The Energy News Digest for September 11, 2023

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.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Two Men Plead Guilty to Vandalizing Power Substations in Washington State on Christmas Day (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/07/tacoma-substation-attack/

Extremists Keep Trying to Trigger Mass Blackouts — And That’s Not Even the Scariest Part (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/08/power-grid-attacks-00114563

WA’s Third Quarterly Carbon Auction Brings in More Than $541 Million (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_92b02840-4d12-11ee-8baa-07b6cce710e5.html

World’s Largest Dam Removal Project Begins on Klamath River with Many Questions Left (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/2023/09/10/klamath-river-dams-demolition-project-underway/70796653007/

The U.S. Marks 22 Years Since 9/11 with Tributes & Tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska (Associated Press)

https://news.yahoo.com/united-states-marks-22-years-040427265.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Two Men Plead Guilty to Vandalizing Power Substations in Washington State on Christmas Day

2.      Extremists Keep Trying to Trigger Mass Blackouts — And That’s Not Even the Scariest Part

3.      World’s Largest Dam Removal Project Begins on Klamath River with Many Questions Left

4.      Why & How Should We Modernize U.S. Hydropower Facilities?

5.      Demand for Electricity in Oregon Predicted to Rise

6.      WA State: Chelan County PUD Staff Recommends Opting Out of Federal Ratemaking, Electric Vehicle Program Standards

7.      Alaska: Consensus Among Region’s Utilities – Imports of Liquefied Natural Gas Will Be Needed to Offset Shortfalls

8.      Puget Sound Energy Launches Targeted Electrification Pilot Among 10,000 Natural Gas Customers

9.      Nevada: Power Pole Plant Fire in Silver Springs

10.   Avista Corp. Names New President & Announces Senior Leadership Changes

11.   Hydropower Project in Pasco Gets Federal Funding

12.   Could Irrigation Canals Generate Clean Electricity? Eastern WA Chosen for $1.6 Million Test

13.   Public Comment Open for Potential Offshore Wind Farming Along Oregon Coast

14.   Montana: Northern Cheyenne Plan Utility-Scale Energy Project on Reservation

15.   Why Native American Tribes Struggle to Tap Billions in Clean Energy Incentives

16.   U.S. Solar Installations Expected to Jump 52% to Nearly 32 GW in 2023: SEIA

17.   Smart Plugs Recalled Over Shock Risk

18.   Oxford Study Proves Heat Pumps Triumph Over Fossil Fuels in the Cold

19.   Coho Salmon Fishing Season on Columbia River Should be a Good One

20.   More Wild Atlantic Salmon Found in U.S. Rivers Than Any Time in the Past Decade, Officials Say

21.   Tennis Ball Wasteland? Game Grapples with a Fuzzy Yellow Recycling Problem

22.   The Great Salt Lake Is Shrinking Rapidly, And Utah Has Failed to Stop It, a Lawsuit Contends

23.   ‘Without Water, We Have Nothing’: Native, Indigenous Communities Return to North Portland for Water Ceremony

24.   WA’s Third Quarterly Carbon Auction Brings in More Than $541 Million

25.   Washington State to Hold Second Emergency Carbon Auction on Nov. 8

26.   Microsoft Funding New Approach for Carbon Removal

27.   Video: Is the Cost of Installing Rural Broadband Worth It?

28.   Microsoft Is Using a Hell of a Lot of Water to Flood the World with Artificial Intelligence

29.   Electric Cars Have a Road Trip Problem, Even for the Secretary of Energy

30.   Exclusive: ChatGPT Traffic Slips Again for Third Month in a Row

31.   Amazon to Require Some Authors to Disclose the Use of Artificial Intelligence Material

32.   Finally There Are Five: Gomez Confirmed as FCC Commissioner

33.   The U.S. Marks 22 Years Since 9/11 with Tributes & Tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska

34.   WA State: Law Firm Investigating Gray Fire as Residents Realize Total Reimbursement Unlikely – Electric Utilities Eyed

35.   Major El Nino Developing – The Upcoming Winter May Be an Interesting One for the West Coast

36.   Guest Essay: We Need Some Transparency in Columbia River System Lawsuit

37.   Editorial: Invest in Internet Infrastructure Expansion

WORD OF THE DAY

Orotund /ORE-uh-tund/ Adjective – Describes something—usually a voice—marked by fullness, strength, and clarity of sound. It can also be used disapprovingly to mean “pompous” or “bombastic.”

