Friday, July 26, 2019

Energy News Digest for July 26, 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

Regulators Approve T-Mobile’s $26.5 Billion Takeover of Sprint (Associated Press)

Washington State Says Cost to Replace Salmon-Blocking Culverts Running into Billions (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Tribe, Environmental Groups Sue Oregon Agency Over Hells Canyon Complex Dam Deal (Associated Press)

REC Silicon Looking at Alternatives for Moses Lake Plant (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Firefighters Address Central & Eastern Washington Fires after Lightning Storms (Northwest Public Radio)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Tribe, Environmental Groups Sue Oregon Agency Over Hells Canyon Complex Dam Deal
2.      Bonneville Power Administration Announces No Increase to Base Wholesale Power Rates
3.      Portland General Electric Offers Rebate to Customers Who Avoid Peak Hours
4.      Congressman Newhouse Introduces Bill to Honor Ephrata Sons, Dam Pioneers
5.      Los Angeles: Overcharged Dept. of Water & Power Customers Could Get an Additional $50 Million in Refunds, New Lawyers Say “…fallout over the 2013 DWP billing debacle, in which hundreds of thousands of customers were erroneously charged…”
6.      California Utilities Agree to Pay $10.5 Billion into New Wildfire Fund
7.      More U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants Are Decommissioning as Retirements Continue
8.      NERC, FERC Report Offers Recommendations for Cold Weather Events
9.      India: Draft Plan Proposes Prepaid Smart Meter for All Power Connections
10.   Washington State Says Cost to Replace Salmon-Blocking Culverts Running into Billions
11.   Cowlitz County, Tribe Receive $1 Million in Fish Barrier Removal Grants
12.   Efforts Underway to Reintroduce Sockeye Salmon to Lake Cushman
13.   Chehalis River to Re-Open for Fishing
14.   Idaho Steelhead Forecast Remains Poor
15.   Feds Look Again at Reintroducing Grizzly Bears to North Cascades
16.   REC Silicon Looking at Alternatives for Moses Lake Plant
17.   Regulators Approve T-Mobile’s $26.5 Billion Takeover of Sprint
18.   Slow Internet Speeds a Perpetual Problem on Key Peninsula
19.   About a Third of U.S. Households Lack Broadband Internet. 5G May Change That
20.   The Global Internet Is Powered by Vast Undersea Cables – They’re Vulnerable.
21.   Seattle “Find It, Fix It” App Slammed with Hundreds of Fake Homeless Reports
22.   Op/Ed: Is SCADA Your Enterprise Data Speed Bump?
23.   Frank Luntz, The GOP’s Message Master, Calls for Climate Action
24.   Tidewater Glaciers Melting Faster Than Previously Thought
25.   Study: Decades-Long ‘Megadroughts’ Could Return to U.S. Due to Climate Change
26.   Twitter Reports Strong User Growth
27.   Twitter’s Redesign Isn’t About You
28.   Girls Cyberbullied More Than Boys amid U.S. Harassment Rise
29.   Russia Targeted Election Systems in All 50 States, Report Finds
30.   More Property Tax Relief on the Way for 13 Counties in Washington
31.   Some Oregon Republicans Are Having Regrets About Effort to Recall Gov. Kate Brown
32.   Oregon Judge Rules City Councilor’s Notes Are Not Public
33.   Firefighters Address Central & Eastern Washington Fires after Lightning Storms
34.   Two Firefighters Injured in Now Contained Scatter Creek Brush Fire
35.   Rain on Saturday
36.   Asphalt Repair Set for SR 3 North of Shelton
37.   ‘Mind-Blowing’: Stranded for Four Days, 73-Year-Old Man & His Two Dogs Survive in Remote Oregon Desert
38.   Dueling Meteor Showers to Light Up Sky Next Week

WORD OF THE DAY

Kasbah • \KAZ-bah\ • Noun – 1: A North African castle or fortress 2: the native section of a North African city.

