2/6 Sea otters, WA electricity, Woodfibre LNG, deep-sea mining, faith in news

Sea otters [Laurie MacBride]

Cozy in the Cold: Sea Otters
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "...I find myself thinking about sea otters – specifically, how well suited (literally) they are for winter. Their incredibly thick, waterproof coats must be cozy even on unseasonably chilly days. Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal on earth, which is why they were hunted almost to extinction by the early 20th century. Their smaller cousins, river otters, are common throughout our region and I see them often, both on land and in the sea. But it’s only been in the last few years, and further north, that I’ve had the privilege of seeing sea otters – thankfully returning from the brink to repopulate some of the inside waters along the BC coast. (Eye on Environment)

By 2050, Washington might need to buy energy from other states
For years, Washington has exported some of the electricity it produced. The state sent more than 18 percent of its generated power out of state in 2021, but in the coming decades that will change – and maybe not for the reason you expect. If Washington reaches its goal of weaning itself from fossil fuels and continues its drive to replace gas-powered cars with electric vehicles, we will need to start importing electricity by 2050, according to calculations by the Washington Department of Commerce. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

Woodfibre LNG project near Squamish, B.C., seeks amendments to environmental assessment
A liquefied natural gas project that would produce around two million tonnes of the fossil fuel a year near Squamish, B.C. — about 64 kilometres north of Vancouver — for export is seeking changes from Environment and Climate Change Canada over how it is required to monitor for marine mammals affected by underwater noise, such as pile driving, during construction. Opponents of Woodfibre LNG (WLNG), which received its federal environmental approval in 2016, say the changes will harm pinnipeds — seals and sea lions — in Howe Sound, which was designated a UNESCO biosphere region in 2021. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Vancouver protesters call for deep-sea mining ban at ocean conservation conference
Protesters in Vancouver called for a ban on deep sea mining on Saturday at a global ocean conservation conference where delegates from 123 countries are working to figure out how to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. (CBC)

When Americans Lost Faith in the News
Half a century ago, most of the public said they trusted the news media. Today, most say they don’t. What happened to the power of the press? Louis Menand write. (The New Yorker)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  243 AM PST Mon Feb 6 2023   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING  THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING   
TODAY  SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming S 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 10 seconds  subsiding to 6 ft at 10 seconds in the afternoon. Rain. 
TONIGHT  S wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds  building to 9 ft at 11 seconds after midnight. Rain in the  evening then showers and a slight chance of tstms after midnight.

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