The Energy News Digest for September 16, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

WA State Energy Council Finally Votes on 24-Mile Wind Farm Along Tri-Cities Skyline (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/wa-state-energy-council-finally-000841915.html

Oregon Tribe Challenges Offshore Wind Facility (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/oregon-tribe-challenges-offshore-wind-facility/

California Approves Fourth Pacific Gas & Electric Rate Hike This Year. How Much Will Be Added to Your Bill? (Sacramento Bee, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-approves-fourth-pg-e-181030484.html

Record Columbia River Sockeye Run Gets a Well-Timed Break from Heat (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/record-columbia-river-sockeye-run-gets-a-well-timed-break-from-heat,361798

Oregon’s Largest Natural Gas Company Said It Was Going Green. It Sells as Much Fossil Fuel as Before. (ProPublica)

https://www.propublica.org/article/nw-natural-gas-oregon-fossil-fuel

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      California Approves Fourth Pacific Gas & Electric Rate Hike This Year. How Much Will Be Added to Your Bill?

2.      Oregon’s Largest Natural Gas Company Said It Was Going Green. It Sells as Much Fossil Fuel as Before.

3.      WA State: Franklin PUD Sued Over Its Elections. Latino Citizens Shut Out of Choice, Lawsuit Says

4.      Almost 700,000 WA Households Receive $200 Credit on Their Electric Bills

5.      U.S. Should Create ‘Virtual’ Electric Transformer Reserve Amid Shortage Concerns: NIAC

6.      U.S. House Members Issue Support for Energy Permitting Reform in 2024

7.      Do You Really Know How the US Power Grid Works? You Should. Here’s Why.

8.      WA State Energy Council Finally Votes on 24-Mile Wind Farm Along Tri-Cities Skyline

9.      Oregon Tribe Challenges Offshore Wind Facility

10.   Who’s The Mystery Developer in Oregon’s First Offshore Wind Energy Auction?

11.   Micro-Hydroelectric Power May Be the Next Big Climate Solution

12.   As Northwest Homes & Businesses Get More Energy Efficient, That’s Helping the Power Grid, Report Finds

13.   Record Columbia River Sockeye Run Gets a Well-Timed Break from Heat

14.   Record-Breaking Return of Sockeye Salmon to Okanagan Spawning Grounds

15.   Federal Funding Buoys Yakama Nation’s Fish Recovery Efforts

16.   Bonneville Power Administration Funds Construction of Kelt Reconditioning Facility, Supporting Threatened Steelhead

17.   The Count: Agencies Track Wild, Hatchery Fish in Columbia, Snake Rivers

18.   Feds Pour Cold Water on Plea to SCOTUS to Pause Updated Coal Emissions Standards

19.   500,000 People, One Aquifer: Sole Water Supply for Spokane & Coeur d’Alene Faces Challenges

20.   Oregon: Portland Clean Energy Fund to Invest $92 Million in Community-Led Grants

21.   Youth Climate Activists Petition U.S. Supreme Court to Revive Their Case Against the Government

22.   Are Light Poles Telecom Infrastructure?

23.   Data Centers Set to Spike U.S. Electricity Demand

24.   TikTok & The U.S. Face Off in Court Over Law That Could Lead to a Ban on the Popular Platform

25.   James Earl Jones’ Darth Vader Voice Lives on Through Artificial Intelligence. Voice Actors See Promise & Peril

26.   A Celestial Trifecta: What to Know About Tuesday’s Lunar Eclipse

27.   Washington Ballot Initiatives Lose Ground with Voters in New Poll

28.   Election Officials Warn That Widespread Problems with the U.S. Mail System Could Disrupt Voting

29.   Blog: Unprecedented Partnerships for Expanding Electricity Transmission in the West

Word of the Day

Ziggurat \ZIG-uh-ra \ Noun - An ancient Mesopotamian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top; also: a structure or object of similar form.