Every time I hear this lyric from the “Marrakech Express,” I smile: “Striped djellabas we can wear at home…” I would imagine they found those funky robes in the Kasbah of Marrakech.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Tribe, Environmental Groups Sue Oregon Agency Over Hells Canyon Complex Dam Deal (Associated Press)

2.    Bonneville Power Administration Announces No Increase to Base Wholesale Power Rates (Longview Daily News, WA)

3.    Portland General Electric Offers Rebate to Customers Who Avoid Peak Hours (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

4.    Congressman Newhouse Introduces Bill to Honor Ephrata Sons, Dam Pioneers (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

5.    Los Angeles: Overcharged Dept. of Water & Power Customers Could Get an Additional $50 Million in Refunds, New Lawyers Say “…fallout over the 2013 DWP billing debacle, in which hundreds of thousands of customers were erroneously charged…” (Los Angeles Times, CA)

6.    California Utilities Agree to Pay $10.5 Billion into New Wildfire Fund (Los Angeles Times, CA)

7.    More U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants Are Decommissioning as Retirements Continue (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

8.    NERC, FERC Report Offers Recommendations for Cold Weather Events (American Public Power Association)

9.    India: Draft Plan Proposes Prepaid Smart Meter for All Power Connections (domain-b.com)

FISH & WILDLIFE

10. Washington State Says Cost to Replace Salmon-Blocking Culverts Running into Billions (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

11. Cowlitz County, Tribe Receive $1 Million in Fish Barrier Removal Grants (Longview Daily News, WA)

12. Efforts Underway to Reintroduce Sockeye Salmon to Lake Cushman (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

13. Chehalis River to Re-Open for Fishing (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

14. Idaho Steelhead Forecast Remains Poor (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

15. Feds Look Again at Reintroducing Grizzly Bears to North Cascades (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16. REC Silicon Looking at Alternatives for Moses Lake Plant (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

17. Regulators Approve T-Mobile’s $26.5 Billion Takeover of Sprint (Associated Press)

18. Slow Internet Speeds a Perpetual Problem on Key Peninsula (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

19. About a Third of U.S. Households Lack Broadband Internet. 5G May Change That (Digital Trends)

20. The Global Internet Is Powered by Vast Undersea Cables – They’re Vulnerable. (Cable News Network)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

21. Seattle “Find It, Fix It” App Slammed with Hundreds of Fake Homeless Reports (KOMO TV, Seattle, WA)

22. Op/Ed: Is SCADA Your Enterprise Data Speed Bump? (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23. Frank Luntz, The GOP’s Message Master, Calls for Climate Action (Grist Online)

24. Tidewater Glaciers Melting Faster Than Previously Thought (Courthouse News Service)

25. Study: Decades-Long ‘Megadroughts’ Could Return to U.S. Due to Climate Change (The Hill, Washington, DC)

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

26. Twitter Reports Strong User Growth (Associated Press)

27. Twitter’s Redesign Isn’t About You (OneZero, Medium)

28. Girls Cyberbullied More Than Boys amid U.S. Harassment Rise (Associated Press)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

29. Russia Targeted Election Systems in All 50 States, Report Finds (NY Times)

30. More Property Tax Relief on the Way for 13 Counties in Washington (KING TV, Seattle, WA)

31. Some Oregon Republicans Are Having Regrets About Effort to Recall Gov. Kate Brown (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

32. Oregon Judge Rules City Councilor’s Notes Are Not Public (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

33. Firefighters Address Central & Eastern Washington Fires after Lightning Storms (Northwest Public Radio)

34. Two Firefighters Injured in Now Contained Scatter Creek Brush Fire (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

35. Rain on Saturday (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

36. Asphalt Repair Set for SR 3 North of Shelton (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

37. ‘Mind-Blowing’: Stranded for Four Days, 73-Year-Old Man & His Two Dogs Survive in Remote Oregon Desert (USA Today)

38. Dueling Meteor Showers to Light Up Sky Next Week (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Widow, 46, Gives Birth One Day after Discovering Her Pregnancy – ‘I Thought I Couldn’t Have Babies’

Dial Back the ‘Wild West’ Iguana Hunting, Florida Wildlife Officials Say

Amphibian Apocalypse – Frog Population Explodes in Region of Vermont

Man Gives Wife Cake Shaped Like One of Her Favorite Things – An Amazon Box

SONG OF THE DAY

Benjamin Frankel – The Night of the Iguana (Soundtrack, 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.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Energy News Digest for July 25, 2019


The Hot Shots edition of the Energy 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

