The Energy News Digest for April 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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Spring Spill Begins Facilitating Fish Passage at Snake & Columbia River Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/2581103/spring-spill-begins-facilitating-fish-passage-at-snake-and-columbia-river-dams/

Montana Senators Hijack Bill, Revive Colstrip Power Plant Legislation (Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, MT)

https://ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/senators-hijack-bill-revive-colstrip-legislation/article_9665d78c-bf61-5d36-9198-f788ad6f0bb3.html

Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Holds Meetings for Proposed Wind Project (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2021-04-23/magic-valley-energy-holds-meetings-for-proposed-wind-project

Oregon Governor Brown Calls on Legislature to Support Statewide ‘Broadband Expansion’ (KTVL-TV, Medford, OR)

https://ktvl.com/news/local/governor-brown-calls-on-legislature-to-support-statewide-broadband-expansion

As Washington Legislature Wraps Up, Lawmakers Pass a New Budget, Capital Gains Tax & Clean-Fuels Standard (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/as-washington-legislature-wraps-up-lawmakers-pass-a-capital-gains-tax-and-clean-fuels-standard/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Montana Senators Hijack Bill, Revive Colstrip Power Plant Legislation

2.      WA State: Tacoma Bans Use of Fossil Fuels in New City Buildings. Are Commercial, Residential Next?

3.      Canada: Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets Boost Enthusiasm for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

4.      Snake River Is Most Endangered in the Country: Inside the Fight to Save It

5.      WA State: Tepid Approval of Dam Removals – Snake River Project Divides Electeds

6.      Hawaii Is Most Expensive State in America for Energy Bills

7.      Your Job Saved Money on Electric Bills During the Pandemic. You Didn’t.

8.      Washington Politicians Are Failing Salmon, Forests, & the Climate. Market Innovation Is Saving Them.

9.      Op/Ed: Hydropower Crucial to a Future for Electric Vehicles

10.   Op/Ed: It’s Time to Remove Restrictions on Electric Vehicle Sales in Washington State

11.   Op/Ed: Bryan Smith Perpetuates Myths About Lower Snake River Dams

12.   Editorial: The Part of the Broadband Debate We’re Missing

13.   Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Holds Meetings for Proposed Wind Project

14.   Idaho Falls Power Conducts Microgrid Test

15.   Using Hydrogen to Back Up the Grid

16.   In-River Hydro Project in Alaska Chosen for Federal Assistance Aimed to Get Communities Off Diesel

17.   Renewable Electricity Can Slash Cascadia Pollution, Research Shows

18.   Power from Colorado Water Is Now Renewable Energy Under New Law

19.   Number of Americans Using Solar Power Expected to More Than Triple by 2030

20.   ‘World’s Most Powerful Tidal Turbine’ Gears Up for Operation

21.   Spring Spill Begins Facilitating Fish Passage at Snake & Columbia River Dams

22.   NOAA Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Plan to Save Puget Sound’s Struggling Orcas

23.   Parched California Orders Nestle to Back Off the Water Bottling

24.   Avista Unveils Emissions Strategy

25.   Oregon Governor Brown Calls on Legislature to Support Statewide ‘Broadband Expansion’

26.   U.S. Rep Schrier: Broadband Is Vital for Rural Washington State

27.   President Biden Wants Local Governments to Provide Broadband Internet. Could They Compete with Comcast & Verizon?

28.   About Half the Public Thinks Local Governments Should Be Able to Pursue Their Own Broadband Network Build-Outs

29.   Why Bitcoin Is Bad for the Environment

30.   Daimler Trucks North America, Portland General Electric Launch First Heavy Heavy-Duty Electric Truck Charging Site

31.   VP Kamala Harris Encourages a Nervous New Hampshire Electric Coop Worker During His Speech

32.   This Portable Lantern Can Be Charged by Salt Water or Urine

33.   As Washington Legislature Wraps Up, Lawmakers Pass a New Budget, Capital Gains Tax & Clean-Fuels Standard

34.   Montana: Bill Would Launch Investigation Against ‘Environmental Groups’

35.   Oregon State Professor Tapped by President Biden to Lead National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

WORD OF THE DAY

Parvum Opus \PARR-vum OPE-uss\ Noun – Translated literally from Latin as “little work” (as opposed to magnum opus, which is “great work”).

