The Energy News Digest for February 14, 2022

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

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

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Columbia River Chinook Forecast Is Best in Three Years (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/chinook-forecast-best-3-years-141900459.html

Macron Announces France Is to Build Up to 14 New Nuclear Reactors (The Independent, UK)

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/france-to-build-up-to-14-new-nuclear-reactors-b2012331.html

West Megadrought Worsens to Driest in at Least 1,200 Years (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-west-megadrought-f02449c2db4f0ebeb1557bb39504c62d

9th Circuit Court of Appeals Lifts 90-Day Ban at Geothermal Plant in Nevada (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nevada/articles/2022-02-08/9th-circuit-lifts-90-day-ban-at-geothermal-plant-in-nevada

Dozens of SpaceX Satellites Are Falling Out of Orbit After Solar Storm (iHeart Radio)

https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-02-09-dozens-of-spacex-satellites-are-falling-out-of-orbit-after-solar-storm/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Macron Announces France Is to Build Up to 14 New Nuclear Reactors

2.      Tennessee Valley Authority Launches New Nuclear Program

3.      Counterfeit Parts Found in Some U.S. Nuclear Plants - Inspector General

4.      Pacific Gas & Electric Customers Monthly Electric Bills Going Up

5.      ConEd to New Yorkers: Don’t Blame Us for Soaring Power Bills

6.      WA State: Tacoma to Maintain Utility Disconnection Moratorium Through March 31

7.      Montana: Power Plant Opponents Rally at Billings Courthouse Thursday

8.      Bellingham Bans Natural Gas for Heating in Some New Buildings

9.      Bonneville Power Administration Encouraged by First Quarter Results

10.   News Release: How Seattle City Light Relocated a Transmission Line with International Implications

11.   New Mexico: Study of Public Utility Failing to Gain Traction So Far

12.   Guest Essay: WA Governor Inslee’s Natural Gas Bills Will Increase Energy Costs, Eliminate Family-Wage Jobs

13.   Guest Essay: Better Internet Access for Tillamook County, OR

14.   9th Circuit Court of Appeals Lifts 90-Day Ban at Geothermal Plant in Nevada

15.   Kenai Peninsula Landfill Project Would Turn Garbage Gas to Fuel

16.   Wind Power Developers Encouraged by Findings on Bald Eagle Population

17.   Uneven Load: How Rural Communities Shoulder the Environmental Burden of Cities

18.   Hydropower Cements Its Place as the World’s Most Popular Renewable Energy

19.   How Some Energy Efficiency Incentives Slow Climate Action

20.   Corvallis Startup Will Open ‘Smart Windows’ Factory in Salem, Using Technology Developed at HP

21.   Oregon Department of Transportation Completes Portland LED Streetlight Project

22.   Columbia River Chinook Forecast Is Best in Three Years

23.   Oregon Dungeness Crab Season Breaking Records

24.   Atlantic Salmon Returns Drop in Critical Maine River

25.   Scientists Question WA State Plan That Doubles Sewer Bills at Puget Sound Treatment Plants

26.   West Megadrought Worsens to Driest in at Least 1,200 Years

27.   Montana Launches Broadband Map as Bidding Begins for Federal Funding

28.   How The State Plans to Invest in Idaho’s Broadband

29.   Dozens of SpaceX Satellites Are Falling Out of Orbit After Solar Storm

30.   Fitch Outlines Public Power Supply Risks Tied to Crypto Currency Mining

31.   Oregon: City of Bend Works to Increase Number of People Driving Electric Vehicles

32.   Gov. Inslee’s $7,500 Electric Car Rebate Remains Uncertain in WA State Legislature

33.   Montana: Missoula City Council to Consider Energy Use by Cannabis Companies

34.   Marketplace Suspends Most NFT Sales, Citing ‘Rampant’ Fakes & Plagiarism

35.   Public Records: Phone Was Manually Set to Delete Former Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Texts

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Billet-Doux /bill-ee – DOO/ Noun – Love letter. Literally translated as “sweet letter.”