“They’ll never find me under this ziggurat of couch cushions,” muttered Abercrombie with glee. Unfortunately, the tipsy structure in his palatial office was topped with his “employee of the month” trophy, which upset the entire pile, burying him under soft, velour boulders for the rest of the day.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      California Approves Fourth Pacific Gas & Electric Rate Hike This Year. How Much Will Be Added to Your Bill? (Sacramento Bee, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-approves-fourth-pg-e-181030484.html

2.      Oregon’s Largest Natural Gas Company Said It Was Going Green. It Sells as Much Fossil Fuel as Before. (ProPublica)

https://www.propublica.org/article/nw-natural-gas-oregon-fossil-fuel

3.      WA State: Franklin PUD Sued Over Its Elections. Latino Citizens Shut Out of Choice, Lawsuit Says (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/franklin-pud-sued-over-elections-164342460.html

4.      Almost 700,000 WA Households Receive $200 Credit on Their Electric Bills (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/09/12/almost-700000-wa-households-receive-200-credit-on-their-electric-bills/

5.      U.S. Should Create ‘Virtual’ Electric Transformer Reserve Amid Shortage Concerns: NIAC (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-strategic-virtual-reserve-electric-transformers-niac/726934/

6.      U.S. House Members Issue Support for Energy Permitting Reform in 2024 (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/policy/45275-u-s-house-members-issue-support-for-energy-permitting-reform-in-2024/

7.      Do You Really Know How the US Power Grid Works? You Should. Here’s Why. (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2024/0916/electric-power-grid-clean-energy

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      WA State Energy Council Finally Votes on 24-Mile Wind Farm Along Tri-Cities Skyline (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/wa-state-energy-council-finally-000841915.html

9.      Oregon Tribe Challenges Offshore Wind Facility (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/oregon-tribe-challenges-offshore-wind-facility/

10.   Who’s The Mystery Developer in Oregon’s First Offshore Wind Energy Auction? (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/09/whos-the-mystery-developer-in-oregons-first-offshore-wind-energy-auction.html

11.   Micro-Hydroelectric Power May Be the Next Big Climate Solution (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/environment/2024-09-12/climate-solution-micro-hydroelectric-power-skagit-local-water-utility-municipal-pump-house

Conservation & Efficiency

12.   As Northwest Homes & Businesses Get More Energy Efficient, That’s Helping the Power Grid, Report Finds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/13/northwest-energy-efficiency-power-grid-report/

Fish & Wildlife

13.   Record Columbia River Sockeye Run Gets a Well-Timed Break from Heat (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/record-columbia-river-sockeye-run-gets-a-well-timed-break-from-heat,361798

14.   Record-Breaking Return of Sockeye Salmon to Okanagan Spawning Grounds (Info News Canada, Kelowna)

https://infotel.ca/newsitem/record-breaking-return-of-sockeye-salmon-to-okanagan-spawning-grounds/it106472

15.   Federal Funding Buoys Yakama Nation’s Fish Recovery Efforts (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/sports_watch/federal-funding-buoys-yakama-nations-fish-recovery-efforts/article_a7bf4852-6f93-11ef-b7c2-cb60912f72d8.html

16.   Bonneville Power Administration Funds Construction of Kelt Reconditioning Facility, Supporting Threatened Steelhead (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20240912-bpa-funds-construction-of-kelt-reconditioning-facility-supporting-threat

17.   The Count: Agencies Track Wild, Hatchery Fish in Columbia, Snake Rivers (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/the-count-agencies-track-wild-hatchery-fish-in-columbia-snake-rivers/article_46a9d380-29a6-11ef-bd5f-7b1c47866a87.html

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

18.   Feds Pour Cold Water on Plea to SCOTUS to Pause Updated Coal Emissions Standards (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-pour-cold-water-on-plea-to-scotus-to-pause-updated-coal-emissions-standards/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19.   500,000 People, One Aquifer: Sole Water Supply for Spokane & Coeur d’Alene Faces Challenges (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/500000-people-one-aquifer-kootenais-only-water-supply-faces-challenges/293-a2877e99-83ea-47a5-b238-e6678034585c