Alfred’s once-tiny daughter always resented his referring to her as his “parvum opus”. As a child she did not reach her growth spurt until her late teens, when she shot up from a diminutive four-foot-two to a six-foot-seven giantess by the age of 21. Her retort one day was that her “magnum opus” was to crack him over the head with a broom…which effectively ended his “little joke”.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Montana Senators Hijack Bill, Revive Colstrip Power Plant Legislation (Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, MT)

https://ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/senators-hijack-bill-revive-colstrip-legislation/article_9665d78c-bf61-5d36-9198-f788ad6f0bb3.html

2.      WA State: Tacoma Bans Use of Fossil Fuels in New City Buildings. Are Commercial, Residential Next? (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article250840924.html

3.      Canada: Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets Boost Enthusiasm for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/greenhouse-gas-emission-targets-boost-enthusiasm-for-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-1.24311385

4.      Snake River Is Most Endangered in the Country: Inside the Fight to Save It (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/snake-river-endangered-country-inside-fight-save/story?id=77254773

5.      WA State: Tepid Approval of Dam Removals – Snake River Project Divides Electeds (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/tepid-approval-of-dam-removals/

6.      Hawaii Is Most Expensive State in America for Energy Bills (Honolulu Star Advertiser, HI)

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/04/21/breaking-news/hawaii-is-most-expensive-state-in-america-for-energy-bills/

7.      Your Job Saved Money on Electric Bills During the Pandemic. You Didn’t. (Vox)

https://www.vox.com/recode/22398250/electric-bills-pandemic-work-from-home-office-remote

SOAPBOX SERENADE – EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS

8.      Washington Politicians Are Failing Salmon, Forests, & the Climate. Market Innovation Is Saving Them. (Washington Policy Institute)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/washington-politicians-are-failing-salmon-forests-and-the-climate-market-innovation-is-saving-them

9.      Op/Ed: Hydropower Crucial to a Future for Electric Vehicles (Everett Herald – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-hydropower-crucial-to-a-future-for-electric-vehicles/

10.   Op/Ed: It’s Time to Remove Restrictions on Electric Vehicle Sales in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/oped-its-time-to-remove-restrictions-on.html

11.   Op/Ed: Bryan Smith Perpetuates Myths About Lower Snake River Dams (Idaho Falls Post Register, ID)

https://www.postregister.com/opinion/guest_column/opinion-bryan-smith-perpetuates-myths-about-lower-snake-river-dams/article_215208cd-e728-5640-a90d-8a0d2641ebfe.html

12.   Editorial: The Part of the Broadband Debate We’re Missing (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-part-of-the-broadband-debate-were-missing/2021/04/24/1872491a-9ee5-11eb-8005-bffc3a39f6d3_story.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Holds Meetings for Proposed Wind Project (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2021-04-23/magic-valley-energy-holds-meetings-for-proposed-wind-project

14.   Idaho Falls Power Conducts Microgrid Test (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls ID)

https://localnews8.com/news/2021/04/22/idaho-falls-power-conducts-microgrid-test/

15.   Using Hydrogen to Back Up the Grid (Investigate West)

https://www.invw.org/2021/04/23/using-hydrogen-to-back-up-the-grid/

16.   In-River Hydro Project in Alaska Chosen for Federal Assistance Aimed to Get Communities Off Diesel (KTOO Radio, Juneau, AK)

https://www.ktoo.org/2021/04/24/in-river-hydro-project-in-alaska-chosen-for-federal-assistance-aimed-to-get-communities-off-diesel/

17.   Renewable Electricity Can Slash Cascadia Pollution, Research Shows (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/renewable-electricity-can-slash-cascadia-pollution-research-shows

18.   Power from Colorado Water Is Now Renewable Energy Under New Law (Colorado Politics)

https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/power-from-colorado-water-is-now-renewable-energy-under-new-law/article_f4695d5c-a39d-11eb-8eaa-63468b1b2287.html

19.   Number of Americans Using Solar Power Expected to More Than Triple by 2030 (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/solar-power-american-triple-2030/

20.   ‘World’s Most Powerful Tidal Turbine’ Gears Up for Operation (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/worlds-most-powerful-tidal-turbine-gears-up-for-operation-.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Spring Spill Begins Facilitating Fish Passage at Snake & Columbia River Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/2581103/spring-spill-begins-facilitating-fish-passage-at-snake-and-columbia-river-dams/

