Monday, March 18, 2024

The Energy News Digest for March 18, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Feds’ Plan for 14,000-Acre ‘Clean Energy’ Park in Eastern Washington Called Shortsighted (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/feds-plan-for-14000-acre-clean-energy-park-in-eastern-washington-called-shortsighted,336572

Washington: Over 100 Locals Gather to Organize Opposition to Proposed Wind Farm Next to National Natural Landmark Kamiak Butte (KQQQ Radio, Pullman, WA)

https://pullmanradio.com/over-100-locals-gather-to-organize-opposition-to-proposed-windfarm-next-to-national-natural-landmark-kamiak-butte/

Approved Killing of Sea Lions in the Columbia River Likely to Begin Next Week (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/approved-killing-of-sea-lions-in-the-columbia-river-likely-to-begin-next-week/

Washington: UTC Staff Recommends $252,000 Fine for CenturyLink Over Long Wait Times, Lack of Documents (The Olympian, Olympia, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/business/article286702455.html

12 Months of Record Ocean Heat Has Scientists Puzzled & Concerned (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/12-months-record-ocean-heat-160332495.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Feds’ Plan for 14,000-Acre ‘Clean Energy’ Park in Eastern Washington Called Shortsighted

2.      NuScale CEO Touts Data Center Deal, Heavy Industry Small Modular Reactors Interest Amid $180M Loss For 2023

3.      California ISO Says Western Energy Imbalance Market Showed Its Value During Mid-January Cold Event

4.      Idaho Power Customers Urged to Weigh in on Proposed Rate Hikes

5.      The Pacific Northwest Is Finalizing Plans for $1 Billion in Investments in ‘Green’ Hydrogen to Power Aviation, Shipping, Long-Haul Trucking & More

6.      Navajo Opposition Spells Likely End of Arizona Pumped Hydro Storage Project

7.      New Report Shows It Is Time to Tap into Hydropower Investment Opportunities

8.      It May Be Too Late for President Biden’s Grid Expansion

9.      Cubans Stage Rare Street Protest Over Power Blackouts

10.   Washington: Over 100 Locals Gather to Organize Opposition to Proposed Wind Farm Next to National Natural Landmark Kamiak Butte

11.   Oregon Congressional Members Ask Feds for More Comment Time on Offshore Wind Energy Sites

12.   Offshore Wind or Tribal Rights? President Biden’s California Dilemma.

13.   University of Washington Researchers Finish Tests on Device Hoping to Harness Wave Energy

14.   Washington: Douglas County PUD to Get Hydrogen Cars Through Grant

15.   Energy Department Conditionally Approves $2.26 Billion Loan for Huge Lithium Mine in Nevada

16.   Approved Killing of Sea Lions in the Columbia River Likely to Begin Next Week

17.   Trout Unlimited Identifies Hundreds of Highly Threatened Fisheries Across the U.S.

18.   Coalition Brings Together Longtime Rivals to Help Salmon

19.   BLM Plan to Strengthen Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation on Public Lands

20.   Washington: Salmon Recovery Proponents Say Several Bills Got Away This Legislative Session

21.   12 Months of Record Ocean Heat Has Scientists Puzzled & Concerned

22.   Oregon Begins Rewriting Landmark Climate Program Derailed by Gas Lawsuit

23.   Biden Administration Announces $120 Million for Tribal Climate Resilience

24.   Link to PDF File for a List of Tribal Climate Resilience Programs

25.   Cherry Blossoms Hitting Earlier Peaks Due to Climate Change, Scientists Warn

26.   Washington: UTC Staff Recommends $252,000 Fine for CenturyLink Over Long Wait Times, Lack of Documents

27.   East Wenatchee Based LocalTel Being Purchased By Ziply Fiber

28.   Apple in Talks to Let Google’s Gemini Power iPhone Artificial Intelligence Features, Bloomberg News Says

29.   Oregonians Will Have Two-Month Window This Spring to Apply for an Electric Vehicle Rebate

30.   Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

31.   WA Gov. Inslee Seeks Ouster of Regulatory Leader Amid Tumult at the Utilities & Transportation Commission

32.   Former San Francisco Public Utilities Chief Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Bribery Scheme

33.   Seattle Area Average Energy Prices: Gasoline, Utility Gas Prices Dip, Electricity Rises

34.   Editorial: DOE Must Develop Hanford’s Clean Energy Park in Partnership with Tri-Cities

35.   Guest Essay: My Grandfather Scaled Poles to Deliver Electricity. Broadband Is the New Frontier.

WORD OF THE DAY

Effulgence /if-FULL-juns/ Noun – Radiant splendor: brilliance.

