The Energy News Digest for May 17, 2021

Programming Note

The Energy News Digest will be taking a little time of Wednesday, May 19. Watch the Twitter and Facebook feeds as exciting energy news warrants.

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

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

Blackouts Threaten Entire U.S. West This Summer as Heat Awaits (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-13/u-s-west-facing-white-knuckle-summer-with-power-in-short-supply

Gov. Inslee, Washington State’s U.S. Senators Reject Idaho GOP Congressman’s Pitch on Lower Snake River Dam Removal (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/gov-inslee-washington-states-us.html

Oregon: Lawsuit Seeking Wildfire Damages from PacifiCorp Can Move Forward, Judge Rules (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2021/05/judge-dismisses-pacificorp-motions-to-dismiss-wildfire-lawsuit-and-allows-all-claims-to-move-forward.html

Klamath River Basin: Water Crisis ‘Couldn’t Be Worse’ on Oregon-California Border (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-california-health-droughts-science-1f93619dc660f40e558a91b095f41f7b

WA State Governor Inslee Signs Public Broadband Authority Bills - One Partial Veto (Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/wa-state-governor-inslee-signs.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Blackouts Threaten Entire U.S. West This Summer as Heat Awaits

2.      Extreme Heat Could Cause U.S. Power Shortages This Summer – NERC

3.      California ISO ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Summer 2021, But Still Sees Causes for Concern

4.      Gov. Inslee, Washington State’s U.S. Senators Reject Idaho GOP Congressman’s Pitch on Lower Snake River Dam Removal

5.      WA Governor Inslee, U.S. Senators Murray, Cantwell Reject Idaho U.S. Rep Simpson’s Dam-Breaching Proposal

6.      One Idea to Remove Snake River Dams May Be Dead in the Water as Inslee & Murray Say They Oppose It

7.      Tribe Leaders Speak out After Inslee and Democrat Senators Come out Against Dam Removal Proposal

8.      Idaho U.S. Rep Simpson Calls on His Challengers to Provide ‘Alternatives’ to His Snake River Dam Proposal

9.      Oregon: Lawsuit Seeking Wildfire Damages from PacifiCorp Can Move Forward, Judge Rules

10.   Oregon Lawsuit Seeks $103M from Public Utilities Over Wildfire

11.   America Is Facing Unprecedented Utility Debt. Here’s What Might Help.

12.   Oregon Lawmakers Vote to Give ‘Energy Burdened’ Households a Break on Utility Bills

13.   WA State: Franklin PUD Offering Rental & Utility Assistance

14.   WA State: Bound for Bitcoin? Bankruptcy Judge Finalizes Sale of Ponderay Newsprint

15.   Bonneville Power Administration Selects Jamae Hilliard Creecy as Vice President of Energy Efficiency

16.   Hydro-Québec & Transmission Developers to Deliver Renewable Energy to New York

17.   New York’s Public Power Bill Could Be a Model for the Rest of the Country

18.   Coal Transported to the U.S. Electric Power Sector Declined by 22% in 2020

19.   Editorial: Snake River Dams – Less Power, More Money Baker

20.   Newsletter: How Should Utility Companies Spend Your Money? A Debate Rages

21.   REC Silicon Hopes to Restart Production in Moses Lake in 2023

22.   For Clean Energy, Buy American or Buy It Quick and Cheap?

23.   California: Air Compression to Be Used in the World’s Largest Non-Hydro Energy Storage System

24.   Reclamation & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to Modernize Leavenworth Hatchery

25.   King County’s Culvert Hunters — And a $9 Billion Plan to Save Salmon Habitat

26.   Groups Call for Reintroduction of Jaguars in U.S. Southwest

27.   Klamath River Basin: Water Crisis ‘Couldn’t Be Worse’ on Oregon-California Border

28.   In the Klamath Basin, Pretty Much Everybody’s Feeling the Pain

29.   After Six Years, Teen Climate Suit Could End in Settlement

30.   Nevada Lawmakers Consider Massive Energy Infrastructure Proposal

31.   WA State Governor Inslee Signs Public Broadband Authority Bills - One Partial Veto

32.   Port of Garfield Cuts Ribbon on Gig Service Broadband Project, Facilitating High-Speed Broadband Access to Pomeroy Area