22.   NOAA Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Plan to Save Puget Sound’s Struggling Orcas (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2833479/noaa-action-plan-puget-sound-orcas/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   Parched California Orders Nestle to Back Off the Water Bottling (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/parched-california-orders-nestle-to-back-off-the-bottling-water/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   Avista Unveils Emissions Strategy (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/avista-unveils-emissions-strategy.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   Oregon Governor Brown Calls on Legislature to Support Statewide ‘Broadband Expansion’ (KTVL-TV, Medford, OR)

https://ktvl.com/news/local/governor-brown-calls-on-legislature-to-support-statewide-broadband-expansion

26.   U.S. Rep Schrier: Broadband Is Vital for Rural Washington State (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

https://www.pnwag.net/2021/04/22/schrier-broadband-is-vital-for-rural-washington/

27.   President Biden Wants Local Governments to Provide Broadband Internet. Could They Compete with Comcast & Verizon? (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA)

https://www.inquirer.com/business/biden-municipal-broadband-infrastructure-kutztown-comcast-chattanooga-20210424.html

28.   About Half the Public Thinks Local Governments Should Be Able to Pursue Their Own Broadband Network Build-Outs (Morning Consult)

https://morningconsult.com/2021/04/26/municipal-broadband-private-isps-poll/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

29.   Why Bitcoin Is Bad for the Environment (New Yorker Magazine)

https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/why-bitcoin-is-bad-for-the-environment

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   Daimler Trucks North America, Portland General Electric Launch First Heavy Heavy-Duty Electric Truck Charging Site (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/30021-daimler-trucks-north-america-portland-general-electric-launch-first-heavy-heavy-duty-electric-truck-charging-site/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   VP Kamala Harris Encourages a Nervous New Hampshire Electric Coop Worker During His Speech (Grio)

https://thegrio.com/2021/04/24/kamala-harris-new-hampshire/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32.   This Portable Lantern Can Be Charged by Salt Water or Urine (Interesting Engineering)

https://interestingengineering.com/a-startup-just-created-a-urine-powered-lantern

GOVERNANCE, BUSINESS, & MANAGEMENT

33.   As Washington Legislature Wraps Up, Lawmakers Pass a New Budget, Capital Gains Tax & Clean-Fuels Standard (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/as-washington-legislature-wraps-up-lawmakers-pass-a-capital-gains-tax-and-clean-fuels-standard/

34.   Montana: Bill Would Launch Investigation Against ‘Environmental Groups’ (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2021/04/23/bill-would-launch-investigation-against-environmental-groups/

35.   Oregon State Professor Tapped by President Biden to Lead National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/04/oregon-state-professor-tapped-by-biden-to-lead-national-ocean-and-atmospheric-administration.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘Nomadland’ Wins Best Picture at a Social Distanced Oscars

https://apnews.com/article/oscars-2021-guide-67f5600e59179e1161d2db3ba48ad31d

Hundreds Lose Internet Service in Northern B.C. after Beaver Chews Through Cable

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/beaver-internet-down-1.6001594?cmp=rss

Gender Reveal Party Is Behind Massive Blast That Rocked Several New Hampshire Towns

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gender-reveal-explosion-new-hampshire_n_60820beae4b082bab00aef39

Meet the Man in a Bear Suit Walking from Los Angeles to San Francisco

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/meet-man-bear-suit-walking-los-angeles-san-francisco-2021-04-22/

SONG OF THE DAY

AJR – Overture, Soul Soundtrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM9xWqqbG8Q

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.

The Energy News Digest for April 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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington OKs Bill Setting Path to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030, Prods Utilities to Prep for Grid Impacts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-100-ev-goal-by-2030-utilities-grid-impacts/598682/

DOE Launches 100-Day Grid Security Push as Biden Ends Trump Ban on Some Chinese-Made Equipment (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-launches-100-day-grid-security-push-as-biden-ends-trump-ban-on-some-ch/598702/

Rural Electric Co-Ops Warn Congress a 2035 100% Clean Electricity Target Is ‘Overly Ambitious’ (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rural-electric-co-ops-warn-congress-a-2035-100-clean-electricity-target-is/598659/

Biden Infrastructure Plan Sparks Lobbying War Over How to Fix America’s Internet (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/21/biden-infrastructure-broadband-lobbying-484002