The orotund tones of Walter Winchell’s voice boomed out at 6:45 each night, “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. North and South America and all the ships at sea ... let’s go to press!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Two Men Plead Guilty to Vandalizing Power Substations in Washington State on Christmas Day (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/07/tacoma-substation-attack/

2.      Extremists Keep Trying to Trigger Mass Blackouts — And That’s Not Even the Scariest Part (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/08/power-grid-attacks-00114563

3.      World’s Largest Dam Removal Project Begins on Klamath River with Many Questions Left (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/2023/09/10/klamath-river-dams-demolition-project-underway/70796653007/

4.      Why & How Should We Modernize U.S. Hydropower Facilities? (U.S. Dept of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/why-and-how-should-we-modernize-us-hydropower-facilities

5.      Demand for Electricity in Oregon Predicted to Rise (KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://www.kezi.com/news/demand-for-electricity-in-oregon-predicted-to-rise/article_4a74264c-4cfb-11ee-aced-df9e6b8c82ea.html

6.      WA State: Chelan County PUD Staff Recommends Opting Out of Federal Ratemaking, Electric Vehicle Program Standards (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/chelan-county-pud-staff-recommends-opting-out-of-federal-ratemaking-ev-program-standards/article_d06249dc-4c51-11ee-975a-d714af7cc9da.html

7.      Alaska: Consensus Among Region’s Utilities – Imports of Liquefied Natural Gas Will Be Needed to Offset Shortfalls (Anchorage Press, AK)

https://www.anchoragepress.com/news/consensus-among-region-s-utilities-imports-of-liquefied-natural-gas-will-be-needed-to-offset/article_c4face3e-4dd7-11ee-8e7c-4349bb9f49a2.html

8.      Puget Sound Energy Launches Targeted Electrification Pilot Among 10,000 Natural Gas Customers (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/41066-puget-sound-energy-launches-targeted-electrification-pilot-among-10000-natural-gas-customers/

9.      Nevada: Power Pole Plant Fire in Silver Springs (KOLO-TV, Reno, NV)

https://www.kolotv.com/2023/09/10/power-pole-plant-fire-silver-springs/

10.   Avista Corp. Names New President & Announces Senior Leadership Changes (Avista News Release)

https://investor.avistacorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/avista-corp-names-new-president-and-announces-senior-leadership

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   Hydropower Project in Pasco Gets Federal Funding (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/hydropower-project-in-pasco-gets-federal-funding/article_a9cd7226-4cf4-11ee-86f7-0f02939d9c9f.html

12.   Could Irrigation Canals Generate Clean Electricity? Eastern WA Chosen for $1.6 Million Test (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/washington/article278998334.html

13.   Public Comment Open for Potential Offshore Wind Farming Along Oregon Coast (KOBI-TV, Medford, OR)

https://kobi5.com/news/public-comment-offshore-wind-farming-oregon-coast-curry-coos-county-senator-wyden-merkley-214475/

14.   Montana: Northern Cheyenne Plan Utility-Scale Energy Project on Reservation (Montana Standard)

https://mtstandard.com/news/native-americans-inflation-reduction-act-tax-credits-renewable-energy/article_3ed4cb51-bc56-51a9-b05c-c342df61a2d6.html

15.   Why Native American Tribes Struggle to Tap Billions in Clean Energy Incentives (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/why-us-tribes-struggle-tap-billions-clean-energy-incentives-2023-09-08/

16.   U.S. Solar Installations Expected to Jump 52% to Nearly 32 GW in 2023: SEIA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-rebound-installations-seia-record-year/693027/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   Smart Plugs Recalled Over Shock Risk (KSAZ-TV, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/smart-plug-emporia-recall-shock-hazard

18.   Oxford Study Proves Heat Pumps Triumph Over Fossil Fuels in the Cold (National Observer, Canada)

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/09/11/news/oxford-study-proves-heat-pumps-triumph-over-fossil-fuels-cold

