City of Olympia Moves Homeless People Out of Unsanctioned Camp
33.   Thousands of Fake Government IDs Made in Covert Oregon Lab Were Sold Across U-S, Prosecutors Say

WORD OF THE DAY

Abecedarian \ay-bee-see-DAIR-ee-un\ Adjective – 1a: of or relating to the alphabet b: alphabetically arranged 2: rudimentary.

Adherents to the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism have a bone to pick with the abecedarian listing of the world’s faiths. “I can see their point, mused Zeke Zaborowski,” as he paged through the ancient texts of the Avesta, during the interminable high school graduation ceremony, waiting to receive his diploma.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Record U-S Electricity Generation In 2018 Driven by Record Residential, Commercial Sales (U-S Energy Information Administration)

2.    Can Washington State Maintain Affordable Energy? (The Lens, Business Institute of Washington)

3.    Editorial: 100 Percent Clean Electricity Achievable in Washington State (Everett Herald, WA)

4.    Chelan PUD Commission Reviews Probe of Rock Island Dam Fatality (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

5.    Pacific Gas & Electric ‘Unsafe’ Actions, ‘Dismal’ Prevention, Caused Wildfires: Judge (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

6.    NorthWestern Energy Warns Customers About Imposter Utility Scams (Daily Energy Insider)

7.    Wyoming Passes Coal Support Bill in Spate of Western Action to Save Ailing Plants (Utility Dive)

8.    Good News! European Electric Grid Will Still Work When Earth Crumbles (Courthouse News Service)

FISH & WILDLIFE

9.    Restoring Pacific Northwest Waterways: Eighteenmile Creek (Bonneville Power Administration)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10. Solar Project, with More Than a Half-Million Panels, Proposed for Private & State Lands Near Columbia River (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

11. Moses Lake: REC Silicon Will Continue to Operate as Company Seeks Clarity on Trade Negotiations with China (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

12. Energy Adviser: Green Lights Curbs Carbon, Benefits Kids (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

13. Rainier Connect Recommended in Public-Private Click Option for Tacoma (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

14. Jefferson PUD Approves NoaNet Loan (Port Townsend Leader, WA)


16. New Net Neutrality Bill Would Strip the FCC of Its Power to Mess with the Internet (Gizmodo)

17. Coming to a City Near You, 5G. Fastest Wireless Yet Will Bring New Services (National Public Radio – Make you taller, better looking, & a better dancer)

18. South Dakota U-S Sen. Thune Schedules Rural Broadband Hearing (Multichannel News)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

19. Utilities Rev Up the Electric Vehicle Renaissance (Forbes Magazine)

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

20. 4,000 Gallons of Sewage Spills from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21. School Lessons Increasingly a Target for Climate Skeptics (Associated Press)

22. Extreme Weather Alert: How Utilities Are Adapting to a Changing Climate (Utility Dive)

23. John Kerry, Chuck Hagel Lead Former National Security Officials in Rebuke of President Trump’s Climate Skeptic Panel (Washington Examiner)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

24. Washington State Ferries’ Haiku Contest Returns to Twitter This Week (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

25. Toledo Indian Mascot, ‘Tomahawk Chop’ Are Out (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

26. Finalists from Smithsonian Magazine’s 2018 Photo Contest (Atlantic Magazine)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

27. ‘Brilliant’ Man, Inventor of the Calculator, Dies (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

28. Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Passes Washington Senate (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

29. Washington State House Passes Bill to Limit Measles Vaccine Exemption (Associated Press)

30. Idaho Secretary of State Forgot to Budget for Primary (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

31. More Than 30,000 Pounds of Washington State Beef Products Recalled Over Contamination Concerns (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

32. City of Olympia Moves Homeless People Out of Unsanctioned Camp (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

33. Thousands of Fake Government IDs Made in Covert Oregon Lab Were Sold Across U-S, Prosecutors Say (Oregonian, Portland)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Follow-Up – Oregon Man Who Survived Off Taco Sauce While Trapped in the Snow Gets Free Taco Bell for a Year

Bragging About Getting Away in a High-Speed Chase Didn’t Win Him Points During Drug Bust

Thousands Overwhelm California Town to See Superbloom: ‘I Think Social Media Has Played Huge Role’

Nearly 1,500 Pulses of Lightning Recorded Off Southern California Coast in Five Minutes

SONG OF THE DAY

“Woke last night to the sound of thunder. How far off, I sat and wondered…”

Bob Seger – Night Moves

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Energy News Digest for March 5, 2019


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

Oregon: Local Utilities Work to Restore Power as Some Outages Could Last a Week or More (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Grays Harbor, Mason, Other Counties Included in Major Disaster Declaration for Washington Recently Approved by President Donald J. Trump (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