     Sunflower’s vast bloom

     Golden effulgence, bee’s feast

     Peaceful green giant

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Feds’ Plan for 14,000-Acre ‘Clean Energy’ Park in Eastern Washington Called Shortsighted (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/feds-plan-for-14000-acre-clean-energy-park-in-eastern-washington-called-shortsighted,336572

2.      NuScale CEO Touts Data Center Deal, Heavy Industry Small Modular Reactors Interest Amid $180M Loss For 2023 (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nuscale-small-modular-reactor-smr-data-center-nuclear/710442/

3.      California ISO Says Western Energy Imbalance Market Showed Its Value During Mid-January Cold Event (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/caiso-says-weim-showed-its-value-during-mid-january-cold-event

4.      Idaho Power Customers Urged to Weigh in on Proposed Rate Hikes (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/idaho-power-customers-urged-to-weigh-in-on-proposed-rate-hikes/

5.      The Pacific Northwest Is Finalizing Plans for $1 Billion in Investments in ‘Green’ Hydrogen to Power Aviation, Shipping, Long-Haul Trucking & More (The Inlander, Spokane, WA)

https://www.inlander.com/news/the-pacific-northwest-is-finalizing-plans-for-1-billion-in-investments-in-green-hydrogen-to-power-aviation-shipping-long-haul-trucking-an-27615747

6.      Navajo Opposition Spells Likely End of Arizona Pumped Hydro Storage Project (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/navajo-opposition-spells-likely-end-of-arizona-storage-project/

7.      New Report Shows It Is Time to Tap into Hydropower Investment Opportunities (The National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2024/new-report-shows-its-time-to-tap-into-hydropower-investment-opportunities.html

8.      It May Be Too Late for President Biden’s Grid Expansion (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/it-may-be-too-late-for-bidens-grid-expansion/

9.      Cubans Stage Rare Street Protest Over Power Blackouts (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68595885

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Washington: Over 100 Locals Gather to Organize Opposition to Proposed Wind Farm Next to National Natural Landmark Kamiak Butte (KQQQ Radio, Pullman, WA)

https://pullmanradio.com/over-100-locals-gather-to-organize-opposition-to-proposed-windfarm-next-to-national-natural-landmark-kamiak-butte/

11.   Oregon Congressional Members Ask Feds for More Comment Time on Offshore Wind Energy Sites (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/03/13/oregon-congressional-members-ask-feds-for-more-comment-time-on-offshore-wind-energy-sites/

12.   Offshore Wind or Tribal Rights? President Biden’s California Dilemma. (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/offshore-wind-or-tribal-rights-bidens-california-dilemma/

13.   University of Washington Researchers Finish Tests on Device Hoping to Harness Wave Energy (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/uw-researchers-finish-tests-on-device-hoping-to-harness-wave-energy/

14.   Washington: Douglas County PUD to Get Hydrogen Cars Through Grant (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/empirepress/douglas-county-pud-to-get-hydrogen-cars-through-grant/article_fec6b5a8-db2e-11ee-bdd8-639f2ad51cb5.html

15.   Energy Department Conditionally Approves $2.26 Billion Loan for Huge Lithium Mine in Nevada (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lithium-mine-biden-energy-loan-nevada-5532948703330fc9578da7159b8e4d9c

FISH & WILDLIFE

16.   Approved Killing of Sea Lions in the Columbia River Likely to Begin Next Week (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/approved-killing-of-sea-lions-in-the-columbia-river-likely-to-begin-next-week/

17.   Trout Unlimited Identifies Hundreds of Highly Threatened Fisheries Across the U.S. (Field & Stream Magazine)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trout-unlimited-identifies-hundreds-of-highly-threatened-fisheries-across-the-u-s/ar-BB1k6P81

18.   Coalition Brings Together Longtime Rivals to Help Salmon (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/coalition-brings-together-longtime-rivals-help-salmon/281-420f83c6-6a1b-47e6-a54b-1f6bf78e4bf0

19.   BLM Plan to Strengthen Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation on Public Lands (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/plan-strengthen-greater-sage-grouse-conservation-on-public-lands/277-0eb6bfa2-9a69-4a2d-81a2-8e451e1d7735

20.   Washington: Salmon Recovery Proponents Say Several Bills Got Away This Legislative Session (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_a0f8879a-e325-11ee-abfc-0f3bcb2a1636.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21.   12 Months of Record Ocean Heat Has Scientists Puzzled & Concerned (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/12-months-record-ocean-heat-160332495.html