FISH & WILDLIFE

19.   Coho Salmon Fishing Season on Columbia River Should be a Good One (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/sep/09/coho-salmon-fishing-season-on-columbia-river-should-be-a-good-one/

20.   More Wild Atlantic Salmon Found in U.S. Rivers Than Any Time in the Past Decade, Officials Say (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/salmon-rivers-maine-recovering-endangered-fishing-174eb09c19652bcd54d4d9ee9dec2dae

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

21.   Tennis Ball Wasteland? Game Grapples with a Fuzzy Yellow Recycling Problem (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/tennis-recycling-sustainability-environment-us-open-climate-573d1c356560defaaa8a1f997e12e8a1

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   The Great Salt Lake Is Shrinking Rapidly, And Utah Has Failed to Stop It, a Lawsuit Contends (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/06/utah-great-salt-lake-lawsuit-shrink-00114397

23.   ‘Without Water, We Have Nothing’: Native, Indigenous Communities Return to North Portland for Water Ceremony (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2023/09/without-water-we-have-nothing-native-indigenous-communities-return-to-north-portland-for-water-ceremony.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   WA’s Third Quarterly Carbon Auction Brings in More Than $541 Million (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_92b02840-4d12-11ee-8baa-07b6cce710e5.html

25.   Washington State to Hold Second Emergency Carbon Auction on Nov. 8 (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_a9dbb2a2-4dce-11ee-bafd-0fa7bdb1d273.html

26.   Microsoft Funding New Approach for Carbon Removal (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/business/4193168-microsoft-funding-new-approach-for-carbon-removal/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   Video: Is the Cost of Installing Rural Broadband Worth It? (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/video/series/tech-news-briefing/is-the-cost-of-installing-rural-broadband-worth-it/2F89513F-70B7-4F67-A62F-6722D1EC4016

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

28.   Microsoft Is Using a Hell of a Lot of Water to Flood the World with Artificial Intelligence (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/microsoft-water-usage-ai-iowa-data-center-1850826419

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Electric Cars Have a Road Trip Problem, Even for the Secretary of Energy (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/10/1187224861/electric-vehicles-evs-cars-chargers-charging-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Exclusive: ChatGPT Traffic Slips Again for Third Month in a Row (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/chatgpt-traffic-slips-again-third-month-row-2023-09-07/

31.   Amazon to Require Some Authors to Disclose the Use of Artificial Intelligence Material (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3929119/amazon-require-authors-disclose-use-ai/

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

32.   Finally There Are Five: Gomez Confirmed as FCC Commissioner (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/finally-there-are-five-gomez-confirmed-as-fcc-commissioner/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

33.   The U.S. Marks 22 Years Since 9/11 with Tributes & Tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska (Associated Press)

https://news.yahoo.com/united-states-marks-22-years-040427265.html

34.   WA State: Law Firm Investigating Gray Fire as Residents Realize Total Reimbursement Unlikely – Electric Utilities Eyed (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/sep/08/law-firm-investigating-gray-fire-as-residents-real/

35.   Major El Nino Developing – The Upcoming Winter May Be an Interesting One for the West Coast (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/09/major-el-nino-developing.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

36.   Guest Essay: We Need Some Transparency in Columbia River System Lawsuit (Lewiston Morning Tribune, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lmtribune.com/opinion/opinion-we-need-some-transparency-in-river-systems-lawsuit/article_cc62697b-f20d-54e0-9d2d-dff9c2847af2.html

37.   Editorial: Invest in Internet Infrastructure Expansion (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/sep/07/in-our-view-invest-in-internet-infrastructure-expansion/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Comet Nishimura Will Pass Earth for First Time in Over 400 Years: How to Find & Watch It

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/comet-nishimura-pass-earth-first-232135529.html

A Norwegian Man Needed a Hobby. His New Metal Detector Found a Showy 1,500-Year-Old Gold Necklace

https://apnews.com/article/norway-archaeological-find-gold-21128442b7638f3e1203c2728d494ec7

Dad Gets 667 Tattoos of Daughter’s Name, Reclaims World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/09/11/Guinness-World-Records-Lucy-tattoos/3681694454606/