33.   WA State: Skagit County Plans Broadband Boost with New State Funds

34.   California Governor Proposes $7 Billion Investment in Public Broadband

35.   Internet Prices Kick Off Washington, DC Brawl

36.   Not Everyone Is Getting Great Service with Starlink

37.   Bitcoin Plunges 12% After Elon Musk Tweets That Tesla Will Not Accept It as Payment

38.   WA Gov. Inslee Vetoes 2030 Gas Car Ban, Citing Road Usage Fee Concerns

39.   Electric Cooperatives, The Lone Shining Utility Star of the Texas 2021 Winter Storm

40.   Google Fiber Finally Has a Logo Over a Decade After Launch

41.   Let the Good Times Roll! Gusher of Stimulus Funds a Gift for Governors Coast to Coast

WORD OF THE DAY

Scarlet Pimpernel \SCAR-lut – PIMP-per-nell\ Noun - 1: a European pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) naturalized in North America and having scarlet, white, or purplish flowers that close in cloudy weather 2: a person who rescues others from mortal danger by smuggling them across a border.

See “Leslie Howard,” The Scarlet Pimpernel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarlet_Pimpernel_%281934_film%29

"We seek him here, we seek him there

Those Frenchies seek him everywhere!

Is he in heaven? Or is he in hell?

That demmed Elusive (Scarlet) Pimpernel?"

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Blackouts Threaten Entire U.S. West This Summer as Heat Awaits (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-13/u-s-west-facing-white-knuckle-summer-with-power-in-short-supply

2.      Extreme Heat Could Cause U.S. Power Shortages This Summer – NERC (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/extreme-heat-could-cause-us-power-shortages-this-summer-nerc-2021-05-14/

3.      California ISO ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Summer 2021, But Still Sees Causes for Concern (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/caiso-cautiously-optimistic-summer-2021-concern/600177/

4.      Gov. Inslee, Washington State’s U.S. Senators Reject Idaho GOP Congressman’s Pitch on Lower Snake River Dam Removal (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/gov-inslee-washington-states-us.html

5.      WA Governor Inslee, U.S. Senators Murray, Cantwell Reject Idaho U.S. Rep Simpson’s Dam-Breaching Proposal (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/14/inslee-murray-cantwell-reject-simpsons-dam-breachi/

6.      One Idea to Remove Snake River Dams May Be Dead in the Water as Inslee & Murray Say They Oppose It (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/post/one-idea-remove-snake-river-dams-may-be-dead-water-inslee-and-murray-say-they-oppose-it

7.      Tribe Leaders Speak out After Inslee and Democrat Senators Come out Against Dam Removal Proposal (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/idaho/tribe-leaders-speak-out-after-inslee-and-democrat-senators-come-out-against-dam-removal-proposal/article_d3cb5e18-b597-11eb-b411-234007378f07.html

8.      Idaho U.S. Rep Simpson Calls on His Challengers to Provide ‘Alternatives’ to His Snake River Dam Proposal (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/simpson-calls-on-his-challengers-to-provide-alternatives/article_8b12612b-96fd-5660-b79e-0440871bb7fd.html

9.      Oregon: Lawsuit Seeking Wildfire Damages from PacifiCorp Can Move Forward, Judge Rules (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2021/05/judge-dismisses-pacificorp-motions-to-dismiss-wildfire-lawsuit-and-allows-all-claims-to-move-forward.html

10.   Oregon Lawsuit Seeks $103M from Public Utilities Over Wildfire (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2021-05-14/lawsuit-seeks-103m-from-public-utilities-over-wildfire

