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ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION
Power Supply Conference – December 5, 2023, in Portland, OR
Conference Overview: The NWPPA Power Supply Conference provides the expertise and insight to inform power supply decisions.
Former FERC Chair Richard Glick will be the keynote speaker.
Who Should Attend: Power supply professionals; policymakers; general managers and CEOs; and finance, rate, and risk department managers.
HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
NuScale, UAMPS
Terminate Small Modular Reactor Project in Idaho (Utility Dive)
Congressmen
Criticize Federal Council on Environmental Quality Involvement in Lower Snake
River Dams Negotiations (Pacific NW Ag Network)
https://pnwag.net/bentz-criticizes-ceq-lower-snake-river-dams/
Washington Farm
Bureau Seeks Legislative Action on Ag Fuel-Tax Dispute (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_072dbf66-8026-11ee-bad4-6bfc6e91b64d.html
Japanese Americans
Were Jailed in an Idaho Desert. Survivors Worry a Wind Farm Will Overshadow the
Past (Associated Press)
First Atmospheric
River Storm of the Season Targets California Next Week (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/11/weather/california-weather-atmospheric-river-west-climate/index.html
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1. NuScale,
UAMPS Terminate Small Modular Reactor Project in Idaho
2. Future
of Small Reactors at Stake as NuScale Deal Flops
3. Small
Modular Reactor Project Cancellation Draws Local Responses
4. UN
Nuclear Chief Says Nuclear Energy Must Be Part of the Equation to Tackle
Climate Change
5. Congressmen
Criticize Federal Council on Environmental Quality Involvement in Lower Snake
River Dams Negotiations
6. Why
Rural Nevada Electric Co-Ops Are Watching Proposals to Remove Snake River Dams
7. Negotiating
the Power of the Columbia River
8. Video:
Canada’s Sinixt Want a Say in Columbia River Treaty Renegotiations
9. Oregon:
PacifiCorp Wants State to Protect It from Future Wildfire Lawsuits. Past
Victims Are Disgusted
10. Montana:
Commissioners Asked to Undo 28% Rate Increase for NorthWestern Energy
11. California:
Pacific Gas & Electric Files Application to Keep Diablo Canyon Nuclear
Power Plant Operating Until 2045
12. Puget
Sound Energy Gas Customers Want to Disconnect from Proposed Rate Hike
13. Fake
Avista GoFundMe Asks Customers to Help Support ‘Workers Facing Financial
Challenges’
