The Energy News Digest for November 30, 2020

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Idaho Utility’s Coal Exit Sparks NIMBY Grid Fight (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063719319

Trump Officials Move to Relax Rules on Killing Birds (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/11/27/migratory-bird-treaty-act/

Nuclear Reactor Testing Device Opens Doors to Safer Energy in Idaho, Nation (Ontario Argus-Observer, OR)

https://www.argusobserver.com/independent/features/nuclear-reactor-testing-device-opens-doors-to-safer-energy-in-idaho-nation/article_427c6592-30d6-11eb-a1cb-03b565417109.html

California Moves Toward All-Electric Home Appliances as Part of Decarbonization Effort (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/california-moves-toward-all-electric-home-appliances-as-part-of-decarbonization-effort/article_3c47ca42-30d4-11eb-b7b9-43a2af85145f.html

Cyber Monday Set to Be Biggest Online Shopping Day in U.S. History (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-holidayshopping-cybermonday-idUSKBN28A1ER

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Idaho Utility’s Coal Exit Sparks NIMBY Grid Fight

2.        Nuclear Reactor Testing Device Opens Doors to Safer Energy in Idaho, Nation

3.        Okanogan PUD Catching Up with Fire Damages

4.        WA State: Colville Tribes, Franklin PUD Sign Letter of Intent for Electrical Substation Lease

5.        Alaska: New Gunnuk Creek Hydro Plant Reduces Kake’s Reliance on Diesel

6.        Ohio: Moody’s, S&P Lower FirstEnergy Credit Rating to ‘Junk’ Amid More Potential Fallout from Corruption Probe

7.        Electricity Grid Collapses in Nigeria, Africa’s Largest Economy

8.        Public Power Utilities Earn High Scores for Business Customer Satisfaction

9.        Small Business Customer Satisfaction with Electric Utilities Could Use Digital Charge, J.D. Power Finds

10.     Western Area Power Administration Releases FY 2020 Annual Report

11.     California: Magalia Microgrid Set Be Online by Next Month, Pacific Gas & Electric Says

12.     California: Customers in Santa Barbara County to Get Renewable Electricity in January

13.     Top Ten States for Renewable Energy, & Their Renewable Energy Splits – Thanks Hydro

14.     As Winter Arrives, Heaters Become a Survival Tool for Businesses

15.     Outdoor Heaters Seem Like a Huge Waste. Are They Really?

16.     Trump Officials Move to Relax Rules on Killing Birds

17.     Salmon People: A Tribe’s Decades-Long Fight to Take Down the Lower Snake River Dams & Restore a Way of Life

18.     Op/Ed: Oregon Gov. Brown Puts Salmon at Risk

19.     California: A Second Chance for Eel River Salmon & Steelhead?

20.     California Moves Toward All-Electric Home Appliances as Part of Decarbonization Effort

21.     California: San Jose Set to Become Largest U.S. City to Ban Natural Gas in Almost All New Construction

22.     Montana: Bozeman Tweaks Climate Plan to Be More Direct with NorthWestern Energy

23.     Pai Formally Announces Plans to Leave FCC

24.     Remote Work Can’t Change Everything Until We Fix This $80 Billion Problem

25.     Op/Ed: With Election Over, Congress Must Act to Bridge Digital Divide

26.     Continued Bans Against Municipal Competition

27.     Cyber Monday Set to Be Biggest Online Shopping Day in U.S. History

28.     Amazon’s Cloud-Computing Outage on Wednesday Was Triggered by Effort to Boost System’s Capacity

29.     5G’s Rollout Speeds Along Faster Than Expected, Even with the Coronavirus Pandemic Raging

30.     FCC Maintains Ban on Mobile Phone Voice Calls During Flights

31.     U.S. House Bill Proposes $10 Million Grant Program for Localities, Utilities to Aid Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rollout

32.     The Solar Discs That Could Power Earth

33.     An Unusual Snack for Cows, a Powerful Fix for Climate

WORD OF THE DAY

Leitmotif /LITE-moe-teef/ Noun – 1: an associated melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation especially in a Wagnerian music drama 2: a dominant recurring theme.

