Chelan PUD Welcomes New Communicator (Northwest Public Power Association)

(WENATCHEE, WA) -- Rachel Hansen has joined Chelan PUD as senior

communications strategist and chief media contact. She is taking over from Kimberlee Craig, who retired on June 30 after 21 years at the PUD, most of that as public information officer.

Hansen comes to Chelan PUD from Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth where she developed outreach and public engagement programs as the center’s first communications staffer. Before that she was a reporter and editor at The Wenatchee World. She also has written for Northwest travel publications and provided public relations for others, including wineries.

Craig is lucky to be moving into a different role as a contractor, helping Visitor Services Manager Debbie Gallaher and the Rocky Reach Discovery Center with communications during renovations expected to start in August. She’s excited to see the project through reopening in spring 2021.

Hispanic Leaders Will Address COVID-19 Crisis Monday June 29th, 5:00 PM at Pasco Farmers Market

(PASCO, WA)

What? Hispanic leaders from across the state, Franklin PUD and the Benton-Franklin Health District have partnered to address the COVID-19 crisis affecting the Latino community in Benton and Franklin counties. The speakers will encourage people to wear masks, encourage social distancing and educate residents on the health risks of COVID-19.

When? Monday, June 29^th at 5:00 p.m.

Where? Pasco Farmers Market on 4^th and Lewis in Pasco, Washington adjacent to Viera’s Bakery and across the Pasco Specialty Kitchen.

Why?  Our goal is to encourage mask-wearing & good social distancing practices in the Hispanic community. COVID-19 is spreading rapidly through the Hispanic community for various reasons. Many are essential workers, thousands are part of the agricultural industry and many come from large families where social distancing is a challenge. We are not blaming the Hispanic community for the spread. Everyone must do their part to defeat COVID-19.

Who will speak? Pasco Mayor Saul Martinez, Dr. Amy Person (BFHD), Dr. Raul Garcia (ER Doctor Lourdes), Martin Valadez (TCHCC President) Gabriel Portugal (President DPDA) LBA, WA State Legislator Alex Ybarra, Ana Peralta (Pasco Community Leader).

What will be said? Leaders will ask people from the Hispanic community to wear masks, practice social distancing and educate them on the risks of COVID-19.

Will it be conducted in English and Spanish? Yes all speakers are bilingual and will speak in English and Spanish.

Will there be Q & A when the news conference is over? Yes each speaker is available, except for Dr. Garcia, he has to leave for a scheduled engagement.

Energy Industry's Diversity Problem (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- In the immediate aftermath of the protests that shot up across the country following the killing of George Floyd, many energy and industry groups have made public gestures of support. Oil giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and the industry group American Petroleum Institute came out with statements condemning racism, as did leaders of the wind and solar energy sectors.

But those statements came from leaders in an industry that is still predominantly white, especially in the highest management positions, Pro's Gavin Bade and Ben Lefebvre report this morning.

One 2016 study from API found nearly three-quarters of oil and gas industry workers were white. The rank and file of the wind and solar sectors are slightly more diverse, according to a 2019 report for state energy officials, but many of the highest paid jobs are dominated by white workers. The oil and gas industry as a whole also has long generated complaints that it has been hostile to women and minorities.

"Those who have statements have good statements, but from where I sit, what we want to know is what happens after your statement," said Paula Glover, head of American Association of Blacks in Energy. "Because [a statement] that says we abhor racism and inequality, it's not that it rings hollow, but if you do nothing to back that up by making change in your organization, then it's just words on the page."

Industry groups seek diversity rising. API says a majority of new oil and gas jobs through 2040 will be filled by women and people of color — though that portion is smaller for managerial and C-suite positions. Leaders in the wind and solar sector have said they plan to redouble their diversity efforts in the wake of recent protests.

But protesters from the energy sector said they want companies to not only hire more black and Latino employees but to focus business development on their communities and transform an industry culture that is often hostile to non-white workers.

"The system is not broken — it's working exactly how it should for a certain population," said Jamez Staples, a clean energy entrepreneur in North Minneapolis who attended Floyd's funeral last week. "Now that there's more people of color coming up through these systems, they're realizing that they're broken or aren't functioning well and they need to be demolished and rebuilt ... to create economic models that are more inclusive."