It’s Valentine’s Day

Billet doux in each mailbox

Dripping with sweet love

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Macron Announces France Is to Build Up to 14 New Nuclear Reactors (The Independent, UK)

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/france-to-build-up-to-14-new-nuclear-reactors-b2012331.html

2.      Tennessee Valley Authority Launches New Nuclear Program (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2022-02-10/largest-us-public-power-company-launches-new-nuclear-program

3.      Counterfeit Parts Found in Some U.S. Nuclear Plants - Inspector General (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/counterfeit-parts-present-many-us-nuclear-power-plants-inspector-general-2022-02-10/

4.      Pacific Gas & Electric Customers Monthly Electric Bills Going Up (KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA)

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/pge-monthly-electric-bills-going-up/

5.      ConEd to New Yorkers: Don’t Blame Us for Soaring Power Bills (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coned-yorkers-dont-blame-us-204251479.html

6.      WA State: Tacoma to Maintain Utility Disconnection Moratorium Through March 31 (South Sound Business)

https://www.southsoundbiz.com/news/tacoma-to-maintain-utility-disconnection-moratorium-through-march-31/article_1dded912-89ff-11ec-9ac7-bf76ee516eb1.html

7.      Montana: Power Plant Opponents Rally at Billings Courthouse Thursday (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/power-plant-opponents-rally-at-billings-courthouse-thursday/article_12859e43-28be-53e3-bafb-5b54404514a6.html

8.      Bellingham Bans Natural Gas for Heating in Some New Buildings (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/news/2022/feb/08/bellingham-bans-natural-gas-for-heating-uses-in-so/

9.      Bonneville Power Administration Encouraged by First Quarter Results (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-encouraged-by-first-quarter-results.aspx

10.   News Release: How Seattle City Light Relocated a Transmission Line with International Implications (Seattle City Light, WA)

https://powerlines.seattle.gov/2022/02/11/move-the-line-how-city-light-relocated-a-transmission-line-with-international-implications/

11.   New Mexico: Study of Public Utility Failing to Gain Traction So Far (Santa Fe New Mexican)

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/study-of-public-utility-failing-to-gain-traction-so-far/article_e6a5377c-88ee-11ec-b4d2-7331c4ba431f.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Guest Essay: WA Governor Inslee’s Natural Gas Bills Will Increase Energy Costs, Eliminate Family-Wage Jobs (Washington State Wire, Olympias, WA)

https://washingtonstatewire.com/op-ed-inslees-natural-gas-bills-will-increase-energy-costs-eliminate-family-wage-jobs/

13.   Guest Essay: Better Internet Access for Tillamook County, OR (Tillamook County Pioneer, OR)

https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/op-ed-better-internet-access/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   9th Circuit Court of Appeals Lifts 90-Day Ban at Geothermal Plant in Nevada (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nevada/articles/2022-02-08/9th-circuit-lifts-90-day-ban-at-geothermal-plant-in-nevada

15.   Kenai Peninsula Landfill Project Would Turn Garbage Gas to Fuel (Alaska Public Radio)

https://www.alaskapublic.org/2022/02/11/kenai-peninsula-landfill-project-would-turn-garbage-gas-to-fuel/

16.   Wind Power Developers Encouraged by Findings on Bald Eagle Population (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/wind-power-developers-encouraged-by-findings-on-bald-eagle-population/

17.   Uneven Load: How Rural Communities Shoulder the Environmental Burden of Cities (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/how-rural-communities-shoulder-the-environmental-burden-of-cities/

18.   Hydropower Cements Its Place as the World’s Most Popular Renewable Energy (Oil Price)

https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Hydropower-Cements-Its-Place-As-The-Worlds-Most-Popular-Renewable-Energy.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   How Some Energy Efficiency Incentives Slow Climate Action (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-energy-efficiency-natural-gas-1.6346764?cmp=rss

