The Energy News Digest for July 26, 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.

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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

U.S. Set for Punishing Temperatures as Huge ‘Heat Dome’ to Settle Over Country (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/24/america-heatwave-climate-crisis-heat-dome

Lower Snake River Dams Help Region Power Through Recent Pacific Northwest Heatwave (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Lower-Snake-River-dams-help-region-power-through-recent-heatwave.aspx

California Power Grid Declares Flex Alert for Monday, Asks for Electricity Conservation (California News-Times)

https://californianewstimes.com/california-power-grid-declares-flex-alert-for-monday-asks-for-electricity-conservation/435514/

Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Imperiling Industry (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/26/warming-rivers-in-us-west-killing-fish-imperiling-industry/

U.S. Energy Sect. Granholm Announces New Building Energy Codes (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/564134-granholm-announces-new-building-energy-codes

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Lower Snake River Dams Help Region Power Through Recent Pacific Northwest Heatwave

2.      Snake River Dams – This Is What Saved the Tri-Cities Area from Rolling Blackouts in Historic Heatwave, Says Bonneville Power Administration

3.      California Power Grid Declares Flex Alert for Monday, Asks for Electricity Conservation

4.      Drought Shrinking California Hydro, Increasing Reliance on Thermal, Imports

5.      Californians Tired of Doing Their Part During Triple-Digit Heat

6.      WA State: Feds Approve 32 Studies in Skagit River Dam Relicensing Process

7.      Montana Attorney General Intervenes in NorthWestern Energy Application for Natural Gas Power Plant

8.      California Prepares to Bury 10,000 Miles of Power Lines as Wildfires Force New Evacuations

9.      Columbia River Powerlines: How Strengthening the Pacific Northwest’s Electrical Grid Could End Up Doing Harm

10.   WA State: How the Snohomish PUD Kept Things Humming During the Record Heat Wave

11.   WA State: Clallam County Commissioners to Consider Rescue Funds for Utility Assistance

12.   Oregon: ‘Homeless Tapped Into’ Power Wires in Overlook Neighborhood

13.   Editorial: ‘Collaborative’ Effort to Save NW Salmon Looks Like Another Anti-Snake Dam Task Force

14.   Guest Essay: Come Together to Save Puget Sound & Snake River Salmon

15.   Editorial: Puget Sound Salmon Have No Chance Unless We Push for a Bigger Investment

16.   Southern Idaho Leaders Gain New Perspective of Lava Ridge Wind Proposal

17.   I-Team: Company Withdraws Plans for Massive Solar Farm, Which Would Have Been Nevada’s Largest

18.   REC Silicon Eyes Reopening, Upgrading in Moses Lake, WA

19.   ‘I Can See the Industry Disappearing’: U.S. Fishermen Sound Alarm at Plans for Offshore Wind

20.   U.S. Energy Sect. Granholm Announces New Building Energy Codes

21.   Beat the Heat: Ways to Cool Down & Reduce Energy Use During Hot Summer Days

22.   Idaho Falls Power Recognizes Anheuser-Busch for Energy Efficiency Award

23.   Forty Under 40 2021: Becca Yates, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

24.   Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Imperiling Industry

25.   Heat Waves Put New Stress on British Columbia’s Already Struggling Salmon

26.   Idaho Sockeye Step Up Their Game

27.   WA State: Skagit Dams in Crosshairs of Renewed Push to Save Salmon, Orcas

28.   Maine: Groups Urge State to Protect Last Wild Atlantic Salmon in U.S.

29.   Low Oxygen Levels Off Oregon, Washington Coast Raise Fears of Marine Dead Zones

30.   Colorado River Shortage Expected to Hit Farms First

31.   Lake Powell — Nation’s Second-Largest Reservoir — Hits Record Low

32.   Water Levels at Great Salt Lake Hit Historic Low

33.   In 2020, the United States Produced the Least CO2 Emissions from Energy in Nearly 40 Years

34.   New Laws Take Effect in Washington State Aimed at Bridging the Digital Divide

35.   WA State: Okanogan PUD Submits Fiber Project for Grant

36.   WA State: Port of Woodland Broadband Project Gets $2 Million Grant for Final Phase

37.   Idaho National Lab, Visgence Demonstrate Capability to Shield Power Grid from Cyberattacks

38.   Electric Utilities Are ‘Deeply Concerned’: Test Shows Wi-Fi Devices in 6 GHz Spectrum Can Disrupt Grid

39.   GM Recalls Bolt Electric Vehicles Again Because Some Batteries May Pose Fire Risk

40.   Eugene’s Homegrown Arcimoto Electric Vehicles Finding Their Way to Local Customers

41.   Driven By Pandemic, Social Media Use Surged in Seattle

42.   U.S. Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) Among Three Senators to Introduce Legislation Supporting Local News