COVID-19 Creates Air Conditioning Conundrum (Politico)

(Washington, DC) -- The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute raised alarm bells in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over its members' inability to manufacture products in their Mexican factories because of the pandemic.

According to the letter, there is currently no federal directive designating essential status for HVACR and water heating in Mexico — where some of AHRI's member companies have a large manufacturing presence. Because of that, "the situation for equipment and supply chain manufacturers there is dire," writes Stephen Yurek, the trade association's president and CEO.

The group calls on Pompeo to persuade Mexico's federal, state and local jurisdictions to allow continued manufacturing operations. "The continued inability of some of our member companies to manufacture products in their Mexican factories will very soon severely impact our ability to supply these essential products to the American market, putting American lives and health at risk," the letter states.

U.S. Dept of Commerce Launches Probe into Transformer Equipment (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The Commerce Department opened a Section 232 investigation into whether imports of certain parts used in electrical transformer equipment constitutes a national security risk and should be subject to trade restrictions.

The probe comes under the same law used to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and came after requests from members of Congress and domestic industry, Commerce said. "An assured domestic supply of these products enables the United States to respond to large power disruptions affecting civilian populations, critical infrastructure, and U.S. defense industrial production capabilities," the department said.

The order follows Friday's executive order prohibiting U.S. electric utilities from installing grid devices from foreign manufacturers that could threaten national security.

2020 Pikeminnow Season Opening Delayed – States’ Responses to COVID-19 Outbreak Impacts Fishing Season, Boat Ramps (Bonneville Power Administration)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- A popular Northwest fishing program is getting a late start this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The 2020 Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery will not open on May 1, as originally planned. The fishery is tentatively scheduled to open May 11, for registered anglers with licenses to fish in the Columbia and Snake rivers. Fishery updates, including possible opening day changes, will be announced on the website, www.pikeminnow.org.

Stay at home orders issued in March by governors in Washington and Oregon closed or limited fishing and limited access to some recreational facilities, including boat ramps. Washington recently reopened many outdoor recreational activities on a limited basis, including opening most fishing seasons and allowing day-use of many boat ramps.

While the lifting of these restrictions is good news for anglers eagerly awaiting the start of the Northern pikeminnow reward fishery program, when it opens anglers will see some changes to the registration and turn-in procedures. These changes are intended to protect the health and well-being of program employees and fishing enthusiasts. Program participants should expect additional barriers, signs, and floor markers at stations to encourage social distancing. Anglers will be encouraged not to congregate in groups near registration stations and asked to unload their fish into designated containers.

Some program elements haven’t changed. Registered anglers will again earn $5 to $8 for each Northern pikeminnow that is at least 9 inches long. The more fish an angler reels in, the more each Northern pikeminnow is worth. Specially tagged Northern pikeminnow will be worth $500. Last year the top fisherman in the program removed 6,482 Northern pikeminnow and earned more than $53,000.

Northern pikeminnow are voracious eaters, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year. Since 1990, anglers paid through the program have removed nearly five million Northern pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers. The program annually reduces predation from Northern pikeminnow on young salmon and steelhead by approximately 40%.

Check the fishery website, www.pikeminnow.org, or call 800-858-9015 for updates on the 2020 season. The website also has details on how to register for the program and applicable state fishing regulations. Anglers will also find resources on the site to help boost their fishing game, including fishing maps and how-to videos.

The program is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in cooperation with the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife and is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Energy Purchase for Winter Loads in Southeast Idaho (Bonneville Power Administration)

(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Bonneville Power Administration has released a request for offers for a five-year market purchase of power during winter months to serve a portion of its preference customer load in southeast Idaho. The purchases would be shaped up to 125 megawatts during heavy load hours in some months and will begin November 2021 and end in March 2026.

The RFO was released on April 22 and remains open through May 11. The RFO includes selection criteria, credit requirements, product description, and enabling agreement requirements. The RFO can be found at https://www.bpa.gov/p/Documents/SEID-RFO-2021-2026.pdf.

BPA has a statutory commitment to provide reliable, low-cost service to all of its preference customers. BPA currently serves six preference customers in southeast Idaho through a combination of market purchases and power wheeled from the federal system. BPA previously sought a request for offers and awarded a five-year contract in 2016 to address the interim power needs of these customers.