11.   America Is Facing Unprecedented Utility Debt. Here’s What Might Help. (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/equity/america-is-facing-unprecedented-utility-debt-heres-what-might-help/

12.   Oregon Lawmakers Vote to Give ‘Energy Burdened’ Households a Break on Utility Bills (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/oregon-lawmakers-vote-to-give-energy.html

13.   WA State: Franklin PUD Offering Rental & Utility Assistance (KNDO-KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/franklin-pud-offering-rental-utility-assistance/image_a1dd8636-b6a7-11eb-b358-8b734dbf8cb3.html

14.   WA State: Bound for Bitcoin? Bankruptcy Judge Finalizes Sale of Ponderay Newsprint (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/13/bankruptcy-judge-finalizes-sale-of-ponderay-newspr/

15.   Bonneville Power Administration Selects Jamae Hilliard Creecy as Vice President of Energy Efficiency (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-selects-Jamae-Hilliard-Creecy-as-vice-president-of-Energy-Efficiency.aspx

16.   Hydro-Québec & Transmission Developers to Deliver Renewable Energy to New York (Energy Global)

https://www.energyglobal.com/other-renewables/13052021/hydro-qubec-and-transmission-developers-to-deliver-renewable-energy-to-new-york/

17.   New York’s Public Power Bill Could Be a Model for the Rest of the Country (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/new-york-s-public-power-bill-could-be-a-model-for-the-r-1846874758

18.   Coal Transported to the U.S. Electric Power Sector Declined by 22% in 2020 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=47916

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

19.   Editorial: Snake River Dams – Less Power, More Money Baker (City Herald, OR)

https://www.bakercityherald.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-less-power-more-money/article_78efb550-b4ea-11eb-833f-f7b4208dc3c7.html

20.   Newsletter: How Should Utility Companies Spend Your Money? A Debate Rages (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2021-05-13/utilities-power-industry-groups-debate-boiling-point

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

21.   REC Silicon Hopes to Restart Production in Moses Lake in 2023 (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/may/14/rec-silicon-hopes-restart-production-moses-lake-20/

22.   For Clean Energy, Buy American or Buy It Quick and Cheap? (NY Times)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/for-clean-energy-buy-american-or-buy-it.html

23.   California: Air Compression to Be Used in the World’s Largest Non-Hydro Energy Storage System (Energy Matters)

https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/air-compression-to-be-used-in-the-worlds-largest-non-hydro-energy-storage-system/

FISH & WILDLIFE

24.   Reclamation & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to Modernize Leavenworth Hatchery (Cashmere Valley Record, WA)

https://www.cashmerevalleyrecord.com/news/reclamation-and-us-fish-wildlife-service-modernize-leavenworth-hatchery

25.   King County’s Culvert Hunters — And a $9 Billion Plan to Save Salmon Habitat (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/king-countys-culvert-hunters-and-9.html

26.   Groups Call for Reintroduction of Jaguars in U.S. Southwest (Associated Press)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/groups-call-reintroduction-jaguars-us-southwest-77722233

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

27.   Klamath River Basin: Water Crisis ‘Couldn’t Be Worse’ on Oregon-California Border (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-california-health-droughts-science-1f93619dc660f40e558a91b095f41f7b

28.   In the Klamath Basin, Pretty Much Everybody’s Feeling the Pain (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/16/klamath-basin-everybody-feeling-the-pain/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

29.   After Six Years, Teen Climate Suit Could End in Settlement (KLCC Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/post/after-six-years-teen-climate-suit-could-end-settlement

30.   Nevada Lawmakers Consider Massive Energy Infrastructure Proposal (KRNV-TV, Reno, NV)

https://mynews4.com/news/local/nevada-lawmakers-consider-massive-energy-infrastructure-proposal