Bonneville Power Administration: No Increase to Base Power Rates (Bonneville Power Administration)

Could British Columbia’s Chinook-Loving Orcas Adapt to a New Food Source? It’s Not Unthinkable (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Moody’s Buys Climate Data Firm, Signaling New Scrutiny of Climate Risks (NY Times)

Crews Tagging Fraser River Salmon to Track Survival Beyond Big Bar Landslide (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

Software Problems Cripple Washington State Marijuana Industry (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Bonneville Power Administration: No Increase to Base Power Rates
2.      Judge Delays Ruling on Pacific Gas & Electric Control during Bankruptcy
3.      UAMPS Members Execute Power Sales Contracts for Modular Nuclear Power Project
4.      Electrical Usage, Grant PUD Below Second Quarter Projection
5.      Feds Announce $16 Million in Funding for 14 Tribal Energy Projects
6.      Realtor, Community Advocate Joins Tacoma Public Utility Board of Directors
7.      Electricity Marketplace WattBuy Is the Latest Seattle-Area Energy Startup to Raise Funding
8.      Chicago Considers Municipalizing ComEd
9.      Colorado: Tri-State Files for FERC Regulation, Delta-Montrose to Exit in 2020
10.   Pennsylvania: PUC Seeks $4.5 Million from Met-Ed after Man Electrocuted
11.   This Texas Oil Town Actually Wants the Nation’s Nuclear Waste
12.   Could British Columbia’s Chinook-Loving Orcas Adapt to a New Food Source? It’s Not Unthinkable
13.   Crews Tagging Fraser River Salmon to Track Survival Beyond Big Bar Landslide
14.   Whales Are Dying from Ship Strikes. A Newly Funded Project Aims to Prevent That
15.   Examination of Gray Whale Deaths Could Answer Bigger Questions about the Environment
16.   76 Mountain Goats in Olympic National Park Relocated to the Cascade Mountains This Month
17.   The Crisis Lurking in Californians’ Taps: How 1,000 Water Systems May Be at Risk
18.   Ohio’s New Law a Blow to Renewable Electricity Mandate Momentum
19.   Broadband Research: Half of Americans Can Get 500 Mbps Broadband, Monthly Costs Often Exceed $60
20.   Lack of Broadband Access Puts Tribal, Rural Communities ‘In Jeopardy,’ Lawmakers Told
21.   Illinois: Internet for Broadband Desert
22.   Senate Commerce OK’s Broadband DATA Act
23.   Grays Harbor Community Hospital Mum on Ransomware Attack
24.   Public Power Rebates on Nissan LEAF
25.   Moody’s Buys Climate Data Firm, Signaling New Scrutiny of Climate Risks
26.   Olympia Sets Goal of Net-Zero Emissions by 2040, Backs Green New Deal
27.   Global Climate Warming Faster Now Than in Past 2,000 Years
28.   ‘No Doubt Left’ about Scientific Consensus on Global Warming, Say Experts
29.   Software Problems Cripple Washington State Marijuana Industry
30.   Federal Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana Has Local, National Advocates Enthusiastic for Vote
31.   Automakers Go Around President Trump to Strike Deal with California to Make Cleaner Cars
32.   Eyman Settles in Office Chair Theft Case
33.   28,630 Cloud Flashes & 3,499 Lightning Strikes across Washington State from Tuesday to Wednesday
34.   Fire, Power Crews Struggle to Catch Up to Aftermath of Tuesday Night Storms
35.   Hiker Dies after 100-Foot Fall in Mount Rainier National Park. Victim Was Author
36.   Mason County Unemployment Up in June
37.   Thousands Celebrate Tribal Canoe Journey at Lummi Nation
38.   Shelton’s Urraco Coffee Opens New Shop in Thurston County

WORD OF THE DAY

En masse • \on-MASS\ • adverb - In a body: as a whole

Like the sheep they were, the group of unshorn ruminants followed the bell-wether en masse to their first shearing of the year. “Where are we going?” bleated Anabelle to her herd mate. “I dunno,” replied Gertie. “Someone said there was a fashion statement to be made today. I just hope it’s not a clipper cut like I had last year; it makes me look fat.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Bonneville Power Administration: No Increase to Base Power Rates (Bonneville Power Administration)