43.   Drones Are Zapping Clouds with Electricity to Create Rain in United Arab Emirates Project

44.   WA State: Lewis EDC’s New Pilot Project Looks to Increase ‘American Rescue Plan’ Returns for Local Governments

45.   U.S. Set for Punishing Temperatures as Huge ‘Heat Dome’ to Settle Over Country

46.   Wildfires Blasting Through West Draw States to Lend Support

47.   California’s Largest Fire Burns Homes as Blazes Scorch West

WORD OF THE DAY

Debutant \DEB-yoo-tawnt\ Noun - One making a debut.

The new employee was trembling with anticipation. His first official act was to make a twenty-minute presentation to the board of directors on his position’s duties. For a debutant, having the entire job description being listed as “other duties as assigned,” was daunting enough…but to hold forth for 20 minutes on his mysterious responsibilities was the figurative “Mount Everest” of public speaking.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Lower Snake River Dams Help Region Power Through Recent Pacific Northwest Heatwave (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Lower-Snake-River-dams-help-region-power-through-recent-heatwave.aspx

2.      Snake River Dams – This Is What Saved the Tri-Cities Area from Rolling Blackouts in Historic Heatwave, Says Bonneville Power Administration (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article252965453.html

3.      California Power Grid Declares Flex Alert for Monday, Asks for Electricity Conservation (California News-Times)

https://californianewstimes.com/california-power-grid-declares-flex-alert-for-monday-asks-for-electricity-conservation/435514/

4.      Drought Shrinking California Hydro, Increasing Reliance on Thermal, Imports (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/072321-drought-shrinking-california-hydro-increasing-reliance-on-thermal-imports

5.      Californians Tired of Doing Their Part During Triple-Digit Heat (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/07/23/california-show-conservation-fatigue-in-the-face-of-power-cut-threat-1388946

6.      WA State: Feds Approve 32 Studies in Skagit River Dam Relicensing Process (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt. Vernon, WA)

https://www.goskagit.com/news/environment/feds-approve-32-studies-in-dam-relicensing-process/article_e6a0b2b2-6f65-5760-b974-b176ab78a413.html

7.      Montana Attorney General Intervenes in NorthWestern Energy Application for Natural Gas Power Plant (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2021/07/22/attorney-general-intervenes-in-northwestern-energy-application/

8.      California Prepares to Bury 10,000 Miles of Power Lines as Wildfires Force New Evacuations (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/22/california-wildfires-nevada-oregon-pge-power-lines

9.      Columbia River Powerlines: How Strengthening the Pacific Northwest’s Electrical Grid Could End Up Doing Harm (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/07/how-strengthening-pnws-electrical-grid-could-end-doing-harm

10.   WA State: How the Snohomish PUD Kept Things Humming During the Record Heat Wave (Everett Herald – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/how-the-pud-kept-things-humming-during-the-record-heat-wave/

11.   WA State: Clallam County Commissioners to Consider Rescue Funds for Utility Assistance (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/clallam-county-commissioners-to-consider-rescue-funds-for-utility-assistance/

12.   Oregon: ‘Homeless Tapped Into’ Power Wires in Overlook Neighborhood (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/homeless-tapped-into-power-wires-in-overlook-neighborhood/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   Editorial: ‘Collaborative’ Effort to Save NW Salmon Looks Like Another Anti-Snake Dam Task Force (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/editorials/article252977263.html

14.   Guest Essay: Come Together to Save Puget Sound & Snake River Salmon (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/come-together-to-save-puget-sound-and-snake-river-salmon/

15.   Editorial: Puget Sound Salmon Have No Chance Unless We Push for a Bigger Investment (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/opinion/editorials/article252967908.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16.   Southern Idaho Leaders Gain New Perspective of Lava Ridge Wind Proposal (KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)

https://www.kmvt.com/2021/07/22/southern-idaho-leaders-gain-new-perspective-lava-ridge-wind-proposal/