See Darth Vader’s theme, Star Wars, John Williams, the “Song of the Day.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Idaho Utility’s Coal Exit Sparks NIMBY Grid Fight (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063719319

2.      Nuclear Reactor Testing Device Opens Doors to Safer Energy in Idaho, Nation (Ontario Argus-Observer, OR)

https://www.argusobserver.com/independent/features/nuclear-reactor-testing-device-opens-doors-to-safer-energy-in-idaho-nation/article_427c6592-30d6-11eb-a1cb-03b565417109.html

3.      Okanogan PUD Catching Up with Fire Damages (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

https://methowvalleynews.com/2020/11/25/pud-catching-up-with-fire-damages/

4.      WA State: Colville Tribes, Franklin PUD Sign Letter of Intent for Electrical Substation Lease (Tribal Tribune, Nespelem, WA)

http://www.tribaltribune.com/news/article_93319a22-2f53-11eb-885f-e3e71abc20b2.html

5.      Alaska: New Gunnuk Creek Hydro Plant Reduces Kake’s Reliance on Diesel (KCAW-Radio, Sitka, AK)

https://www.kcaw.org/2020/11/25/new-gunnuk-creek-hydro-plant-reduces-kakes-reliance-on-diesel/

6.      Ohio: Moody’s, S&P Lower FirstEnergy Credit Rating to ‘Junk’ Amid More Potential Fallout from Corruption Probe (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/moodys-sp-lower-firstenergy-bond-ratings-to-junk-as-company-taps-nearl/589753/

7.      Electricity Grid Collapses in Nigeria, Africa’s Largest Economy (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/nigeria-power/electricity-grid-collapses-in-nigeria-africas-largest-economy-idUKL8N2IF0QM

8.      Public Power Utilities Earn High Scores for Business Customer Satisfaction (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/public-power-utilities-earn-high-scores-business-customer-satisfaction

9.      Small Business Customer Satisfaction with Electric Utilities Could Use Digital Charge, J.D. Power Finds (J.D. Power)

https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2020-electric-utility-business-customer-satisfaction-study

10.   Western Area Power Administration Releases FY 2020 Annual Report (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsReleases/2020/Pages/WAPA-releases-2020-annual-report.aspx

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   California: Magalia Microgrid Set Be Online by Next Month, Pacific Gas & Electric Says (Chico Enterprise-Record)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/11/california-magalia-microgrid-set-be.html

12.   California: Customers in Santa Barbara County to Get Renewable Electricity in January (Lompoc Record, CA)

https://lompocrecord.com/news/local/customers-in-santa-barbara-county-to-get-renewable-electricity-in-january/article_35579dfb-3fe2-5971-b306-244357659d25.html

13.   Top Ten States for Renewable Energy, & Their Renewable Energy Splits – Thanks Hydro (Clean Technica)

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/28/top-10-states-for-renewable-energy-split-by-source/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

14.   As Winter Arrives, Heaters Become a Survival Tool for Businesses (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/as-winter-arrives-heaters-become-a-survival-tool-for-businesses/

15.   Outdoor Heaters Seem Like a Huge Waste. Are They Really? (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/outdoor-heaters-seem-huge-waste-194653186.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

16.   Trump Officials Move to Relax Rules on Killing Birds (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/11/27/migratory-bird-treaty-act/

17.   Salmon People: A Tribe’s Decades-Long Fight to Take Down the Lower Snake River Dams & Restore a Way of Life (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/salmon-people-a-tribes-decades-long-fight-to-take-down-the-lower-snake-river-dams-and-restore-a-way-of-life/

18.   Op/Ed: Oregon Gov. Brown Puts Salmon at Risk (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/opinion/2020/11/28/lawsuit-oregon-gov-kate-brown-salmon-lower-snake-river-dams/6421638002/

19.   California: A Second Chance for Eel River Salmon & Steelhead? (The Daily Democrat, Woodland, CA)

https://www.dailydemocrat.com/2020/11/28/a-second-chance-for-eel-river-salmon-and-steelhead-tuleyome-tales/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