Long-Lost X-Wing Model from ‘Star Wars’ 1977 Up for Auction

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/09/11/Heritage-Auctions-Star-Wars-X-wing-long-lost/8531694450713/

SONG OF THE DAY

Hello Leitmotif: John Williams – Scherzo for X-Wings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJzuanMUuS4

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

I try to choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription. Individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help access some paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for September 6, 2023

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.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Federal Government, Salmon Advocates Agree to Continue Talks That Could Lead to Breaching Snake River Dams (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/aug/31/federal-government-salmon-advocates-agree-to-conti/

State of Oregon Keeps Reasons for Salmon Policy Change Under Wraps (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/state-of-oregon-keeps-reasons-for-salmon-policy-change-under-wraps/

Washington Truckers Taking Dept. of Ecology to Court Over Fuel Surcharges (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/truckers-suing-department-of-ecology-fuel-surcharge/281-c9205e16-aa9a-4f25-9f77-764bab159623

Ninth Circuit Largely Upholds FERC PURPA Reform Decision Affecting Small Solar, Wind (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ninth-circuit-ferc-purpa-reform-solar-wind-idaho-power-seia/692817/

Oregonians Won’t See Clean Energy Rebates Until Mid-2024 (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2023/08/oregonians-wont-see-clean-energy-rebates-until-mid-2024.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Federal Government, Salmon Advocates Agree to Continue Talks That Could Lead to Breaching Snake River Dams

2.      Dam Removal Still on Table as Settlement Talks Over Lower Snake River Operations Continue

3.      Public Power Council, Inland Ports & Navigation Group, Northwest RiverPartners Release Joint Statement on Biden Administration Extension of Columbia River System Operations Litigation Mediation

4.      Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why

5.      Powered by Wind, this $10 Billion Transmission Line in the Western U.S. Will Carry More Energy Than the Hoover Dam

6.      U.S. House GOP Questions Hawaii Utility Over Maui Wildfire

7.      Washington Had Some of the Nation’s Worst Power Outages in 2021

8.      How an Ice Storm Sent Oregon Power Outages Soaring

9.      WA State: Man Dies After Crashing into Utility Pole, Contacting Power Lines

10.   BANC, SMUD Move Forward with Consideration of CAISO Extended Day-Ahead Market

11.   Colorado: Facing Declining Membership, Tri-State Offers to Sell Excess Power

12.   Public Power Utilities in Fla. Wrap Up Power Restoration Efforts in Wake of Hurricane

13.   States Withhold Cooling Aid for the Poor as Heat Gets Deadlier

14.   Can the Meter Invade Your Home?

15.   Ninth Circuit Largely Upholds FERC PURPA Reform Decision Affecting Small Solar, Wind

16.   Nearly Three Dozen Rural WA Businesses to Share in $6 Million for Energy-Saving Tech

17.   Idaho Power Wants to Change How It Pays for Sending Excess Solar Back to the Grid

18.   Pumped Storage Hydropower Is the Greenest Renewable Energy Technology, Study Says

19.   Oregonians Won’t See Clean Energy Rebates Until Mid-2024

20.   Heating U.S. Commercial Buildings Is Most Energy Intensive in Cold Climates

21.   Lower Your Electric, Gas and Water Bills This Fall: Hacks That Actually Work

22.   State of Oregon Keeps Reasons for Salmon Policy Change Under Wraps

23.   WA State: One-of-A-Kind Helix Fish Passage Nears Completion at Cle Elum Dam

24.   Washington Truckers Taking Dept. of Ecology to Court Over Fuel Surcharges

25.   Washington Gas at $5.09 Per Gallon Ahead of Wednesday’s Carbon Auction Results

26.   Carbon Credit Market Confidence Ebbs as Big Names Retreat

27.   This Summer Broke the World Record for the Highest Temperature Officially Recorded

28.   Rocketing Boulders, Dwindling Streams: Signs of WA’s Shriveling Glaciers

29.   U.S. Broadband Grant Rules Shut Out Small ISPs & Municipalities, Advocates Say

30.   USDA Broadband Programs May Be Heading Off the Rails

31.   Satellite May Sound Like the Future, But It Could Stick Broadband Users in the Past

32.   Fries of the Future Could Use Less Pesticides, Water & Be More Resilient to Climate Change

33.   Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Must Start Planning for a Future Without the Lower Four Snake River Dams

34.   Guest Essay: Why You Should Give a Damn About America’s Dams

35.   Editorial: A Step Closer to Tech Equity Through Broadband Expansion

WORD OF THE DAY

Copacetic /coe-puh-SET-tick/ Adjective – Things that are very satisfactory.

