The Energy News Digest for March 28, 2022

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

Gov. Inslee Guts Legislation to Look at How Wind, Solar Projects Would Change Eastern Washington (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/inslee-guts-legislation-to-look-at-how-wind-solar-projects-would-change-eastern-washington,286770

One Big Detail Could Derail the Pacific Northwest’s Clean-Energy Goals (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/25/one-big-detail-could-derail-northwests-clean-energ/

High Natural Gas Prices Persist for Montana Homeowners (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/high-natural-gas-prices-persist-for-montana-homeowners/article_aff6940e-2559-5265-8998-0cf7c1fc0ec7.html

Lewis River Fish Passages Back on Track in New Plan from PacifiCorp (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/lewis-river-fish-passages-back-on-track-in-new-plan-from-pacificorp/article_b0e9ab34-3a63-530a-95b6-0a5a01c75e50.html

California’s Snowpack Is ‘Roasting in the Dry & Sunny Conditions’ (San Francisco Chronicle, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Snowpack-melting-in-heat-wave-17028307.php

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      High Natural Gas Prices Persist for Montana Homeowners

2.      FERC Approves BPA’s 2022 Power & Transmission Rates

3.      House Committee Investigates Shut-Off Rates for Dominion, DTE, Duke, Exelon, Nextera, & Southern

4.      Cut ‘Unjust’ Electricity Standing Charges, UK Regulator Urged

5.      California Issued Wildfire Safety Certifications to Utilities Despite ‘Serious Deficiencies’: Audit

6.      California: Balloons Blamed for Santa Clara Power Outage

7.      California: Over 24,000 Residents without Power Because of a Squirrel

8.      Come Hail or High Water, Transmission’s Construction Crews Persevere

9.      Guest Essay: Hydropower Provides Many Benefits in Changing Energy Environment

10.   Guest Essay: To Recover Salmon Populations, We Need to Think Bigger

11.   Guest Opinion: Lower Snake River Dam Removal Has Two Sides

12.   Gov. Inslee Guts Legislation to Look at How Wind, Solar Projects Would Change Eastern Washington

13.   One Big Detail Could Derail the Pacific Northwest’s Clean-Energy Goals

14.   Misinformation Is Derailing Renewable Energy Projects Across the United States

15.   Frustrated with Utilities, Some Are Leaving the Grid

16.   WA Gov. Jay Inslee Has Solar Panels Installed at His Home on Bainbridge Island

17.   Once The Epicenter of the Oilpatch, Texas Now Humming with Wind & Solar Power

18.   Bountiful Wind, Sun Boost German Renewable Power This Year

19.   U.S. Energy Dept. Pushes Heat Pumps to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions

20.   Lewis River Fish Passages Back on Track in New Plan from PacifiCorp

21.   Fishing Seasons on Clearwater, Salmon, & Snake Rivers Begin in Less Than a Month

22.   Holding Out Hope on the Upper Columbia River

23.   New Orca Listening Post Installed in Puget Sound

24.   California’s Snowpack Is ‘Roasting in the Dry & Sunny Conditions’

25.   Race to the Bottom: Draining Oregon’s Summer Lake

26.   Some Cities Have Outlawed New Natural Gas Hookups – There’s No Nationwide Ban

27.   Huge Ice Shelf Collapses Amid Antarctic Heat Wave

28.   Alaska Internet ‘Gold Rush’: Billions Could Be Headed to Rural Communities to Close the Digital Divide

29.   Should States Fund Municipal Broadband & Cooperatives?

30.   Mark Vasconi Appointed to Lead Washington State Broadband Office

31.   WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Defer Higher Rates for Five Crypto Customers — For Two Months

32.   WA State: An Electric Vehicle Future Is on the Horizon – Here’s How It Could Affect Spokane

33.   Three Ways REI Shapes Its Co-op Story

34.   Move Ahead Washington Plan Takes a Completely new Approach to Transportation in Washington

35.   Supreme Court Agrees to Review California Law on Pork Sales

36.   The New National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles Glows with Nostalgia

WORD OF THE DAY

Recurring \rih-KURR-ring\ Verb – 1: To happen, come up, or show up again or repeatedly 2: to return to one’s attention or memory 3: to return in thought or discourse.