22.   Oregon Begins Rewriting Landmark Climate Program Derailed by Gas Lawsuit (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/03/14/oregon-begins-rewriting-landmark-climate-program-derailed-by-gas-lawsuit/

23.   Biden Administration Announces $120 Million for Tribal Climate Resilience (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4531461-biden-administration-announces-120-million-for-tribal-climate-resilience/

24.   Link to PDF File for a List of Tribal Climate Resilience Programs (Bureau of Indian Affairs)

https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/media_document/2023_annual_awards_summary.pdf

25.   Cherry Blossoms Hitting Earlier Peaks Due to Climate Change, Scientists Warn (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2024/03/18/cherry-blossoms-dc-japan-climate-change-peak-bloom

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

26.   Washington: UTC Staff Recommends $252,000 Fine for CenturyLink Over Long Wait Times, Lack of Documents (The Olympian, Olympia, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/business/article286702455.html

27.   East Wenatchee Based LocalTel Being Purchased By Ziply Fiber (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ziply-fiber-acquires-localtel-communications/

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

28.   Apple in Talks to Let Google’s Gemini Power iPhone Artificial Intelligence Features, Bloomberg News Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-talks-let-googles-gemini-power-iphone-ai-features-bloomberg-news-says-2024-03-18/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Oregonians Will Have Two-Month Window This Spring to Apply for an Electric Vehicle Rebate (Central Oregon Daily, Bend, OR)

https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/consumer/oregon-electric-vehicle-rebate-2024/article_1a69edfd-60b0-5eab-a9ea-5e4e90d9300f.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-biden-administration-social-media-132df16a8b086cd7ed72954f3b4c2c04

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

31.   WA Gov. Inslee Seeks Ouster of Regulatory Leader Amid Tumult at the Utilities & Transportation Commission (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/03/14/inslee-seeks-ouster-of-regulatory-leader-amid-tumult-at-agency/

32.   Former San Francisco Public Utilities Chief Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Bribery Scheme (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/former-san-francisco-public-utilities-chief-sentenced-to-four-years-in-prison-for-bribery-scheme/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

33.   Seattle Area Average Energy Prices: Gasoline, Utility Gas Prices Dip, Electricity Rises (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3954836/seattle-area-average-energy-prices-gasoline-utility-gas-prices-dip-electricity-rises/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

34.   Editorial: DOE Must Develop Hanford’s Clean Energy Park in Partnership with Tri-Cities (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.aol.com/news/doe-must-develop-hanford-clean-120000677.html

35.   Guest Essay: My Grandfather Scaled Poles to Deliver Electricity. Broadband Is the New Frontier. (The Columbus Dispatch, OH)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/grandfather-scaled-poles-deliver-electricity-093553606.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

The L.A. Lakers Are Planning to Fix a Few Errors Carved into the Base of Kobe Bryant’s Statue

https://apnews.com/article/kobe-bryant-statue-errors-ca499164c1982b7627465f97bed3026f

Montana Man Pleads Guilty for Effort to Breed ‘Giant Sheep Hybrids’

https://komonews.com/news/offbeat/vaughn-montana-man-arthur-schubarth-pleads-guilty-for-effort-to-breed-giant-sheep-hybrids-felony-wildlife-crimes-department-of-justice-doj-captive-hunting-facilities-sun-river-enterprises-alternative-livestock-shooting-preserves-marco-poli-argali

March Madness Brackets Are Here. Here’s How to Pick Your Teams

https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-selection-sunday-bracket-picks-a434b9217393bb638db7e4338cbe3245

Missouri Museum Takes World Record for Wearing Underwear as Hats

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/03/15/Guinness-World-Records-underwear-heads/7471710516602/

SONG OF THE DAY

Luther Vandross – One Shining Moment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhXFt2uENmQ

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

Although I choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help access some paywall sites.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

The Energy News Digest for March 13, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

U.S. Hydropower Drops to 20-Year Low as Northwest Snowpack Shrinks (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/u-s-hydropower-output-drops-to-20-year-low-as-northwest-snowpack-shrinks

Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Hells Canyon Power Facilities, Faces 20 Years (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/idaho-man-pleads-guilty-to-shooting-at-hells-canyon-power-facilities-faces-20-years/

Xcel Energy Acknowledges Role in Texas’ Smokehouse Creek Wildfire (Texas Tribune)

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/07/xcel-energy-texas-wildfires/