20.   California Moves Toward All-Electric Home Appliances as Part of Decarbonization Effort (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/california-moves-toward-all-electric-home-appliances-as-part-of-decarbonization-effort/article_3c47ca42-30d4-11eb-b7b9-43a2af85145f.html

21.   California: San Jose Set to Become Largest U.S. City to Ban Natural Gas in Almost All New Construction (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/28/san-jose-becomes-largest-u-s-city-to-adopt-a-natural-gas-ban-on-nearly-all-new-construction/

22.   Montana: Bozeman Tweaks Climate Plan to Be More Direct with NorthWestern Energy (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, MT)

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/bozeman-tweaks-climate-plan-to-be-more-direct-with-northwestern-energy/article_14a368be-3c4f-58a9-9608-9db62d6da9d4.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

23.   Pai Formally Announces Plans to Leave FCC (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/527963-pai-formally-announces-plans-to-leave-fcc

24.   Remote Work Can’t Change Everything Until We Fix This $80 Billion Problem (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90578964/rural-internet-broadband-access

25.   Op/Ed: With Election Over, Congress Must Act to Bridge Digital Divide (Morning Consult)

https://morningconsult.com/opinions/with-election-over-congress-must-act-to-bridge-digital-divide/

26.   Continued Bans Against Municipal Competition (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2020/11/30/continued-bans-against-municipal-competition/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

27.   Cyber Monday Set to Be Biggest Online Shopping Day in U.S. History (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-holidayshopping-cybermonday-idUSKBN28A1ER

28.   Amazon’s Cloud-Computing Outage on Wednesday Was Triggered by Effort to Boost System’s Capacity (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/28/amazon-outage-explained/

29.   5G’s Rollout Speeds Along Faster Than Expected, Even with the Coronavirus Pandemic Raging (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/news/5gs-rollout-speeds-along-faster-than-expected-even-with-the-coronavirus-pandemic-raging/

30.   FCC Maintains Ban on Mobile Phone Voice Calls During Flights (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-27/fcc-maintains-ban-on-mobile-phone-voice-calls-during-flights

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   U.S. House Bill Proposes $10 Million Grant Program for Localities, Utilities to Aid Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rollout (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/28146-house-bill-proposes-10m-grant-program-for-localities-utilities-to-aid-electric-vehicle-charging-station-rollout/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32.   The Solar Discs That Could Power Earth (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201126-the-solar-discs-that-could-beam-power-from-space

33.   An Unusual Snack for Cows, a Powerful Fix for Climate (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/an-unusual-snack-for-cows-a-powerful-fix-for-climate/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

David Prowse, Actor Behind Darth Vader’s Mask, Dies at 85

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/30/david-prowse-actor-behind-darth-vader-dies-at-85/

Puppy Pipeline Runs from Georgia North to Adoptive Homes

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/puppy-pipeline-runs-from-georgia-northward-to-adoptive-homes/article_ca246c06-f9e4-595f-ba63-292585d2e707.html

Mysterious Silver Monolith Disappears from Utah Desert

https://apnews.com/article/mysterious-utah-monolith-disappears-195b819b68942ee782f7d1bc77cd08ca

Fried Chicken in the Fire Grate: KFC Is Bringing Back This Strangely Popular Product for the Holiday Season

https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/u-s-world/2020/11/3/21547111/kfc-yule-log-chicken-scented-firelog-holiday-product

SONG OF THE DAY

John Williams – Star Wars - Darth Vader Suite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijdah9lenfY

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.

Comments or Questions? Contact the Energy News Digest editor.

California: Magalia Microgrid Set Be Online By Next Month, Pacific Gas & Electric Says (Chico Enterprise-Record)

Earlier this month PG&E Vice President Aaron Johnson told a town hall that Pacific Gas and Electric Company was looking at ways to break Paradise and Magalia away from Feather River Canyon as it relates to public safety power shut-offs in order to lessen the scope of the shut-offs.

In that meeting, Johnson spoke of some work that PG&E had planned to install to help with that.