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

31.   WA State Governor Inslee Signs Public Broadband Authority Bills - One Partial Veto (Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/wa-state-governor-inslee-signs.html

32.   Port of Garfield Cuts Ribbon on Gig Service Broadband Project, Facilitating High-Speed Broadband Access to Pomeroy Area (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/local/port-of-garfield-cuts-ribbon-on-gig-service-broadband-project-facilitating-high-speed-broadband-access/article_04918faa-b41b-11eb-8e6f-5f4f05a41bed.html

33.   WA State: Skagit County Plans Broadband Boost with New State Funds (GovTech)

https://www.govtech.com/network/washington-county-plans-broadband-boost-with-new-state-funds

34.   California Governor Proposes $7 Billion Investment in Public Broadband (Yahoo Finance)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/california-public-broadband-infrastructure-7-billion-budget-proposal-193016903.html

35.   Internet Prices Kick Off Washington, DC Brawl (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/biden-broadband-lobbying-prices-internet-service-e8ef850e-ed00-44ee-88a6-ab296b2cf29e.html

36.   Not Everyone Is Getting Great Service with Starlink (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/not-everyone-is-getting-great-service-with-starlink-1846828289

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

37.   Bitcoin Plunges 12% After Elon Musk Tweets That Tesla Will Not Accept It as Payment (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/12/tech/elon-musk-tesla-bitcoin/index.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

38.   WA Gov. Inslee Vetoes 2030 Gas Car Ban, Citing Road Usage Fee Concerns (Electrek)

https://electrek.co/2021/05/13/wa-gov-inslee-vetoes-2030-gas-car-ban-citing-road-usage-fee-concerns/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

39.   Electric Cooperatives, The Lone Shining Utility Star of the Texas 2021 Winter Storm (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/uhenergy/2021/05/11/electric-cooperatives-the-lone-shining-utility-star-of-the-texas-2021-winter-storm/?sh=196fa52e77b8

40.   Google Fiber Finally Has a Logo Over a Decade After Launch (9to5 Google)

https://9to5google.com/2021/05/12/new-google-fiber-logo/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

41.   Let the Good Times Roll! Gusher of Stimulus Funds a Gift for Governors Coast to Coast (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://tylerpaper.com/ap/national/let-the-good-times-roll-gusher-of-stimulus-funds-a-gift-for-governors-coast-to/article_bb58899f-6e68-5559-aba5-7e7d211d2931.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Japan: Popular Female Biker Unmasked as 50-Year-Old Man

https://globalnews.ca/news/7730617/gender-swap-influencer-japan-woman-man/

Illinois 12-Year-Old Builds World’s Tallest Popsicle Stick Structure

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/05/06/Guinness-World-Records-Eric-Klabel-popsicle-stick-tower/7981620316512/

Website’s ‘Nap Reviewer’ Dream Job Pays $1,500 for 30 Naps

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/05/05/EachNight-nap-reviewers-get-paid-to-nap-dream-job/2971620238745/

Spanish Confectioners Recreate Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ in Chocolate

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/05/05/spain-chocolate-version-Pablo-Picasso-Guernica/2401620244893/

SONG OF THE DAY

Ella Fitzgerald – Puttin’ on the Ritz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhX8CA1fjVE

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions.

The Energy News Digest for May 12, 2021

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

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

Idaho: Effort Continues Toward $1.5 Billion Energy Project on Camas Prairie (Idaho Mountain Express, Ketchum, ID)

https://www.mtexpress.com/news/state_regional/effort-continues-toward-1-5-billion-energy-project-on-camas-prairie/article_3aa53f62-b2ac-11eb-9f21-5b3da71e1c5b.html

Oregon: Salem Ice Storm Repair to Cost More Than $4 Million (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/salem-ice-storm-repair-cost-more-than-4-million/283-bb5e58b8-8c9d-4938-b66d-b8527ab98432