And you just don’t get it, you keep it copacetic

And you learn to accept it, you know it’s so pathetic

And you just don’t get it, you keep it copacetic

And you learn to accept it, you know it’s so pathetic

-                Local H - Bound for the Floor

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Federal Government, Salmon Advocates Agree to Continue Talks That Could Lead to Breaching Snake River Dams (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/aug/31/federal-government-salmon-advocates-agree-to-conti/

2.      Dam Removal Still on Table as Settlement Talks Over Lower Snake River Operations Continue (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/dam-removal-still-on-table-as-settlement-talks-over-lower-snake-river-operations-continue/

3.      Public Power Council, Inland Ports & Navigation Group, Northwest RiverPartners release joint statement on Biden Administration extension of Columbia River System Operations litigation mediation (NW RiverPartners)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2023/09/public-power-council-inland-ports.html

4.      Green Groups Are Divided Over a Proposal to Boost the Nation’s Hydropower. Here’s Why (Inside Climate News)

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01092023/green-groups-divided-over-proposal-to-boost-hydropower-climate-change-emissions/

5.      Powered by Wind, this $10 Billion Transmission Line in the Western U.S. Will Carry More Energy Than the Hoover Dam (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/renewable-energy-line-sunzia-arizona-california-a541af36657a299a1a0822e75f943b9f

6.      U.S. House GOP Questions Hawaii Utility Over Maui Wildfire (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/newsletters/energy-environment/4182125-house-gop-questions-hawaii-utility-over-maui-wildfire/

7.      Washington Had Some of the Nation’s Worst Power Outages in 2021 (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/09/06/washington-state-power-outages

8.      How an Ice Storm Sent Oregon Power Outages Soaring (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/09/05/oregon-second-highest-power-outages-ice-storm-2021

9.      WA State: Man Dies After Crashing into Utility Pole, Contacting Power Lines (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/man-dies-after-crashing-into-utility-pole-contacting-power-lines/

10.   BANC, SMUD Move Forward with Consideration of CAISO Extended Day-Ahead Market (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/banc-smud-move-forward-with-consideration-caiso-extended-day-ahead-market

11.   Colorado: Facing Declining Membership, Tri-State Offers to Sell Excess Power (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/tri-state-offers-sell-excess-power-declining-membership-United-Power/692812/

12.   Public Power Utilities in Fla. Wrap Up Power Restoration Efforts in Wake of Hurricane (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/public-power-utilities-fla-wrap-power-restoration-efforts-wake-hurricane

13.   States Withhold Cooling Aid for the Poor as Heat Gets Deadlier (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/06/states-withhold-cooling-aid-for-the-poor-as-heat-gets-deadlier-p-00111977

14.   Can the Meter Invade Your Home? (Goldendale Sentinel, WA)

https://www.goldendalesentinel.com/news/can-the-meter-invade-your-home/article_b182ba70-4ccd-11ee-a44a-e7cbebeb2241.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   Ninth Circuit Largely Upholds FERC PURPA Reform Decision Affecting Small Solar, Wind (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ninth-circuit-ferc-purpa-reform-solar-wind-idaho-power-seia/692817/

16.   Nearly Three Dozen Rural WA Businesses to Share in $6 Million for Energy-Saving Tech (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_69ecb98e-4c3e-11ee-8a55-2b200736236b.html

17.   Idaho Power Wants to Change How It Pays for Sending Excess Solar Back to the Grid (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2023-09-06/idaho-power-public-utilities-commission-net-metering-solar

18.   Pumped Storage Hydropower Is the Greenest Renewable Energy Technology, Study Says (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/05/renewable-energy-sources-pumped-storage-hydropower/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Oregonians Won’t See Clean Energy Rebates Until Mid-2024 (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2023/08/oregonians-wont-see-clean-energy-rebates-until-mid-2024.html