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

20.   Oregon: Portland Clean Energy Fund to Invest $92 Million in Community-Led Grants (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/11/portland-clean-energy-fund-invest-92-million-community-grants/

21.   Youth Climate Activists Petition U.S. Supreme Court to Revive Their Case Against the Government (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/09/youth-climate-activists-petition-us-supreme-court-to-revive-their-case-against-the-government.html

London Calling –Telecommunications

22.   Are Light Poles Telecom Infrastructure? (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2024/09/16/are-light-poles-telecom-infrastructure/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

23.   Data Centers Set to Spike U.S. Electricity Demand (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2024/09/13/electricity-demand-utilities-ai-data-centers

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

24.   TikTok & The U.S. Face Off in Court Over Law That Could Lead to a Ban on the Popular Platform (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-when-bytedance-china-9bb5407c93b2ab99548db17b95dc2259

25.   James Earl Jones’ Darth Vader Voice Lives on Through Artificial Intelligence. Voice Actors See Promise & Peril (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/james-earl-jones-darth-vader-artificial-intelligence-10643d1a4b5b13575d4a7b457f0d858e

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

26.   A Celestial Trifecta: What to Know About Tuesday’s Lunar Eclipse (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/16/lunar-eclipse-harvest-moon-super/

Management & Governance

27.   Washington Ballot Initiatives Lose Ground with Voters in New Poll (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/washington-ballot-initiatives-lose-ground-voters-new-poll

28.   Election Officials Warn That Widespread Problems with the U.S. Mail System Could Disrupt Voting (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/election-officials-warn-widespread-problems-us-mail-system-113590033

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   Blog: Unprecedented Partnerships for Expanding Electricity Transmission in the West (Public Power Underground)

https://publicpowerunderground.substack.com/p/bonus-unprecedented-partnerships

Diversions – Larry Lujack’s ‘Animal Stories’

People in Iceland Are Collecting Baby Puffins in the Streets & Throwing Them Back Into the Ocean

https://www.boredpanda.com/icelandic-town-rescues-thousands-baby-puffins/

A Cat Named Drifter Is Safe After Sneaking Out & Getting Trapped in a Sewer for Nearly Eight Weeks

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-cat-named-drifter-is-safe-after-sneaking-out-and-getting-trapped-in-a-sewer-for-nearly-8-weeks/ar-AA1qx0Xv

A ‘Purrfect’ Ending: Missing Cat Found in Monroe Flies Home to Minnesota

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/purrfect-ending-missing-cat-found-monroe-flies-home-minnesota/4CS5QZURGJBB5FSR5CJ7PL47QY/

Chelan PUD: Rocky Reach Heralded for Dahlia Cultivation

https://kpq.com/rocky-reach-heralded-for-dahlia-cultivation/

Song of the Day

The Cowsills - The Rain, The Park & Other Things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQOrVUbm5Xg

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 stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for September 11, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

U.S. Power Use Expected to Reach Record Highs in 2024 & 2025, EIA Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-forecast-reach-record-highs-2024-2025-eia-says-2024-09-10/

Co-op Leader to Congress: Permitting Reform Crucial to Meeting Power Demand (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

Https://Www.Electric.Coop/Co-Op-Leader-To-Congress-Permitting-Reform-Crucial-To-Meeting-Power-Demand

Oregon: Small-Scale Nuclear Reactor Concept Resurfaces in Umatilla County (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/10/small-scale-nuclear-reactor-smr-concept-umatilla-county/

Broadband Industry Quietly Abandons Capitol Hill Fight to Revive Low-Income Internet Subsidy (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/10/congress-internet-affordable-connectivity-program-charter-comcast-verizon.html

Big Waves Off the Central Oregon Coast Fuel Cutting-Edge Effort to Harness the Ocean for Electricity (Yachats News, OR)

https://yachatsnews.com/big-waves-off-the-central-oregon-coast-fuel-cutting-edge-effort-to-harness-the-ocean-for-electricity/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Power Use Expected to Reach Record Highs in 2024 & 2025, EIA Says

