Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The Energy News Digest for April 24, 2024

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Items of Note from the Northwest Public Power Association

What’s the Buzz About Public Power? Find out at NWPPA’s 84th Annual Conference and Membership Meeting, May 12-15, in Salt Lake City, Utah. With less than a month left, this is your last chance to register for this highly anticipated learning and networking opportunity, which brings together public power leaders from across the Northwest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

California Grid Will Require Major Upgrade to Meet Electric Vehicle Demands: Study (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/4615380-california-grid-electric-vehicles-upgrade-required-study/

Debate Over the Lower Snake River Dams This Week in Pasco (KONA Radio, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://610kona.com/debate-over-the-lower-snake-river-dams-this-week-in-pasco/

Electric & Hybrid Car Sales to Rise to New Global Record in 2024 (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/23/electric-and-hybrid-car-sales-to-rise-to-new-global-record-in-2024

TikTok Ban: What Happens Next After U.S. Senate Passed the Bill? (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-happens-now-that-us-tiktok-bill-has-been-passed-2024-04-24/

New Tools from NOAA & CDC Show People Their Risk from Heat as Another Hot Summer Looms (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tools-noaa-cdc-show-people-201437394.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      California Grid Will Require Major Upgrade to Meet Electric Vehicle Demands: Study

2.      Debate Over the Lower Snake River Dams This Week in Pasco

3.      WA State: Elma Gas Plant Property Value Drops By $52 Million

4.      Lawmakers To Consider Tax Scheme to Benefit Wyoming Electric Ratepayers

5.      U.S. Seeing Rise in Climate-Related Power Outages, Report Says

6.      U.S. Natural Gas Consumption Set Annual & Monthly Records During 2023

7.      Arizona Public Service, Others Plan 1-Year Delay in Fines for Western Resource Adequacy Program Capacity Shortfalls

8.      Colombia Rolls Out New Incentives to Cut Electricity Consumption as Dry Weather Persists

9.      Supply Chains Impact Power Transmission Systems

10.   Along Those Lines: ‘In the Blink of an Eye’—Devastating Incident Becomes Teaching Tool

11.   California: Chumash Tribal Council, Offshore Wind Companies Reach Deal Intended to Advance New Marine Sanctuary (KCLU Radio, Thousand Oaks, CA)

12.   Biden Administration Is Announcing Plans for Up to 12 Lease Sales for Offshore Wind Energy

13.   Solar Manufacturers Petition U.S. to Impose Tariffs on Imports from Four Southeast Asian Nations

14.   Wind, Wave, Tidal Resources Could Help Alaska Meet Future Energy Needs

15.   Chart: The U.S. Clean Energy Backlog Is Getting Bigger & Bigger

16.   In the News: Protecting Pollinators Sends a Message

17.   ‘Saber-Toothed Salmon’ Was More of a Water Warthog, Study Finds

18.   Federal Funds Are Helping Oregon Address Barriers to Internet Access

19.   Video: Montana Hopeful to Expand Internet, Broadband Access with New State Partner

20.   Electric & Hybrid Car Sales to Rise to New Global Record in 2024

21.   WA Launches $45 Million Program to Make Electric Vehicles More Affordable

22.   Fisker May Seek Bankruptcy Protection in 30 Days If Unable to Meet Debt Obligations

23.   Tesla Driver Hit & Killed Motorcyclist in Snohomish County While Using Autopilot

24.   TikTok Ban: What Happens Next After U.S. Senate Passed the Bill?

25.   New Tools from NOAA & CDC Show People Their Risk from Heat as Another Hot Summer Looms

26.   Guest Essay: Group Won’t Stop with the Lower Snake River Dams

27.   Guest Essay: Ignoring Risks – A Hydropower Industry Wakeup Call

Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition

“No Fighting in the War Room”

Zero-Sum \ZEER-oh-SUM\ Adjective – Of, relating to, or being a situation (such as a game or relationship) in which a gain for one side entails a corresponding loss for the other side.

     The nuke deterrent

     It’s mutual destruction

     A zero-sum game

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      California Grid Will Require Major Upgrade to Meet Electric Vehicle Demands: Study (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/4615380-california-grid-electric-vehicles-upgrade-required-study/

2.      Debate Over the Lower Snake River Dams This Week in Pasco (KONA Radio, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://610kona.com/debate-over-the-lower-snake-river-dams-this-week-in-pasco/

3.      WA State: Elma Gas Plant Property Value Drops By $52 Million (Aberdeen Daily News, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/elma-gas-plant-property-value-drops-by-52m/

4.      Lawmakers To Consider Tax Scheme to Benefit Wyoming Electric Ratepayers (WyoFile)

https://wyofile.com/lawmakers-to-consider-tax-scheme-to-benefit-wyoming-electric-ratepayers/?utm_medium=email

5.      U.S. Seeing Rise in Climate-Related Power Outages, Report Says (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/24/climate-related-power-outages-surging-in-the-us

6.      U.S. Natural Gas Consumption Set Annual & Monthly Records During 2023 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61923

7.      Arizona Public Service, Others Plan 1-Year Delay in Fines for Western Resource Adequacy Program Capacity Shortfalls (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pacificorp-western-resource-adequacy-program-wrap-delay/713944/?utm_medium=email

