The Energy News Digest for October 16, 2023

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

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

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

December 7, 2023 - Helping Customers Understand Energy Usage and Conservation Measures

• Improve your ability to assist customers in understanding their bills and your utility’s rates.
• Learn to communicate more professionally and credibly.
• Learn to explain myths and scams about energy efficiency.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Projects to Get Up to $1 Billion in Federal Support (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/briefs/2023/10/northwest-hydrogen-projects-get-1b-federal-support

The Future of Electric Vehicles Looms Over Negotiations in the U.S. Autoworkers Strike (Associated Press)

https://tucson.com/news/nation-world/business/us-autoworkers-strike-electric-vehicles-big-three-automakers-negotiations-labor/article_0567aedc-3d04-5aa9-b53c-05b186a022cc.html

Reserves, Hydropower Supply, Rising Costs: Seattle City Light to Raise Rates by Nearly 10% (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3935106/seattle-city-light-to-raise-rates-by-nearly-10/

WA State: Quincy Continues to Be a Draw for Data Centers (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2023/oct/14/quincy-continues-be-draw-data-centers/

New Report Shows Electric Co-ops Are ‘Powerful Engines of Economic Development’ (National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association)

https://www.electric.coop/new-report-shows-electric-co-ops-are-powerful-engines-of-economic-development

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Reserves, Hydropower Supply, Rising Costs: Seattle City Light to Raise Rates by Nearly 10%

2.      Industrial Leaders & Farmers Push for More Participation in Grant PUD Rate Hikes Discussion

3.      NW Power Council Meets in Redmond, Learns Region Is Off to Good Start in Meeting Energy Efficiency Goals

4.      Capital Power to Buy Stake in Pierce County, Washington Gas-Fired Power Plant

5.      Oregon: Corps Studies Need for Hydropower

6.      Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $38 Million to Support Hydropower Facilities Across the Country

7.      EIA Expects Most U.S. Households Will Pay Less for Heating This Winter

8.      EIA Projections Indicate Global Energy Consumption Increases Through 2050, Outpacing Efficiency Gains & Driving Continued Emissions Growth

9.      U.S. Natural Gas Prices Slide 3% to One-Week Low on Rising Output, Mild Forecasts

10.   Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Projects to Get Up to $1 Billion in Federal Support