20.   Corvallis Startup Will Open ‘Smart Windows’ Factory in Salem, Using Technology Developed at HP (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2022/02/corvallis-startup-will-open-smart-windows-factory-in-salem-using-technology-developed-at-hp.html

21.   Oregon Department of Transportation Completes Portland LED Streetlight Project (Environmental Leader)

https://www.environmentalleader.com/2022/02/oregon-department-of-transportation-completes-portland-led-streetlight-project/

FISH & WILDLIFE

22.   Columbia River Chinook Forecast Is Best in Three Years (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/chinook-forecast-best-3-years-141900459.html

23.   Oregon Dungeness Crab Season Breaking Records (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/money/oregon-crab-season-breaking-records/283-6e2e8346-9003-4146-8aec-493b69b3d061

24.   Atlantic Salmon Returns Drop in Critical Maine River (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2022-02-14/atlantic-salmon-returns-drop-in-critical-maine-river

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

25.   Scientists Question WA State Plan That Doubles Sewer Bills at Puget Sound Treatment Plants (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/02/12/puget-sound-treatment-plants-sewers-washington/6593326001/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

26.   West Megadrought Worsens to Driest in at Least 1,200 Years (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-west-megadrought-f02449c2db4f0ebeb1557bb39504c62d

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   Montana Launches Broadband Map as Bidding Begins for Federal Funding (StateScoop)

https://statescoop.com/broadband-map-montana-arpa-funding/

28.   How The State Plans to Invest in Idaho’s Broadband (KBOI-TV< Boise, ID)

https://idahonews.com/news/local/broadband-in-idaho

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

Dozens of SpaceX Satellites Are Falling Out of Orbit After Solar Storm (iHeart Radio)

29.   https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-02-09-dozens-of-spacex-satellites-are-falling-out-of-orbit-after-solar-storm/

30.   Fitch Outlines Public Power Supply Risks Tied to Crypto Currency Mining (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/fitch-outlines-public-power-supply-risks-tied-crypto-currency-mining

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   Oregon: City of Bend Works to Increase Number of People Driving Electric Vehicles (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/videos/2022/02/10/city-of-bend-works-to-increase-number-of-people-driving-electric-vehicles/

32.   Gov. Inslee’s $7,500 Electric Car Rebate Remains Uncertain in WA State Legislature (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/gov-inslees-7500-electric-car-rebate-remains-uncertain-in-wa-legislature/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

33.   Montana: Missoula City Council to Consider Energy Use by Cannabis Companies (The Missoulian, MT)

https://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-city-council-to-consider-energy-use-by-cannabis-companies/article_9d98eae9-5cf9-5c8d-961a-03f5a20790d9.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

34.   Marketplace Suspends Most NFT Sales, Citing ‘Rampant’ Fakes & Plagiarism (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/nft-marketplace-shuts-citing-rampant-fakes-plagiarism-problem-2022-02-11/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

35.   Public Records: Phone Was Manually Set to Delete Former Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Texts (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/nation-world/national/article258364403.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Stuck in KUOW Purgatory: Seattle Mazda Drivers Can’t Change the Radio Dial

https://www.kuow.org/stories/we-didn-t-mean-to-ruin-your-mazda-s-stereo

Russian Gallery Security Guard Accused of Drawing Eyes on Painting

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60330758

Illegally Dumped Rats Take Over Popular California Park, Officials Say. ‘Disconcerting’

https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article258231003.html

A South African Couple Has Turned Elephant Dung into Award-Winning Gin

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/gin-elephant-dung-south-africa

SONG OF THE DAY

Jefferson Starship – With Your Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SnmYs9OKqU

The Energy News Digest for February 7, 2022

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

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

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Geologists ‘Closely Monitoring’ Rising Magma Under Oregon Volcanic Region (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/national-news/geologists-closely-monitoring-rising-magma-under-oregon-volcanic-region/