8.      Colombia Rolls Out New Incentives to Cut Electricity Consumption as Dry Weather Persists (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/colombia-electricity-crisis-drought-453a15f8227353d67622e2d2b3fe4ac7

9.      Supply Chains Impact Power Transmission Systems (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/supply-chains/

10.   Along Those Lines: ‘In the Blink of an Eye’—Devastating Incident Becomes Teaching Tool (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-lineworker-safety-branden-bauer

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

11.   California: Chumash Tribal Council, Offshore Wind Companies Reach Deal Intended to Advance New Marine Sanctuary (KCLU Radio, Thousand Oaks, CA)

https://www.kclu.org/2024-04-23/chumash-tribal-council-offshore-wind-companies-reach-deal-intended-to-advance-new-marine-sanctuary

12.   Biden Administration Is Announcing Plans for Up to 12 Lease Sales for Offshore Wind Energy (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/offshore-wind-energy-deb-haaland-34a91a39d3ceefbb0e65c66becd4fc74?utm_medium=email

13.   Solar Manufacturers Petition U.S. to Impose Tariffs on Imports from Four Southeast Asian Nations (CNBC)

https://www.msn.com/en-my/money/companies/solar-manufacturers-petition-u-s-to-impose-tariffs-on-imports-from-four-southeast-asian-nations/ar-AA1nAoNf

14.   Wind, Wave, Tidal Resources Could Help Alaska Meet Future Energy Needs (Hydro Review)

https://www.hydroreview.com/hydro-industry-news/oceantidalstream-power/wind-wave-tidal-resources-could-help-alaska-meet-future-energy-needs/

15.   Chart: The U.S. Clean Energy Backlog Is Getting Bigger & Bigger (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/transmission/chart-the-us-clean-energy-backlog-is-getting-bigger-and-bigger

Fish & Wildlife

16.   In the News: Protecting Pollinators Sends a Message (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20240422-in-the-news-protecting-pollinators-sends-a-message

17.   ‘Saber-Toothed Salmon’ Was More of a Water Warthog, Study Finds (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/saber-toothed-salmon-was-more-of-a-water-warthog-study-finds/

London Calling –Telecommunications

18.   Federal Funds Are Helping Oregon Address Barriers to Internet Access (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2024/04/24/federal-funds-are-helping-oregon-address-barriers-to-internet-access/

19.   Video: Montana Hopeful to Expand Internet, Broadband Access with New State Partner (Newspress Now, MT)

https://www.newspressnow.com/multimedia/national_video/montana-hopeful-to-expand-internet-broadband-access-with-new-state-partner/video_8002801d-2378-59c3-9011-7384b2b720ad.html

I Sing the Car Electric

20.   Electric & Hybrid Car Sales to Rise to New Global Record in 2024 (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/23/electric-and-hybrid-car-sales-to-rise-to-new-global-record-in-2024

21.   WA Launches $45 Million Program to Make Electric Vehicles More Affordable (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/wa-launches-45m-program-evs-001754097.html

22.   Fisker May Seek Bankruptcy Protection in 30 Days If Unable to Meet Debt Obligations (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/fisker-may-seek-bankruptcy-protection-30-days-if-unable-meet-debt-obligations-2024-04-23/

23.   Tesla Driver Hit & Killed Motorcyclist in Snohomish County While Using Autopilot (AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/news/tesla-driver-hit-killed-motorcyclist-010100023.html

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

24.   TikTok Ban: What Happens Next After U.S. Senate Passed the Bill? (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-happens-now-that-us-tiktok-bill-has-been-passed-2024-04-24/

Other Things to Know About Today

25.   New Tools from NOAA & CDC Show People Their Risk from Heat as Another Hot Summer Looms (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tools-noaa-cdc-show-people-201437394.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

26.   Guest Essay: Group Won’t Stop with the Lower Snake River Dams (Lewiston Morning Tribune, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lmtribune.com/opinion/opinion-group-won-t-stop-with-the-lower-snake-river-dams/article_45a5d5ce-9185-591e-8c87-d1557190b613.html

27.   Guest Essay: Ignoring Risks – A Hydropower Industry Wakeup Call (Water Power Magazine)

https://content.yudu.com/web/442ay/0A444q7/WPD0424-Pros/html/index.html?page=12&origin=reader

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Taters for the Taking: Droves Flock to the Mound of Free Potatoes Ditched by the Hutterites

https://www.spokesman.com/galleries/2024/apr/23/taters-for-the-taking-droves-flock-to-the-mound-of/

John Lennon’s Lost 1960s Acoustic Guitar to Go Up for Auction

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/john-lennons-lost-1960s-acoustic-guitar-go-up-auction-2024-04-23/

Sahara Dust Cloud Transforms Athens into Eerie Martian Landscape

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sahara-dust-cloud-transforms-athens-223642529.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Well, Hello, Voyager 1! The Venerable Spacecraft Is Once Again Making Sense

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/04/23/well-hello-voyager-1-the-venerable-spacecraft-is-once-again-making-sense/

Song of the Day

Kansas – Dust in the Wind

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

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.