Willie the wildebeest awoke with a start. A recurring dream that had haunted his dark nights had returned. In his nocturnal wanderings, he was transformed into a humanoid biped, wandering aimlessly in packs of hundreds through concrete jungles…going hither and thither…not knowing the destination, or the reason for his travels. “The horror, the horror,” he muttered.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      High Natural Gas Prices Persist for Montana Homeowners (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/high-natural-gas-prices-persist-for-montana-homeowners/article_aff6940e-2559-5265-8998-0cf7c1fc0ec7.html

2.      FERC Approves BPA’s 2022 Power & Transmission Rates (RTO Insider – Subscription)

https://www.rtoinsider.com/articles/29843-ferc-approves-bpas-2022-power-and-transmission-rates

3.      House Committee Investigates Shut-Off Rates for Dominion, DTE, Duke, Exelon, Nextera, & Southern (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/house-committee-investigates-utility-shutoff-rates-dominion-dte-duke-exelon/620947/

4.      Cut ‘Unjust’ Electricity Standing Charges, UK Regulator Urged (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/mar/28/electricity-standing-charges-uk-energy-suppliers

5.      California Issued Wildfire Safety Certifications to Utilities Despite ‘Serious Deficiencies’: Audit (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-issued-wildfire-safety-certifications-to-utilities-despite-seri/621066/

6.      California: Balloons Blamed for Santa Clara Power Outage (KNTV-TV, San Jose, CA)

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/balloons-blamed-for-santa-clara-power-outage/2848028/

7.      California: Over 24,000 Residents without Power Because of a Squirrel (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/over-24000-residents-without-power-because-of-a-squirrel/

8.      Come Hail or High Water, Transmission’s Construction Crews Persevere (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20220323-come-hail-or-high-water-transmissions-construction-crews-persevere

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

9.      Guest Essay: Hydropower Provides Many Benefits in Changing Energy Environment (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

https://pamplinmedia.com/scs/84-opinion/540564-432818-crpud-hydropower-provides-many-benefits-in-changing-energy-environment

10.   Guest Essay: To Recover Salmon Populations, We Need to Think Bigger (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2022/03/25/kurt-miller-oped.html

11.   Guest Opinion: Lower Snake River Dam Removal Has Two Sides (The Orcasian, Eastsound, WA)

https://theorcasonian.com/guest-opinion-lower-snake-river-dam-removal-has-two-sides/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   Gov. Inslee Guts Legislation to Look at How Wind, Solar Projects Would Change Eastern Washington (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/inslee-guts-legislation-to-look-at-how-wind-solar-projects-would-change-eastern-washington,286770

13.   One Big Detail Could Derail the Pacific Northwest’s Clean-Energy Goals (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/25/one-big-detail-could-derail-northwests-clean-energ/

14.   Misinformation Is Derailing Renewable Energy Projects Across the United States (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/28/1086790531/renewable-energy-projects-wind-energy-solar-energy-climate-change-misinformation

15.   Frustrated with Utilities, Some Are Leaving the Grid (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/seattle_times/frustrated-with-utilities-some-are-leaving-the-grid/article_a76f02f5-f130-5cec-b02e-daa8e109dd4c.html

16.   WA Gov. Jay Inslee Has Solar Panels Installed at His Home on Bainbridge Island (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/03/24/gov-jay-inslee-has-solar-panels-installed-his-home-bainbridge-island/7122443001/

17.   Once The Epicenter of the Oilpatch, Texas Now Humming with Wind & Solar Power (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bakx-texas-wind-solar-1.6390107?cmp=rss

18.   Bountiful Wind, Sun Boost German Renewable Power This Year (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2022-03-28/bountiful-wind-sun-boost-german-renewable-power-this-year