5G Technology Again Blasted by the Gig Harbor City Council (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Most Washington Salmon Returns Predicted to Be Worse “…due largely to the lingering effects of The Blob…” (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Washington State Senate Transportation Bill Would More Than Double Electric Vehicle Registration Fees (GeekWire)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Oregon: Local Utilities Work to Restore Power as Some Outages Could Last a Week or More
2.      Check Your Thermostat, BPA Asking Adams County Avista Customers & Others to Conserve Power
3.      Op/Ed: Nuclear Power Always Ready for Extreme Weather
4.      Op/Ed: Wildfires Spark Debate Over Power Lines
5.      New Chelan PUD Base Moving Forward
6.      Tacoma Power Offers Grant Opportunity for Cowlitz River Basin Projects
7.      Michigan: Homeowner Points Gun at DTE Energy Employee Who Attempted to Disconnect Electricity for Power Theft
8.      Another Reason to Support HB 1380 – Providing an Aggravating Circumstance for Assault Against a Utility Worker
9.      Washington State Bill Gives Broadcasters Access to Emergency Scenes
10.   Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place to Avoid Power Lines
11.   For Pacific Gas & Electric Board Candidate, ‘Job One Is to Restore the Public Trust’
12.   South Carolina: Lawyer Says Ex-SCANA Officials ‘Whitewashed,’ Lied about Defects at Failed Nuclear Plant
13.   Here’s How Much Your Electricity Bill Will Cost on Average in Every State
14.   Most Washington Salmon Returns Predicted to Be Worse “…due largely to the lingering effects of The Blob…”
15.   Ocean Heat Waves Are Threatening Marine Life
16.   Rarest Orangutans ‘Doomed’ by Indonesia Dam Project
17.   Snohomish PUD Seeking Sites for Local Solar Projects
18.   British Columbia: Baby Boomers Use Twice as Much Electricity as Millennials, BC Hydro Says
19.   5G Technology Again Blasted by the Gig Harbor City Council
20.   City of Seattle City: Low-Income Areas Five Times as Likely to Lack Internet Access
21.   U-S House Democrats Will Introduce ‘Save the Internet Act’ to Restore Net Neutrality This Week
22.   US Telcos Teeter Toward Bankruptcy as Comcast’s Broadband Monopoly Grows
23.   Editorial: Cities Wise to Lay Groundwork for Public Broadband
24.   The American Broadband Initiative
25.   Washington State Senate Transportation Bill Would More Than Double Electric Vehicle Registration Fees
26.   California’s Surging Electric Car Sales Driven Largely by Tesla’s Model 3
27.   Editorial: Huge Yakima Basin Project, Small Part of Massive Bill
28.   Editorial: Welcome Congressional Safeguards for Public Lands, Including in Washington State
29.   Plan to Protect Colorado River Still Isn’t Done. Now What?
30.   Clean Electricity Rule to Phase Out Fossil Fuel Plants Moves Closer to Passage in Washington
31.   Seattle’s Carbon Reduction: Too Slow, Too Steady, Report Says
32.   Splitting Apart Pacific Gas & Electric Could Hurt California’s Carbon Neutrality Goals, Sierra Club Says
33.   Republicans Who Couldn’t Beat Climate Debate Now Seek to Join It
34.   Op/Ed: There Really, Really Isn’t a Silver Bullet for Climate Change
35.   Melania Trump Talks Up Homework with Kids on ‘Be Best’ Tour
36.   Social Media Trolls Will Be Blocked & Reported to Police by Royal Family Under New Rules
37.   Teen Who Vaccinated Himself Says Anti-Vaxx Mom Gets Misinformation from Facebook
38.   Astronomers Around the World Are Training in Case a Giant Asteroid Threatens Earth
39.   Skywatch: Spring Forward in March with a Time Change & the Brightness of Venus
40.   Inslee Eyes National Climate Fight, Has Struggled at Home
41.   Washington State Legislature OKs Moving Presidential Primary to March
42.   Washington’s Urban & Rural Communities Need One Another
43.   Grays Harbor, Mason, Other Counties Included in Major Disaster Declaration for Washington Recently Approved by President Donald J. Trump
44.   More Snow Possible Later This Week as Cold Weather Continues
45.   Roundabout Proposed Near Hood Canal Bridge on Highway 104 in Jefferson County
46.   Alaska Airlines Flight Puts Washington State’s Paine Field Back on U-S Aviation Map
47.   There Are More $100 Bills in Circulation Than $1 Bills – It Makes No Cents

WORD OF THE DAY

Misprision • \mis-PRIZH-un\ • Noun – 1a: neglect or wrong performance of official duty b: concealment of treason or felony by one who is not a participant in the treason or felony 2: misunderstanding, misinterpretation.