17.   I-Team: Company Withdraws Plans for Massive Solar Farm, Which Would Have Been Nevada’s Largest (KLAS-TV, Las Vegas NV)

https://www.8newsnow.com/i-team/i-team-company-withdraws-plans-for-massive-solar-farm-which-would-have-been-nevadas-largest/

18.   REC Silicon Eyes Reopening, Upgrading in Moses Lake, WA (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/jul/23/rec-eyes-reopening-upgrading-moses-lake/

19.   ‘I Can See the Industry Disappearing’: U.S. Fishermen Sound Alarm at Plans for Offshore Wind (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/24/offshore-wind-development-new-jersey-us-fishermen-ocean-life

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

20.   U.S. Energy Sect. Granholm Announces New Building Energy Codes (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/564134-granholm-announces-new-building-energy-codes

21.   Beat the Heat: Ways to Cool Down & Reduce Energy Use During Hot Summer Days (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Beat-the-Heat-Ways-to-cool-down-and-reduce-energy-use-during-hot-summer-days.aspx

22.   Idaho Falls Power Recognizes Anheuser-Busch for Energy Efficiency Award (Idaho Falls Magazine, ID)

https://www.idahofallsmagazine.com/2021/07/idaho-falls-power-recognizes-anheuserbusch

23.   Forty Under 40 2021: Becca Yates, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/07/26/forty-under-40-2021-becca-yates-northwest-energy.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

24.   Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Imperiling Industry (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/26/warming-rivers-in-us-west-killing-fish-imperiling-industry/

25.   Heat Waves Put New Stress on British Columbia’s Already Struggling Salmon (Global News, Canada)

https://globalnews.ca/news/8036106/heat-waves-put-new-stress-on-b-c-s-already-struggling-salmon/

26.   Idaho Sockeye Step Up Their Game (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/northwest/sockeye-step-up-their-game/article_6ff644da-ec19-11eb-bf14-37a8f1246e50.html

27.   WA State: Skagit Dams in Crosshairs of Renewed Push to Save Salmon, Orcas (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/07/skagit-dams-crosshairs-renewed-push-save-salmon-orcas

28.   Maine: Groups Urge State to Protect Last Wild Atlantic Salmon in U.S. (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-salmon-048e071677132ae1428f2b05328dfccd

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

29.   Low Oxygen Levels Off Oregon, Washington Coast Raise Fears of Marine Dead Zones (Associated Press)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2021/07/low-oxygen-levels-off-oregon-washington-coast-raise-fears-of-marine-dead-zones.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

30.   Colorado River Shortage Expected to Hit Farms First (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/colorado-river-shortage-expected-to-hit-farms-first/

31.   Lake Powell — Nation’s Second-Largest Reservoir — Hits Record Low (KUNC-Radio, Greeley, CO)

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2021-07-24/lake-powell-nations-second-largest-reservoir-hits-record-low

32.   Water Levels at Great Salt Lake Hit Historic Low (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/26/water-levels-at-great-salt-lake-hit-historic-low/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

33.   In 2020, the United States Produced the Least CO2 Emissions from Energy in Nearly 40 Years (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48856

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

34.   New Laws Take Effect in Washington State Aimed at Bridging the Digital Divide (Seattle Medium)

https://seattlemedium.com/new-laws-take-effect-in-washington-state-aimed-at-bridging-the-digital-divide/

35.   WA State: Okanogan PUD Submits Fiber Project for Grant (Okanogan PUD, Okanogan, WA)

https://www.okanoganpud.org/node/1512

36.   WA State: Port of Woodland Broadband Project Gets $2 Million Grant for Final Phase (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/local/business/port-of-woodland-broadband-project-gets-2-million-grant-for-final-phase/article_b6dc17ef-0da6-54ea-a7e9-6553b7a8bd70.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

37.   Idaho National Lab, Visgence Demonstrate Capability to Shield Power Grid from Cyberattacks (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/31234-idaho-national-lab-visgence-show-off-capability-to-shield-power-grid-from-cyberattacks/?amp

38.   Electric Utilities Are ‘Deeply Concerned’: Test Shows Wi-Fi Devices in 6 GHz Spectrum Can Disrupt Grid (NRECA)

https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/test-shows-wi-fi-devices-in-6-ghz-spectrum-can-disrupt-grid.aspx