14. Japanese
Americans Were Jailed in an Idaho Desert. Survivors Worry a Wind Farm Will
Overshadow the Past
15. The
Air Force Asks Congress to Protect Its Nuclear Launch Sites from Encroaching
Wind Turbines
16. Oregon:
Tribe Passes Resolution Opposing Offshore Wind Energy Development, Citing
Impacts to Fisheries, Cultural Resources, & Heritage
17. Oregon:
800-Megawatt Solar Project Proposed in Wasco County
18. Solar
Developers Are Flocking to Kansas. They’re Finding Skepticism on the Plains
19. An
Innovative Financing Model Is Ensuring Everyone Can Afford a Heat Pump
20. Bonneville
Power Administration Retires Transformational Energy Efficiency Program
21. U.S.
Rep. Newhouse Blasts WA For Turning ‘Blind Eye’ to Puget Sound Pollution
Poisoning Salmon
22. Salmon
Are Vanishing from the Yukon River — And So Is a Way of Life
23. Fishery
on Elwha Rewards Tribe’s Long Push for River Restoration
24. Whale
Watchers Rejoice as Orca Sightings Increase Around Puget Sound
25. $73
Million Allocated to Provide Columbia River Water for Irrigation in Odessa
Subarea
26. Sewer
Rates Soar as Private Companies Buy Up Local Water Systems
27. Washington
Farm Bureau Seeks Legislative Action on Ag Fuel-Tax Dispute
28. WA
Uses Carbon Auction Funds to Make Largest Land Purchase in More Than a Decade
29. Washington
Is Missing Key Climate Goals, Advocates Claim State Leaders Lack Transparency
30. Projects
Are Underway to Improve Internet Speeds in Rural America
31. Here’s
Your Reminder to Sign into Your Old Gmail Account Before Google Deletes It
32. Turlock
Irrigation District Academy Offers Customers an Inside Look at Utility’s
Operations
33. What
Is a Personal Brand & a Brand’s Personality Online
34. Personalized
Weather Forecasting Gets Crucial for Energy Businesses
35. U.S.
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA) Won’t Run for Reelection in 2024 – Candidates in the
Offing
36. New
Speaker Mike Johnson Grasps for a Funding Plan with a Government Shutdown
Rapidly Approaching
37. First
Atmospheric River Storm of the Season Targets California Next Week
38. The
Pacific Northwest: Where Fronts Come to Die
39. Meteorologists
Just Released Snowfall Predictions for This Winter—Here’s Where Flakes Are Most
Likely to Fly
40. Earthen
Rivers Are Flowing Through the West’s Scorched Forests
41.
Guest Essay: California – Here’s Why San Diego
Needs a Not-for-Profit Public Electric Utility
WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION
Charm /charm/ Noun – 1a: the chanting or reciting of a magic spell b: a practice or expression believed to have magic power 2: something worn about the person to ward off evil or ensure good fortune 3a: a trait that fascinates, allures, or delights the charm of this imaginative story b: a physical grace or attraction c: compelling attractiveness 4: a small ornament worn on a bracelet or chain.
The rain. It falls...
Hard rain and soft drops
Charm of Pacific Northwest
Evergreen and sweet
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
NuScale, UAMPS Terminate Small Modular Reactor
Project in Idaho (Utility Dive)
2.
Future of Small Reactors at Stake as NuScale
Deal Flops (Canary Media)
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/nuclear/future-of-small-reactors-at-stake-as-nuscale-deal-flops
3.
Small Modular Reactor Project Cancellation Draws
Local Responses (Energy Central)
https://energycentral.com/news/small-modular-reactor-project-cancellation-draws-local-responses
4.
UN Nuclear Chief Says Nuclear Energy Must Be
Part of the Equation to Tackle Climate Change (Associated Press)
5.
Congressmen Criticize Federal Council on Environmental
Quality Involvement in Lower Snake River Dams Negotiations (Pacific NW Ag
Network)
https://pnwag.net/bentz-criticizes-ceq-lower-snake-river-dams/
6.
Why Rural Nevada Electric Co-Ops Are Watching
Proposals to Remove Snake River Dams (The Nevada Independent)
7.
Negotiating the Power of the Columbia River (The
World)
https://theworld.org/stories/2023-11-09/negotiating-power-columbia-river
8.
Video: Canada’s Sinixt Want a Say in Columbia
River Treaty Renegotiations (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281056323613
9.
Oregon: PacifiCorp Wants State to Protect It from
Future Wildfire Lawsuits. Past Victims Are Disgusted (The Oregonian, Portland,
OR)
10.
Montana: Commissioners Asked to Undo 28% Rate
Increase for NorthWestern Energy (The Billings Gazette, MT)
11.
California: Pacific Gas & Electric Files
Application to Keep Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Operating Until 2045
(KCBX Radio, San Luis Obispo, CA)
12.
Puget Sound Energy Gas Customers Want to
Disconnect from Proposed Rate Hike (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)
13.
Fake Avista GoFundMe Asks Customers to Help
Support ‘Workers Facing Financial Challenges’ (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
14.
Japanese Americans Were Jailed in an Idaho Desert.
Survivors Worry a Wind Farm Will Overshadow the Past (Associated Press)
15.
The Air Force Asks Congress to Protect Its
Nuclear Launch Sites from Encroaching Wind Turbines (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-missiles-wind-turbines-air-force-0313c9ab3a97d4452c3d0d1707294d52
16.
Oregon: Tribe Passes Resolution Opposing Offshore
Wind Energy Development, Citing Impacts to Fisheries, Cultural Resources, &
Heritage (Wind Watch)
17.
Oregon: 800-Megawatt Solar Project Proposed in
Wasco County (Columbia Community Connection, The Dalles, OR)
https://columbiacommunityconnection.com/the-dalles/new-solar-project-proposed-in-wasco-county
18.
Solar Developers Are Flocking to Kansas. They’re
Finding Skepticism on the Plains (Nebraska Public Radio)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
19.
An Innovative Financing Model Is Ensuring
Everyone Can Afford a Heat Pump (Bloomberg News)
20.