Washington Wind Power Farms May Conflict with Habitat Preservation Projects (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2022/02/04/washington-wind-power-farms-may-conflict-with-habitat-preservation-projects%EF%BF%BC/

Puget Sound Energy Lays Out Three-Year Rate Plan Through 2025 (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/33724-puget-sound-energy-lays-out-three-year-rate-plan-through-2025/

Transient Whales, Whose Salish Sea Visits Are Increasing, Spending Time in Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/02/05/orcas-whales-spotted-hood-canal-and-salish-seas-more-often/9303031002/

Utilities’ Carbon-Reduction Goals Will Have Little Impact on U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51178

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Puget Sound Energy Lays Out Three-Year Rate Plan Through 2025

2.      California Urged to Keep Nuclear Plant Open to Meet Climate Goals

3.      Europe Is Losing Nuclear Power Just When It Really Needs Energy

4.      California Gas Utility Fined $10 Million for Ratepayer Money Misuse

5.      Bonneville Power Administration Delays Energy Imbalance Market Go-Live from March to May

6.      Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Become 49.99% Owners of Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project

7.      Missouri River Power Output Below Average in 2021

8.      Editorial: California Can’t Enact a ‘Solar Tax’ & Still Be a Climate Leader

9.      Guest Essay: New Federal Infrastructure Funds Offer Big Opportunities for Southwest Utah

10.   Washington Wind Power Farms May Conflict with Habitat Preservation Projects

11.   California: Group Opposes $1.5 Billion San Vicente Energy Storage Facility Project

12.   Aurora Solar Plans Solar Project in Asotin Washington State

13.   Arizona: Appeals Court Decision Opens Door to Sue Public Power Utilities for Rooftop Solar Fees Under Antitrust Law

14.   Montana: NorthWestern’s Plans for State’s First Battery-Storage Project Advances

15.   Scorecard: States Adopt New Energy-Saving Rules but COVID-19 Slows Overall Progress

16.   Transient Whales, Whose Salish Sea Visits Are Increasing, Spending Time in Hood Canal

17.   WA State Loses 250,000 Steelhead Smolts Due to Equipment Failure

18.   Oregon: Power Failure Damages Rogue River Hatchery Output

19.   Oregon Coastal Tribe Takes on Decline of Chinook Salmon through Unique Partnership

20.   Ocean Heat Waves Trigger ‘Squid Bloom’ Along Pacific Coast, Scientists Say

21.   Utilities’ Carbon-Reduction Goals Will Have Little Impact on U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions

22.   U.S. Carbon Pipeline Proposals Trigger Backlash Over Potential Land Seizures

23.   New State Plan to Drive Growth of Rural Broadband Across Arizona

24.   Washington U.S. Senator Details Broadband Plans for State

25.   Does The Home You Want to Buy Have Good High-Speed Internet? You May Have to Do Some Sleuthing to Find Out.

26.   Microsoft, Google, Other Corporate Buyers Get Creative as Demand for Renewable Energy Spikes

27.   Alaska Electric Utilities Are Proposing New Rates for Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Stations

28.   United Kingdom: Cannabis Farms Are Stealing So Much Electricity in Rotherham That It’s Causing Power Outages

29.   Buoy Will Monitor Underwater Noise in Hopes of Quieting Puget Sound for Endangered Orcas

30.   Sounds of a Healthy Ocean Can Bring Degraded Marine Ecosystems Back to Life

31.   Geologists ‘Closely Monitoring’ Rising Magma Under Oregon Volcanic Region

32.   Deal Seeks to Revive Last Aluminum Smelter in Pacific Northwest

33.   WA State: Thieves Targeting Copper Wire in Seattle, Impacting City Infrastructure & Taxpayers

WORD OF THE DAY

Homily • \HAH-muh-lee\ • noun – 1: a usually short sermon *2: a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme 3: an inspirational catchphrase; also: platitude