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

39.   GM Recalls Bolt Electric Vehicles Again Because Some Batteries May Pose Fire Risk (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2021/07/23/gm-recall-bolt-electric-vehicle-batteries-fire-risk/8067751002/

40.   Eugene’s Homegrown Arcimoto Electric Vehicles Finding Their Way to Local Customers (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2021/07/25/eugene-arcimoto-electric-vehicles-fuv-find-their-way-local-customers-mark-frohnmayer/8028548002/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

41.   Driven By Pandemic, Social Media Use Surged in Seattle (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/driven-by-pandemic-social-media-use-surged-in-seattle/

42.   U.S. Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) Among Three Senators to Introduce Legislation Supporting Local News (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/sen-cantwell-among-three-senators-to-introduce-legislation-supporting-local-news/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

43.   Drones Are Zapping Clouds with Electricity to Create Rain in United Arab Emirates Project (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/07/21/cloud-seeding-uae-artificial-rain-drones-electricity/8040330002/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

44.   WA State: Lewis EDC’s New Pilot Project Looks to Increase ‘American Rescue Plan’ Returns for Local Governments (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/lewis-edcs-new-pilot-project-looks-to-increase-american-rescue-plan-returns-for-local,269585

FIRES, HEAT, & DROUGHT

45.   U.S. Set for Punishing Temperatures as Huge ‘Heat Dome’ to Settle Over Country (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/24/america-heatwave-climate-crisis-heat-dome

46.   Wildfires Blasting Through West Draw States to Lend Support (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/fires-environment-and-nature-wildfires-20422ed333c200409dc34f610acc1088

47.   California’s Largest Fire Burns Homes as Blazes Scorch West (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2021-07-26/californias-largest-fire-burns-homes-as-blazes-scorch-west

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Pink Offers to Pay Bikini Bottoms Fine for Norway Women’s Handball Team

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57967486

Reporter Suspended for Smearing Herself with Mud & Pretending to Have Helped with Flood-Cleanup Efforts

https://www.insider.com/german-rtl-reporter-smears-herself-with-mud-fakes-flood-clean-up-2021-7

The Seemingly Cursed Tokyo Olympics Are Now in the Path of a Tropical Storm

https://gizmodo.com/the-seemingly-cursed-tokyo-olympics-are-now-in-the-path-1847359708

Video: Extreme Heat Roasts Oregon Christmas Trees

https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idOVEMXHC2Z

SONG OF THE DAY

Dire Straits - Lady Writer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QMBELh1zyo

The Energy News Digest for July 21, 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.

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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

June Heat Wave in the Northwest United States Resulted in More Demand for Electricity (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48796

Wells Run Dry in Many Klamath Basin Homes (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2021/07/wells-run-dry-in-many-klamath-basin-homes.html

Four-State Collaboration May Squeeze Out E. Wash. Interests in Keeping Snake River Dams (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article252767743.html

Judge Hears Fight Over Lithium Mine on Nevada-Oregon Line (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/21/judge-hears-fight-over-lithium-mine-on-nevada-oregon-line/

Massive Wildfires in U.S. West Bring Haze to East Coast (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-fires-environment-and-nature-wildfires-cebad62e9bf8d5ed295b60fb9b0961fb

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      June Heat Wave in the Northwest United States Resulted in More Demand for Electricity

2.      Four-State Collaboration May Squeeze Out E. Wash. Interests in Keeping Snake River Dams

3.      Alaska Federation of Natives & Other Groups Sue Dunleavy Administration Over Fund That Subsidizes Rural Energy

4.      The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Calls on Seattle to Remove the Gorge Dam

5.      Portland General Electric, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Extend Partnership on Hydropower Facility for 16 Years

6.      California: Paradigm Shift – Tribe Is Now an Owner of the Power Grid

7.      Portland General Electric Agrees to Pay $6.75M to Settle Trading-Debacle Lawsuit

8.      Montana Coal Production Slides 23% During 2020

9.      U.S. Barrasso (R-WY) Says New Legislation Sets Stage for New Wyoming Natrium Nuclear Reactor

10.   Governments, Utilities & the Nuclear Industry Hope Small Modular Reactors Will Power Canada’s Future. Can They Actually Build One?

11.   A Visit with the Bonneville Power Administration Administrator

12.   Three Viewpoints: A Proposal to Lay Cables Beneath the Columbia River Is Met with Skepticism from an Indigenous Activist & the River’s Advocates.

