The Energy News Digest for May 24, 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

Utility Disconnections May Resume July 31 in Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/utility-disconnections-may-resume-july-31-washington-state/281-2abc58e4-fca8-4f8d-98c6-cd7512c07581

Oregon: Summer Reservoir Levels Could Be Hazardously Low for Willamette Valley (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/summer-reservoir-levels-could-be-hazardously-low-for-willamette-valley/283-2f314848-eeba-4664-8205-29646c79bde1

Montana: Giant Solar Project Proposed in South Butte, Landowners Concerned (Montana Standard)

https://mtstandard.com/news/local/giant-solar-project-proposed-in-south-butte-landowners-concerned/article_653a61a1-d565-5f21-9639-0052f3df86e7.html

Higher Spring Chinook Salmon Counts Lead to More Columbia River Sport Fishing Dates (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2021/05/higher-spring-chinook-salmon-counts-lead-to-more-columbia-river-sport-fishing-dates.html

WA State Secretary of State Files Petition for Legal Clarification on How to Handle Broadband Bills (Washington State Wire)

https://washingtonstatewire.com/secretary-of-state-files-petition-for-legal-clarification-on-how-to-handle-broadband-bills/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Utility Disconnections May Resume July 31 in Washington State

2.      Congressional Democrats Unveil $30 Billion Bill to Cancel Water Debts & Bail Out Utility Firms

3.      Oregon: $3.72 Million FEMA Grant Helps Lane Electric Pay for Repairs from February 2019 Storm

4.      Owners of Colstrip Generating Station Widen Federal Lawsuit Against Contract-Challenging Montana Laws

5.      Montana: NorthWestern’s Plans for Laurel Power Plant Take Shape

6.      Countering Dam Removal Proposal, Cantwell Hints at Her Ideas for Snake River Salmon During Senate Hearing

7.      A ‘Literal Tinderbox’: Oregon Regulators Brace for 2021 Wildfire Season with Temporary Utility Rules

8.      California Drought Cuts Hydropower, Boosts Natural Gas Prices

9.      Declining Lake Powell Levels Prompt Colorado River States to Form New Plan

10.   California’s Next Climate Challenge: Replacing Its Last Nuclear Power Plant

11.   New Mexico Weighs Changes to Permit for Nuclear Waste Dump

12.   U.S. Natural Gas Generation in 2021 Sees Its First Year-Over-Year Decline in Three Years

13.   Utah: Two Shocked While Changing Power Lines, Stopping One Man’s Heart Multiple Times

14.   Wow: Las Vegas Hotel Adds “Energy Surcharge”

15.   Kurt Miller: Anti-Hydro Narrative Misses the Big Picture of Climate Change, Equity & Salmon

16.   Editorial: Act Now to Save Salmon, Regardless of Dams’ Fate

17.   The Pacific Northwest Agrees: Keep Your Hands Off Our Dams

18.   Opinion: Idaho Republicans Have No Confidence in Simpson

19.   Editorial: When Should Oregon End Ban on Utility Shut-Off Notices?

20.   Montana: Giant Solar Project Proposed in South Butte, Landowners Concerned

21.   Sacramento Municipal Utility District Plans to Slash Rooftop Solar Subsidies for Sacramento Customers. Here’s Why

22.   Biden’s Solar Ambitions Collide with China Labor Complaints

23.   From Forest to Furnace: How the U.K.’S Wood-Pellet Plants Are Driving Logging in British Columbia

24.   Biden Administration Takes First Step Toward Light Bulb Efficiency Standard

25.   Rapid ‘Energy Efficiency as a Service’ Growth Belies Financing, Other Difficulties, Analysts Say

26.   Higher Spring Chinook Salmon Counts Lead to More Columbia River Sport Fishing Dates

27.   WA State: Puyallup Tribe Raises New Alarms for Fish Impacts of Embattled Electron Dam Project

28.   California: ‘Like Some Sea Creature from the Deep’: Vampire Fish Making Comeback to American River

29.   Oregon: Summer Reservoir Levels Could Be Hazardously Low for Willamette Valley

30.   A Wet Week Plus Full Reservoirs Should Put the Pacific Northwest in Relatively Good Shape for This Summer

31.   Klamath Irrigators Group Urges Supporters to Stop Harassing Government Workers

32.   Carbon Storage Offers Hope for Climate, Cash for Farmers

33.   Industry Presses House Committee on Facilitating New Transmission Critical to Biden Climate Goals

34.   WA State Secretary of State Files Petition for Legal Clarification on How to Handle Broadband Bills

35.   Municipal Broadband in Washington Will Soon Offer Options Beyond Comcast

36.   Oregon Cooperative Promises to Build Where No One Else Will

37.   Pope Francis to Get First Electric Popemobile from U.S. Firm Fisker

