Wednesday, August 16, 2023

The Energy News Digest for August 16, 2023

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

One More 100-Degree Day Wednesday, Then Quick Cooling Thanks to Increased Marine Air (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2023/08/1-more-100-degree-day-wednesday-then-quick-cooling-thanks-to-increased-marine-air.html

Extreme Heat Stresses Oregon Utilities Trying to Keep People Cool & Prevent Fires (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/15/oregon-heat-wave-utility-companies-power-grid-electricity-usage/

Videos Put Scrutiny on Downed Power Lines as Possible Cause of Deadly Maui Wildfires (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-maui-electricity-power-utilities-c46a106db3c5019ac835ddcb01fde25f

Power Companies Around Puget Sound Brace for Future Heat Waves, More Homes with A/C (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kbbi.org/local-news/2023-08-15/alaska-company-exploring-geothermal-energy-on-mt-augustine

Feds Ease Colorado River Water Cuts for Thirsty Western States (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-ease-colorado-river-water-cuts-for-thirsty-western-states/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Extreme Heat Stresses Oregon Utilities Trying to Keep People Cool & Prevent Fires

2.      California Opts for Fossil Fuels to Keep the Lights on in Extreme Heat

3.      British Columbia Shatters August Energy Demand Record Amid Sizzling Heatwave

4.      Videos Put Scrutiny on Downed Power Lines as Possible Cause of Deadly Maui Wildfires

5.      What Sparks U.S. Wildfires: Power Lines, Burning Trash & Lightning

6.      Will Electrifying Cars & Home Heating Break Canada's Grid?

7.      Columbia River Treaty Talks Move Forward After Constructive Seattle Session

8.      Report: Breaching Snake River Dams Would Put Thousands of Farmers at Risk

9.      WA State: Scammers Pose as Grays Harbor PUD Officials – Allegedly Offering Power Meter Replacement for a Fee

10.   WA State: Yakima County Commissioners Extend Solar Moratorium Again

11.   Interior Announces Potential Offshore Wind Areas for Oregon

12.   Alaska Company Exploring Geothermal Energy on Mt. Augustine

13.   Power Companies Around Puget Sound Brace for Future Heat Waves, More Homes with A/C

14.   WA State: Snohomish PUD Offers Tips to Conserve Energy, Water During Heat Wave

15.   A New Study on Columbia Basin Salmon Is Interesting, But May Distract from the Larger Picture

16.   Federal Grants Will Replace Tunnels Beneath Roads That Let Water Pass but Not Fish

17.   Oregon Awarded Nearly $92,000 for Upper Klamath Basin Conservation

18.   Feds Ease Colorado River Water Cuts for Thirsty Western States

19.   Montana GOP Slams Youth Constituents as 'Pawns' in a 'Climate Cult' After Historic Ruling

20.   Amazon’s Subsea Cable Gets Approval, But Oregon Leaders Want More Regulation

21.   Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Seattle to Discuss Clean Energy

22.   One More 100-Degree Day Wednesday, Then Quick Cooling Thanks to Increased Marine Air

23.   Guest Essay: Let’s Have an Honest Conversation About Energy Costs in WA – Going Green Is Expensive

24.   Guest Essay: Build Our Future Electricity Supply Around Hydropower

25.   Opinion: Snake River Dams Breaching Topic Is Debate without End

WORD OF THE DAY

Misanthrope /MISS-sun-thrope/ Noun – A person who hates or distrusts humankind.

Abernathy wore his hatred on his sleeve. As the small town’s reviled misanthrope, his motto was, “I’m an equal opportunity hater. I even hate myself.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Extreme Heat Stresses Oregon Utilities Trying to Keep People Cool & Prevent Fires (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/15/oregon-heat-wave-utility-companies-power-grid-electricity-usage/

2.      California Opts for Fossil Fuels to Keep the Lights on in Extreme Heat (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/15/california-fossil-fuels-heat-electricity-00111386

3.      British Columbia Shatters August Energy Demand Record Amid Sizzling Heatwave (Powell River Peak, BC)

https://www.prpeak.com/highlights/bc-shatters-august-energy-demand-record-amid-sizzling-heatwave-7410929

4.      Videos Put Scrutiny on Downed Power Lines as Possible Cause of Deadly Maui Wildfires (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-maui-electricity-power-utilities-c46a106db3c5019ac835ddcb01fde25f

5.      What Sparks U.S. Wildfires: Power Lines, Burning Trash & Lightning (Bloomberg News)

https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/business/what-sparks-us-wildfires-power-lines-burning-trash-and-lightning/article_10aef9de-8fd4-58e4-b9dc-2acfbce874ba.html

6.      Will Electrifying Cars & Home Heating Break Canada's Grid? (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/electrification-grid-ev-heating-1.6935663