Washington Governor Signs Law Extending Excise Tax Exemption for Credits Against Bonneville Power Administration Funds (Bloomberg News)

https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-state/washington-governor-signs-law-extending-excise-tax-exemption-for-credits-against-bonneville-power-administration-funds

Study: U.S. Broadband Gaps Three Times Worse Than Government Claims (Vice)

https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7884y/study-us-broadband-gaps-three-times-worse-than-government-claims

Thousands of Salmon Fry Released in Fraser River Tributary to Restore Populations Devastated by Big Bar Landslide (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-fry-released-bc-river-1.6021508?cmp=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Oregon: Salem Ice Storm Repair to Cost More Than $4 Million

2.      Looking Back on the Table Rock Fire Ahead of Wildfire Season

3.      Small Modular Reactors: NuScale Eyes New Equity Partners After Raising $40 Million

4.      Oregon: Jordan Cove Natural Gas Pipeline Project on Pause

5.      EIA Expects Changes in Electricity Generation & Increased Electricity Use as Economy Improves

6.      New York: Environmental Concerns Arise Over Energy Needed to Mine Bitcoin

7.      Guest Opinion: U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson’s Snake River Dam Plan Is No Solution

8.      Pole Polemic: Making Rural Electric Co-Op Customers Help Pay to Expand North Carolina Broadband Is Unfair

9.      Commentary: Is $100 Billion More for Broadband Really Necessary?

10.   Idaho: Effort Continues Toward $1.5 Billion Energy Project on Camas Prairie

11.   California Leads the U.S. in Rooftop Solar Production. Changes Proposed by Utilities Could Halt Progress.

12.   U.S. Solar Jobs Fell 7% in 2020 on Pandemic, Efficiency Gains

13.   Biden Administration Approves Nation’s First Major Offshore Wind Farm

14.   Oregon Wave Power: PacWave Presents Construction Timeline

15.   Eminent Domain Opens Doors for Fossil Fuels — Could It Do the Same for Renewable Energy?

16.   Washington Governor Signs Law Extending Excise Tax Exemption for Credits Against Bonneville Power Administration Funds

17.   WA State: LEDs Could Light Port Townsend Streets

18.   Thousands of Salmon Fry Released in Fraser River Tributary to Restore Populations Devastated by Big Bar Landslide

19.   Bureau of Land Management Will Revisit Sage Grouse Protections After Trump’s Attempt to Open Habitat for Mining

20.   Tiny Chips & Fish ‘Social Security Numbers’ Help Track Salmon, Steelhead Survival

21.   Catch a Fish, Save a Salmon — And Make a Little Cash

22.   Oregon: Klamath Basin Water Crisis – A Microcosm for Climate Change in the West

23.   Building People Power to Restore the Willamette River — And Communities’ Relationships with It

24.   Stunning Drone Photos Over Lake Oroville Show Drought Emergency in Northern California

25.   Can Oregon Democrats Learn from British Columbia’s Carbon Tax?

26.   Washington State Passed its Cap-and-Trade Climate Legislation. Now What?

27.   Study: U.S. Broadband Gaps Three Times Worse Than Government Claims

28.   This Is a Map of America’s Broadband Problem

29.   Emergency Program to Give People $50 off Internet Bill

30.   Despite Empty FCC Promises, Broadband Prices Jumped 19% During Trump Era

31.   Pacific Northwest National Lab Awards $3.9M to NRECA to Expand Cybersecurity Information Sharing Partnership

32.   The U.S. Has Ignored Pipeline Cybersecurity; Now You’re Paying the Price

33.   Oregon: Providing an Outlet for Electric Vehicles

34.   Idaho Eyes Sewer, Water, Broadband with Federal Rescue Money

35.   COVID-19 Pet Boom Has Veterinarians Backlogged, Burned Out

WORD OF THE DAY

Paean /PEE-un/ Noun – 1: a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph 2: a work that praises or honors its subject: encomium, tribute.