U.S. House Passes Bill That Would Lead to a TikTok Ban If Chinese Owner Doesn’t Sell. Senate Path Unclear (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/house-passes-bill-that-would-lead-to-a-tiktok-ban-if-chinese-owner-doesnt-sell/article_54167b73-d9b4-5c41-b970-d42732bc15cf.html

Nearly Half of U.S. Homes Face Severe Threat from Climate Change, Study Finds (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-home-prices-housing-realtor-com/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Hydropower Drops to 20-Year Low as Northwest Snowpack Shrinks

2.      Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Hells Canyon Power Facilities, Faces 20 Years

3.      Xcel Energy Acknowledges Role in Texas’ Smokehouse Creek Wildfire

4.      $25 Million in State Budget for New Nuclear in Eastern WA. Will Climate Initiative Derail It?

5.      Wyoming Part of Aggressive Effort to Get Cutting-Edge Nuclear Plans Online

6.      California: Millions of Pacific Gas & Electric Customers to Receive Credits on Their April Energy Bill

7.      Alaska: Matanuska Electric Association to Manage Seward’s Electric Utility

8.      Bonneville Power Administration Removes Copper Wire Stamping Requirement

9.      Podcast: The Transmission Expansion Era with BPA Administrator John Hairston

10.   Utah Expected to Have Cheapest Electricity Rates in the Nation This Year

11.   Winter Storms Have Disrupted U.S. Natural Gas Production

12.   Native Groups Sit on a Treasure Trove of Lithium. Now Mines Threaten Their Water, Culture & Wealth

13.   The Battle Over Energy-Efficient Housing is Heating Up Across the U.S.

14.   Washington: Biden Earmarks Half a Billion for Salmon on Upper Green River

15.   ‘Like Rooting for the Yankees’: Washington Lawmaker’s Move to Study Sea Lion Predation Removed from State’s Final Budget

16.   How Much Dam Water is Needed for Fish and Energy?

17.   EPA Proposes Adding Upper Columbia River to Superfund List

18.   Nearly Half of U.S. Homes Face Severe Threat from Climate Change, Study Finds

19.   Cap-and-Trade Is Bread & Butter Now

20.   Oregon to Reopen Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

21.   Washington: Vandals Cut Cables of Newly Installed Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Sumner

22.   WA Legislature Revs Up Plan to Electrify 10,000 School Buses

23.   U.S. House Passes Bill That Would Lead to a TikTok Ban If Chinese Owner Doesn’t Sell. Senate Path Unclear

24.   Democrats File in Two of Three Open Montana Public Service Commission Seats

25.   Environment, Climate Policies Mostly Took a Backseat During Oregon’s 2024 Short Session

26.   Portland Will Ban All Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers by 2028

27.   Columnist: Are Utility Companies Heroes or Villains of the Climate Change Saga?

28.   Editorial: Let Voters Weigh in on Portland’s Clean Energy Fund

WORD OF THE DAY

Vade mecum \vay-dee-MEE-kum\ ● Noun – 1: a book for ready reference: manual 2: something regularly carried about by a person.

     See Funk and Wagonall

     Vade mecum of “Laugh In”

     Sock it to me babe

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      U.S. Hydropower Drops to 20-Year Low as Northwest Snowpack Shrinks (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/u-s-hydropower-output-drops-to-20-year-low-as-northwest-snowpack-shrinks

2.      Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Hells Canyon Power Facilities, Faces 20 Years (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/idaho-man-pleads-guilty-to-shooting-at-hells-canyon-power-facilities-faces-20-years/

3.      Xcel Energy Acknowledges Role in Texas’ Smokehouse Creek Wildfire (Texas Tribune)

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/07/xcel-energy-texas-wildfires/

4.      $25 Million in State Budget for New Nuclear in Eastern WA. Will Climate Initiative Derail It? (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/25m-state-budget-nuclear-eastern-230741174.html

5.      Wyoming Part of Aggressive Effort to Get Cutting-Edge Nuclear Plans Online (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/03/13/wyoming-part-of-aggressive-effort-to-get-cutting-edge-nuclear-plans-online/

6.      California: Millions of Pacific Gas & Electric Customers to Receive Credits on Their April Energy Bill (KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA)

https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/millions-of-pg-e-customers-to-receive-credits-on-their-april-energy-bill

7.      Alaska: Matanuska Electric Association to Manage Seward’s Electric Utility (KDLL Radio, Kenai, AK)

https://www.kdll.org/2024-03-12/mea-to-managesewards-electric-utility

8.      Bonneville Power Administration Removes Copper Wire Stamping Requirement (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20240313-bpa-removes-copper-wire-stamping-requirement