“We’re installing what is called a pre-connected interconnection hub,” he said. “It’s a place where we can put in a generator free of the event and some of the underground lines there can keep it operational just like we can portions of Skyway with the transmission coming in.”

PG&E announced on Tuesday that it has started building that hub in Magalia. Once that is in place, the company can island Magalia from a broader outage. The company notes that islanding refers to the ability of a microgrid to disconnect from the larger power grid — when the power is turned off during a broader grid outage, the area supported by the microgrid may remain energized and operate autonomously.

“It’s a start, but I really like this idea of being able to break those parts up that way,” he said. “In Magalia, we tap into that underground line, put in a generator there. And then what we have there is what we call a microgrid operating there during an event because we have no lines that are getting power.”

The company says that the site in Magalia was selected through an extensive process involving the analysis of prior and expected future shut-offs, along with overall feasibility and other utility work in the region that could reduce shut-off impacts.

The site is at 14049 Lakeridge Circle and includes PG&E customers in the Skyway and Lakeridge Circle loop and north on Skyway up to approximately Drexel Drive that is served by underground power lines to be safely energized during a power shut-off.

“Our specific objective with the development of temporary microgrids is to provide electricity to resources such as medical facilities and pharmacies, police and fire stations, gas stations, banks, markets and other shared community services when weather conditions make it unsafe to operate the grid,” Debbie Powell, vice president, Asset and Risk Management, Community Wildfire Safety Program, PG&E said in a press release.

Once completed, when conditions allow, PG&E says it will be able to rapidly connect mobile generators to the site, allowing the fire station, sheriff’s substation, post office, water district facility, a gas station, markets, church, drug store and restaurants among other community services to remain energized during future shut-offs impacting the area.

The Energy News Digest for November 25, 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.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

SoCal Edison Could Shut Off Power on Thanksgiving Due to High Winds, Fire Danger (KABC-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://abc7.com/power-shutoff-southern-california-edison-sce-wildfire-danger/8238640/

Oregon Threatens Lawsuit Over Columbia & Snake River Dam Operations (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/11/oregon-threatens-lawsuit-over-columbia.html

Fish Passage Studies Sought in Seattle City Light’s Skagit River Dam Relicensing (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt Vernon, WA)

https://www.goskagit.com/news/local_news/fish-passage-studies-sought-in-skagit-river-dam-relicensing/article_2209b032-716a-5825-bb88-45aafaf033a6.html

Pebble Mine: Trump Administration Denies Permit for Divisive Alaska Mine (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-11-25/trump-administration-denies-permit-for-divisive-alaska-mine

How Much Energy Can LEDs Really Save in Greenhouses? (Horticulture Daily)

https://www.hortidaily.com/article/9270610/how-much-energy-can-leds-really-save-in-greenhouses/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      SoCal Edison Could Shut Off Power on Thanksgiving Due to High Winds, Fire Danger

2.      Oregon Threatens Lawsuit Over Columbia & Snake River Dam Operations

3.      News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Disappointed, Concerned Over Oregon Gov Brown’s Divisive Move Towards Litigation

4.      Op/Ed: Thankful for Snake River Dams

5.      Fish Passage Studies Sought in Seattle City Light’s Skagit River Dam Relicensing

6.      WA State: US Judge Voids Permits for Columbia River Methanol Plant

7.      Puget Sound Energy Electric Rates to Slightly Increase

8.      Former Executive Faces Prison Time in South Carolina Nuclear Debacle

9.      New York: ConEd Faces $102 Million Penalty, Possible License Revocation for Hurricane Isaias Response

10.   Arizona Public Service Utility to Assist Navajo Energy Transition

11.   CAISO Approves Hybrid Storage Policies as California Preps to Add 1.5 GW by 2022

12.   California: San Jose Invests in Wind Energy from New Mexico

13.   California: Wind Harvest Gets Funding to Test Its Near-Ground Wind Technology

14.   Power from the Prairie Aims to Link West Coast Sun with Midwest Wind

15.   How Renewable Energy Could Power Your State

16.   How Much Energy Can LEDs Really Save in Greenhouses?

17.   Pandemic Crowds Bring ‘Rivergeddon’ to Montana’s Rivers

18.   Protecting Orcas Starts with Listening... Underwater

19.   Connecting Orcas to Oklahoma: Project Introduces Inlanders to Salish Sea’s Endangered Species

20.   Pebble Mine: Trump Administration Denies Permit for Divisive Alaska Mine

21.   Op/Ed: Lummi Nation Asks for Meaningful Action on Nooksack Water Rights Issues

22.   Georgia: Judge Says New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Can’t Be Removed If Water Level Will Fall