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   U.S. Energy Dept. Pushes Heat Pumps to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/03/28/heat-pumps-energy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Lewis River Fish Passages Back on Track in New Plan from PacifiCorp (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/lewis-river-fish-passages-back-on-track-in-new-plan-from-pacificorp/article_b0e9ab34-3a63-530a-95b6-0a5a01c75e50.html

21.   Fishing Seasons on Clearwater, Salmon, & Snake Rivers Begin in Less Than a Month (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/27/seasons-on-clearwater-salmon-and-snake-rivers-begi/

22.   Holding Out Hope on the Upper Columbia River (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/holding-hope-upper-columbia-122100214.html

23.   New Orca Listening Post Installed in Puget Sound (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/26/new-orca-listening-post-installed-in-puget-sound/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   California’s Snowpack Is ‘Roasting in the Dry & Sunny Conditions’ (San Francisco Chronicle, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Snowpack-melting-in-heat-wave-17028307.php

25.   Race to the Bottom: Draining Oregon’s Summer Lake (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/28/race-to-the-bottom-draining-summer-lake/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   Some Cities Have Outlawed New Natural Gas Hookups – There’s No Nationwide Ban (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/verify/environment-verify/natural-gas-hookups-new-constructions-not-banned-nationally-united-states/536-94a963ee-ca1a-49f0-a00c-5b440f098e25

27.   Huge Ice Shelf Collapses Amid Antarctic Heat Wave (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/huge-ice-shelf-collapses-amid-antarctic-heat-wave/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Alaska Internet ‘Gold Rush’: Billions Could Be Headed to Rural Communities to Close the Digital Divide (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2022/03/27/alaska-internet-gold-rush-billions-could-be-headed-to-rural-communities-to-close-the-digital-divide/

29.   Should States Fund Municipal Broadband & Cooperatives? (Governing)

https://www.governing.com/now/should-states-fund-municipal-broadband-and-cooperatives

30.   Mark Vasconi Appointed to Lead Washington State Broadband Office (Washington State Dept. of Commerce)

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news/mark-vasconi-appointed-to-lead-washington-state-broadband-office/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Defer Higher Rates for Five Crypto Customers — For Two Months (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/chelan-pud-commissioners-defer-higher-rates-for-5-crypto-customers-for-two-months/article_8bdfd19c-aa42-11ec-a4a3-3f1f42191520.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

32.   WA State: An Electric Vehicle Future Is on the Horizon – Here’s How It Could Affect Spokane (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/28/an-electric-vehicle-future-is-on-the-horizon-heres/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

33.   Three Ways REI Shapes Its Co-op Story (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/three-ways-rei-shapes-its-co-op-story/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

34.   Move Ahead Washington Plan Takes a Completely new Approach to Transportation in Washington (The Daily Fly)

https://lcvalley.dailyfly.com/Home/ArtMID/1352/userid/6/ArticleID/62837/Move-Ahead-Washington-Plan-Takes-a-Completely-new-Approach-to-Transportation-in-Washington

35.   Supreme Court Agrees to Review California Law on Pork Sales (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-california-pork-sales-31d24e59608b7cb517918325a1977d31

36.   The New National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles Glows with Nostalgia (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2022/03/the-new-national-neon-sign-museum-in-the-dalles-glows-with-nostalgia.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Supersized Goldfish Could Become Superinvaders

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/supersized-goldfish-could-become-superinvaders/

‘CODA’, DeBose, Campion Big Winners on Dramatic Oscars Night

https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Movies/2022/0328/CODA-DeBose-Campion-big-winners-on-dramatic-Oscars-night

All-Blue-Blood Final Four: Only Elite Programs Left After Upset-Laden NCAA Tournament

https://sports.yahoo.com/blue-blood-final-four-only-elite-programs-are-left-after-upset-laden-ncaa-tournament-231132898.html

Rare Copy of First Marvel Comic Sells for $2.4 Million

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/oddities/rare-copy-of-first-marvel-comic-sells-for-2-4-million/

SONG OF THE DAY

Jerry Goldsmith – Hoosiers (Main Theme, Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ZQvFj7n4g