U.S. House Passes Cannabis Banking Bill – Will the Senate? (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/us-house-passes-cannabis-banking-bill.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      DOE Launches 100-Day Grid Security Push as Biden Ends Trump Ban on Some Chinese-Made Equipment

2.      Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Researchers Release Study on Projected Costs to Meet Future Electricity Capacity

3.      Los Alamos National Laboratory Looks to Boost Power Supply Ahead of Nuclear Mission

4.      Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Federal Bill on Hydropower, Renewable Energy

5.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Building $250 Million Natural Gas Power Plant in Laurel

6.      Bonneville Power Administration Selects Suzanne Cooper as Senior Vice President of Power Services

7.      Bonneville Power Administration Names Joel Cook New Chief Operating Officer

8.      NW Power & Conservation Council – Oregon Governor Taps Long-Time Political Ally as Not-Obvious Choice for High-Paid Energy Policy Post

9.      Chelan PUD Commissioners Consider Expanding Support of Affordable Housing

10.   Western Area Power Administration’s Colorado River Storage Project to Explore Membership in Southwest Power Pool

11.   Five Federal Sources of Support for Paying Utility Bills

12.   Colstrip Bill Reminds Many of Montana’s Energy Deregulation Debacle

13.   Op/Ed: Clean Energy Infrastructure Vital to Washington’s Future

14.   Electrify Everything: Why We Need to Go Big on Going Electric

15.   Idaho: Meetings on Proposed Wind Farm East of Shoshone

16.   Navajo Nation Solar Project Will Cement San Juan County’s Position as Exporter of Renewable Energy

17.   Americans Want More Renewable Energy. Can ‘Community Choice’ Help Them Get It?

18.   WA State: May 5 – Orcas Power & Light Hosts Solar Town Hall

19.   Developers Flock to Cold Storage as Americans Stock Their Freezers

20.   White House Finalizes Pacific Ocean Protections for Humpback Whale

21.   Water Level Raised in Lower Snake River

22.   This Stunning Time-Lapse Shows the Megadrought’s Toll on the West’s Largest Reservoir

23.   Rural Electric Co-Ops Warn Congress a 2035 100% Clean Electricity Target Is ‘Overly Ambitious’

24.   A Third of Carbon Emissions Come from Natural Gas. Are Americans Willing to Drop Gas Cooking?

25.   Coal Is Set to Roar Back – So Are Its Climate Risks

26.   WA State: New Modeling Shows Cap-&-Trade Bill Could Spike Gas Prices

27.   The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof – Definitive Answers to the Big Questions.

28.   Biden Infrastructure Plan Sparks Lobbying War Over How to Fix America’s Internet

29.   Why Verizon Is Sweetening 5G Home with Promotions, Free Devices

30.   The Best Broadband in the U.S. Isn’t in New York or San Francisco. It’s in Chattanooga.

31.   Chinese Hackers Compromise Dozens of Government Agencies, Defense Contractors

32.   U.S. Unveils Plan to Protect Power Grid from Foreign Hackers

33.   Google: These Five Datacenters – Including in Oregon – Are Now Running on Carbon-Free Clean Electricity

34.   Washington OKs Bill Setting Path to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030, Prods Utilities to Prep for Grid Impacts

35.   Idaho Bill That Would Double Electric Vehicle Fees Unlikely to Move Forward This Session

36.   Replica of ‘First’ Electric Car Drives Through Paris to Mark 140 Years

37.   Pacific NW on List of NRECA Winners in Spotlight on Excellence Communications – NWPPA, Montana Electric Coop Ass’n, Umatilla Electric Coop, Flathead Electric

38.   Waters Off Washington State Coast Glow Blue with Bioluminescence

39.   U.S. House Passes Cannabis Banking Bill – Will the Senate?

40.   Morning Wire: Washington State Broadband Bills, Cap Gains Amendments, Budget Timeline

WORD OF THE DAY

Vox Populi \VOCKS-POP-you-lie\ Noun – Popular sentiment.

