The Energy News Digest for October 19, 2020

Thanks to the Northwest Public Power Association, The Energy News Digest is in your inbox.

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

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Possible Paywall restrictions are noted in the media attribution. Now, go play.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

U.S. Awards $1.4 Billion to Help Build Small Reactors in Idaho (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/utah-nuclear-power-idaho-28a8fb1c3de8a4bf7ab13e734f574bd2

Portland General Electric Shuts Oregon’s Only Coal-Fired Power Plant (Reuters)

https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-power-portland-gen-ele/portland-general-electric-shuts-oregons-only-coal-fired-power-plant-idINL4N2H73R5

Bitcoin Miner Marathon Signs for Coal-Fired Electricity in Montana (Data Center Dynamics)

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/bitcoin-miner-marathon-signs-coal-fired-electricity-montana/

The United States Consumed a Record Amount of Renewable Energy in 2019 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=45516

U.S. Utility Companies Rush to Declare Net-Zero Targets (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/10/15/us-utility-companies-rush-to-declare-net-zero-targets/#7272ec6693b0

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Awards $1.4 Billion to Help Build Small Reactors in Idaho

2.      Feds Approve Up to $1.4B to Test 12-Module NuScale Reactor

3.      WA State: ‘Game Changer.’ Could Tri-Cities Be the Future Home of an Advanced Nuclear Reactor?

4.      Portland General Electric Shuts Oregon’s Only Coal-Fired Power Plant

5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Lacked Basic Training Before California Blackouts

6.      Masked Men Rebuild Breaker

7.      Massachusetts: Fearing ‘Explosion,’ Activists, Councilors Push Back on East Boston Power Substation

8.      Chum Salmon Operations, La Nina Bullish for 2020 Bonneville Power Administration Hydro

9.      Africa’s Largest Dam Powers Dreams of Prosperity in Ethiopia — And Fears of Hunger in Egypt

10.   The United States Consumed a Record Amount of Renewable Energy in 2019

11.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project Offers Few Benefits for Tri-City Economy

12.   Idaho: Oversized Loads of Windmill Parts to Travel North

13.   Arizona Cities Defend Progress After Slipping in Clean Energy Ranking

14.   City Clean Energy Scorecard

15.   The Pandemic Is Destroying Energy Efficiency

16.   Editorial: This Is Easy – New Buildings Should Be Designed for a Fossil Fuel-Free Future

17.   Bonneville Power Administration Earns DOE Sustainability Award for Reducing Electricity & Water Use

18.   Columbia River Biology: Early-Arriving Endangered Chinook Salmon Take the Brunt of Sea Lion Predation

19.   Columbia River Gorge Gets Approval for a Historic Revised Management Plan

20.   Japan Expected to Announce It Will Release Radioactive Water from Crippled Fukushima Nuclear Plant into Ocean

21.   U.S. Utility Companies Rush to Declare Net-Zero Targets

22.   FERC Confirms Carbon Pricing Jurisdiction in Wholesale Markets, Chatterjee ‘Encourages’ Proposals

23.   Natural Gas Generators Make Up Largest Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity

24.   Newly Formed Research Group Declares Oregon Glacier Dead

25.   Alaska: Federal Grant to Fund Broadband in Aleutian Chain

26.   Idaho Port Takes a Shot at Federal Broadband Grant

27.   These U.S. Rural Areas Have the Highest (and Lowest) Internet Speeds

28.   Bitcoin Miner Marathon Signs for Coal-Fired Electricity in Montana

29.   Spread of Electric Cars Sparks Fights for Control Over Charging

30.   Pacific Northwest Marijuana Companies Seek Disaster Relief

31.   As Local News Dies, a Pay-for-Play Network Rises in Its Place

32.   President Trump Changes Course, Approves California Relief for Six Fires

33.   Energy Secretary Returns to DC After Security Staffers Test Positive for Coronavirus

34.   Op/Ed: Vote No on Nevada’s Question 6. Clean Energy Policy Matters Should Be Enacted in the Legislature

WORD OF THE DAY

Quotidian /kwoh-TID-ee-un/ Adjective – 1: occurring every day 2a: belonging to each day: everyday b: commonplace, ordinary

