Monday, January 8, 2024

The Energy News Digest for January 8, 2023

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ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

New Accounting Webinars Start Next Week – Increase your understanding of utility accounting by signing up for the 2024 CFO & Senior Accountant Webinar Series. This series contains new content for those who attended the 2023 series, and all 12 webinars qualify for CPE credit. You can choose to take individual webinars or the entire series—by registering for the full series, you will receive all 12 webinars at a discounted price.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Strong Winds & Mountain Blizzard Tonight & Tomorrow (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2024/01/strong-winds-and-mountain-blizzard.html

Oregon Nuclear Power Company NuScale Acknowledges Layoffs, Says 154 Lost Their Jobs (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/01/oregon-nuclear-power-company-nuscale-acknowledges-layoffs-says-154-workers-lost-their-jobs.html

West Power Prices Plunge on Year on El Nino Impacts (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/010324-us-power-tracker-west-power-prices-plunge-on-year-on-el-nino-impacts

Indigenous Groups in British Columbia Seek Long-Term Funds to Bring Salmon Back to the Columbia River (Globe & Mail, Canada)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-salmon-restoration-columbia-river/

Ecosystem Reports Show Continuing Effects of Warming in Alaska’s Marine Waters (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/2023/12/27/ecosystem-reports-show-continuing-effects-of-warming-in-alaskas-marine-waters/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Oregon Nuclear Power Company NuScale Acknowledges Layoffs, Says 154 Lost Their Jobs

2.      West Power Prices Plunge on Year on El Nino Impacts

3.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Average Monthly Bills Are Set to Top $300 for the First Time

4.      WA State: Lewis County Residents Raise Concerns Over PUD’s Advanced Meter Replacement During First ‘Meet the Manager’ Meeting

5.      WA State: Forks Budget $11.55 Million for 2024 – Clallam PUD Asks for Support of Transmission Line Grant Proposal

6.      Video: The Dangers of ‘Galloping’ Power Lines

7.      Solar Proponents: Change Will Discourage Idahoans from Installing Panels

8.      Lacking Information, Oregon Residents Guess at Future of Offshore Wind

9.      Inslee Praises Community Solar Project at Port of Camas-Washougal as ‘A Personal Joy’

10.   Indigenous Groups in British Columbia Seek Long-Term Funds to Bring Salmon Back to the Columbia River

11.   Wildfire Smoke Is Likely Poisoning Killer Whales, Study Finds

12.   WA State Rep. J.T. Wilcox Prepares Package of Salmon Recovery Bills for 2024 Session

13.   Federal Judge Advances Fight for Right to Willamette River Recreation

14.   Climate Change Could Slash Colorado Stream Flows, with Effects Across the U.S. West: Report

15.   Ecosystem Reports Show Continuing Effects of Warming in Alaska’s Marine Waters

16.   Seattle Sets December Temperature Records, Following Global Trend

17.   Washington’s Cap on Carbon Is Raising Billions for Climate Action. Can It Survive the Backlash?

18.   Gov. Inslee Vows to Defend Washington Climate Commitment Act After Gas Price Controversy

19.   Video: Rural Washington Is Still in the Digital Dark

20.   Verizon Customers Could Get $100 Each Thanks to New Settlement

21.   The Washington Legislature Kicks Off Today. Here’s What to Watch

22.   2024 Washington Legislative Preview: Inslee Makes Case for Climate, Urges Lawmakers to Pass His Supplemental Budget

23.   Alaska Lawmakers Eye Bills on Neighborhood Solar, Green Bank & Renewable Energy Benchmarks

24.   Strong Winds & Mountain Blizzard Tonight & Tomorrow

25.   Heavy Rain, Strong Winds, Mountain Snow, Flooding to Blast Western WA

26.   The Cascades & Blues Get Hammered with Mountain Snow & Strong Winds While Lower Elevations Await Winter Weather Later This Week