From Merriam Webster: Vox populi is a Latin phrase that literally translates as “the voice of the people.” It can be found in the longer maxim, Vox populi, vox Dei, which means “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” Many people think that expression means that the people are always right, but it really implies that the will of the masses—right or wrong—is often irresistible. Since the mid-20th century, English speakers, especially British ones, have trimmed vox populi down to the abbreviated form vox pop, an expression used particularly for popular opinion as it is used & expressed by the media.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      DOE Launches 100-Day Grid Security Push as Biden Ends Trump Ban on Some Chinese-Made Equipment (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-launches-100-day-grid-security-push-as-biden-ends-trump-ban-on-some-ch/598702/

2.      Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Researchers Release Study on Projected Costs to Meet Future Electricity Capacity (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/29963-pnnl-researchers-release-study-on-projected-costs-to-meet-future-electricity-capacity/

3.      Los Alamos National Laboratory Looks to Boost Power Supply Ahead of Nuclear Mission (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/nm-state-wire-new-mexico-los-alamos-environment-nuclear-weapons-3b3e44d64773de005c3d27a7db34741f

4.      Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Federal Bill on Hydropower, Renewable Energy (KVEW/KAPP-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/washington-senators-introduce-bipartisan-bill-renewable-hydropower-energy/

5.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Building $250 Million Natural Gas Power Plant in Laurel (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/montana-northwestern-energy-building.html

6.      Bonneville Power Administration Selects Suzanne Cooper as Senior Vice President of Power Services (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-selects-Suzanne-Cooper-as-senior-vice-president-of-Power-Services.aspx

7.      Bonneville Power Administration Names Joel Cook New Chief Operating Officer (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-names-Joel-Cook-new-chief-operating-officer.aspx

8.      NW Power & Conservation Council – Oregon Governor Taps Long-Time Political Ally as Not-Obvious Choice for High-Paid Energy Policy Post (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/04/oregon-governor-taps-long-time-political-ally-as-not-obvious-choice-for-high-paid-energy-policy-post.html

9.      Chelan PUD Commissioners Consider Expanding Support of Affordable Housing (Leavenworth Echo, WA)

https://www.leavenworthecho.com/news/pud-commissioners-consider-expanding-support-affordable-housing

10.   Western Area Power Administration’s Colorado River Storage Project to Explore Membership in Southwest Power Pool (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/wapas-colorado-river-storage-project-explore-membership-spp

11.   Five Federal Sources of Support for Paying Utility Bills (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/five-federal-sources-support-paying-utility-bills

SOAPBOX SERENADE – OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

12.   Colstrip Bill Reminds Many of Montana’s Energy Deregulation Debacle (Missoula Current, MT)

https://missoulacurrent.com/outdoors/2021/04/energy-deregulation/?print=print

13.   Op/Ed: Clean Energy Infrastructure Vital to Washington’s Future (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/oped-clean-energy-infrastructure-vital.html

14.   Electrify Everything: Why We Need to Go Big on Going Electric (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/article/electrify-everything-why-we-need-to-go-big-on-going-electric/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   Idaho: Meetings on Proposed Wind Farm East of Shoshone (KLIX Radio, Twin Falls, ID)

https://newsradio1310.com/meetings-on-proposed-wind-farm-east-of-shoshone-423-424/

16.   Navajo Nation Solar Project Will Cement San Juan County’s Position as Exporter of Renewable Energy (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2021/04/19/navajo-nation-solar/801-237-2900/

17.   Americans Want More Renewable Energy. Can ‘Community Choice’ Help Them Get It? (National Geographic Magazine)

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/americans-want-more-renewable-energy-can-community-choice-help-them-get-it

18.   WA State: May 5 – Orcas Power & Light Hosts Solar Town Hall (San Juan Islander, Friday Harbor, WA)

https://sanjuanislander.com/news-articles/utilities/opalco/32516/may-5-opalco-hosts-solar-town-hall-enter-to-win-ten-shares-of-community-solar

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Developers Flock to Cold Storage as Americans Stock Their Freezers (NY Times)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/developers-flock-to-cold-storage-as.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   White House Finalizes Pacific Ocean Protections for Humpback Whale (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/white-house-finalizes-pacific-ocean-protections-for-humpback-whale/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   Water Level Raised in Lower Snake River (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/water-level-raised-in-lower-snake-river/article_5041dfff-b772-53a9-b569-13b8758c3084.html

22.   This Stunning Time-Lapse Shows the Megadrought’s Toll on the West’s Largest Reservoir (VOX)

https://www.vox.com/22392710/southwest-water-drought-arizona-nevada-california-colorado-river-lake-mead-climate-change