7.      Columbia River Treaty Talks Move Forward After Constructive Seattle Session (British Columbia Government News)

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023EMLI0038-001299

8.      Report: Breaching Snake River Dams Would Put Thousands of Farmers at Risk (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/report-breaching-snake-river-dams-would-put-thousands-of-farmers-at-risk/article_f38bbea4-3af2-11ee-ae7c-139347a13486.html

9.      WA State: Scammers Pose as Grays Harbor PUD Officials – Allegedly Offering Power Meter Replacement for a Fee (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/scammers-pose-as-power-company-officials/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   WA State: Yakima County Commissioners Extend Solar Moratorium Again (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/government/yakima-county-commissioners-extend-solar-moratorium-again/article_416a115a-3b9f-11ee-acd3-5b26ad259118.html

11.   Interior Announces Potential Offshore Wind Areas for Oregon (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/interior-announces-potential-offshore-wind-areas-for-oregon/

12.   Alaska Company Exploring Geothermal Energy on Mt. Augustine (KBBI Radio, Homer, AK)

https://www.kbbi.org/local-news/2023-08-15/alaska-company-exploring-geothermal-energy-on-mt-augustine

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

13.   Power Companies Around Puget Sound Brace for Future Heat Waves, More Homes with A/C (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kbbi.org/local-news/2023-08-15/alaska-company-exploring-geothermal-energy-on-mt-augustine

14.   WA State: Snohomish PUD Offers Tips to Conserve Energy, Water During Heat Wave (My Edmonds News, WA)

https://myedmondsnews.com/2023/08/pud-offers-tips-to-conserve-energy-water-during-heat-wave/

FISH & WILDLIFE

15.   A New Study on Columbia Basin Salmon Is Interesting, But May Distract from the Larger Picture (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/a-new-study-on-columbia-basin-salmon-is-interesting-but-may-distract-from-the-larger-picture

16.   Federal Grants Will Replace Tunnels Beneath Roads That Let Water Pass but Not Fish (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3920891/federal-grants-will-replace-tunnels-beneath-roads-that-let-water-pass-but-not-fish/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

17.   Oregon Awarded Nearly $92,000 for Upper Klamath Basin Conservation (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/oregon/article_6b37150c-3b7f-11ee-81d8-23b8e276c918.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

18.   Feds Ease Colorado River Water Cuts for Thirsty Western States (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-ease-colorado-river-water-cuts-for-thirsty-western-states/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

19.   Montana GOP Slams Youth Constituents as 'Pawns' in a 'Climate Cult' After Historic Ruling (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/montana-republicans-climate-ruling_n_64dbd434e4b0eb9f33d7d09a

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

20.   Amazon’s Subsea Cable Gets Approval, But Oregon Leaders Want More Regulation (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/14/amazon-subsea-cable-approved-oregon-seeks-regulation/

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

21.   Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Seattle to Discuss Clean Energy (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/vice-president-kamala-harris-visits-seattle-discuss-clean-energy/DTHOW3DJJFAYVIVTOCDFIYFF5U/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

22.   One More 100-Degree Day Wednesday, Then Quick Cooling Thanks to Increased Marine Air (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2023/08/1-more-100-degree-day-wednesday-then-quick-cooling-thanks-to-increased-marine-air.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

23.   Guest Essay: Let’s Have an Honest Conversation About Energy Costs in WA – Going Green Is Expensive (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/lets-have-an-honest-conversation-about-energy-costs-in-wa/

24.   Guest Essay: Build Our Future Electricity Supply Around Hydropower (Sequim Gazette, WA)

https://www.sequimgazette.com/life/guest-opinion-build-our-future-electricity-supply-around-hydropower-2/

25.   Opinion: Snake River Dams Breaching Topic Is Debate without End (Lewiston Morning Tribune, Id – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lmtribune.com/opinion/opinion-snake-river-dams-breaching-topic-is-debate-without-end/article_5c155e79-7876-58b9-ac26-66dd59b43573.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Sumo Wrestler Hanada Catches on Quick as He Learns to Be a Defensive Lineman for Colorado State

https://apnews.com/article/colorado-state-football-sumo-wrestler-f8071446cd96e0ce22eb2dd533ff2d84

Why Dolly Parton Is Bringing Children’s Books to Washington State

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/16/why-dolly-parton-is-bringing-children-s-books-to-washington-state/

New Jersey Power Outage Caused by Falling Fish

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/08/16/Jersey-Central-Power-and-Light-falling-fish-osprey-power-outage/4421692203527/

Researchers Reconstruct Pink Floyd Song from Patients' Brainwaves

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2023/08/16/brain-recordings-reconstruct-song/1741692192166/

SONG OF THE DAY

Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall – Parts 1,2 & 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtYmTHwRKO8

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.

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