13.   Cost Allocation Remains Key Challenge for FERC Ahead of Transmission Reform, Glick Says

14.   Maine Legislature Sustains Mills’ Veto of Consumer-Owned Utility Bill

15.   How to Prevent a Power Outage from Becoming a Crisis

16.   Columnist: Damned If You Do – Klamath River – The Thorny Decision to Remove Hydro Dams

17.   News Release: U.S. Reps McMorris Rodgers, Newhouse Call Out Oregon, Radical Groups for Latest Legal Stunt on the Columbia & Lower Snake Rivers

18.   An Inconvenient Truth About Fish & Why Liberals Can’t Accept the Facts

19.   California: Developer’s Deals with Community Organizations Under Fire as Giant Solar Farm Moves Closer to Approval

20.   WA State: Quinault Indian Nation Gets Federal Funding for Solar Power in New Generations Building

21.   Are Wind Turbines a Danger to Wildlife? Ask the Dogs.

22.   Efficiency Builds Community & Generates Savings

23.   Scientists Haven’t Had ‘A Good Look at J-Pod’ Of Orcas in Last Three Months

24.   Salmon-Killing Tires Get Congressional Hearing

25.   Virtual Reality Experience Lets Viewers ‘Swim’ with Pacific Salmon

26.   Renaming Asian Carp: Concern Over Racism, Waterways Inspires Push for New Moniker

27.   Judge Hears Fight Over Lithium Mine on Nevada-Oregon Line

28.   Wells Run Dry in Many Klamath Basin Homes

29.   Oregon Utilities Face Big Challenges Meeting 100% Clean Electricity by 2040 Target

30.   California to Spend $6 Billion to Bridge the Digital Divide

31.   WA State Awards $1.7 Million to Port of Whitman County for Pine City & Malden Broadband Project

32.   WA State Legislature Expands Municipal Authority to Provide Broadband, but to What Extent?

33.   Sick of Traditional Internet Providers, Brooklyn Neighbors Are Setting Up Their Own Wi-Fi with NYC Mesh

34.   The Telecoms Industry Spends $320K a Day to Make Sure Your Broadband Sucks

35.   WA State: King County Named #1 County for Use of Public Technology

36.   The Best Olympic Logos of All Time, According to Design Experts

37.   Massive Wildfires in U.S. West Bring Haze to East Coast

38.   Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, State Leaders Outline Response to ‘Historic’ Start to Oregon Wildfire Season

39.   Two Fast-Moving California Fires Are Creating Their Own Dangerous Weather Systems

40.   State Of Emergency Declared in British Columbia Over Growing Wildfires

41.   2021 Heat Wave Is Now the Deadliest Weather-Related Event in Washington State History

42.   Couple Charged in California Wildfire Sparked by Gender Reveal

43.   U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Advances Energy Infrastructure Legislation as Congress Debates Broader Climate Action

44.   Ditto Outlines Opposition to Using Legislation to Encourage Public Facility Privatization

WORD OF THE DAY

Nonplussed \NON-plust\ Verb - To cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do: perplex.

Barty’s aggressive questioning during trial left the hapless defense witness nonplussed. Although the man had been called as a character witness for the “Burger King”, Barty relentlessly peppered him with questions about “Ronald McDonald”, “Jack in the Box” and the “Taco Time Cactus”. “I don’t know any of those guys,” whined the harried witness.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      June Heat Wave in the Northwest United States Resulted in More Demand for Electricity (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48796

2.      Four-State Collaboration May Squeeze Out E. Wash. Interests in Keeping Snake River Dams (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article252767743.html

3.      Alaska Federation of Natives & Other Groups Sue Dunleavy Administration Over Fund That Subsidizes Rural Energy (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

https://www.adn.com/politics/2021/07/19/alaska-federation-of-natives-and-other-groups-sue-governor-over-fund-that-subsidizes-rural-alaska-energy/

4.      The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Calls on Seattle to Remove the Gorge Dam (High Country News)

https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.8/indigenous-affairs-dams-the-upper-skagit-indian-tribe-calls-on-seattle-to-remove-the-gorge-dam

5.      Portland General Electric, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Extend Partnership on Hydropower Facility for 16 Years (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/31174-pge-confederated-tribes-of-warm-springs-extend-partnership-on-hydropower-facility-for-16-years/?amp