The $12,000-per-show lecturer droned interminably. His homily on the virtues of living in a hut made of sticks and wearing bark clothing to reduce his “carbon footprint” was wearing on the money-paying attendees. “I think his best contribution to reducing CO2 emissions would be for him to shut up,” muttered Al to his seatmate in the climate-controlled auditorium.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Puget Sound Energy Lays Out Three-Year Rate Plan Through 2025 (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/33724-puget-sound-energy-lays-out-three-year-rate-plan-through-2025/

2.      California Urged to Keep Nuclear Plant Open to Meet Climate Goals (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-urged-keep-nuclear-plant-open-meet-climate-goals-2022-02-03/

3.      Europe Is Losing Nuclear Power Just When It Really Needs Energy (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-01-31/europe-s-nuclear-power-plants-are-disappearing-just-as-energy-crisis-hits-hard

4.      California Gas Utility Fined $10 Million for Ratepayer Money Misuse (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2022-02-04/california-gas-utility-fined-10m-for-ratepayer-money-misuse

5.      Bonneville Power Administration Delays Energy Imbalance Market Go-Live from March to May (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-delays-EIM-go-live-from-March-to-May.aspx

6.      Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Become 49.99% Owners of Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project (Portland General Electric News Release)

https://portlandgeneral.com/news/2022-01-21-confederated-tribes-of-warm-springs-become-49-99-owners-of-pelton

7.      Missouri River Power Output Below Average in 2021 (Associated Press)

https://www.kxnet.com/news/state-news/corps-missouri-river-power-output-below-average-in-2021/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

8.      Editorial: California Can’t Enact a ‘Solar Tax’ & Still Be a Climate Leader (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-02-06/rooftop-solar

9.      Guest Essay: New Federal Infrastructure Funds Offer Big Opportunities for Southwest Utah (The Spectrum, St George, UT)

https://www.thespectrum.com/story/opinion/2022/02/05/your-turn-new-federal-infrastructure-funds-offer-big-opportunities-southwest-utah/6675311001/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Washington Wind Power Farms May Conflict with Habitat Preservation Projects (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2022/02/04/washington-wind-power-farms-may-conflict-with-habitat-preservation-projects%EF%BF%BC/

11.   California: Group Opposes $1.5 Billion San Vicente Energy Storage Facility Project (KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA)

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/group-opposes-15b-pumped-hydro-facility-project-san-vicente-energy-storage-facility-project-lakeside-san-diego/509-6a8533a3-2329-4c3c-9884-cdc9fecb254a

12.   Aurora Solar Plans Solar Project in Asotin Washington State (Construction Review Online)

https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/aurora-solar-plans-solar-project-in-asotin-washington-state/

13.   Arizona: Appeals Court Decision Opens Door to Sue Public Power Utilities for Rooftop Solar Fees Under Antitrust Law (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/appeals-court-decision-opens-door-to-sue-public-power-utilities-for-rooftop/618147/

14.   Montana: NorthWestern’s Plans for State’s First Battery-Storage Project Advances (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/northwesterns-plans-for-states-first-battery-storage-project-advances/article_e808d9c1-c16d-56c4-8e08-e84e93736c62.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15.   Scorecard: States Adopt New Energy-Saving Rules but COVID-19 Slows Overall Progress (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy)

https://www.aceee.org/press-release/2020/12/2020-state-energy-efficiency-scorecard

FISH & WILDLIFE

16.   Transient Whales, Whose Salish Sea Visits Are Increasing, Spending Time in Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/02/05/orcas-whales-spotted-hood-canal-and-salish-seas-more-often/9303031002/

17.   WA State Loses 250,000 Steelhead Smolts Due to Equipment Failure (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2022-02-04/wa-loses-250k-steelhead-smolts-due-to-equipment-failure

18.   Oregon: Power Failure Damages Rogue River Hatchery Output (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/power-failure-damages-hatchery-output-013600747.html