“I Got You Babe” starts

Quotidian “Groundhog Day”

The circle of life

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      U.S. Awards $1.4 Billion to Help Build Small Reactors in Idaho (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/utah-nuclear-power-idaho-28a8fb1c3de8a4bf7ab13e734f574bd2

2.      Feds Approve Up to $1.4B to Test 12-Module NuScale Reactor (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-approves-up-to-14b-to-test-12-module-nuscale-reactor/587265/

3.      WA State: ‘Game Changer.’ Could Tri-Cities Be the Future Home of an Advanced Nuclear Reactor? (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article246468145.html

4.      Portland General Electric Shuts Oregon’s Only Coal-Fired Power Plant (Reuters)

https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-power-portland-gen-ele/portland-general-electric-shuts-oregons-only-coal-fired-power-plant-idINL4N2H73R5

5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Lacked Basic Training Before California Blackouts (Associated Press)

https://mynorthwest.com/2243428/ap-exclusive-utility-lacked-basic-training-before-blackouts/

6.      Masked Men Rebuild Breaker (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2020/Pages/Masked-men-rebuild-breaker.aspx

7.      Massachusetts: Fearing ‘Explosion,’ Activists, Councilors Push Back on East Boston Power Substation (Boston Herald, MA)

https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/10/14/fearing-explosion-advocates-councilors-push-back-on-east-boston-power-substation/

8.      Chum Salmon Operations, La Nina Bullish for 2020 Bonneville Power Administration Hydro (Enverus)

https://www.enverus.com/blog/chum-salmon-operations-la-nina-bullish-for-2020-bpa-hydro/

9.      Africa’s Largest Dam Powers Dreams of Prosperity in Ethiopia — And Fears of Hunger in Egypt (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2020/grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam-egypt-nile/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   The United States Consumed a Record Amount of Renewable Energy in 2019 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=45516

11.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project Offers Few Benefits for Tri-City Economy (Tri-Cities Business News, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2020/10/wind-farm-opinion/

12.   Idaho: Oversized Loads of Windmill Parts to Travel North (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/idaho/articles/2020-10-17/oversized-loads-of-windmill-parts-to-travel-north

13.   Arizona Cities Defend Progress After Slipping in Clean Energy Ranking (Phoenix Business Journal)

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2020/10/18/arizona-cities-defend-progress-clean-energy.html

14.   City Clean Energy Scorecard (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

https://www.aceee.org/local-policy/city-scorecard

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15.   The Pandemic Is Destroying Energy Efficiency (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/pandemic-energy-efficiency-004eaa80-0fc6-4ca7-a212-3c248125f148.html

16.   Editorial: This Is Easy – New Buildings Should Be Designed for a Fossil Fuel-Free Future (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-10-19/new-buildings-code-electric-vehicles-international-code-council

17.   Bonneville Power Administration Earns DOE Sustainability Award for Reducing Electricity & Water Use (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-earns-DOE-Sustainability-Award-for-reducing-electricity-and-water-use.aspx

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   Columbia River Biology: Early-Arriving Endangered Chinook Salmon Take the Brunt of Sea Lion Predation (TuniSieoir News)

https://www.tunisiesoir.com/science/biology-early-arriving-endangered-chinook-salmon-take-the-brunt-of-sea-lion-predation-25094-2020/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

19.   Columbia River Gorge Gets Approval for a Historic Revised Management Plan (Oregon Public Radio)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/19/columbia-river-gorge-gets-approval-for-a-historic-revised-management-plan/

20.   Japan Expected to Announce It Will Release Radioactive Water from Crippled Fukushima Nuclear Plant into Ocean (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2020/10/japan-expected-to-announce-it-will-release-radioactive-water-from-crippled-fukushima-nuclear-plant-into-ocean.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21.   U.S. Utility Companies Rush to Declare Net-Zero Targets (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/10/15/us-utility-companies-rush-to-declare-net-zero-targets/#7272ec6693b0

22.   FERC Confirms Carbon Pricing Jurisdiction in Wholesale Markets, Chatterjee ‘Encourages’ Proposals (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-confirms-carbon-pricing-jurisdiction-in-wholesale-markets-chatterjee/587147/