6.      California: Paradigm Shift – Tribe Is Now an Owner of the Power Grid (Indian Country Today)

https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/tribe-is-now-an-owner-of-the-power-grid

7.      Portland General Electric Agrees to Pay $6.75M to Settle Trading-Debacle Lawsuit (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/07/19/pge-trading-losses-lawsuit-settlement.html

8.      Montana Coal Production Slides 23% During 2020 (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-coal-production-slides-23-during-2020/article_45114188-f5f6-581e-8f89-cac67aa6cf9c.html

9.      U.S. Barrasso (R-WY) Says New Legislation Sets Stage for New Wyoming Natrium Nuclear Reactor (Oil City News)

https://oilcity.news/wyoming/energy/2021/07/19/barrasso-says-new-legislation-sets-stage-for-new-wyoming-natrium-nuclear-reactor/

10.   Governments, Utilities & the Nuclear Industry Hope Small Modular Reactors Will Power Canada’s Future. Can They Actually Build One? (Globe & Mail, Canada)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-governments-utilities-and-the-nuclear-industry-hope-small-modular/

11.   A Visit with the Bonneville Power Administration Administrator (Ruralite Magazine)

https://www.ruralite.com/a-visit-with-the-bpa-administrator/

12.   Three Viewpoints: A Proposal to Lay Cables Beneath the Columbia River Is Met with Skepticism from an Indigenous Activist & the River’s Advocates. (Investigate West)

https://www.invw.org/2021/07/21/a-stronger-electricity-grid-is-crucial-to-cutting-carbon-does-that-make-it-green/

13.   Cost Allocation Remains Key Challenge for FERC Ahead of Transmission Reform, Glick Says (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/cost-allocation-remains-key-challenge-for-ferc-ahead-of-transmission-reform/603597/

14.   Maine Legislature Sustains Mills’ Veto of Consumer-Owned Utility Bill (Main Public Radio)

https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2021-07-19/maine-legislature-sustains-mills-veto-of-consumer-owned-utility-bill

15.   How to Prevent a Power Outage from Becoming a Crisis (IEEE – Spectrum)

https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/policy/how-to-prevent-a-power-outage-from-becoming-a-crisis

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

16.   Columnist: Damned If You Do – Klamath River – The Thorny Decision to Remove Hydro Dams (Troy Media)

https://troymedia.com/politicslaw/damned-it-you-do-the-thorny-decision-to-remove-hydro-dams/#.YPhsAOhKjIU

17.   News Release: U.S. Reps McMorris Rodgers, Newhouse Call Out Oregon, Radical Groups for Latest Legal Stunt on the Columbia & Lower Snake Rivers (U.S. Rep McMorris Rodgers, R-WA)

https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-newhouse-call-out-oregon-radical-groups-for-latest-legal-stunt-on-the-columbia-and-lower-snake-rivers/

18.   An Inconvenient Truth About Fish & Why Liberals Can’t Accept the Facts (Shift Washington, Mercer Island, WA)

https://shiftwa.org/an-inconvenient-truth-about-fish-and-why-liberals-cant-accept-the-facts/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

19.   California: Developer’s Deals with Community Organizations Under Fire as Giant Solar Farm Moves Closer to Approval (KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA)

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/inewsource/developers-deals-with-community-organizations-under-fire-as-giant-solar-farm-moves-closer-to-approval/509-6b6275e7-2363-4771-b6ed-6697c7579c89

20.   WA State: Quinault Indian Nation Gets Federal Funding for Solar Power in New Generations Building (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/qin-gets-federal-funding-for-solar-power-in-new-generations-building/

21.   Are Wind Turbines a Danger to Wildlife? Ask the Dogs. (Atlantic Magazine)

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/07/bat-dogs-wind-turbines/619482/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

22.   Efficiency Builds Community & Generates Savings (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/esgcommunity/

FISH & WILDLIFE

23.   Scientists Haven’t Had ‘A Good Look at J-Pod’ Of Orcas in Last Three Months (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3046287/where-is-jpod-orcas-puget-sound/

24.   Salmon-Killing Tires Get Congressional Hearing (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://kuow.org/stories/salmon-killing-tires-get-congressional-hearing

25.   Virtual Reality Experience Lets Viewers ‘Swim’ with Pacific Salmon (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/uninterrupted-vr-salmon-1.6104883?cmp=rss