23.   Landmark Carbon Fee on Major Polluters Floated in Portland, Ore.

24.   The Carbon Footprint of a Traditional Thanksgiving Meal

25.   Stop Sending These Ten Unnecessary Email Responses, & You Can Help Reduce Carbon Emissions

26.   Republicans Call for Audit of $1.4 Billion ReConnect Rural Broadband Program, Citing Overbuilding

27.   Former FCC Chair Explains Why the Government Might Need 5G Access, Outlines Biden Priorities

28.   Comcast Prepares to Screw Over Millions with Data Caps in 2021

29.   Winter Weather Advisory Issued for the Cascade Mountains

30.   Signs Point to a Strong Polar Vortex to Start Winter. Here’s What That May Mean.

WORD OF THE DAY

Oxford English Dictionary “Word of the Year” expanded for ‘unprecedented’ 2020

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55016543

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      SoCal Edison Could Shut Off Power on Thanksgiving Due to High Winds, Fire Danger (KABC-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://abc7.com/power-shutoff-southern-california-edison-sce-wildfire-danger/8238640/

2.      Oregon Threatens Lawsuit Over Columbia & Snake River Dam Operations (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/11/oregon-threatens-lawsuit-over-columbia.html

3.      News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Disappointed, Concerned Over Oregon Gov Brown’s Divisive Move Towards Litigation (Northwest RiverPartners, Vancouver, WA)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/11/news-release-northwest-riverpartners.html

4.      Op/Ed: Thankful for Snake River Dams (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article247385735.html

5.      Fish Passage Studies Sought in Seattle City Light’s Skagit River Dam Relicensing (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt Vernon, WA)

https://www.goskagit.com/news/local_news/fish-passage-studies-sought-in-skagit-river-dam-relicensing/article_2209b032-716a-5825-bb88-45aafaf033a6.html

6.      WA State: US Judge Voids Permits for Columbia River Methanol Plant (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/24/kalama-washington-methanol-refinery-permits/

7.      Puget Sound Energy Electric Rates to Slightly Increase (Covington Reporter, WA)

https://www.covingtonreporter.com/northwest/pse-electric-rates-to-slightly-increase/

8.      Former Executive Faces Prison Time in South Carolina Nuclear Debacle (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-11-25/former-executive-faces-prison-time-in-sc-nuclear-debacle

9.      New York: ConEd Faces $102 Million Penalty, Possible License Revocation for Hurricane Isaias Response (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/coned-faces-102m-penalty-possible-license-revocation-for-hurricane-isaias/589619/

10.   Arizona Public Service Utility to Assist Navajo Energy Transition (Durango Herald, CO)

https://durangoherald.com/articles/354725

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   CAISO Approves Hybrid Storage Policies as California Preps to Add 1.5 GW by 2022 (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/caiso-approves-hybrid-storage-policies-as-california-preps-for-addition-of/589609/

12.   California: San Jose Invests in Wind Energy from New Mexico (San Jose Spotlight, CA)

https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-invests-in-wind-energy-from-new-mexico/

13.   California: Wind Harvest Gets Funding to Test Its Near-Ground Wind Technology (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2020/11/23/wind-harvest-gets-funding.html

14.   Power from the Prairie Aims to Link West Coast Sun with Midwest Wind (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2020/11/24/west/power-from-the-prairie-aims-to-link-west-coast-sun-with-midwest-wind/

15.   How Renewable Energy Could Power Your State (EcoWatch)

https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy-states-2648995223.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