38.   U.S. Pot Sellers Stash Cash as Banks Leave Them High & Dry

WORD OF THE DAY

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

“I have no Bulwer-Lyttonesque example sentences for this word,” sighed the news digest editor. “Even this small realization could be considered some sort of an epiphany,” he muttered, “but I doubt it”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Utility Disconnections May Resume July 31 in Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/utility-disconnections-may-resume-july-31-washington-state/281-2abc58e4-fca8-4f8d-98c6-cd7512c07581

2.      Congressional Democrats Unveil $30 Billion Bill to Cancel Water Debts & Bail Out Utility Firms (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/20/democrats-bill-water-utility-companies-coronavirus

3.      Oregon: $3.72 Million FEMA Grant Helps Lane Electric Pay for Repairs from February 2019 Storm (KVAL-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://www.kval.com/news/local/372m-fema-grant-helps-lane-electric-pay-for-repairs-from-february-2019-storm

4.      Owners of Colstrip Generating Station Widen Federal Lawsuit Against Contract-Challenging Montana Laws (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/30400-owners-of-colstrip-generating-station-widen-federal-lawsuit-against-contract-challenging-montana-laws/

5.      Montana: NorthWestern’s Plans for Laurel Power Plant Take Shape (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/northwesterns-plans-for-laurel-power-plant-take-shape/article_4758786b-ddf6-5da2-a1bd-da81a5511e1e.html

6.      Countering Dam Removal Proposal, Cantwell Hints at Her Ideas for Snake River Salmon During Senate Hearing (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/20/amid-dam-proposal-cantwell-hints-at-her-ideas-for-/

7.      A ‘Literal Tinderbox’: Oregon Regulators Brace for 2021 Wildfire Season with Temporary Utility Rules (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/a-literal-tinderbox-oregon-2021-wildfire-season/600626/

8.      California Drought Cuts Hydropower, Boosts Natural Gas Prices (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/california-drought-cuts-hydropower-boosts-natgas-prices-2021-05-21/

9.      Declining Lake Powell Levels Prompt Colorado River States to Form New Plan (KUNC Radio, Greeley, CO)

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2021-05-20/declining-lake-powell-levels-prompt-colorado-river-states-to-form-new-plan

10.   California’s Next Climate Challenge: Replacing Its Last Nuclear Power Plant (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/californias-next-climate-challenge.html

11.   New Mexico Weighs Changes to Permit for Nuclear Waste Dump (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/nm-state-wire-new-mexico-nuclear-waste-business-science-171b011df1d62d4a433b78f8c03e1760

12.   U.S. Natural Gas Generation in 2021 Sees Its First Year-Over-Year Decline in Three Years (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48076

13.   Utah: Two Shocked While Changing Power Lines, Stopping One Man’s Heart Multiple Times (KUTV-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://kutv.com/news/local/two-men-electrocuted-while-changing-power-lines

14.   Wow: Las Vegas Hotel Adds “Energy Surcharge” (One Mile at a Time)

https://onemileatatime.com/las-vegas-hotel-energy-surcharge/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

15.   Kurt Miller: Anti-Hydro Narrative Misses the Big Picture of Climate Change, Equity & Salmon (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/23/kurt-miller-anti-hydro-narrative-misses-the-big-pi/

16.   Editorial: Act Now to Save Salmon, Regardless of Dams’ Fate (Everett Herald – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-act-now-to-save-salmon-regardless-of-dams-fate/

17.   The Pacific Northwest Agrees: Keep Your Hands Off Our Dams (Star of the Grand Coulee, WA)

https://www.grandcoulee.com/story/2021/05/19/opinion/the-pacific-northwest-agrees-keep-your-hands-off-our-dams/14188.html

18.   Opinion: Idaho Republicans Have No Confidence in Simpson (Idaho Falls Post-Register, ID)

https://www.postregister.com/opinion/columns/opinion-idaho-republicans-have-no-confidence-in-simpson/article_b5df7d1e-77d4-5645-b679-c7b82b94145b.html

19.   Editorial: When Should Oregon End Ban on Utility Shut-Off Notices? (Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://www.bendbulletin.com/opinion/editorial-when-should-oregon-end-ban-on-utility-shut-off-notices/article_a5a9bf34-b8c6-11eb-a42e-5361a9db2b52.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