2.      Oregon: Small-Scale Nuclear Reactor Concept Resurfaces in Umatilla County

3.      The U.S. Is Dismantling Nuclear Warheads to Power the Next Generation of Reactors

4.      Bonneville Power Administration Could Be Losing Money Because of Contract Handling, Federal Audit Says

5.      Canada: First Nations Get Seat at Columbia River Negotiations

6.      Massive $4.2 Billion NV Energy Transmission Line Gets Federal OK

7.      Montana Public Service Commission to Investigate NorthWestern Energy Committee

8.      The Tennessee Valley Authority Helped Electrify the South — But Now Its Plans Are Sparking Backlash

9.      Big Waves Off the Central Oregon Coast Fuel Cutting-Edge Effort to Harness the Ocean for Electricity

10.   Battery Farms, The Energy Industry’s New Darling, Line Up to Enter Pacific NW

11.   Biden-Harris Administration Invests Nearly $20 Million to Improve Siting of Renewable Energy and Co-Locate Solar with Cattle Grazing

12.   New Report Reveals Which U.S. States Will Reach 100% Renewable Energy by 2035 — And Which Won’t

13.   California Eyes a Push Toward Electric Heat Pumps Instead of Gas-Powered Heaters

14.   British Columbia First Nation Calls on Government to Invest in Bringing the Salmon Home

15.   Utilities Must Comply with Limits on PFAS Chemicals by 2029. Some Have a Head Start

16.   The Climate Law Spurs Rural Electric Co-Ops’ Retreat from Coal

17.   Broadband Industry Quietly Abandons Capitol Hill Fight to Revive Low-Income Internet Subsidy

18.   WA State: Lewis County PUD Marks Broadband Internet Milestone

19.   Idaho: Man Sentenced for Throwing Electric Scooters in the Snake River

20.   Co-op Leader to Congress: Permitting Reform Crucial to Meeting Power Demand

21.   Guest Essay: Why Many Environmentalists Are Warming to Nuclear Power

22.   Editorial: Prioritize High-Speed Internet Expansion

Word of the Day

Scurrilous \SKURR-uh-luss\ Adjective - 1a: using or given to coarse language b: vulgar and evil 2: containing obscenities, abuse, or slander.

“This meeting of Squirrels Against Scurrilous Attacks will come to order,” squeaked the diminutive, bottle-brushed chairman to his assembled, arboreal rodents. “Electric utilities have too often blamed us for outages,” he squealed. “For an update on our eco-terror tactics, I had invited Sparky to speak, but we haven’t seen him since last week’s big Portland outage.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      U.S. Power Use Expected to Reach Record Highs in 2024 & 2025, EIA Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-forecast-reach-record-highs-2024-2025-eia-says-2024-09-10/

2.      Oregon: Small-Scale Nuclear Reactor Concept Resurfaces in Umatilla County (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/10/small-scale-nuclear-reactor-smr-concept-umatilla-county/

3.      The U.S. Is Dismantling Nuclear Warheads to Power the Next Generation of Reactors (Cable News Network – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-us-is-dismantling-nuclear-warheads-to-power-the-next-generation-of-reactors/ar-AA1qeG6P?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds

4.      Bonneville Power Administration Could Be Losing Money Because of Contract Handling, Federal Audit Says (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/2024/09/10/bonneville-power-administration-could-be-losing-money-because-of-contract-handling-federal-audit-says/

5.      Canada: First Nations Get Seat at Columbia River Negotiations (The Times-Chronicle, Osoyoos, BC)

https://www.timeschronicle.ca/first-nations-get-seat-at-columbia-river-negotiations/

6.      Massive $4.2 Billion NV Energy Transmission Line Gets Federal OK (The Nevada Independent)

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/massive-4-2b-nv-energy-transmission-line-gets-federal-ok

7.      Montana Public Service Commission to Investigate NorthWestern Energy Committee (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2024/09/10/montana-public-service-commission-to-investigate-northwestern-energy-committee/