16.   How Much Energy Can LEDs Really Save in Greenhouses? (Horticulture Daily)

https://www.hortidaily.com/article/9270610/how-much-energy-can-leds-really-save-in-greenhouses/

FISH & WILDLIFE

17.   Pandemic Crowds Bring ‘Rivergeddon’ to Montana’s Rivers (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/us/pandemic-montana-wilderness-rush.html

18.   Protecting Orcas Starts with Listening... Underwater (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/protecting-orcas-starts-with-listening-underwater/ISIGX6W4CFAERPZZEE2LLCG3EY/

19.   Connecting Orcas to Oklahoma: Project Introduces Inlanders to Salish Sea’s Endangered Species (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/11/24/project-introduces-oklahoma-residents-southern-resident-orcas/6366481002/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

20.   Pebble Mine: Trump Administration Denies Permit for Divisive Alaska Mine (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-11-25/trump-administration-denies-permit-for-divisive-alaska-mine

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE

21.   Op/Ed: Lummi Nation Asks for Meaningful Action on Nooksack Water Rights Issues (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article247292854.html

22.   Georgia: Judge Says New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Can’t Be Removed If Water Level Will Fall (Associated Press)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/technology/article247416925.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Landmark Carbon Fee on Major Polluters Floated in Portland, Ore. (Bloomberg News)

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/landmark-carbon-fee-on-major-polluters-floated-in-portland-ore

24.   The Carbon Footprint of a Traditional Thanksgiving Meal (Quartz)

https://qz.com/1935797/how-to-make-your-thanksgiving-meal-more-climate-friendly/

25.   Stop Sending These Ten Unnecessary Email Responses, & You Can Help Reduce Carbon Emissions (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90578552/stop-sending-these-10-unnecessary-email-responses-and-you-can-help-reduce-carbon-emissions

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

26.   Republicans Call for Audit of $1.4 Billion ReConnect Rural Broadband Program, Citing Overbuilding (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/republicans-call-for-audit-of-1-4-billion-reconnect-rural-broadband-program-citing-overbuilding/

27.   Former FCC Chair Explains Why the Government Might Need 5G Access, Outlines Biden Priorities (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/former-fcc-chair-makes-case-for-nationalized-5g-network-outlines-biden-priorities/

28.   Comcast Prepares to Screw Over Millions with Data Caps in 2021 (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/comcast-prepares-to-screw-over-millions-with-data-caps-1845741662

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

29.   Winter Weather Advisory Issued for the Cascade Mountains (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/winter-weather-advisory-issued-cascades/U2INQT2SWBESDFTOOMMA4RIJZQ/

30.   Signs Point to a Strong Polar Vortex to Start Winter. Here’s What That May Mean. (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/signs-point-to-a-strong-polar-vortex-to-start-winter-heres-what-that-may-mean/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Unexplained Monolith Discovered in Rural Utah’s Red Rock Country

https://gizmodo.com/unexplained-monolith-discovered-in-rural-utahs-red-rock-1845745303

More “Clark Griswold” Mega Christmas Displays Expected This Year: BC Hydro

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bigger-christmas-light-displays-expected-bc-hydro

United Kingdom: The Trick to Making the Royal Family’s Boozy Christmas Pudding

https://www.mashed.com/284539/the-trick-to-making-the-royal-familys-boozy-christmas-pudding/

Ouch! Florida Women Break Guinness Record for Lego Walking Relay

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/11/25/Florida-woman-break-Guinness-record-for-Lego-walking-relay/3921606322520/

SONG OF THE DAY

Strauss – Also Sprach Zarathustra (Deodato)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJK3eUP5Hvg

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.

News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Disappointed, Concerned Over Oregon Gov Brown’s Divisive Move Towards Litigation (Northwest RiverPartners, Vancouver, WA)

(VANCOUVER, WA) - - Yesterday the State of Oregon sent a 60-day notice of its intent to sue the federal government over its 2020 NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion on Columbia River System Operations. The NOAA document examined the potential impact on fish and wildlife from proposed hydroelectric operations and found that the recommended operations were consistent with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. 