20.   Montana: Giant Solar Project Proposed in South Butte, Landowners Concerned (Montana Standard)

https://mtstandard.com/news/local/giant-solar-project-proposed-in-south-butte-landowners-concerned/article_653a61a1-d565-5f21-9639-0052f3df86e7.html

21.   Sacramento Municipal Utility District Plans to Slash Rooftop Solar Subsidies for Sacramento Customers. Here’s Why (Sacramento Bee, CA)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article251531428.html

22.   Biden’s Solar Ambitions Collide with China Labor Complaints (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/china-environment-and-nature-technology-business-ae48f28a422ed0bba8d88d8ac9062114

23.   From Forest to Furnace: How the U.K.’S Wood-Pellet Plants Are Driving Logging in British Columbia (The Narwhal)

https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-wood-pellets-drax-pinnacle-renewable-energy/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

24.   Biden Administration Takes First Step Toward Light Bulb Efficiency Standard (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/554661-biden-administration-takes-step-toward-instating-lightbulb

25.   Rapid ‘Energy Efficiency as a Service’ Growth Belies Financing, Other Difficulties, Analysts Say (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rapid-energy-efficiency-as-a-service-growth-belies-financing-other-diffi/600498/

FISH & WILDLIFE

26.   Higher Spring Chinook Salmon Counts Lead to More Columbia River Sport Fishing Dates (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2021/05/higher-spring-chinook-salmon-counts-lead-to-more-columbia-river-sport-fishing-dates.html

27.   WA State: Puyallup Tribe Raises New Alarms for Fish Impacts of Embattled Electron Dam Project (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/puyallup-tribe-court-battle-against-electron-hydro-over-river-dam-pollution/281-7dbb543a-8110-417e-b765-8d2617320b93

28.   California: ‘Like Some Sea Creature from the Deep’: Vampire Fish Making Comeback to American River (CBS News)

https://seattle.cbslocal.com/2021/05/20/american-river-vampire-fish/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

29.   Oregon: Summer Reservoir Levels Could Be Hazardously Low for Willamette Valley (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/summer-reservoir-levels-could-be-hazardously-low-for-willamette-valley/283-2f314848-eeba-4664-8205-29646c79bde1

30.   A Wet Week Plus Full Reservoirs Should Put the Pacific Northwest in Relatively Good Shape for This Summer (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-wet-week-plus-full-reservoirs-should.html

31.   Klamath Irrigators Group Urges Supporters to Stop Harassing Government Workers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/23/klamath-irrigators-group-urges-supporters-to-stop-harassing-government-workers/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

32.   Carbon Storage Offers Hope for Climate, Cash for Farmers (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Carbon-storage-offers-hope-for-climate-cash-for-16192971.php

33.   Industry Presses House Committee on Facilitating New Transmission Critical to Biden Climate Goals (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/industry-presses-house-committee-on-facilitating-new-transmission-critical/600583/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

34.   WA State Secretary of State Files Petition for Legal Clarification on How to Handle Broadband Bills (Washington State Wire)

https://washingtonstatewire.com/secretary-of-state-files-petition-for-legal-clarification-on-how-to-handle-broadband-bills/

35.   Municipal Broadband in Washington Will Soon Offer Options Beyond Comcast (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2917448/municipal-broadband-washington-options-beyond-comcast/

36.   Oregon Cooperative Promises to Build Where No One Else Will (Community Networks)

https://muninetworks.org/content/oregon-cooperative-promises-build-where-no-one-else-will

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

37.   Pope Francis to Get First Electric Popemobile from U.S. Firm Fisker (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/pope-francis-get-first-electric-popemobile-us-firm-fisker-2021-05-21/

GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND COMMERCE

38.   U.S. Pot Sellers Stash Cash as Banks Leave Them High & Dry (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-pot-sellers-stash-cash-banks-leave-them-high-dry-2021-05-24/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Arundel Castle: Mary Queen of Scots Beads Stolen in Raid

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57224777

Happy 80th Birthday Robert Allen Zimmerman AKA Bob Dylan

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/24/999699847/happy-80th-birthday-robert-allen-zimmerman-aka-bob-dylan

Missing Man Found Dead Inside Spanish Dinosaur Statue

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/24/missing-man-found-dead-inside-spanish-dinosaur-statue

Boy, 9, Finds $5,000 Under Floor Mat of Family’s Used SUV

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/05/24/Landon-Melvin-Plainfield-Indiana-envelope-cash-floor-mat-SUV/8681621878606/

SONG OF THE DAY

Bob Dylan - Gotta Serve Somebody

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC10VWDTzmU

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 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.