The Energy News Digest for October 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

Amazon’s Big Plans for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in Eastern WA & Beyond (Bellingham Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/amazon-s-big-plans-for-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-in-eastern-wa-and-beyond/ar-AA1sn8Kh

Google Signs Deal to Use Small Nuclear Reactors to Power Data Centers (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/nuclear/google-agrees-to-multi-reactor-power-deal-with-nuclear-startup-kairos

Bonneville Power Administration Plans $3 Billion in Transmission Projects, Including 500-Kv Lines (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/bpa-bonneville-transmission-projects-oregon-washington-edam/729978/

Oregon: Data Center in Forest Grove? Neighbors Say Not So Fast (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/data-center-in-forest-grove-neighbors-say-not-so-fast/

Snow Is Likely Coming for the Cascades This Week (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2024/10/snow-is-likely-coming-for-the-cascades-this-week.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Amazon’s Big Plans for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in Eastern WA & Beyond

2.      Google Signs Deal to Use Small Nuclear Reactors to Power Data Centers

3.      Bonneville Power Administration Plans $3 Billion in Transmission Projects, Including 500-Kv Lines

4.      News Release: Bonneville Power Administration Maintains Transmission Expansion Momentum with 13 New Proposed Projects

5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Potential Power Shutoffs for Fire Danger Across Central & Northern California

6.      Idaho Power Lines Determined as Likely Cause of Valley Fire in Boise

7.      Montana Public Service Commission Rejects Montana-Dakota Utilities Rate Increase After Outcry

8.      British Columbia: The Columbia River Treaty Is Getting an Overhaul. Will It Help Resolve Kinbasket’s Woes?

9.      Public Power Utilities Included Among Recipients of DOE Funding for Hydropower

10.   Get Ready for ‘Age of Electricity,’ New Energy Agency Report Says

11.   As Solar Booms in the California Desert, Locals Feel ‘Overburdened’

12.   Geothermal – Petroleum Drilling Technology Is Now Making Carbon-Free Power

13.   This Farmer Was Skeptical About Solar — Until He Began Grazing Sheep

14.   Everyone Loves Rooftop Solar Panels. But There’s a Problem.

15.   Five ‘Vampire’ Appliances Wasting Energy If You Leave Them on Standby

16.   Lack of Chinook Salmon Keeps Southern Resident Orcas on Endangered List

17.   Fish Return After Condit Dam Removal

18.   A Receding Lake Powell Is Bringing Colorado River Rapids in Utah Back to Life

19.   The FCC Takes Aim at Broadband Data Caps

20.   Oregon: Data Center in Forest Grove? Neighbors Say Not So Fast

21.   Work Smarter: What You Need to Know About Artificial Intelligence Integrations, Video Trends & Policy Points

22.   Snow Is Likely Coming for the Cascades This Week

23.   A La Niña Winter Is Coming. Here’s What That Could Mean for the U.S.

Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition

Conker /kon-kerr/ Noun – 1: a horse chestnut especially when used in conkers, 2: conkers plural: a game in which each player swings a horse chestnut on a string to try to break one held by the opponent

     Behold, the winner

     Disgraced conkers champion

     He used a steel nut

For context, see the Diversions section below.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Amazon’s Big Plans for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in Eastern WA & Beyond (Bellingham Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/amazon-s-big-plans-for-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-in-eastern-wa-and-beyond/ar-AA1sn8Kh

2.      Google Signs Deal to Use Small Nuclear Reactors to Power Data Centers (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/nuclear/google-agrees-to-multi-reactor-power-deal-with-nuclear-startup-kairos

3.      Bonneville Power Administration Plans $3 Billion in Transmission Projects, Including 500-Kv Lines (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/bpa-bonneville-transmission-projects-oregon-washington-edam/729978/

4.      News Release: Bonneville Power Administration Maintains Transmission Expansion Momentum with 13 New Proposed Projects (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20241015-bpa-maintains-tx-expansion-momentum-with-13-new-proposed-projects

5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Potential Power Shutoffs for Fire Danger Across Central & Northern California (Sacramento Bee, CA – Nia MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/pg-e-warns-of-potential-power-shutoffs-for-fire-danger-across-central-and-northern-california/ar-AA1skQGA

6.      Idaho Power Lines Determined as Likely Cause of Valley Fire in Boise (Idaho Press)

https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-power-lines-determined-as-likely-cause-of-valley-fire-in-boise/article_1b627450-8a79-11ef-abdc-bfd770e37b20.html

7.      Montana Public Service Commission Rejects Montana-Dakota Utilities Rate Increase After Outcry (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2024/10/15/montana-public-service-commission-rejects-mdu-rate-increase-after-outcry/