23.   Natural Gas Generators Make Up Largest Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity (Oil & Gas 360)

https://www.oilandgas360.com/natural-gas-generators-make-up-largest-share-of-u-s-electricity-generation-capacity/

24.   Newly Formed Research Group Declares Oregon Glacier Dead (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/19/glaciers-oregon-shrinking/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   Alaska: Federal Grant to Fund Broadband in Aleutian Chain (Kodiak Daily Mirror, AK)

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/extra/article_d81afb50-0e9d-11eb-bbab-77caea81570b.html

26.   Idaho Port Takes a Shot at Federal Broadband Grant (Government Technology)

https://www.govtech.com/network/Idaho-Port-Takes-a-Shot-at-Federal-Broadband-Grant.html

27.   These U.S. Rural Areas Have the Highest (and Lowest) Internet Speeds (PC Magazine)

https://uk.pcmag.com/news/129374/these-us-rural-areas-have-the-highest-and-lowest-internet-speeds

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   Bitcoin Miner Marathon Signs for Coal-Fired Electricity in Montana (Data Center Dynamics)

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/bitcoin-miner-marathon-signs-coal-fired-electricity-montana/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Spread of Electric Cars Sparks Fights for Control Over Charging (Fox Business News)

https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/electric-cars-sparks-fights-control-charging

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

30.   Pacific Northwest Marijuana Companies Seek Disaster Relief (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/oct/18/northwest-marijuana-companies-seek-disaster-relief/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   As Local News Dies, a Pay-for-Play Network Rises in Its Place (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/18/technology/timpone-local-news-metric-media.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

32.   President Trump Changes Course, Approves California Relief for Six Fires (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-san-francisco-fires-california-heat-waves-bcf51e7cce54882a9580431ee97e36ff

33.   Energy Secretary Returns to DC After Security Staffers Test Positive for Coronavirus (The Hill, Washington DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/521371-energy-secretary-returns-to-dc-after-security-staffers-test

34.   Op/Ed: Vote No on Nevada’s Question 6. Clean Energy Policy Matters Should Be Enacted in the Legislature (Reno Gazette-Journal, NV)

https://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2020/10/17/vote-no-6-policy-matters-should-enacted-legislation-fitch/3696527001/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Comic John Oliver Now Has a Sewage Plant Named After Him

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/john-oliver-now-has-a-sewage-plant-named-after-him/article_1a63108b-6f22-573d-8bc5-430749aea2c0.html

‘There’s a Lemur!’ 5-Year-Old Helps Crack SF Zoo Theft Case

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/theres-a-lemur-5-year-old-helps-crack-sf-zoo-theft-case/article_131c4c70-6019-5a98-9d9d-59ad9cad1ae3.html

 

Rudolph & His Nose-So-Bright into Auction Will Take Flight

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/rudolph-and-his-nose-so-bright-into-auction-will-take-flight/article_6e47ffa7-6f3d-569e-9fa7-c88d5adf1a69.html

Idaho Man Tries for Guinness Title by Running 29 Miles While Juggling

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/10/19/Idaho-man-runs-29-miles-while-juggling-for-Guinness-title/5621603119037/

SONG OF THE DAY

Simon & Garfunkel - At the Zoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xKLBne1CoI

x

The Energy News Digest for October 14, 2020

Thanks to the Northwest Public Power Association, The Energy News Digest is in your inbox.

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

Comments or Questions? Contact the Energy News Digest editor.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Possible Paywall restrictions are noted in the media attribution. Now, go play.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

WA State: Windstorm Blows Through Puget Sound as Falling Tree Kills 1; Power Lost to 100,000 (Associated Press)

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/10/windstorm-blows-through-puget-sound-as-falling-tree-kills-1-power-lost-to-100000.html

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Releases Timeline for Wednesday Power Shutoffs (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/PGE-power-shutoff-maps-timeline-when-power-go-out-15647120.php

Environmentalists & Dam Operators, at War for Years, Start Making Peace (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/climate/environmentalists-hydropower-dams.html