11.   Pacific NW Wins $1 Billion from Feds for Hydrogen Hub. Now What?

12.   Regional Group Involving Douglas PUD Selected as Hydrogen Hub

13.   President Biden Awards $7 Billion for Clean Hydrogen Hubs Across the Country to Help Replace Fossil Fuels

14.   Schoesler: New Regional Hydrogen Hub Dependent on Hydropower

15.   How Do Americans Feel About Clean Energy?

16.   Pikeminnow Program Sees ‘A Really Solid Year’ as Catch, Effort Increase

17.   With Runs Rising, State Questions How to Manage Columbia, Cowlitz River Smelt

18.   Shhh! The Orcas Are Back in Puget Sound

19.   American Public Power Association Highlights Bonneville Power Administration Pollinator Work in Podcast

20.   Big Trouble on the Columbia: EPA Studies River’s Toxic Algae Spread

21.   Environmental Groups Seek Change to Water Flows for California’s Kern River

22.   WA State: Seattle Reservoirs Continue to Drop as Call Continues to Conserve Water

23.   After a Century of Displacement, Shasta Indian Nation Sees Hope in Dam Removal

24.   WA State: ‘Committed to the Process’: Chairman Clarifies Chehalis Tribe’s Stance on Proposed Dam

25.   Why Expanding WA’s Carbon Market Could Deliver Savings for Consumers

26.   WA State: Broadband Expansion to 2,300 Homes, Businesses in Winlock Area Breaks Ground

27.   The High Cost of Slow Internet: A Look at U.S. Broadband Prices

28.   U.S. News & World Report Internet Cost, Speed, and Value Consumer Survey 2023

29.   WA State: Quincy Continues to Be a Draw for Data Centers

30.   The Future of Electric Vehicles Looms Over Negotiations in the U.S. Autoworkers Strike

31.   EV Sales Have Soared In WA; Our Map Shows Where They’re Registered

32.   U.S. Electric-Vehicle Sales Hit Record High, Tesla Loses Market Share, Report Says

33.   Eligible Electric & Plug-In Vehicle Buyers Will Get U.S. Tax Credits Immediately in 2024

34.   Federal Judge Hears Arguments on Requests to Block Montana’s TikTok Ban

35.   New Report Shows Electric Co-ops Are ‘Powerful Engines of Economic Development’

36.   Echoes of Enron: Use of Weather Derivatives Surges as Extreme Climate Events Rock the Globe

37.   Commentary: Time to Talk About the Forgotten ‘H’ of Salmon Recovery

38.   In Our View: Offshore Wind Farms Present Opportunities

39.   Column: Solar Companies & Environmentalists Say They’re Ready to Stop Fighting. They’d Better Be

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Maelstrom ● \MAIL-strum\ ● Noun – A situation in which there are a lot of confused activities, emotions, etc.; a dangerous area of water that moves very fast in a circle.

     Storm bears down on us

     Nature’s fury unleashed

     Gods broom sweeps briskly

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Reserves, Hydropower Supply, Rising Costs: Seattle City Light to Raise Rates by Nearly 10% (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3935106/seattle-city-light-to-raise-rates-by-nearly-10/

2.      Industrial Leaders & Farmers Push for More Participation in Grant PUD Rate Hikes Discussion (SourceOne News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/industrial-leaders-and-farmers-push-for-more-participation-in-grant-pud-rate-hikes-discussion/article_0bbcb94c-6951-11ee-b9d0-ef6c35938de1.html

3.      NW Power Council Meets in Redmond, Learns Region Is Off to Good Start In Meeting Energy Efficiency Goals (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/environment/2023/10/15/nw-power-council-meets-in-redmond-learns-region-is-off-to-good-start-in-meeting-energy-efficiency-goals/

4.      Capital Power to Buy Stake in Pierce County, Washington Gas-Fired Power Plant (Power Technology)

https://www.power-technology.com/news/capital-power-gas-power-plant/

5.      Oregon: Corps Studies Need for Hydropower (Lebanon Local News, OR)

https://www.lebanonlocalnews.com/corps-studies-need-for-hydropower/

6.      Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $38 Million to Support Hydropower Facilities Across the Country (U.S. Dept of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-more-38-million-support-hydropower-facilities-across

7.      EIA Expects Most U.S. Households Will Pay Less for Heating This Winter (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/pressroom/releases/press543.php

8.      EIA Projections Indicate Global Energy Consumption Increases Through 2050, Outpacing Efficiency Gains & Driving Continued Emissions Growth (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/pressroom/releases/press542.php

9.      U.S. Natural Gas Prices Slide 3% to One-Week Low on Rising Output, Mild Forecasts (Hellenic Shipping News)

https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/us-natgas-prices-slide-3-to-one-week-low-on-rising-output-mild-forecasts/

HIGH-FLYING WITH HYDROGEN

10.   Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Projects to Get Up to $1 Billion in Federal Support (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/briefs/2023/10/northwest-hydrogen-projects-get-1b-federal-support

11.   Pacific NW Wins $1 Billion from Feds for Hydrogen Hub. Now What? (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2023/10/pacific-nw-wins-1-billion-from-feds-for-hydrogen-hub-now-what.html

12.   Regional Group Involving Douglas PUD Selected as Hydrogen Hub (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/regional-group-involving-douglas-pud-selected-as-hydrogen-hub/

13.   President Biden Awards $7 Billion for Clean Hydrogen Hubs Across the Country to Help Replace Fossil Fuels (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/hydrogen-hubs-energy-biden-climate-pennsylvania-west-virginia-d609a455a6dd018fca5af785f245c6fd

