Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Solid Snowpack Heading into Dry Season (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration’s Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Outlook Improving (Bonneville Power Administration)

Mason PUD 3 Restores Power to 3,300 Customers in Downtown Shelton (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Incentives for Washington State Solar Begin to Sunset (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

Eclipse to Test U-S Electric Grid Reshaped by Solar Power (Financial Times)

U-S Senator Murkowski Frustrated over Nomination Process (Politico Morning Energy)

(WASHINGTON, DC) – She's not sure what's causing the holdups, but Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski says she's increasingly exasperated by the lack of nominees sent her way. "All I know is names go into a dark hole and it just seems to take forever," she said. "Where are they? This is May! ... I don't want to say I'm being a nag, but I am being persistent."

Not blaming Democrats: Unlike many of her peers, Murkowski said she won't entirely blame Democrats for delays. "I'm not seeing that it is the Democrats that are delaying it," she said. "I think you've got some internal things going on, that I'm just not quite sure what is causing the hold up." But the lack of names is already impacting Trump's ability to implement his agenda: "You can't put in place the president's priorities if his secretaries don't have their people in place," Murkowski said.

Zinke shares her concerns: Murkowski said she spoke with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke about the lack of progress and "he's just as frustrated as I am by this." But the problem isn't the people being picked for roles, she said. "Not one name have I heard has been rejected," the Alaskan said.

Monday, May 1, 2017

Permanent Speed Limit Change Comes to Highway 3 between Gorst & Belfair (Washington State Department of Transportation)

May 1, 2017
                 
(BELFAIR, WA) – Drivers will soon notice new speed limit signs along a segment of State Route 3 from Gorst to Belfair. Crews will replace existing 55 mile-per-hour speed limit signs with new 50 mile-per-hour speed limit signs. The permanent speed reduction affects SR 3 from milepost 27.1 to 34.02.

This change is a result of a Washington State Department of Transportation speed study.

The lowered speed limit will be enforceable as soon as new signs are posted, currently scheduled for the week of May 8.

Olympic Region
PO Box 47440
Olympia, WA 98504-7440