A Paean to pee

See the “Diversions” below

Glorious Pantone

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Oregon: Salem Ice Storm Repair to Cost More Than $4 Million (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/salem-ice-storm-repair-cost-more-than-4-million/283-bb5e58b8-8c9d-4938-b66d-b8527ab98432

2.      Looking Back on the Table Rock Fire Ahead of Wildfire Season (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/wildfire/lookback-oregon-trail-fire/277-0e82dfe4-82c3-4c82-8b54-80bbffcc024a

3.      Small Modular Reactors: NuScale Eyes New Equity Partners After Raising $40 Million (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/small-modular-reactors-nuscale-eyes-new.html

4.      Oregon: Jordan Cove Natural Gas Pipeline Project on Pause (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

https://www.heraldandnews.com/coronavirus/jordan-cove-pipeline-project-on-pause/article_cd90ad09-6e1e-56c8-9fae-8b573f8b59d6.html

5.      EIA Expects Changes in Electricity Generation & Increased Electricity Use as Economy Improves (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/pressroom/releases/press479.php

6.      New York: Environmental Concerns Arise Over Energy Needed to Mine Bitcoin (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/07/994539614/environmental-concerns-arise-over-energy-needed-to-mine-bitcoin

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

7.      Guest Opinion: U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson’s Snake River Dam Plan Is No Solution (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/guest-opinion-us-rep-mike-simpsons.html

8.      Pole Polemic: Making Rural Electric Co-Op Customers Help Pay to Expand North Carolina Broadband Is Unfair (Charlotte Observer, NC)

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/article251305628.html

9.      Commentary: Is $100 Billion More for Broadband Really Necessary? (Utah Policy)

https://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/27159-commentary-is-100-billion-more-for-broadband-really-necessary

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Idaho: Effort Continues Toward $1.5 Billion Energy Project on Camas Prairie (Idaho Mountain Express, Ketchum, ID)

https://www.mtexpress.com/news/state_regional/effort-continues-toward-1-5-billion-energy-project-on-camas-prairie/article_3aa53f62-b2ac-11eb-9f21-5b3da71e1c5b.html

11.   California Leads the U.S. in Rooftop Solar Production. Changes Proposed by Utilities Could Halt Progress. (Monterey County Weekly, CA)

https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/california-leads-the-u-s-in-rooftop-solar-production-changes-proposed-by-utilities-could-halt/article_e824d4b0-adfa-11eb-8166-a3980304e88a.html

12.   U.S. Solar Jobs Fell 7% in 2020 on Pandemic, Efficiency Gains (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/us-solar-jobs-fell-7-2020-pandemic-efficiency-gains-2021-05-06/

13.   Biden Administration Approves Nation’s First Major Offshore Wind Farm (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/11/climate/climate-wind-farm.html

14.   Oregon Wave Power: PacWave Presents Construction Timeline Newport news-Times, OR)

https://www.newportnewstimes.com/news/pacwave-presents-construction-timeline/article_1ce41a10-b2b2-11eb-9e0a-c3fa12a9dc7e.html

15.   Eminent Domain Opens Doors for Fossil Fuels — Could It Do the Same for Renewable Energy? (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/energy/eminent-domain-opens-doors-for-fossil-fuels-could-it-do-the-same-for-renewable-energy/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

16.   Washington Governor Signs Law Extending Excise Tax Exemption for Credits Against Bonneville Power Administration Funds (Bloomberg News)

https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-state/washington-governor-signs-law-extending-excise-tax-exemption-for-credits-against-bonneville-power-administration-funds

17.   WA State: LEDs Could Light Port Townsend Streets (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/leds-could-light-port-townsend-streets/

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   Thousands of Salmon Fry Released in Fraser River Tributary to Restore Populations Devastated by Big Bar Landslide (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-fry-released-bc-river-1.6021508?cmp=rss