14.   Schoesler: New Regional Hydrogen Hub Dependent on Hydropower (Elkhorn Media Group)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/schoesler-new-regional-hydrogen-hub-dependent-on-hydropower/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   How Do Americans Feel About Clean Energy? (KXAN-TV, Austin, TX)

https://www.kxan.com/weather/how-do-americans-feel-about-clean-energy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

16.   Pikeminnow Program Sees ‘A Really Solid Year’ as Catch, Effort Increase (Northwest Sportsman)

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/pikeminnow-program-sees-a-really-solid-year-as-catch-effort-increase/

17.   With Runs Rising, State Questions How to Manage Columbia, Cowlitz River Smelt (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/northwest/with-runs-rising-state-questions-how-to-manage-columbia-cowlitz-river-smelt/

18.   Shhh! The Orcas Are Back in Puget Sound (KUOW News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/shhh-the-orcas-are-back-in-town

19.   American Public Power Association Highlights Bonneville Power Administration Pollinator Work in Podcast (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20231005-in-the-news-american-public-power-assoc-highlights-bpa-pollinator-work-i

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

20.   Big Trouble on the Columbia: EPA Studies River’s Toxic Algae Spread (Northwest News Network)

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/2023-10-12/big-trouble-on-the-columbia-epa-studies-rivers-toxic-algae-spread

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   Environmental Groups Seek Change to Water Flows for California’s Kern River (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/environmental-groups-seek-change-to-water-flows-for-californias-kern-river/

22.   WA State: Seattle Reservoirs Continue to Drop as Call Continues to Conserve Water (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/seattle-reservoirs-continue-to-drop-as-call-continues-to-conserve-water

23.   After a Century of Displacement, Shasta Indian Nation Sees Hope in Dam Removal (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/15/klamath-oregon-dam-removal-shasta-indian-nation-native-american-indigenous-culture/

24.   WA State: ‘Committed to the Process’: Chairman Clarifies Chehalis Tribe’s Stance on Proposed Dam (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/committed-to-the-process-chairman-clarifies-chehalis-tribes-stance-on-proposed-dam,327323

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Why Expanding WA’s Carbon Market Could Deliver Savings for Consumers (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/10/12/why-expanding-was-carbon-market-could-deliver-savings-for-consumers/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

26.   WA State: Broadband Expansion to 2,300 Homes, Businesses in Winlock Area Breaks Ground (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/broadband-expansion-to-2300-homes-businesses-in-winlock-breaks-ground,327327

27.   The High Cost of Slow Internet: A Look at U.S. Broadband Prices (Microsoft Network)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/technology/the-high-cost-of-slow-internet-a-look-at-us-broadband-prices/ar-AA1ifEXO

28.   U.S. News & World Report Internet Cost, Speed, and Value Consumer Survey 2023 (U.S. News & World Report)

https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/services/internet-providers/internet-cost-speed-value-survey

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

29.   WA State: Quincy Continues to Be a Draw for Data Centers (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2023/oct/14/quincy-continues-be-draw-data-centers/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   The Future of Electric Vehicles Looms Over Negotiations in the U.S. Autoworkers Strike (Associated Press)

https://tucson.com/news/nation-world/business/us-autoworkers-strike-electric-vehicles-big-three-automakers-negotiations-labor/article_0567aedc-3d04-5aa9-b53c-05b186a022cc.html

31.   EV Sales Have Soared In WA; Our Map Shows Where They’re Registered (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/ev-sales-have-soared-in-wa-our-map-shows-where-theyre-registered/

32.   U.S. Electric-Vehicle Sales Hit Record High, Tesla Loses Market Share, Report Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-electric-vehicle-sales-hit-record-high-tesla-loses-market-share-report-2023-10-12/

33.   Eligible Electric & Plug-In Vehicle Buyers Will Get U.S. Tax Credits Immediately in 2024 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicle-tax-credit-point-of-sale-new-used-670990726b378ba972fc038471fb29eb