26.   Renaming Asian Carp: Concern Over Racism, Waterways Inspires Push for New Moniker (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/asian-carp-renaming-fish-racism-1.6103742?cmp=rss

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

27.   Judge Hears Fight Over Lithium Mine on Nevada-Oregon Line (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/21/judge-hears-fight-over-lithium-mine-on-nevada-oregon-line/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

28.   Wells Run Dry in Many Klamath Basin Homes (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2021/07/wells-run-dry-in-many-klamath-basin-homes.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

29.   Oregon Utilities Face Big Challenges Meeting 100% Clean Electricity by 2040 Target (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2021/07/utilities-face-big-challenges-meeting-100-clean-electricity-by-2040-target.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

30.   California to Spend $6 Billion to Bridge the Digital Divide (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-to-spend-6-billion-to-bridge-the-digital-divide/

31.   WA State Awards $1.7 Million to Port of Whitman County for Pine City & Malden Broadband Project (KQQQ Radio, Pullman, WA)

https://pullmanradio.com/cerb-awards-1-7-million-to-port-for-pine-city-and-malden-broadband-project/

32.   WA State Legislature Expands Municipal Authority to Provide Broadband, but to What Extent? (Municipal Research & Service Center)

https://mrsc.org/Home/Stay-Informed/MRSC-Insight/July-2021/Laws-Expand-Muni-Authority-to-Provide-Broadband

33.   Sick of Traditional Internet Providers, Brooklyn Neighbors Are Setting Up Their Own Wi-Fi with NYC Mesh (BK Reader, New York, NY)

https://bkreader.com/2021/05/10/nyc-mesh-brooklyn-new-york-community-mutual-aid-pandemic/

34.   The Telecoms Industry Spends $320K a Day to Make Sure Your Broadband Sucks (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/the-telecoms-industry-spends-230k-a-day-to-make-sure-y-1847324005

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

35.   WA State: King County Named #1 County for Use of Public Technology (Washington State Wire)

https://washingtonstatewire.com/king-county-named-1-county-for-use-of-public-technology/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

36.   The Best Olympic Logos of All Time, According to Design Experts (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90656667/the-best-olympic-logos-of-all-time-according-to-design-experts

WILDFIRES AND THE WEST

37.   Massive Wildfires in U.S. West Bring Haze to East Coast (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-fires-environment-and-nature-wildfires-cebad62e9bf8d5ed295b60fb9b0961fb

38.   Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, State Leaders Outline Response to ‘Historic’ Start to Oregon Wildfire Season (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2021/07/gov-kate-brown-state-leaders-outline-response-to-historic-start-to-oregon-wildfire-season.html

39.   Two Fast-Moving California Fires Are Creating Their Own Dangerous Weather Systems (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-20/tamarack-dixie-fires-northern-california-weather-systems

40.   State Of Emergency Declared in British Columbia Over Growing Wildfires (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/state-of-emergency-declared-in-british-columbia-over-growing-wildfires-1.24344395

41.   2021 Heat Wave Is Now the Deadliest Weather-Related Event in Washington State History (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://kuow.org/stories/heat-wave-death-toll-in-washington-state-jumps-to-112-people

42.   Couple Charged in California Wildfire Sparked by Gender Reveal (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gender-reveal-california-wildfire-charges_n_60f7b019e4b0ddf009797554

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

43.   U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Advances Energy Infrastructure Legislation as Congress Debates Broader Climate Action (JD Supra)

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/senate-energy-and-natural-resources-2850545/

44.   Ditto Outlines Opposition to Using Legislation to Encourage Public Facility Privatization (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/ditto-outlines-opposition-using-legislation-encourage-public-facility-privatization

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

An Archivist Sneezes on a Priceless Document. Then What?

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/07/archival-mishaps/619420/

This Model Train Layout May Be Bigger Than Your House

https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/this-model-train-layout-may-be-bigger-than-your-house/281-1d14cc88-77a1-41c6-9282-445522603a4a

Milwaukee Wins First NBA Title Since 1971

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/milwaukee-beat-phoenix-claim-nba-championship-2021-07-21/

Massive & Mysterious, A 100-Pound Fish Washed Ashore in Oregon – Scientists Hope to Learn Its Secrets

https://news.yahoo.com/massive-mysterious-100-pound-fish-024510073.html?soc_src=yahooapp

SONG OF THE DAY

Albert Hammond - I’m a Train

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxpmoyT_v5M