9.      Podcast: The Transmission Expansion Era with BPA Administrator John Hairston (Public Power Underground)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJCeROjORbU

10.   Utah Expected to Have Cheapest Electricity Rates in the Nation This Year (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2024/03/11/energy-electricity-rates-utah-cheap-hawaii/

11.   Winter Storms Have Disrupted U.S. Natural Gas Production (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61563

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   Native Groups Sit on a Treasure Trove of Lithium. Now Mines Threaten Their Water, Culture & Wealth (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lithium-water-mining-indigenous-cb2f5b1580c12f8ba1b19223648069b7

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

13.   The Battle Over Energy-Efficient Housing is Heating Up Across the U.S. (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/battle-over-energy-efficient-housing-200000612.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Washington: Biden Earmarks Half a Billion for Salmon on Upper Green River (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/biden-earmarks-half-a-billion-for-salmon-on-upper-green-river/

15.   ‘Like Rooting for the Yankees’: Washington Lawmaker’s Move to Study Sea Lion Predation Removed from State’s Final Budget (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/like-rooting-for-the-yankees-lawmakers-move-to-study-sea-lion-predation-removed-from,336247

16.   How Much Dam Water is Needed for Fish and Energy? (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/how-much-dam-water-needed-fish-and-energy

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

17.   EPA Proposes Adding Upper Columbia River to Superfund List (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/mar/05/epa-proposes-adding-upper-columbia-river-to-superf/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

18.   Nearly Half of U.S. Homes Face Severe Threat from Climate Change, Study Finds (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-home-prices-housing-realtor-com/

19.   Cap-and-Trade Is Bread & Butter Now (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2024/03/12/cap-and-trade-is-bread-and-butter-now-00146656

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

20.   Oregon to Reopen Electric Vehicle Rebate Program (KKRZ-Radio, Portland, OR)

https://z100portland.iheart.com/featured/portland-local-news/content/2024-03-13-oregon-to-reopen-ev-rebate-program/

21.   Washington: Vandals Cut Cables of Newly Installed Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Sumner (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/vandals-cut-cables-of-newly-installed-ev-charging-stations-in-sumner/281-5a2c5e0d-f0d6-4b49-b236-38bb50cae7cc

22.   WA Legislature Revs Up Plan to Electrify 10,000 School Buses (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/03/wa-legislature-revs-plan-electrify-10000-school-buses?utm_medium=email

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

23.   U.S. House Passes Bill That Would Lead to a TikTok Ban If Chinese Owner Doesn’t Sell. Senate Path Unclear (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/house-passes-bill-that-would-lead-to-a-tiktok-ban-if-chinese-owner-doesnt-sell/article_54167b73-d9b4-5c41-b970-d42732bc15cf.html

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

24.   Democrats File in Two of Three Open Montana Public Service Commission Seats (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2024/03/12/democrats-file-in-two-of-three-open-montana-public-service-commission-seats/

25.   Environment, Climate Policies Mostly Took a Backseat During Oregon’s 2024 Short Session (Jefferson Public Radio)

https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-12/environment-climate-policies-mostly-took-a-backseat-during-oregons-2024-short-session

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

26.   Portland Will Ban All Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers by 2028 (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/13/portland-ban-gas-powered-leaf-blowers-2028/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

27.   Columnist: Are Utility Companies Heroes or Villains of the Climate Change Saga? (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2024-03-07/column-are-utility-companies-heroes-or-villains-of-the-climate-change-saga-boiling-point

28.   Editorial: Let Voters Weigh in on Portland’s Clean Energy Fund (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/03/editorial-let-voters-weigh-in-on-clean-energy-fund.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Eric Carmen, Singer-Songwriter of ‘All by Myself’ & ‘Hungry Eyes,’ Dies at 74

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/13/eric-carmen-singer-songwriter-of-all-by-myself-and-hungry-eyes-dies-at-74/

Southern Oregon Now Boasts World’s Largest Dark Sky Sanctuary

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/13/southern-oregon-now-boasts-worlds-largest-dark-sky-sanctuary/

Rats Are High on Marijuana Evidence at an Infested Police Building, New Orleans Chief Says

https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-police-rats-eating-marijuana-02cf5d760649033801b775b41a96d5df

Wildlife Rescuer Dons Red Fox Mask to Feed Orphaned Kit

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/03/13/Richmond-Wildlife-Center-red-fox-mask/5541710340755/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Raspberries, Featuring Eric Carmen - I Wanna Be with You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8aZvuCYdaE

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

Although I choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.