19.   Oregon Coastal Tribe Takes on Decline of Chinook Salmon through Unique Partnership (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2022/02/oregon-coastal-tribe-takes-on-decline-of-chinook-salmon-fall-run-through-unique-partnership.html

20.   Ocean Heat Waves Trigger ‘Squid Bloom’ Along Pacific Coast, Scientists Say (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/ocean-heat-waves-trigger-squid-bloom-along-west-coast-scientists-say/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21.   Utilities’ Carbon-Reduction Goals Will Have Little Impact on U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51178

22.   U.S. Carbon Pipeline Proposals Trigger Backlash Over Potential Land Seizures (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-carbon-pipeline-proposals-trigger-backlash-over-potential-land-seizures-2022-02-07/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

23.   New State Plan to Drive Growth of Rural Broadband Across Arizona (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)

https://tucson.com/business/local/new-state-plan-to-drive-growth-of-rural-broadband-across-arizona/article_7927dad6-8544-11ec-a2b0-371c5b7a77b3.html

24.   Washington U.S. Senator Details Broadband Plans for State (Government Technology)

https://www.govtech.com/network/washington-senator-details-broadband-plans-for-state

25.   Does The Home You Want to Buy Have Good High-Speed Internet? You May Have to Do Some Sleuthing to Find Out. (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/02/03/finding-good-internet-in-new-home/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

26.   Microsoft, Google, Other Corporate Buyers Get Creative as Demand for Renewable Energy Spikes (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/microsoft-google-other-corporate-buyers-get-creative-as-demand-for-renewa/618381/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

27.   Alaska Electric Utilities Are Proposing New Rates for Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Stations (KTOO Radio, Juneau, AK)

https://www.ktoo.org/2022/02/05/alaska-new-rates-for-fast-charging-stations-electric-cars/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

28.   United Kingdom: Cannabis Farms Are Stealing So Much Electricity in Rotherham That It’s Causing Power Outages (Technotrenz)

https://technotrenz.com/entertainment/cannabis-farms-are-stealing-so-much-electricity-in-rotherham-that-its-causing-power-outages-1640228.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

29.   Buoy Will Monitor Underwater Noise in Hopes of Quieting Puget Sound for Endangered Orcas (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/environment/2022-02-02/buoy-will-monitor-underwater-noise-in-hopes-of-quieting-puget-sound-for-endangered-orcas

30.   Sounds of a Healthy Ocean Can Bring Degraded Marine Ecosystems Back to Life (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/05/ocean-sounds-climate-change/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

31.   Geologists ‘Closely Monitoring’ Rising Magma Under Oregon Volcanic Region (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/national-news/geologists-closely-monitoring-rising-magma-under-oregon-volcanic-region/

32.   Deal Seeks to Revive Last Aluminum Smelter in Pacific Northwest (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/deal-seeks-to-revive-last-aluminum-smelter-in-pacific-northwest/

33.   WA State: Thieves Targeting Copper Wire in Seattle, Impacting City Infrastructure & Taxpayers (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/thieves-targeting-copper-wire-in-seattle-as-city-leaders-wrestling-with-solutions

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Rediscovered Dürer Drawing Bought at Estate Sale for $30 Gets Revalued at $10 Million                                                                                                                                             

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/rediscovered-durer-drawing-agnews-auction-1234617450/

Okanogan, WA - A Couple Renovating a 115-Year-Old Building Discovered Two 60-Foot-Long Hidden Murals

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/couple-discover-murals-during-renovation-trnd/index.html

Legoland California Aims for World Record with SoFi Stadium Replica

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/04/Guinness-World-Records-Legoland-California-SoFi-Stadium/8351644003595/

Battery Made from 2,923 Lemons Breaks Guinness World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/04/Guinness-World-Records-lemon-battery/9921643998870/

SONG OF THE DAY

Paul Simon - Mother & Child Reunion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0BUsDf0dxY