President Trump Makes Water Demand of Farms Priority for New Office (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Trump-makes-water-demand-of-farms-priority-for-15645759.php

Green Group Pushes for Answers on Delayed Federal Climate Report (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/520869-green-group-pushes-for-answers-on-delayed-climate-report

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        WA State: Windstorm Blows Through Puget Sound as Falling Tree Kills 1; Power Lost to 100,000

2.        California: Pacific Gas & Electric Releases Timeline for Wednesday Power Shutoffs

3.        Environmentalists & Dam Operators, at War for Years, Start Making Peace

4.        Wyoming PSC: Socioeconomic Impact of Coal Retirements Not within the Purview of an Integrated Resource Plan

5.        Time for President Trump to Renegotiate: The Columbia River Treaty Is Yet Another Bad Deal for Americans

6.        Exelon Weighs Shedding Nuclear Plants, Other Non-Utility Assets

7.        Oregon: Hillsboro Harnesses Renewable Power from Water Pipes

8.        Nevada Writes Off Nearly $12 Million in Federally Funded Clean Energy Loans as ‘Bad Debt’

9.        ‘Electrification of Everything’: REC Silicon Announces Deals

10.     Demand Response Works: It’s Time To ‘Shimmy’ Over & Unleash Flexiwatts

11.     New Rules Would Greatly Reduce Whale Watching Around Endangered Orcas

12.     Op/Ed: Saving the Salmon in the Columbia River Basin

13.     President Trump Makes Water Demand of Farms Priority for New Office

14.     Green Group Pushes for Answers on Delayed Federal Climate Report

15.     AP Explains: The Promise of 5G Wireless - Speed, Hype, Risk

16.     Comcast’s President of Tech Falls Offline While Boasting About How Great Cable Is for Connectivity

17.     Electric Vehicle Firms Partner to Ramp Up Charging Station Access, Reliability

WORD OF THE DAY

Errant • \AIR-unt\ • adjective – 1: traveling or given to traveling 2*a: straying outside the proper path or bounds b: moving about aimlessly or irregularly c: behaving wrongly

Baby chicks spilled from shipping cartons at the post office. The tiny fluffballs scattered hither and yon in their errant travels through racks of “business direct” publications and tubs of regular mail. Days after the incident, postal clerks would stop still whenever a small chirp was heard to track down the missing chick. Finally, one employee decided to put a food dish out, which was appropriately dubbed the USPS “chick magnet”.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      WA State: Windstorm Blows Through Puget Sound as Falling Tree Kills 1; Power Lost to 100,000 (Associated Press)

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/10/windstorm-blows-through-puget-sound-as-falling-tree-kills-1-power-lost-to-100000.html

2.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Releases Timeline for Wednesday Power Shutoffs (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/PGE-power-shutoff-maps-timeline-when-power-go-out-15647120.php

3.      Environmentalists & Dam Operators, at War for Years, Start Making Peace (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/climate/environmentalists-hydropower-dams.html

4.      Wyoming PSC: Socioeconomic Impact of Coal Retirements Not within the Purview of an Integrated Resource Plan (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/wyoming-psc-socioeconomic-impact-of-coal-retirements-not-within-the-purvie/586884/

5.      Time for President Trump to Renegotiate: The Columbia River Treaty Is Yet Another Bad Deal for Americans (PJ Media)

https://pjmedia.com/columns/christian-josi/2020/10/12/time-for-trump-to-renegotiate-the-columbia-river-treaty-is-yet-another-bad-deal-for-americans-n1028998

6.      Exelon Weighs Shedding Nuclear Plants, Other Non-Utility Assets (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-12/exelon-said-to-weigh-separation-of-non-utility-operations

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

7.      Oregon: Hillsboro Harnesses Renewable Power from Water Pipes (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/hillsboro-harnesses-renewable-power-from-water-pipes/283-f4461247-1042-4f6f-b3ff-cbc31b11c1e6

8.      Nevada Writes Off Nearly $12 Million in Federally Funded Clean Energy Loans as ‘Bad Debt’ (Nevada Independent)

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevada-writes-off-nearly-12-million-in-federally-funded-clean-energy-loans-as-bad-debt