19.   Bureau of Land Management Will Revisit Sage Grouse Protections After Trump’s Attempt to Open Habitat for Mining (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/11/blm-will-revisit-sage-grouse-protections-after-trump-attempt-to-open-habitat-for-mining/

20.   Tiny Chips & Fish ‘Social Security Numbers’ Help Track Salmon, Steelhead Survival (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/fishing/article251281914.html

21.   Catch a Fish, Save a Salmon — And Make a Little Cash (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/10/catch-a-fish-save-a-salmon-and-make-a-little-cash/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Oregon: Klamath Basin Water Crisis – A Microcosm for Climate Change in the West (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/klamath-basin-water-crisis-a-microcosm-for-climate-change-in-the-west/283-02e00247-717f-41ff-b3a0-669c67d4238a

23.   Building People Power to Restore the Willamette River — And Communities’ Relationships with It (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/sponsored/building-people-power-to-restore-the-willamette-river-and-communities-relationships-with-it/

24.   Stunning Drone Photos Over Lake Oroville Show Drought Emergency in Northern California (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-28/stunning-drone-photos-show-drought-emergency-in-northern-california

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Can Oregon Democrats Learn from British Columbia’s Carbon Tax? (Jefferson Public Radio)

https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Can-Oregon-Democrats-learn-from-B-C-s-carbon-16171416.php

26.   Washington State Passed its Cap-and-Trade Climate Legislation. Now What? (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2021-05-10/washington-passed-its-cap-and-trade-climate-legislation-now-what

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   Study: U.S. Broadband Gaps Three Times Worse Than Government Claims (Vice)

https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7884y/study-us-broadband-gaps-three-times-worse-than-government-claims

28.   This Is a Map of America’s Broadband Problem (The Verge)

https://www.theverge.com/22418074/broadband-gap-america-map-county-microsoft-data

29.   Emergency Program to Give People $50 off Internet Bill (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-05-12/emergency-program-to-give-people-50-off-internet-bill

30.   Despite Empty FCC Promises, Broadband Prices Jumped 19% During Trump Era (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210510/06560246766/despite-empty-fcc-promises-broadband-prices-jumped-19-during-trump-era.shtml

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   Pacific Northwest National Lab Awards $3.9M to NRECA to Expand Cybersecurity Information Sharing Partnership (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/30262-pacific-northwest-national-lab-awards-3-9m-to-nreca-to-expand-cybersecurity-information-sharing-partnership/

32.   The U.S. Has Ignored Pipeline Cybersecurity; Now You’re Paying the Price (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-u-s-has-ignored-pipeline-cybersecurity-and-now-you-1846867597

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

33.   Oregon: Providing an Outlet for Electric Vehicles (Blue Mountain Eagle, John Day, OR)

https://www.bluemountaineagle.com/news/providing-an-outlet-for-electric-vehicles/article_0d32abce-ae91-11eb-a453-2304196621f5.html

GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND COMMERCE

34.   Idaho Eyes Sewer, Water, Broadband with Federal Rescue Money (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/idaho-eyes-sewer-water-broadband-with-federal-rescue-money/

35.   COVID-19 Pet Boom Has Veterinarians Backlogged, Burned Out (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-pets-coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-5047e430ce612609e8e21f557c60b900

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

The Pantone Pee Chart

https://kottke.org/21/05/the-pantone-pee-chart

Belgian Farmer Accidentally Moves French Border

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56978344

Wine That Went to Space for Sale with $1 Million Price Tag

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/business/national/wine-that-went-to-space-for-sale-with-1-million-price-tag/article_798dba8a-374c-581d-ade3-bd02b86461b0.html

Bear Has Close Call on Utility Poles in Arizona Border City

https://apnews.com/article/az-state-wire-bears-c4ea61abf97a3168b6b4303bd914672a

SONG OF THE DAY

Tight Rope – Leon Russell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Z9qN8R9Bg

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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