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

34.   Federal Judge Hears Arguments on Requests to Block Montana’s TikTok Ban (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/10/12/federal-judge-hears-arguments-on-requests-to-block-montanas-tiktok-ban/

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

35.   New Report Shows Electric Co-ops Are ‘Powerful Engines of Economic Development’ (National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association)

https://www.electric.coop/new-report-shows-electric-co-ops-are-powerful-engines-of-economic-development

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

36.   Echoes of Enron: Use of Weather Derivatives Surges as Extreme Climate Events Rock the Globe (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/global-markets-weather-derivatives-analysis-pix-2023-10-11/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

37.   Commentary: Time to Talk About the Forgotten ‘H’ of Salmon Recovery (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/commentary-time-to-talk-about-the-forgotten-h-of-salmon-recovery,327318?

38.   In Our View: Offshore Wind Farms Present Opportunities (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/oct/13/in-our-view-offshore-wind-farms-present-opportunities/

39.   Column: Solar Companies & Environmentalists Say They’re Ready to Stop Fighting. They’d Better Be (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-10-11/column-solar-companies-and-environmentalists-say-theyre-ready-to-stop-fighting-theyd-better-be-boiling-point

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

104-Year-Old Chicago Woman Dies Days After Potential Record-Breaking Skydive

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dorothy-hoffner-skydiver-dead_n_652632dde4b0a32c15c0b647

Don’t Mess with This Mama Bear: Grazer Easily Wins Popular Fat Bear Contest at Alaska National Park

https://apnews.com/article/alaska-brown-bears-fat-contest-afa9de13cf8dc98fe2f5499a6a0f6d02

Missouri Man Breaks Guinness World Record for Longest Journey on 1,208-Pound Pumpkin Vessel

https://news.yahoo.com/missouri-man-breaks-guinness-world-032152202.html

Suzanne Somers, of ‘Three’s Company,’ Dies at 76

https://apnews.com/article/obituary-suzanne-somers-2b97c5362eab6709f594b30280dc79c3

SONG OF THE DAY

Three’s Company - Theme – Piano

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

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

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

The Energy News Digest for October 9, 2023

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

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

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

90-Day Plan for Key Account Management Certification – October 24-25, 2023, in Bend, Ore.

In this course, you will discover how to effectively leverage your utility’s resources to create value for your most impactful customers.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

‘A Wakeup Call for All of Us’: 4.3 Magnitude Earthquake Felt Across Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/43-magnitude-earthquake-poulsbo/281-f0afda04-87de-42f1-b32b-2605eb2e7de4

Peak Hourly U.S. Electricity Demand in July Was the Second Highest Since 2016 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60602

As Biden Negotiates Future of Lower Snake River Dams, Northwest Tribes Push for Removal (Spokane Public Radio, WA)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2023-10-07/as-biden-negotiates-future-of-lower-snake-river-dams-northwest-tribes-push-for-removal

Regulators Cast More Clouds Over California Solar Market (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2023/10/09/regulators-cast-more-clouds-over-california-solar-market

China Is Top Cyber Threat to U.S. Utilities, Other Critical Infrastructure: CISA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/cisa-china-threats-critical-infrastructure/695975/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Peak Hourly U.S. Electricity Demand in July Was the Second Highest Since 2016