9.      ‘Electrification of Everything’: REC Silicon Announces Deals (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2020/oct/14/it-means-electrification-everything/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

10.   Demand Response Works: It’s Time To ‘Shimmy’ Over & Unleash Flexiwatts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/demand-response-works-its-time-to-shimmy-over-and-unleash-flexiwatts/586532/

FISH & WILDLIFE

11.   New Rules Would Greatly Reduce Whale Watching Around Endangered Orcas (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/northwest/new-rules-would-greatly-reduce-whale-watching-around-endangered-orcas/

12.   Op/Ed: Saving the Salmon in the Columbia River Basin (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/community-voices-saving-the-salmon-in-the-columbia-river-basin/article_156c0918-35ae-51de-95fa-7e9b2d1121bb.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

13.   President Trump Makes Water Demand of Farms Priority for New Office (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Trump-makes-water-demand-of-farms-priority-for-15645759.php

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

14.   Green Group Pushes for Answers on Delayed Federal Climate Report (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/520869-green-group-pushes-for-answers-on-delayed-climate-report

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

15.   AP Explains: The Promise of 5G Wireless - Speed, Hype, Risk (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-10-13/ap-explains-the-promise-of-5g-wireless-speed-hype-risk

16.   Comcast’s President of Tech Falls Offline While Boasting About How Great Cable Is for Connectivity (The Register)

https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/14/comcast_internet_interview_fail/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

17.   Electric Vehicle Firms Partner to Ramp Up Charging Station Access, Reliability (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electric-vehicle-firms-partner-to-ramp-up-charging-station-access-reliabil/587028/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Zoo Scientists Revive Cells from 40-Year Deep Freeze to Clone Endangered Horse

https://www.thedailyworld.com/life/zoo-scientists-revive-cells-from-40-year-deep-freeze-to-clone-endangered-horse/

A Taste for Travel? Finnair to Sell Plane Food in Shops

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/world_news/a-taste-for-travel-finnair-to-sell-plane-food-in-shops/article_396058ef-19e5-5726-bf4f-7a237d5fcb87.html

Look Up: Mars Will Be at Its Brightest on Wednesday

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/mars-opposition-1.5755804

Blindfolded Man Smashes 50 Coconuts Around Another Man’s Body

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/10/13/Blindfolded-man-smashes-50-coconuts-around-another-mans-body/4171602615738/

SONG OF THE DAY

Gustav Holst – Mars (From the “Planets” Suite)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmk5frp6-3Q

x

The Energy News Digest for October 12, 2020

Thanks to the Northwest Public Power Association, The Energy News Digest is in your inbox. 

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

Comments or Questions? Contact the Energy News Digest editor.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Possible Paywall restrictions are noted in the media attribution. Now, go play.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Team Investigating Deadly Calif. Fire Seizes Pacific Gas & Electric Equipment (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-10-10/utility-tells-state-equipment-might-have-caused-deadly-fire

Four Governors Agree to Work Together as Pacific NW Salmon May Have Just 20 to 30 Years Left (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/outdoors/article246247210.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Prepared to Cut Power in Northern California This Week If Necessary (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pg-e-us-fire-california/pge-prepared-to-cut-power-in-california-this-week-if-necessary-idUSKBN26X00E

WA State: Hoh Tribe Gets Early Access to SpaceX's Starlink & Says It's Fast (PC Magazine)

https://www.pcmag.com/news/native-american-tribe-gets-early-access-to-spacexs-starlink-and-says-its

Human Error Was Factor in Fatal Gush of Dam Water in North Vancouver, BC (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/human-error-was-factor-in-fatal-gush-of-dam-water-in-north-vancouver-1.24217454

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Team Investigating Deadly Calif. Fire Seizes Pacific Gas & Electric Equipment