20.   Heating U.S. Commercial Buildings Is Most Energy Intensive in Cold Climates (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60301

21.   Lower Your Electric, Gas and Water Bills This Fall: Hacks That Actually Work (C|NET News)

https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/lower-your-electric-gas-and-water-bills-this-fall-hacks-that-actually-work/

FISH & WILDLIFE

22.   State of Oregon Keeps Reasons for Salmon Policy Change Under Wraps (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/state-of-oregon-keeps-reasons-for-salmon-policy-change-under-wraps/

23.   WA State: One-of-A-Kind Helix Fish Passage Nears Completion at Cle Elum Dam (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/one-of-a-kind-helix-fish-passage-nears-completion-at-cle-elum-dam/article_f24f103e-4931-11ee-b98d-83fd6c023edc.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   Washington Truckers Taking Dept. of Ecology to Court Over Fuel Surcharges (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/truckers-suing-department-of-ecology-fuel-surcharge/281-c9205e16-aa9a-4f25-9f77-764bab159623

25.   Washington Gas at $5.09 Per Gallon Ahead of Wednesday’s Carbon Auction Results (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_df08aeac-4c44-11ee-8592-cb7492888bc6.html

26.   Carbon Credit Market Confidence Ebbs as Big Names Retreat (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/carbon-credit-market-confidence-ebbs-big-names-retreat-2023-09-01/

27.   This Summer Broke the World Record for the Highest Temperature Officially Recorded (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/un-hottest-summer-climate-change-b7c7936070952da781af01288607b1f1

28.   Rocketing Boulders, Dwindling Streams: Signs of WA’s Shriveling Glaciers (KUOW News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/rocketing-boulders-dwindling-streams-the-toll-of-washington-s-shriveling-glaciers

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   U.S. Broadband Grant Rules Shut Out Small ISPs & Municipalities, Advocates Say (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/09/big-isps-will-dominate-42b-grant-fund-if-rules-arent-changed-advocates-say/

30.   USDA Broadband Programs May Be Heading Off the Rails (Las Vegas Sun, NV)

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2023/sep/06/usda-broadband-programs-may-be-heading-off-the-rai//

31.   Satellite May Sound Like the Future, But It Could Stick Broadband Users in the Past (Newsweek)

https://www.newsweek.com/satellite-may-sound-like-future-it-could-stick-broadband-users-past-1824701

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32.   Fries of the Future Could Use Less Pesticides, Water & Be More Resilient to Climate Change (Northwest News Network)

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/2023-08-31/fries-of-the-future-could-use-less-pesticides-water-and-be-more-resilient-to-climate-change

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

33.   Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Must Start Planning for a Future Without the Lower Four Snake River Dams (LaGrande Observer, OR)

https://www.lagrandeobserver.com/opinion/columns/other-views-bpa-must-start-planning-for-a-future-without-the-lower-four-dams/article_82c025a8-46ae-11ee-a353-b34ce9f485c7.html

34.   Guest Essay: Why You Should Give a Damn About America’s Dams (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/4188635-why-you-should-give-a-damn-about-americas-dams/

35.   Editorial: A Step Closer to Tech Equity Through Broadband Expansion (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/a-step-closer-to-tech-equity-through-broadband-expansion/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Musician Gary Wright Dead at 80

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gary-wright-dead-dream-weaver_n_64f66f82e4b00241f8546606

Corgis Parade Outside Buckingham Palace to Remember Queen Elizabeth II a Year Since Her Death

https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-corgis-parade-b4d15b4e5d787ee550fd6fa51a34ffb9

Competitors Get Down & Dirty At Britain’s Bog Snorkeling Championships

https://apnews.com/article/uk-wales-bog-snorkeling-championships-f70738df2e36de433dc9e74849d2ecc4

A 5-Year-Old’s Lemonade Stand in Seattle Raised Over $17,000 for Victims of Maui Wildfires

https://news.yahoo.com/5-olds-lemonade-stand-seattle-035012560.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Gary Wright - Dream Weaver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McZYYe0kAtg

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