The Energy News Digest for March 23, 2022

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

Tearing Out Lower Snake River Dams Gaining Support in Washington, DC & WA State (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article259661015.html

Conservation Groups Ask EPA to Require Greenhouse Gas Reporting for Hydropower (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/conservation-groups-ask-epa-to-require-greenhouse-gas-reporting-for-hydropower-69478502

Lackluster La Niña Winter Results in Lighter-Than-Normal Snowfall, Low Snowpack (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/21/lackluster-la-nina-winter-results-in-lighter-than-/

California: A Chumash Tribe & Conservationists Fight Offshore Wind Turbines (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-03-21/nobody-seems-to-like-this-california-wind-power-proposal

Groups Urge Alaska to Protect British Columbia-Bound Salmon, Criticize Treaty (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-treaty-concerns-1.6393473

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Tearing Out Lower Snake River Dams Gaining Support in Washington, DC & WA State

2.      Not Only Is Lake Powell’s Water Level Plummeting Because of Drought, Its Total Capacity Is Shrinking

3.      90,000 Dams in America: Just 2,500 Produce Hydropower

4.      Salt River Project Faces Backlash on Proposed Arizona Gas Plant Expansion: ‘You’re Pushing It Down Their Throat’

5.      State House Bill Would Streamline Approval of Small Nuclear Reactors in Alaska

6.      Ukraine’s Plight May Boost Small Reactors If Costs Are Tamed

7.      Energy Grants for U.S. Tribes Aimed at Aiding Vast Power Needs

8.      WA State: Grant PUD Continues to Replace Power Poles Wiped Out by Canal Break Last Week

9.      WA State: ‘A Deep Inner Meaning’: Seattle Returns Ancient Artifacts to Upper Skagit Tribe

10.   Power Outage Alert in Japan Amid Quake Damage, Cold Weather

11.   How Much Utilities Cost the Average Household in Your State

12.   Opinion: Big Hydro Excluded – The Good, The Bad, & the Ugly in Alaska’s Renewable Energy Bill

13.   Commentary: Protecting the Lower Snake River Dams

14.   California: A Chumash Tribe & Conservationists Fight Offshore Wind Turbines

15.   Moses Lake, WA: Bill Passage Sets Stage for Local Silicon Manufacturing

16.   WA State: New Solar Array Proposed in South Everett Would Benefit Snohomish PUD Bill-Aid Program

17.   Idaho Utility Launches Renewable Energy Program with 40-MW Solar Project

18.   Giant Wind Turbine Blade Finally Plucked from Oregon Roadside

19.   Groups Urge Alaska to Protect British Columbia-Bound Salmon, Criticize Treaty

20.   U.S. Senator Merkley (OR-D) Discusses Salmon, Russia at Virtual Town Hall

21.   Special Group of Gray Whales Shows Up Earlier Than Ever in Puget Sound

22.   Whooshh! Santee Cooper Sends Fish Flying Over Santee Spillway

23.   Lackluster La Niña Winter Results in Lighter-Than-Normal Snowfall, Low Snowpack

24.   Hot Spring Forecast: Drought Deepens in West, Flooding Ebbs

25.   Oregon: Tap Water Returns to Warm Springs, But with a Boil Water Notice

26.   Conservation Groups Ask EPA to Require Greenhouse Gas Reporting for Hydropower

27.   Avista Among Utilities Requesting Judicial Review of Oregon’s Climate Protection Program

28.   New Corporate Climate Change Disclosures Proposed by SEC

29.   FCC Investigating Cost of Pole Replacements

30.   White House Repeats Warnings to Critical Infrastructure Sectors About Possible Russia Cyber Retaliation

31.   Electric Vehicles Have Surged in Washington State – Gas Cars Still Dominate

32.   As Gas Prices Rise, Towns Add Electric Car Charging Stations

33.   Tulip Farm Workers Go on Strike One Week Before Popular Mount Vernon, WA Festival

34.   Washington One of the Least Federally Dependent States

WORD OF THE DAY

Prolix \proh-LICKS\ Adjective – 1: unduly prolonged or drawn out: too long *2: marked by or using an excess of words.