2.      As Biden Negotiates Future of Lower Snake River Dams, Northwest Tribes Push for Removal

3.      U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Chides Biden Administration on Columbia River Salmon Memo

4.      Massive Dam Removal Project Spurs Hope in the Klamath Basin

5.      Wyoming: A Look Inside Cheyenne’s New Hydroelectric Facility

6.      Environmental Groups Ask Oregon & Washington Utilities to Leave Powerful Gas Lobby

7.      New Deal Would Mean Lower Natural Gas Bills for Puget Sound Energy Customers

8.      Oregon: Rising Costs – Columbia River PUD Customer Rates Increasing

9.      More Washington Residents Eligible for Energy Assistance

10.   This Utility’s Undergrounding Plan Is Causing Sticker Shock

11.   Nuclear Industry Needs More State Money, Officials Warn

12.   Salt River Project Shifts from Traditional Integrated Resource Plan to ‘Holistic’ Power Planning

13.   Western Power Pool Outlines Concept for West-Wide Transmission Planning Group

14.   Bonneville Power Administration Makes 40th Straight Treasury Payment, Aided by Financial Policies

15.   Regulators Cast More Clouds Over California Solar Market

16.   U.S. Solar Farms Are Aging. Is It Time to Begin Repowering?

17.   Huge New Wind Turbines Face Backlash

18.   Vermont Utility Plans to End Outages by Giving Customers Batteries

19.   A New Window of Recognition for Bonneville Power Administration & Partners on an Emerging Technology

20.   The Unknown Switch That You Should Change Twice a Year on Your Ceiling Fan

21.   Crabbing in Crisis: A Look into Economic, Environmental Factors Disrupting the Global Seafood Industry

22.   Alaska Fishermen Will Be Allowed to Harvest Lucrative Red King Crab in the Bering Sea

23.   Local Efforts Helping to Restore Region’s Salmon Habitats

24.   Oregon Demands $28 Million for Massive Fish Kill & Water Violations at Winchester Dam

25.   Washington State’s Efforts to Trade Timber Revenue for Carbon Credits

26.   Modesto & Turlock Irrigation Districts Contend with the Violent Swings of Climate Change

27.   Pacific Power Customers Will Receive Climate Credit on Bills

28.   GOP Senator: Washington Ecology Keeps Cap-And-Trade Secrets

29.   Amazon Deploys Test Internet Satellites to Compete with SpaceX

30.   China Is Top Cyber Threat to U.S. Utilities, Other Critical Infrastructure: CISA

31.   Critics Say Crypto Mines Spew Pollution, Not Wealth, into Rural Communities

32.   Google Tests System to Cut Data Center Power Use During Grid Problems

33.   Former Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler Plans to Run for WA Lands Commissioner

34.   Alaskans Get a $1,312 Oil Dividend Check This Year. The Political Cost of the Benefit Is High

35.   ‘A Wakeup Call for All of Us’: 4.3 Magnitude Earthquake Felt Across Western Washington

36.   The Jet Stream is Strengthening as Autumn Weather Settles in to the Pacific Northwest

37.   Historic 1962 Columbus Day Windstorm Was the Strongest in U.S. History; Another Could Occur

38.   Push to Replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day Continues in Congress

39.   Guest Essay: Government Regulation Is Making Power More Expensive. Benton PUD (WA) Offers a Better Way

40.   Guest Essay: IBEW Electrical Union Backs Keeping Snake River Dams

41.   Guest Essay: Big Wires Act Needs Our Leaders’s Support

WORD OF THE DAY

Viand \VIE-und\ Noun - 1: an item of food; especially: a choice or tasty dish; 2: provisions, food.

Alberto was ready for the “Big One.” Instead of buying into a survivalist shelter scheme, he built a private concrete bunker deep beneath his house. Stocked with the most outstanding canned viands he could find, he was secure in the knowledge that the coming apocalypse would pass him by. It was only when it was too late that he discovered his fatal flaw: he forgot to supply his shelter with a can opener.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Peak Hourly U.S. Electricity Demand in July Was the Second Highest Since 2016 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60602

2.      As Biden Negotiates Future of Lower Snake River Dams, Northwest Tribes Push for Removal (Spokane Public Radio, WA)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2023-10-07/as-biden-negotiates-future-of-lower-snake-river-dams-northwest-tribes-push-for-removal

3.      U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Chides Biden Administration on Columbia River Salmon Memo (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_4bd69648-63c4-11ee-8dd9-3b20cbd89d7e.html

4.      Massive Dam Removal Project Spurs Hope in the Klamath Basin (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/06/massive-dam-removal-project-spurs-hope-in-the-klamath-basin/