Northwest RiverPartners is highly disappointed and concerned by Governor Kate Brown’s decision, which threatens a retrenchment in litigation and signals a move away from genuinely collaborative discussions that could benefit salmon, the environment, and Northwest communities.

As a co-convenor of the Four-State Process, and presumably, as one of four parties with the final say in discussion outcomes, it is wholly inappropriate for Oregon to consider simultaneously pursuing litigation on the very same issues.

We fear the Governor’s decision will bring our region’s ability to have productive conversations to a grinding halt. It is imperative that a collaborative dialogue is upheld and that the region, as a whole, works to restore healthy salmon populations without jeopardizing fair and equitable access to affordable electricity for rural and other vulnerable communities.

It is well known that communities of color and other traditionally disadvantaged groups already carry a higher utility burden than the rest of society. The Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement made clear that the removal of the four lower Snake River dams would greatly increase utility costs, adding further hardship to those who are already struggling to make ends meet during a time of economic crisis.

Further, this threatened litigation ignores a slew of recent scientific studies which convincingly tie salmon declines to poor ocean conditions, due largely to climate change and acidification. These issues cannot be meaningfully addressed by Governor Brown’s preferred method of breaching the four lower Snake River dams, and the removal of renewable resources only furthers our climate crisis.

As a result of Oregon’s decision, many regional stakeholders are now questioning whether those who hold differing opinions will be welcomed to the table when the Four-State Process begins. If key stakeholders are not included, the legitimacy of the process may be called into question. At a time when collaboration is crucial to making real progress, actions that have the potential to create further division are deeply troubling. 

We urge Governor Brown to reconsider Oregon’s intent to seek litigation—which is almost certain to set back years’ long efforts to bring the region together—if she wants to truly lead a meaningful and collaborative salmon recovery effort.

Oregon Threatens Lawsuit Over Columbia & Snake River Dam Operations (Portland Business Journal, OR)

By Pete Danko – Staff Reporter, Portland Business Journal

Nov 24, 2020, 5:28pm EST

(SALEM, or) -- The state of Oregon has threatened to sue two federal agencies over a recent environmental review of Columbia River System dam operations, agreeing with conservationists that it doesn’t do enough to protect imperiled salmon.

A 60-day notice of intent to sue, dated Monday, is targeted at the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates 12 dams in the system, and the Bureau of Reclamation, with operates two.

A spokesperson for Gov. Kate Brown said the state took the action “to preserve all legal options in case our collaborative efforts are not successful,” adding, “It is our hope that these issues can be resolved without litigation.”

The two federal agencies, along with the Bonneville Power Administration led a court-ordered review of dam operations that called for continued maintenance of four lower Snake River dams. Environmental groups believe the dams should be removed to aid salmon runs and Puget Sound orca that feed on the fish.

The federal analysis, fast-tracked by the Trump administration said dam removal would benefit fish, but at the costly and potentially dangerous loss of emissions-free hydropower. Instead the decision leaned heavily on spilling more water in the spring to aid juvenile fish passage.

Brown last month agreed with the governors of Washington, Idaho and Montana to work together to find solutions to the Columbia Basin salmon issue. But a letter signed by the four governors explicitly noted there could be varying views on the “adequacy” of the federal review that could lead them “to act on that assessment differently.”

In its notice, Oregon said “legal violations of the (Endangered Species Act) and its implementing regulations … must be rectified.”

Oregon alleges myriad issues with the record of decision and biological opinion by the agencies that essentially add up to allowing salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake to become extinct.

It questions the agencies’ commitment to increased spill.

“After the 2021 spill season, the spill operation is not specified; instead, the action agencies express an intent to engage in some nebulous ‘adaptive management’ process to determine a yet to be defined voluntary spill operation,” the Oregon letter said.

The conservation group Earthjustice filed a similar notice of intent to sue a month ago, although it also named Bonneville as a target.

Northwest RiverPartners, which advocates for power, agriculture and shipping interests that believe the dams are essential, said it was disappointed by the Oregon move.

The notice “calls into question their ability to be a neutral overseer” and “undermines the credibility of the four-state process,” Kurt Miller, the group’s executive director, said.