Like King Canute commanding the tides to stop surging to the shore, the moderator knew that his admonition to the speaker about brevity was a fruitless effort to stem an expected torrent of prolix prose. “What more can be said about the importance of mineral oil to the health of baby bottoms,” droned the loquacious after-dinner speaker. “What more indeed,” murmured his wife, who surreptitiously glanced at her watch after two hours of oratorical obfuscation.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Tearing Out Lower Snake River Dams Gaining Support in Washington, DC & WA State (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article259661015.html

2.      Not Only Is Lake Powell’s Water Level Plummeting Because of Drought, Its Total Capacity Is Shrinking (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/21/us/lake-powell-capacity-shrinking-drought-climate/index.html

3.      90,000 Dams in America: Just 2,500 Produce Hydropower (Oil Price)

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/90000-Dams-In-America-Just-2500-Produce-Hydropower.html

4.      Salt River Project Faces Backlash on Proposed Arizona Gas Plant Expansion: ‘You’re Pushing It Down Their Throat’ (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/srp-faces-backlash-on-proposed-arizona-gas-plant-expansion-youre-pushing/620542/

5.      State House Bill Would Streamline Approval of Small Nuclear Reactors in Alaska (KTOO Radio, Juneau, AK)

https://www.ktoo.org/2022/03/21/nuclear-microreactor-regulations-alaska/

6.      Ukraine’s Plight May Boost Small Reactors If Costs Are Tamed (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/ukraines-plight-may-boost-small-reactors-if-costs-are-tamed/

7.      Energy Grants for U.S. Tribes Aimed at Aiding Vast Power Needs (Associated Press)

https://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/energy-grants-for-us-tribes-aimed-at-aiding-vast-power-needs/

8.      WA State: Grant PUD Continues to Replace Power Poles Wiped Out by Canal Break Last Week (iFiberOne, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/grant-pud-continues-to-replace-power-poles-wiped-out-by-canal-break-last-week/article_dac878ce-aa0e-11ec-8d5f-c3e1758853cb.html

9.      WA State: ‘A Deep Inner Meaning’: Seattle Returns Ancient Artifacts to Upper Skagit Tribe (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/a-deep-inner-meaning-seattle-returns-ancient-artifacts-to-upper-skagit-tribe/

10.   Power Outage Alert in Japan Amid Quake Damage, Cold Weather (Associated Press)

https://ktar.com/story/4961831/power-outage-alert-in-japan-amid-quake-damage-cold-weather/

11.   How Much Utilities Cost the Average Household in Your State (Cheapism Blog)

https://blog.cheapism.com/average-utility-cost/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Opinion: Big Hydro Excluded – The Good, The Bad, & the Ugly in Alaska’s Renewable Energy Bill (Juneau Empire, AK)

https://www.juneauempire.com/opinion/opinion-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-in-alaskas-renewable-energy-bill/?utm_medium=email

13.   Commentary: Protecting the Lower Snake River Dams (U.S. Rep. McMorris Rogers, WA)

https://mcmorris.house.gov/posts/protecting-the-lower-snake-river-dams

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   California: A Chumash Tribe & Conservationists Fight Offshore Wind Turbines (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-03-21/nobody-seems-to-like-this-california-wind-power-proposal

15.   Moses Lake, WA: Bill Passage Sets Stage for Local Silicon Manufacturing (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/mar/23/bill-passage-sets-stage-local-silicon-manufacturin/

16.   WA State: New Solar Array Proposed in South Everett Would Benefit Snohomish PUD Bill-Aid Program (Snohomish Tribune, WA)

http://www.snoho.com/html/stories_2022/03232022_pud_solar_proposed_for_casino_road.html

17.   Idaho Utility Launches Renewable Energy Program with 40-MW Solar Project (Solar Power World)

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/03/idaho-utility-launches-renewable-energy-program-with-solar-project/