5.      Wyoming: A Look Inside Cheyenne’s New Hydroelectric Facility (Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne, WY)

https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/a-look-inside-cheyenne-s-new-hydroelectric-facility/article_6b4a5218-6544-11ee-9355-9fe567465f4c.html

6.      Environmental Groups Ask Oregon & Washington Utilities to Leave Powerful Gas Lobby (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/10/05/environmental-groups-ask-oregon-and-washington-utilities-to-leave-powerful-gas-lobby/

7.      New Deal Would Mean Lower Natural Gas Bills for Puget Sound Energy Customers (KGMI-Radio Bellingham, WA)

https://kgmi.com/news/007700-new-deal-would-mean-lower-bills-for-pse-customers/

8.      Oregon: Rising Costs – Columbia River PUD Customer Rates Increasing (The Chief, St Helens, OR)

https://www.thechiefnews.com/news/rising-costs-pud-customer-rates-increasing/article_5934352c-63cc-11ee-9f4d-672dcc5e4d82.html

9.      More Washington Residents Eligible for Energy Assistance (Spokane Public Radio, WA)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2023-10-04/more-washington-residents-eligible-for-energy-assistance

10.   This Utility’s Undergrounding Plan Is Causing Sticker Shock (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2023/10/05/pg-es-undergrounding-plan-is-causing-sticker-shock-00120290

11.   Nuclear Industry Needs More State Money, Officials Warn (Financial Post)

https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/nuclear-industry-needs-more-state-money-officials-warn

12.   Salt River Project Shifts from Traditional Integrated Resource Plan to ‘Holistic’ Power Planning (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/srp-shifts-from-traditional-irp-to-holistic-power-planning/

13.   Western Power Pool Outlines Concept for West-Wide Transmission Planning Group (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/western-power-pool-outlines-concept-for-west-wide-transmission-planning-gro/695684/

14.   Bonneville Power Administration Makes 40th Straight Treasury Payment, Aided by Financial Policies (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20231005-bpa-makes-40th-straight-treasury-payment-aided-by-financial-policies

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   Regulators Cast More Clouds Over California Solar Market (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2023/10/09/regulators-cast-more-clouds-over-california-solar-market

16.   U.S. Solar Farms Are Aging. Is It Time to Begin Repowering? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-solar-farms-are-aging-is-it-time-to-begin-repowering/690978/

17.   Huge New Wind Turbines Face Backlash (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/huge-new-wind-turbines-face-backlash/

18.   Vermont Utility Plans to End Outages by Giving Customers Batteries (NY Times – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/09/business/energy-environment/green-mountain-home-batteries.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   A New Window of Recognition for Bonneville Power Administration & Partners on an Emerging Technology (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20231006-a-new-window-of-recognition-for-bpa-and-partners-on-an-emerging-technolo

20.   The Unknown Switch That You Should Change Twice a Year on Your Ceiling Fan (KSAZ-TV, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/the-unknown-switch-that-you-should-change-twice-a-year-on-your-ceiling-fan

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Crabbing in Crisis: A Look into Economic, Environmental Factors Disrupting the Global Seafood Industry (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/crabbing-crisis-economic-environmental-factors-disrupting-global-seafood-industry/281-8f41eda3-3bf3-4c8e-be41-2d45f91282e8

22.   Alaska Fishermen Will Be Allowed to Harvest Lucrative Red King Crab in the Bering Sea (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/alaska-fishermen-allowed-harvest-lucrative-red-king-crab-103796108

23.   Local Efforts Helping to Restore Region’s Salmon Habitats (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/issaquah-salmon-days-regions-fish-population-shows-signs-of-a-rebound

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   Oregon Demands $28 Million for Massive Fish Kill & Water Violations at Winchester Dam (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/oregon-demands-28-million-for-massive-fish-kill-and-water-violations-at-winchester-dam/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Washington State’s Efforts to Trade Timber Revenue for Carbon Credits (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/environment/2023-10-04/trees-natures-original-climate-solution-washingtons-state-forests-carbon-sinks