2.      Pacific Gas & Electric Prepared to Cut Power in Northern California This Week If Necessary

3.      Colstrip Purchase Gets Public Listening Session

4.      Wyoming Criticizes PacifiCorp’s Plans to Replace Coal with Renewables

5.      Grays Harbor PUD’s, Other Public Utility Shut-Off Moratoria Ends Next Week, But Inslee Could Step In

6.      Recent NV Energy Rate Changes Bring Lower Bills to Northern Nevada Customers

7.      Former Pacific PUD Worker Who Got $186K in ‘Dog Phobia’ Case Owned Dogs All Along, WA Officials Say

8.      Clark Public Utilities Inspecting Power Lines with Helicopters

9.      Power Companies Turn to Small-Scale Nuclear Reactors

10.   Oregon: Blue Marmot Solar Facility Moves Forward

11.   Renewable Energy Company with Kern County Ties Breaks Ground on Nevada Facility

12.   Solar Groups Challenge FERC Broadview Order Reversing 40 Years of PURPA Precedent

13.   Can Farmland Fix Solar Power’s Real Estate Problem?

14.   Public-Private Partnership Working Toward Renewable Hydrogen Facility in Eugene

15.   California Has a Renewables Curtailment Problem. Can Your Google & Facebook Activity Help?

16.   Once Shut Out, Maine Cannabis Industry Now Eligible for Sustainable Energy Grants

17.   Four Governors Agree to Work Together as Pacific NW Salmon May Have Just 20 to 30 Years Left

18.   News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Supports Goals of Four Governors; Asks for Scientific Grounding to Ensure Best Outcome

19.   Editorial: Saving Salmon to Feed Orcas?

20.   Pacific Salmon Foundation Expands Online Tool to Track Fish Returning to Spawn in British Columbia's Rivers

21.   Timber Harvest Protester Who Climbed Tree in Capitol Forest Is Still ‘Going Strong,’ Friend Says

22.   Human Error Was Factor in Fatal Gush of Dam Water in North Vancouver, BC

23.   Carbon Capture ‘Moonshot’ Moves Closer as Billions of Dollars Pour In

24.   Op/Ed: Without Nuclear Power, The World's Climate Challenge Will Get a Whole Lot Harder

25.   WA State: Hoh Tribe Gets Early Access to SpaceX's Starlink & Says It's Fast

26.   Mason PUD 3 Celebrates Completion of First Fiberhood

27.   Washington State’s Broadband Guru on an Internet Moonshot & Being a Metaphorical Prom King

28.   Feds May Target Google’s Chrome Browser for Breakup

29.   Washington Voters Support Full Transition to Electric Cars by 2030

30.   Four Types of Scandals Utility Companies Get into with Money from Your Electric Bills

WORD OF THE DAY

Somnambulism • \sawm-NAMB-yuh-liz-zum\ • noun – An abnormal condition of sleep in which motor acts (as walking) are performed

The show was about to begin. The lights dimmed; the darkness enhanced by the red glow from a digital alarm clock on the bedside table. Doreen was initially amused by the display of somnambulism performed nightly by her new husband, Walter. As time went on, however, his nightly raucous, sleep-walking performance of Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm” understandably lost its luster.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Team Investigating Deadly Calif. Fire Seizes Pacific Gas & Electric Equipment (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-10-10/utility-tells-state-equipment-might-have-caused-deadly-fire

2.      Pacific Gas & Electric Prepared to Cut Power in Northern California This Week If Necessary (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pg-e-us-fire-california/pge-prepared-to-cut-power-in-california-this-week-if-necessary-idUSKBN26X00E

3.      Colstrip Purchase Gets Public Listening Session (Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, MT)

https://ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/article_27dfb957-0252-5507-a980-f7a7416e7f72.html

4.      Wyoming Criticizes PacifiCorp’s Plans to Replace Coal with Renewables (WyoFile)

https://www.wyofile.com/wyo-criticizes-utilitys-plans-to-replace-coal-with-renewables/

5.      Grays Harbor PUD’s, Other Public Utility Shut-Off Moratoria Ends Next Week, But Inslee Could Step In (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/ghpuds-shut-off-moratorium-ends-next-week-but-inslee-could-step-in/

6.      Recent NV Energy Rate Changes Bring Lower Bills to Northern Nevada Customers (Carson City News, NV)

https://carsonnow.org/story/10/11/2020/nv-energy-rate-change-october-bring-lower-bills-northern-nevada-customers