“I love the delete key,” purred the entry-level clerk at the Behemoth Tool & Die Company. “Won’t Mr. Dithers be so proud of me for covering up his massive embezzlement scheme?” The clerk’s misprision did not win him the accolades he expected. Through the neophyte’s killing of all the incriminating files, the erstwhile Mr. Dithers had no way to determine how much money he had squirreled away in a Cayman Island account. As such, he died penniless in a debtor’s prison.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Oregon: Local Utilities Work to Restore Power as Some Outages Could Last a Week or More (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

2.    Check Your Thermostat, BPA Asking Adams County Avista Customers & Others to Conserve Power (iFiberone News, Ephrata, WA)

3.    Op/Ed: Nuclear Power Always Ready for Extreme Weather (Forbes Magazine)

4.    Op/Ed: Wildfires Spark Debate Over Power Lines (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

5.    New Chelan PUD Base Moving Forward (KOZI-Radio, Chelan, WA)

6.    Tacoma Power Offers Grant Opportunity for Cowlitz River Basin Projects (Longview Daily News, WA)

7.    Michigan: Homeowner Points Gun at DTE Energy Employee Who Attempted to Disconnect Electricity for Power Theft (Click ON Detroit, MI)

8.    Another Reason to Support HB 1380 – Providing an Aggravating Circumstance for Assault Against a Utility Worker (Washington State Legislature)

9.    Washington State Bill Gives Broadcasters Access to Emergency Scenes (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

10. Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place to Avoid Power Lines (Everett Herald, WA)

11. For Pacific Gas & Electric Board Candidate, ‘Job One Is to Restore the Public Trust’ (NY Times)

12. South Carolina: Lawyer Says Ex-SCANA Officials ‘Whitewashed,’ Lied about Defects at Failed Nuclear Plant (The State, Columbia, SC)

13. Here’s How Much Your Electricity Bill Will Cost on Average in Every State (USA Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

14. Most Washington Salmon Returns Predicted to Be Worse “…due largely to the lingering effects of The Blob…” (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

15. Ocean Heat Waves Are Threatening Marine Life (NY Times)

16. Rarest Orangutans ‘Doomed’ by Indonesia Dam Project (British Broadcasting Corporation)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

17. Snohomish PUD Seeking Sites for Local Solar Projects (My Edmonds News, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18. British Columbia: Baby Boomers Use Twice as Much Electricity as Millennials, BC Hydro Says (Abbotsford News, BC)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19. 5G Technology Again Blasted by the Gig Harbor City Council (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

20. City of Seattle City: Low-Income Areas Five Times as Likely to Lack Internet Access (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

21. U-S House Democrats Will Introduce ‘Save the Internet Act’ to Restore Net Neutrality This Week (Gizmodo)

22. US Telcos Teeter Toward Bankruptcy as Comcast’s Broadband Monopoly Grows (TechDirt)

23. Editorial: Cities Wise to Lay Groundwork for Public Broadband (Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA)

24. The American Broadband Initiative (Pots & Pans)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

25. Washington State Senate Transportation Bill Would More Than Double Electric Vehicle Registration Fees (GeekWire)

26. California’s Surging Electric Car Sales Driven Largely by Tesla’s Model 3 (SF Chronicle)

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

27. Editorial: Huge Yakima Basin Project, Small Part of Massive Bill (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

28. Editorial: Welcome Congressional Safeguards for Public Lands, Including in Washington State (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

29. Plan to Protect Colorado River Still Isn’t Done. Now What? (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

30. Clean Electricity Rule to Phase Out Fossil Fuel Plants Moves Closer to Passage in Washington (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

31. Seattle’s Carbon Reduction: Too Slow, Too Steady, Report Says (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

32. Splitting Apart Pacific Gas & Electric Could Hurt California’s Carbon Neutrality Goals, Sierra Club Says (Utility Dive)

33. Republicans Who Couldn’t Beat Climate Debate Now Seek to Join It (Bloomberg News)

34. Op/Ed: There Really, Really Isn’t a Silver Bullet for Climate Change (Atlantic Magazine)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

35. Melania Trump Talks Up Homework with Kids on ‘Be Best’ Tour (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

36. Social Media Trolls Will Be Blocked & Reported to Police by Royal Family Under New Rules (Mashable)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

37. Teen Who Vaccinated Himself Says Anti-Vaxx Mom Gets Misinformation from Facebook (USA Today)

38. Astronomers Around the World Are Training in Case a Giant Asteroid Threatens Earth (Gizmodo)

39. Skywatch: Spring Forward in March with a Time Change & the Brightness of Venus (Washington Post)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

40. Inslee Eyes National Climate Fight, Has Struggled at Home (Washington Post)

41. Washington State Legislature OKs Moving Presidential Primary to March (Associated Press)

42. Washington’s Urban & Rural Communities Need One Another (Crosscut Seattle)

GENERAL NEWS


44. More Snow Possible Later This Week as Cold Weather Continues (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

45. Roundabout Proposed Near Hood Canal Bridge on Highway 104 in Jefferson County (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

46. Alaska Airlines Flight Puts Washington State’s Paine Field Back on U-S Aviation Map (USA Today)

47. There Are More $100 Bills in Circulation Than $1 Bills – It Makes No Cents (Washington Post)

TURTLES IN THE LUGGAGE – DIVERSIONS

Oregon Man Snowed in with Only Taco Sauce Grateful for Rescue

Trove of Ice-Age Fossils Found in LA Subway Dig

Over 1,500 Turtles Found Inside Luggage in Philippines

German Police Say Dead Cow Kicked Slaughterhouse Worker

SONG OF THE DAY

Boston – Foreplay / Long Time

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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