26.   Modesto & Turlock Irrigation Districts Contend with the Violent Swings of Climate Change (Modesto Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.modbee.com/news/business/agriculture/article280167599.html

27.   Pacific Power Customers Will Receive Climate Credit on Bills (KFFX-TV, Kennewick, WA)

https://www.fox41yakima.com/pacific-power-customers-will-receive-climate-credit-on-bills/

28.   GOP Senator: Washington Ecology Keeps Cap-And-Trade Secrets (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/state/washington/gop-senator-washington-ecology-keeps-cap-and-trade-secrets/article_d6f56770-6484-11ee-9ac5-cfd9a0a00381.html

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   Amazon Deploys Test Internet Satellites to Compete with SpaceX (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/06/amazon-launches-test-satellites-for-its-planned-internet-service-to-compete-with-spacex/

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

30.   China Is Top Cyber Threat to U.S. Utilities, Other Critical Infrastructure: CISA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/cisa-china-threats-critical-infrastructure/695975/

31.   Critics Say Crypto Mines Spew Pollution, Not Wealth, into Rural Communities (The Daily Yonder)

https://dailyyonder.com/critics-say-crypto-mines-spew-pollution-not-wealth-into-rural-communities/2023/10/09/

32.   Google Tests System to Cut Data Center Power Use During Grid Problems (Data Center Dynamics)

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/google-tests-system-to-cut-data-center-power-use-during-grid-problems/

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

33.   Former Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler Plans to Run for WA Lands Commissioner (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/former-republican-congresswoman-jaime-herrera-beutler-plans-to-run-for-wa-lands-commissioner/

34.   Alaskans Get a $1,312 Oil Dividend Check This Year. The Political Cost of the Benefit Is High (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/alaska-oil-wealth-fund-dividend-c512839da89902b06f39e87866733cf8

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

35.   ‘A Wakeup Call for All of Us’: 4.3 Magnitude Earthquake Felt Across Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/43-magnitude-earthquake-poulsbo/281-f0afda04-87de-42f1-b32b-2605eb2e7de4

36.   The Jet Stream is Strengthening as Autumn Weather Settles in to the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-jet-stream-is-strengthening-as.html

37.   Historic 1962 Columbus Day Windstorm Was the Strongest in U.S. History; Another Could Occur (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3934484/1962-wind-storm-strongest-us-history-another-could-occur/

38.   Push to Replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day Continues in Congress (KUOW News, Seattle, WA)

https://kuow.org/stories/push-to-replace-columbus-day-with-indigenous-peoples-day-continues-in-congress

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

39.   Guest Essay: Government Regulation Is Making Power More Expensive. Benton PUD (WA) Offers a Better Way (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article280116504.html

40.   Guest Essay: IBEW Electrical Union Backs Keeping Snake River Dams (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/ibew-electrical-union-backs-keeping-snake-river-dams/

41.   Guest Essay: Big Wires Act Needs Our Leaders’s Support (Billings Gazette, MT – Paywall Advisory)

https://billingsgazette.com/opinion/column/big-wires-act-needs-our-leaderss-support/article_9e3acf4e-645a-11ee-8cf4-07b6963ad7b1.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Illinois Teacher’s 53-Year Career Earns World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/10/09/Guinness-World-Records-longest-career-social-studies-teacher/6561696873227/

Chicago Marathon Runner Stops to Rescue Kitten, Finds Forever Home along the Route

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/10/09/Chicago-Marathon-kitten-rescue/1211696867911/

Teenager’s Playing Card Structure Breaks Guinness World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/10/06/india-Guinness-World-Records-largest-playing-card-structure/1421696613412/

Customs Officials Seize Giraffe Poop from Traveler at Minnesota Airport

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/10/05/Customs-Border-Protection-giraffte-poop-Minnesota/1311696528107/

SONG OF THE DAY

Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, James Taylor – What a Wonderful World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYjZjfSsEk8

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

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