27.   Blizzard Warning Will Start Overnight for Oregon Cascades

28.   Alaska Air Grounds All 737-9 Airliners After In-Flight Window Blowout

29.   Portland Teacher ‘Bob’ Finds Fallen Alaska Airlines Plane Part in Backyard

30.   Guest Essay: There Is No Clean Energy Future without Nuclear. This Is the Key Step to Ramping Up

31.   Guest Essay: Columbia-Snake Agreement Charts the Course to a Clean-Energy Future

32.   Think Tank: WA Gov. Inslee Knew Cap-And-Trade Could Hike Gas Prices a Decade Ago

WORD OF THE DAY

Epiphany • \ih-PIFF-fun-nee\ • Noun – 1 capitalized: January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ 2: an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being 3a (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple & striking (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b: a revealing scene or moment

Today’s word of the day…foreshadowing cold temps later this week:

     An epiphany

     Use more electricity

     Pay a higher bill

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Oregon Nuclear Power Company NuScale Acknowledges Layoffs, Says 154 Lost Their Jobs (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/01/oregon-nuclear-power-company-nuscale-acknowledges-layoffs-says-154-workers-lost-their-jobs.html

2.      West Power Prices Plunge on Year on El Nino Impacts (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/010324-us-power-tracker-west-power-prices-plunge-on-year-on-el-nino-impacts

3.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Average Monthly Bills Are Set to Top $300 for the First Time (Bay Area News Group, CA)

https://www.siliconvalley.com/2024/01/08/pge-power-bill-electric-gas-consumer-fire-inflation-economy-rate/

4.      WA State: Lewis County Residents Raise Concerns Over PUD’s Advanced Meter Replacement During First ‘Meet the Manager’ Meeting (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/lewis-county-residents-raise-concerns-over-puds-advanced-meter-replacement-during-first-meet,332190

5.      WA State: Forks Budget $11.55 Million for 2024 – Clallam PUD Asks for Support of Transmission Line Grant Proposal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/forks-budget-11-55-million-for-2024/

6.      Video: The Dangers of ‘Galloping’ Power Lines (Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, Werst Plains, MO)

https://www.hoecoop.org/node/473

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

7.      Solar Proponents: Change Will Discourage Idahoans from Installing Panels (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/jan/07/solar-proponents-change-will-discourage-idahoans-from-installing-panels/

8.      Lacking Information, Oregon Residents Guess at Future of Offshore Wind (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/01/03/offshore-wind-energy-oregon-coos-bay-bandon/

9.      Inslee Praises Community Solar Project at Port of Camas-Washougal as ‘A Personal Joy’ (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/jan/05/inslee-praises-community-solar-project-at-port-of-camas-washougal-as-a-personal-joy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

10.   Indigenous Groups in British Columbia Seek Long-Term Funds to Bring Salmon Back to the Columbia River (Globe & Mail, Canada)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-salmon-restoration-columbia-river/

11.   Wildfire Smoke Is Likely Poisoning Killer Whales, Study Finds (Bloomberg News)

https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/wildfire-smoke-is-likely-poisoning-killer-whales-study-finds

12.   WA State Rep. J.T. Wilcox Prepares Package of Salmon Recovery Bills for 2024 Session (Gorge Radio, Hood River, OR)

https://gorgenewscenter.com/2024/01/04/rep-j-t-wilcox-prepares-package-of-salmon-recovery-bills-for-2024-session/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

13.   Federal Judge Advances Fight for Right to Willamette River Recreation (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-advances-fight-for-right-to-willamette-river-recreation/

14.   Climate Change Could Slash Colorado Stream Flows, with Effects Across the U.S. West: Report (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4395692-climate-change-could-slash-colorado-west-stream-flows/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

15.   Ecosystem Reports Show Continuing Effects of Warming in Alaska’s Marine Waters (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/2023/12/27/ecosystem-reports-show-continuing-effects-of-warming-in-alaskas-marine-waters/

16.   Seattle Sets December Temperature Records, Following Global Trend (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/seattle-sets-record-high-december-temperatures-following-global-trend/

17.   Washington’s Cap on Carbon Is Raising Billions for Climate Action. Can It Survive the Backlash? (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/politics/washington-carbon-cap-investments-gas-prices/