18.   Giant Wind Turbine Blade Finally Plucked from Oregon Roadside (KFLD Radio, Pasco, WA)

https://newstalk870.am/giant-wind-turbine-blade-finally-plucked-from-oregon-roadside/

FISH & WILDLIFE

19.   Groups Urge Alaska to Protect British Columbia-Bound Salmon, Criticize Treaty (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-treaty-concerns-1.6393473

20.   U.S. Senator Merkley (OR-D) Discusses Salmon, Russia at Virtual Town Hall (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/merkley-discusses-salmon-russia-virtual-024800080.html

21.   Special Group of Gray Whales Shows Up Earlier Than Ever in Puget Sound (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/term/news-0/2022-03-21/special-group-of-gray-whales-shows-up-earlier-than-ever-in-puget-sound

22.   Whooshh! Santee Cooper Sends Fish Flying Over Santee Spillway (Transmission & Distribution World)

https://www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations/article/21236619/whooshh-santee-cooper-sends-fish-flying-over-santee-spillway

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   Lackluster La Niña Winter Results in Lighter-Than-Normal Snowfall, Low Snowpack (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/21/lackluster-la-nina-winter-results-in-lighter-than-/

24.   Hot Spring Forecast: Drought Deepens in West, Flooding Ebbs (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Hot-spring-forecast-Drought-deepens-in-West-17010133.php

25.   Oregon: Tap Water Returns to Warm Springs, But with a Boil Water Notice (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/23/warm-springs-tap-water-returns-but-boil-notice/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   Conservation Groups Ask EPA to Require Greenhouse Gas Reporting for Hydropower (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/conservation-groups-ask-epa-to-require-greenhouse-gas-reporting-for-hydropower-69478502

27.   Avista Among Utilities Requesting Judicial Review of Oregon’s Climate Protection Program (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/34308-avista-among-utilities-requesting-judicial-review-of-oregons-clime-protection-program/

28.   New Corporate Climate Change Disclosures Proposed by SEC (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/New-rules-for-companies-on-climate-risks-proposed-17018010.php

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   FCC Investigating Cost of Pole Replacements (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2022/03/23/fcc-investigating-cost-of-pole-replacements/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

30.   White House Repeats Warnings to Critical Infrastructure Sectors About Possible Russia Cyber Retaliation (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/white-house-warns-russian-cyberattack-ukraine/620802/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   Electric Vehicles Have Surged in Washington State – Gas Cars Still Dominate (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/electric-vehicle-sales-have-surged-in-wa-but-gas-cars-still-dominate

32.   As Gas Prices Rise, Towns Add Electric Car Charging Stations (Associated Press)

https://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/technology/as-gas-prices-rise-towns-add-electric-car-charging-stations/article_6589bd90-5b9b-5ebd-a0b4-b5ce7adf768c.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

33.   Tulip Farm Workers Go on Strike One Week Before Popular Mount Vernon, WA Festival (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/farm-worker-strike-skagit-valley-tulip-festival/281-86d05687-6ab7-4d9d-9f94-8c9eb9c924b4

34.   Washington One of the Least Federally Dependent States (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/washington-one-of-the-least-federally-dependent-states/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Woman Paddles 250 Miles of the Columbia River

https://www.kgw.com/article/features/producers-picks/former-clark-county-teacher-paddles-columbia-river/283-600c8578-0892-46b8-adc5-7ef41649f4f8

How the Webb Space Telescope Will Support the Search for Alien Life

https://gizmodo.com/how-the-webb-space-telescope-will-support-the-search-fo-1848691660

252 People Wearing Lion Costumes Set World Record in Ireland

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/03/23/ireland-Guinness-World-Record-gathering-of-people-dressed-as-lions/9241648055508/

Receipt For Invisible Artwork by Yves Klein Expected to Fetch Up to $551,000

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/03/23/Sothebys-Yves-Klein-invisible-artwork-receipt-auction/9491648058376/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles – You Won’t See Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsjTO0yZQjk