7.      Former Pacific PUD Worker Who Got $186K in ‘Dog Phobia’ Case Owned Dogs All Along, WA Officials Say (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/article246354070.html

8.      Clark Public Utilities Inspecting Power Lines with Helicopters (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/clark-county-pud-inspecting-power-lines-with-helicopters

9.      Power Companies Turn to Small-Scale Nuclear Reactors (South Florida Times, Ft Lauderdale, FL)

http://www.sfltimes.com/news/power-companies-turn-to-small-scale-nuclear-reactors

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Oregon: Blue Marmot Solar Facility Moves Forward (Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, OR)

http://www.lakecountyexam.com/news/lake_county/blue-marmot-solar-facility-moves-forward/article_a3b5a95a-e932-5d88-980b-280abc23f100.html

11.   Renewable Energy Company with Kern County Ties Breaks Ground on Nevada Facility (KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA)

https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/renewable-energy-company-with-kern-county-ties-breaks-ground-on-nevada-facility/

12.   Solar Groups Challenge FERC Broadview Order Reversing 40 Years of PURPA Precedent (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-groups-challenge-ferc-broadview-order-reversing-40-years-of-purpa-pre/586624/

13.   Can Farmland Fix Solar Power’s Real Estate Problem? (Quartz)

https://qz.com/1913868/why-agricultural-land-is-better-than-rooftops-for-solar-panels/

14.   Public-Private Partnership Working Toward Renewable Hydrogen Facility in Eugene (KVAL-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://kval.com/news/local/public-private-partnership-working-toward-renewable-hydrogen-facility-in-eugene

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15.   California Has a Renewables Curtailment Problem. Can Your Google & Facebook Activity Help? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-has-a-renewables-curtailment-problem-can-your-google-and-facebo/585932/

16.   Once Shut Out, Maine Cannabis Industry Now Eligible for Sustainable Energy Grants (Portland Press-Herald, ME)

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/10/07/once-shut-out-maine-cannabis-industry-now-eligible-for-sustainable-energy-grants/

FISH & WILDLIFE

17.   Four Governors Agree to Work Together as Pacific NW Salmon May Have Just 20 to 30 Years Left (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/outdoors/article246247210.html

18.   News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Supports Goals of Four Governors; Asks for Scientific Grounding to Ensure Best Outcome (NW RiverPartners)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/10/northwest-riverpartners-supports-goals.html

19.   Editorial: Saving Salmon to Feed Orcas? (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-saving-salmon-to-feed-orcas/article_0ff01380-043a-11eb-bec1-1fddbfeeddda.html

20.   Pacific Salmon Foundation Expands Online Tool to Track Fish Returning to Spawn in British Columbia's Rivers (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-returns-1.5751264

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

21.   Timber Harvest Protester Who Climbed Tree in Capitol Forest Is Still ‘Going Strong,’ Friend Says (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article246390880.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Human Error Was Factor in Fatal Gush of Dam Water in North Vancouver, BC (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/human-error-was-factor-in-fatal-gush-of-dam-water-in-north-vancouver-1.24217454

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Carbon Capture ‘Moonshot’ Moves Closer as Billions of Dollars Pour In (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/climate/carbon-capture-moonshot-moves-closer-as-billions-of-dollars-pour-in/

24.   Op/Ed: Without Nuclear Power, The World's Climate Challenge Will Get a Whole Lot Harder (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/opinions/without-nuclear-power-the-worlds-climate-challenge-birol-grossi/index.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   WA State: Hoh Tribe Gets Early Access to SpaceX's Starlink & Says It's Fast (PC Magazine)

https://www.pcmag.com/news/native-american-tribe-gets-early-access-to-spacexs-starlink-and-says-its

26.   Mason PUD 3 Celebrates Completion of First Fiberhood (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/41270

27.   Washington State’s Broadband Guru on an Internet Moonshot & Being a Metaphorical Prom King (Geekwire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/washingtons-broadband-guru-states-connectivity-moonshot-metaphorical-prom-king/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   Feds May Target Google’s Chrome Browser for Breakup (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/10/feds-may-target-googles-chrome-browser-for-breakup-428468