8.      The Tennessee Valley Authority Helped Electrify the South — But Now Its Plans Are Sparking Backlash (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-tva-helped-electrify-the-south-but-now-its-plans-are-sparking-backlash/ar-AA1qf6mT

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Big Waves Off the Central Oregon Coast Fuel Cutting-Edge Effort to Harness the Ocean for Electricity (Yachats News, OR)

https://yachatsnews.com/big-waves-off-the-central-oregon-coast-fuel-cutting-edge-effort-to-harness-the-ocean-for-electricity/

10.   Battery Farms, The Energy Industry’s New Darling, Line Up to Enter Pacific NW (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/09/05/battery-farms-the-energy-industrys-new-darling-line-up-to-enter-pacific-nw/

11.   Biden-Harris Administration Invests Nearly $20 Million to Improve Siting of Renewable Energy and Co-Locate Solar with Cattle Grazing (U.S. Dept. of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/biden-harris-administration-invests-nearly-20-million-improve-siting-renewable-energy

12.   New Report Reveals Which U.S. States Will Reach 100% Renewable Energy by 2035 — And Which Won’t (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/report-reveals-us-states-reach-104534369.html

Conservation & Efficiency

13.   California Eyes a Push Toward Electric Heat Pumps Instead of Gas-Powered Heaters (KQED Radio, San Francisco, CA)

https://www.kqed.org/news/12003847/california-eyes-a-push-toward-electric-heat-pumps-instead-of-gas-powered-heaters

Fish & Wildlife

14.   British Columbia First Nation Calls on Government to Invest in Bringing the Salmon Home (East Kootenay Now, Cranbrook, BC)

https://www.myeastkootenaynow.com/38802/news/kootenay-news/bc-first-nation-calls-on-government-to-invest-in-bringing-the-salmon-home/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

15.   Utilities Must Comply with Limits on PFAS Chemicals by 2029. Some Have a Head Start (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5075614/utilities-must-comply-with-limits-on-pfas-chemicals-by-2029-some-have-a-head-start

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

16.   The Climate Law Spurs Rural Electric Co-Ops’ Retreat from Coal (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/the-climate-law-spurs-rural-electric-co-ops-retreat-from-coal-2/

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   Broadband Industry Quietly Abandons Capitol Hill Fight to Revive Low-Income Internet Subsidy (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/10/congress-internet-affordable-connectivity-program-charter-comcast-verizon.html

18.   WA State: Lewis County PUD Marks Broadband Internet Milestone (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://chronline.com/stories/lewis-county-pud-marks-broadband-internet-milestone,361445

I Sing the Car Electric

19.   Idaho: Man Sentenced for Throwing Electric Scooters in the Snake River (East Idaho News, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/09/man-sentenced-for-throwing-electric-scooters-in-the-snake-river/

Management & Governance

20.   Co-Op Leader to Congress: Permitting Reform Crucial to Meeting Power Demand (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

Https://Www.Electric.Coop/Co-Op-Leader-To-Congress-Permitting-Reform-Crucial-To-Meeting-Power-Demand

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

21.   Guest Essay: Why Many Environmentalists Are Warming to Nuclear Power (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/environmentalists-nuclear-power-clean-energy-climate/726692/

22.   Editorial: Prioritize High-Speed Internet Expansion (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/sep/10/in-our-view-prioritize-high-speed-internet-expansion/

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Rare Twin Elephants Take First Steps in Myanmar

https://news.yahoo.com/news/rare-twin-elephants-first-steps-111947512.html

Arizona Man’s Blindfolded Basketball Shot Breaks World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/09/10/Guinness-World-Records-blindfolded-basketball-underhand/1461725988498/

World’s Largest String Cheese Ball Made in Mexico

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/09/06/mexico-Guinness-World-Records-string-cheese-ball/8531725642245/

Kentucky Bowling Team Breaks World Record with 2,032 Strikes in 24 Hours

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/09/03/Guinness-World-Records-bowling-strikes-24-hours/4051725376793/

Song of the Day

Henry Mancini – Baby Elephant Walk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RPQKV6ijBY

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 stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.