2.    Judge Delays Ruling on Pacific Gas & Electric Control during Bankruptcy (Courthouse News Service)

3.    UAMPS Members Execute Power Sales Contracts for Modular Nuclear Power Project (American Public Power Association)

4.    Electrical Usage, Grant PUD Below Second Quarter Projection (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

5.    Feds Announce $16 Million in Funding for 14 Tribal Energy Projects (Utility Dive)

6.    Realtor, Community Advocate Joins Tacoma Public Utility Board of Directors (South Sound Business)

7.    Electricity Marketplace WattBuy Is the Latest Seattle-Area Energy Startup to Raise Funding (GeekWire)

8.    Chicago Considers Municipalizing ComEd (Utility Dive)

9.    Colorado: Tri-State Files for FERC Regulation, Delta-Montrose to Exit in 2020 (Utility Dive)

10. Pennsylvania: PUC Seeks $4.5 Million from Met-Ed after Man Electrocuted (WITF TV, Harrisburg, PA)

11. This Texas Oil Town Actually Wants the Nation’s Nuclear Waste (Bloomberg News)

FISH & WILDLIFE

12. Could British Columbia’s Chinook-Loving Orcas Adapt to a New Food Source? It’s Not Unthinkable (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

13. Crews Tagging Fraser River Salmon to Track Survival Beyond Big Bar Landslide (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

14. Whales Are Dying from Ship Strikes. A Newly Funded Project Aims to Prevent That (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

15. Examination of Gray Whale Deaths Could Answer Bigger Questions about the Environment (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

16. 76 Mountain Goats in Olympic National Park Relocated to the Cascade Mountains This Month (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton – Paywall Advisory)

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

17. The Crisis Lurking in Californians’ Taps: How 1,000 Water Systems May Be at Risk (NY Times)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

18. Ohio’s New Law a Blow to Renewable Electricity Mandate Momentum (Washington Examiner, Josh Siegel, Daily on Energy)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19. Broadband Research: Half of Americans Can Get 500 Mbps Broadband, Monthly Costs Often Exceed $60 (Telecompetitor)

20. Lack of Broadband Access Puts Tribal, Rural Communities ‘In Jeopardy,’ Lawmakers Told (Indian Country Today)

21. Illinois: Internet for Broadband Desert (Lasalle News Tribune, IL)

22. Senate Commerce OK’s Broadband DATA Act (Multichannel News)

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

23. Grays Harbor Community Hospital Mum on Ransomware Attack (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC


CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25. Moody’s Buys Climate Data Firm, Signaling New Scrutiny of Climate Risks (NY Times)

26. Olympia Sets Goal of Net-Zero Emissions by 2040, Backs Green New Deal (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

27. Global Climate Warming Faster Now Than in Past 2,000 Years (Courthouse News Service)

28. ‘No Doubt Left’ about Scientific Consensus on Global Warming, Say Experts (The Guardian, UK)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

29. Software Problems Cripple Washington State Marijuana Industry (Associated Press)

30. Federal Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana Has Local, National Advocates Enthusiastic for Vote (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

31. Automakers Go Around President Trump to Strike Deal with California to Make Cleaner Cars (Washington Examiner)

32. Eyman Settles in Office Chair Theft Case (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

33. 28,630 Cloud Flashes & 3,499 Lightning Strikes across Washington State from Tuesday to Wednesday (KNDO/KNDU TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

34. Fire, Power Crews Struggle to Catch Up to Aftermath of Tuesday Night Storms (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

35. Hiker Dies after 100-Foot Fall in Mount Rainier National Park. Victim Was Author (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

36. Mason County Unemployment Up in June (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

37. Thousands Celebrate Tribal Canoe Journey at Lummi Nation (KING TV, Seattle, WA)

38. Shelton’s Urraco Coffee Opens New Shop in Thurston County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Rutger Hauer, Iconic Star of Blade Runner, Dies at 75

Ohio State Fair Remembers Moon Landing with Butter Sculpture of Astronauts

Photo of One-Armed Two-Year-Old Bonding with Orlando Pride’s Carson Pickett Goes Viral

School District That Turned Down Donation Will Accept Offer to Pay Off Lunch Debt

SONG OF THE DAY

Vangelis – Love Theme (Blade Runner Soundtrack)

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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