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Washington Voters Support Full Transition to Electric Cars by 2030 (PR Newswire)

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/washington-voters-support-full-transition-to-electric-cars-by-2030-301147777.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

30.   Four Types of Scandals Utility Companies Get into with Money from Your Electric Bills (ProPubicla)

https://www.propublica.org/article/four-types-of-scandals-utility-companies-get-into-with-money-from-your-electric-bills

RATS IN THE MINEFIELD – DIVERSIONS

French Couple Trying to Buy Savannah Cat Get Tiger Cub, Instead

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/10/09/French-couple-trying-to-buy-Savannah-cat-get-tiger-cub-instead/8831602272868/

Giant Rat Wins Animal Hero Award for Sniffing Out Landmines

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/giant-rat-wins-animal-hero-award-for-sniffing-out-landmines/article_a44dc6e8-3b1f-50e3-a712-cdff3e3416dd.html

Driverless Boat in Florida Spins of Control, Smashing Docks

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/driverless-boat-in-florida-spins-of-control-smashing-docks/article_f5cbe5ed-cc87-5b7a-90a4-100d5d51f083.html

Two of the Happiest U.S. States? Washington & Idaho

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/oct/11/two-of-the-happiest-us-states-washington-and-idaho/

SONG OF THE DAY

Donna Fargo – The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJlD7Wp4o4g

Northwest RiverPartners Supports Goals of Four Governors; Asks for Scientific Grounding to Ensure Best Outcome (NW RiverPartners)

(VANCOUVER, WA) -- Today, the governors of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana released a joint letter committing to an effort to help recover threatened and endangered salmonid species in the Columbia River Basin.

The governors have expressed their desire to continue the work of the Columbia Basin Partnership (CBP). Established by NOAA Fisheries in 2017, the objective of the CBP was to bring together regional stakeholders to create a shared vision for salmon abundance goals and to discuss measures that could help achieve those goals. While the CBP was able to agree on abundance goals, it was not able to find broad agreement on solutions.

The new multi-year effort signified by the governors’ letter will establish processes and decision-making groups to attempt to find solid and practicable solutions to the challenges facing struggling salmon populations.

Northwest RiverPartners is supportive of the goals included in the four governors’ letter but asks that the process specifically be tasked with providing scientific rigor. While there are many stakeholders who genuinely believe that dams have been the limiting factor in salmon recovery, recent research has shown that this anti-dam conclusion is not scientifically founded.

Fisheries researcher Lisa Crozer stated that scientists are seeing “Nearsynchronous declines” in worldwide salmon populations, likely due to the effects of climate change. These declines include rivers with and without hydroelectric dams.

Two studies released this summer also point to the strong relationship between climate change, warming oceans, and declining Chinook salmon health.
In its recently released Biological Opinion, NOAA Fisheries showed that climate change appears to have a much larger effect on salmon survival in the oceans than in rivers and Chinook salmon may only have 20 to 30 years left in the region if the observed relationships between warming ocean temperatures and salmon survival remain steady.

Pointing to a more hostile ocean environment due to climate change and salmon spending fewer years at sea, scientists at the University of Alaska also found that the size of Chinook salmon in Alaska’s rivers had declined significantly since 1960.
Given the widespread nature of the decline in salmon populations, we encourage the governors’ process to look more holistically at the shared environment of all Pacific Salmon, which is the Pacific Ocean. We have to reverse ocean warming if we are going to save our iconic salmon and orca species.

Addressing climate change is critical not only in terms of the salmon debate but our region is now also being forced to confront the issue due to the recent and devastating wildfire event which will tragically go down in Oregon history as the most intense ever recorded. In a recent interview on the fires, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said “This is a wake-up call for all of us that we’ve got to do everything in our power to tackle climate change.”

We know that hydropower plays a critical role in the Pacific Northwest in our goals to reduce our carbon footprint. Our region has the least carbon-intensive electric service territory and the most affordable renewable power in the nation thanks to its hydropower system.

The governors’ process needs to ensure the vitality of the hydropower system as a means to help both salmon and people avoid climate-driven disasters.