Bonneville Power Administration Retires
Transformational Energy Efficiency Program (Bonneville Power Administration)
FISH & WILDLIFE
21.
U.S. Rep. Newhouse Blasts WA For Turning ‘Blind
Eye’ to Puget Sound Pollution Poisoning Salmon (Yahoo! News)
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/newhouse-blasts-wa-turning-blind-130000891.html
22.
Salmon Are Vanishing from the Yukon River — And
So Is a Way of Life (Grist Online)
https://grist.org/food/salmon-vanishing-yukon-river-way-of-life-alaska-native/
23.
Fishery on Elwha Rewards Tribe’s Long Push for
River Restoration (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)
24.
Whale Watchers Rejoice as Orca Sightings
Increase Around Puget Sound (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
25.
$73 Million Allocated to Provide Columbia River Water
for Irrigation in Odessa Subarea (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_c0f7ea58-7e8b-11ee-b2ab-eb17fb760727.html
26.
Sewer Rates Soar as Private Companies Buy Up
Local Water Systems (Stateline.Org)
https://stateline.org/2023/11/07/sewer-rates-soar-as-private-companies-buy-up-local-water-systems/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
27.
Washington Farm Bureau Seeks Legislative Action on
Ag Fuel-Tax Dispute (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_072dbf66-8026-11ee-bad4-6bfc6e91b64d.html
28.
WA Uses Carbon Auction Funds to Make Largest
Land Purchase in More Than a Decade (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_8c01801e-7f50-11ee-9700-27ba83b451b8.html
29.
Washington Is Missing Key Climate Goals,
Advocates Claim State Leaders Lack Transparency (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)
LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS
30.
Projects Are Underway to Improve Internet Speeds
in Rural America (National Public Radio)
BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF
TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY
31.
Here’s Your Reminder to Sign into Your Old Gmail
Account Before Google Deletes It (Gizmodo)
https://gizmodo.com/google-gmail-deleting-accounts-1851016465
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
32.
Turlock Irrigation District Academy Offers
Customers an Inside Look at Utility’s Operations (American Public Power
Association)
33.
What Is a Personal Brand & a Brand’s
Personality Online (Forbes Magazine)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
34.
Personalized Weather Forecasting Gets Crucial for
Energy Businesses (Forbes Magazine)
GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
35.
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA) Won’t Run for
Reelection in 2024 – Candidates in the Offing (Crosscut Seattle)
https://crosscut.com/briefs/2023/11/us-rep-derek-kilmer-wont-run-reelection-2024
36.
New Speaker Mike Johnson Grasps for a Funding
Plan with a Government Shutdown Rapidly Approaching (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-budget-e7d934001b1e00817deb8f33a2b6852f
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY
37.
First Atmospheric River Storm of the Season
Targets California Next Week (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/11/weather/california-weather-atmospheric-river-west-climate/index.html
38.
The Pacific Northwest: Where Fronts Come to Die (Cliff
Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-pacific-northwest-where-fronts-come.html
39.
Meteorologists Just Released Snowfall
Predictions for This Winter—Here’s Where Flakes Are Most Likely to Fly (Yahoo!
News)
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/meteorologists-just-released-snowfall-predictions-130000519.html
40.
Earthen Rivers Are Flowing Through the West’s
Scorched Forests (Atlantic Magazine)
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/11/post-wildfire-debris-flow-landslides/675973/
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
41.
Guest Essay: California – Here’s Why San Diego
Needs a Not-for-Profit Public Electric Utility (Times of San Diego, CA)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
PUD Good Samaritan
& Forever Home – Bound, Shot, Left for Dead, Dog Finds Forever Home in Cowlitz
County
https://kpic.com/news/nation-world/bound-shot-left-for-dead-dog-finds-forever-home-in-cowlitz-county
Cats Make Nearly
300 Different Facial Expressions
Rock On: ‘Devil Comet’
Will Bring Its Horns Swooping by Earth This Summer
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/devil-comet-will-bring-horns-swooping-earth-summer-rcna121989
Bombed by Blubber –
Florence Community Gathers to Celebrate Failed Whale Disposal from Over 50
Years Ago
SONG OF THE DAY
Moody Blues – The
Story in Your Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Zr440nXe8
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.
Although I choose
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