18.   Gov. Inslee Vows to Defend Washington Climate Commitment Act After Gas Price Controversy (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ba60a262-ab67-11ee-8488-8f9b58038a89.html

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19.   Video: Rural Washington Is Still in the Digital Dark (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/video/crosscut-now/rural-washington-still-digital-dark

20.   Verizon Customers Could Get $100 Each Thanks to New Settlement (News 12, Westchester, NY)

https://hudsonvalley.news12.com/verizon-customers-could-get-100-each-thanks-to-new-settlement

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

21.   The Washington Legislature Kicks Off Today. Here’s What to Watch (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/01/washington-legislature-kicks-today-heres-what-watch

22.   2024 Washington Legislative Preview: Inslee Makes Case for Climate, Urges Lawmakers to Pass His Supplemental Budget (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/jan/04/2024-washington-legislative-preview-inslee-makes-case-for-climate-urges-lawmakers-to-pass-his-supplemental-budget/

23.   Alaska Lawmakers Eye Bills on Neighborhood Solar, Green Bank & Renewable Energy Benchmarks (Alaska Public Media)

https://alaskapublic.org/2024/01/08/alaska-lawmakers-eye-bills-on-neighborhood-solar-green-bank-and-renewable-energy-benchmarks/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

24.   Strong Winds & Mountain Blizzard Tonight & Tomorrow (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2024/01/strong-winds-and-mountain-blizzard.html

25.   Heavy Rain, Strong Winds, Mountain Snow, Flooding to Blast Western WA (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/heavy-rain-strong-winds-mountain-snow-flooding-to-blast-western-wa/

26.   The Cascades & Blues Get Hammered with Mountain Snow & Strong Winds While Lower Elevations Await Winter Weather Later This Week (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/weather/the-cascades-and-blues-get-hammered-with-mountain-snow-and-strong-winds-while-lower-elevations/article_7b9c6340-ae4b-11ee-868e-2ffb8cb204bb.html

27.   Blizzard Warning Will Start Overnight for Oregon Cascades (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/01/08/cascades-snow-blizzard-warning-winter-weather-conditions/

28.   Alaska Air Grounds All 737-9 Airliners After In-Flight Window Blowout (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/136/p/alaska-air-grounds-all-737-9-airliners-after-in-flight-window-blowout/

29.   Portland Teacher ‘Bob’ Finds Fallen Alaska Airlines Plane Part in Backyard (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2024/01/door-that-fell-from-alaska-airlines-flight-found-in-a-backyard-officials-say.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

30.   Guest Essay: There Is No Clean Energy Future without Nuclear. This Is the Key Step to Ramping Up (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article283832348.html

31.   Guest Essay: Columbia-Snake Agreement Charts the Course to a Clean-Energy Future (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/guest-commentary-columbia-snake-agreement-charts-the-course-to-a-clean-energy-future/article_1c7e9c3e-ab49-11ee-8cfa-b781e4fbae72.html

32.   Think Tank: WA Gov. Inslee Knew Cap-And-Trade Could Hike Gas Prices a Decade Ago (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_7fef04a4-ab65-11ee-b5e4-9f257630f09e.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Texas Woman Bakes for 55 Hours to Attempt World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/01/03/Guinness-World-Records-baking-maraton-Mansfield-Texas/9951704302373/

iPhone That Got Sucked Out of Alaska Airlines Plane & Fell 16,000 Feet Is Found on the Ground – It Still Works

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iphone-sucked-out-alaska-airlines-plane-fell-16000-feet-found-still-works/

‘Flappie’ Cat Door Unveiled at CES Keeps Felines from Bringing Dead Gifts Inside

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/01/08/CES-Flappie-cat-door-AI-dead-animals/1801704738547/

Toronto Man Runs 242 Marathons in One Year

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/01/05/canada-Guinness-World-Records-marathons-one-year/8951704491604/

SONG OF THE DAY

Park Hye Soo - If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake (Swing Kids Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3p6IT46-Os

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.