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Rural Electric Co-Ops Warn Congress a 2035 100% Clean Electricity Target Is ‘Overly Ambitious’ (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rural-electric-co-ops-warn-congress-a-2035-100-clean-electricity-target-is/598659/

24.   A Third of Carbon Emissions Come from Natural Gas. Are Americans Willing to Drop Gas Cooking? (WBUR Radio, Boston, MA)

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/04/19/gas-cooking-emissions-climate

25.   Coal Is Set to Roar Back – So Are Its Climate Risks (NY Times)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/coal-is-set-to-roar-back-so-are-its.html

26.   WA State: New Modeling Shows Cap-&-Trade Bill Could Spike Gas Prices (Business Institute of Washington)

https://thelens.news/2021/04/20/new-modeling-shows-cap-and-trade-bill-could-spike-gas-prices/

27.   The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof – Definitive Answers to the Big Questions. (NY Times)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-science-of-climate-change-explained.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Biden Infrastructure Plan Sparks Lobbying War Over How to Fix America’s Internet (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/21/biden-infrastructure-broadband-lobbying-484002

29.   Why Verizon Is Sweetening 5G Home with Promotions, Free Devices (Light Reading)

https://www.lightreading.com/5g/why-verizon-is-sweetening-5g-home-with-promotions-free-devices/d/d-id/768899?

30.   The Best Broadband in the U.S. Isn’t in New York or San Francisco. It’s in Chattanooga. (Yahoo Finance)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-broadband-us-isn-t-142308602.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   Chinese Hackers Compromise Dozens of Government Agencies, Defense Contractors (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/chinese-hackers-compromise-defense-contractors-agencies/2021/04/20/10772f9e-a207-11eb-a7ee-949c574a09ac_story.html

32.   U.S. Unveils Plan to Protect Power Grid from Foreign Hackers (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-20/u-s-unveils-plan-to-protect-power-grid-from-foreign-hackers

33.   Google: These Five Datacenters – Including in Oregon – Are Now Running on Carbon-Free Clean Electricity (ZDNet News)

https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-these-five-datacenters-are-now-running-on-carbon-free-clean-electricity/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

34.   Washington OKs Bill Setting Path to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030, Prods Utilities to Prep for Grid Impacts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-100-ev-goal-by-2030-utilities-grid-impacts/598682/

35.   Idaho Bill That Would Double Electric Vehicle Fees Unlikely to Move Forward This Session (Idaho Capitol Sun)

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2021/04/idaho-bill-that-would-double-electric-vehicle-fees-unlikely-to-move-forward-this-session/

36.   Replica of ‘First’ Electric Car Drives Through Paris to Mark 140 Years (Reuters)

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/replica-first-electric-car-drives-103143611.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

37.   Pacific NW on List of NRECA Winners in Spotlight on Excellence Communications – NWPPA, Montana Electric Coop Ass’n, Umatilla Electric Coop, Flathead Electric (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/spotlight-on-excellence/Pages/default.aspx

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

38.   Waters Off Washington State Coast Glow Blue with Bioluminescence (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/travel/destinations/explore-the-pnw/washington-coast-blue-glow-bioluminescence/281-893866ce-432e-4533-91a7-0d4deebcb606

GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND THE ECONOMY

39.   U.S. House Passes Cannabis Banking Bill – Will the Senate? (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/us-house-passes-cannabis-banking-bill.html

40.   Morning Wire: Washington State Broadband Bills, Cap Gains Amendments, Budget Timeline (Washington State Wire, WA)

https://washingtonstatewire.com/morning-wire-broadband-bills-cap-gains-amendments-budget-timeline/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

What a Trill: $13,000 Flute in the Wind Since 2012 Recovered

https://apnews.com/article/boston-fc8b4f1eb174419e03c9ecfea3c92542

Firefighters rescue dog alone inside moving vehicle

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/21/Edmonton-Alberta-firefighters-rescue-dog-driver/8461619034163/

Man Bowls a Perfect Game with Ball Containing His Father’s Ashes

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/21/John-Hinkle-bowls-perfect-game-fathers-ashes-ball/5581619025702/

Musician Eases Paragliding Fears by Playing Violin – in Flight

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/20/turkey-musician-paragliding-violin-Fikret-Eren-Semih-Er/5291618941322/

SONG OF THE DAY

Jethro Tull – Bourée

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2RNe2jwHE0

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.