8.      British Columbia: The Columbia River Treaty Is Getting an Overhaul. Will It Help Resolve Kinbasket’s Woes? (The Rocky Mountain Goat, Valemount, BC)

https://www.therockymountaingoat.com/2024/10/the-columbia-river-treaty-is-getting-an-overhaul-will-it-help-resolve-kinbaskets-woes/

9.      Public Power Utilities Included Among Recipients of DOE Funding for Hydropower (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/public-power-utilities-included-among-recipients-doe-funding-hydropower

10.   Get Ready for ‘Age of Electricity,’ New Energy Agency Report Says (Axios – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/get-ready-for-age-of-electricity-new-energy-agency-report-says/ar-AA1smWDL

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

11.   As Solar Booms in the California Desert, Locals Feel ‘Overburdened’ (Inside Climate News)

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16102024/california-desert-solar-development-burden/?utm_medium=email

12.   Geothermal – Petroleum Drilling Technology Is Now Making Carbon-Free Power (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/15/nx-s1-5035523/petroleum-drilling-technology-carbon-free-power

13.   This Farmer Was Skeptical About Solar — Until He Began Grazing Sheep (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/this-farmer-was-skeptical-about-solar-until-he-began-grazing-sheep

14.   Everyone Loves Rooftop Solar Panels. But There’s a Problem. (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/everyone-loves-rooftop-solar-panels-but-there-s-a-problem/ar-AA1smtoi

Conservation & Efficiency

15.   Five ‘Vampire’ Appliances Wasting Energy If You Leave Them on Standby (The Mirror, UK)

https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/five-vampire-appliances-wasting-energy-33884215

Fish & Wildlife

16.   Lack of Chinook Salmon Keeps Southern Resident Orcas on Endangered List (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3997930/lack-chinook-salmon-keeps-southern-resident-killer-whale-on-endangered-list/

17.   Fish Return After Condit Dam Removal (Columbia Gorge News, Hood River, OR)

https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/fish-return-after-dam-removal/article_b2e995ca-8b22-11ef-b0af-9ff009f310af.html

Water, Water, Anywhere?

18.   A Receding Lake Powell Is Bringing Colorado River Rapids in Utah Back to Life (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/15/nx-s1-5096082-e1/a-receding-lake-powell-is-bringing-colorado-river-rapids-in-utah-back-to-life

London Calling –Telecommunications

19.   The FCC Takes Aim at Broadband Data Caps (PC World)

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2491457/the-fcc-takes-aim-at-broadband-data-caps.html

Beam Me Up, Scotty - The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

20.   Oregon: Data Center in Forest Grove? Neighbors Say Not So Fast (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/data-center-in-forest-grove-neighbors-say-not-so-fast/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

21.   Work Smarter: What You Need to Know About Artificial Intelligence Integrations, Video Trends & Policy Points (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/work-smarter-with-ai/

Other Things to Know About Today

22.   Snow Is Likely Coming for the Cascades This Week (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2024/10/snow-is-likely-coming-for-the-cascades-this-week.html

23.   A La Niña Winter Is Coming. Here’s What That Could Mean for the U.S. (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/la-ni-winter-coming-could-082238997.html

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Pumpkin Weighing 2,471 Pounds Wins California Contest

https://apnews.com/article/california-giant-pumpkin-winner-71cc6201bb732f057261d452bdf97ba5

Nuisance Or Neighbors? Rabbit Population Explodes in a Spokane Neighborhood

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nuisance-or-neighbors-rabbit-population-explodes-in-a-spokane-neighborhood/ar-AA1sjXmI

Video: British Columbia Mushroom Picker Finds Massive Matsutake Mushroom

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6536818

Steel Chestnut Plunges World Conker Championships into Controversy

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/15/World-Conker-Championships-steel-chestnut-cheating/2541729011522/

Song of the Day

Art Garfunkel – Bright Eyes (Watership Down Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi-YTTR7n-8

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 October 14, 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

Oregon’s Data Centers Want a Lot More Electricity. Who’s Going to Pay? It Could Be You (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/oregon-s-data-centers-want-a-lot-more-electricity-who-s-going-to-pay-it-could-be-you/ar-AA1sc30Y

To Meet U.S. Nuclear Goals, Big Reactors Need to Get Built Today, DOE Says (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/nuclear/to-meet-us-nuclear-goals-big-reactors-need-to-get-built-today-doe-says

Washington’s Old-Growth Forests Capture Carbon Better Than Nearly Any Other (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/oct/14/washingtons-old-growth-forests-capture-carbon-better-than-nearly-any-other/

Central Coast Fishermen Sue California Coastal Commission Over Wind Energy (Cal Coast News)

https://calcoastnews.com/2024/10/central-coast-fishermen-sue-california-coastal-commission-over-wind-energy/?utm_medium=email

The Fate of Thousands of U.S. Dams Hangs in the Balance, Leaving Rural Communities with Hard Choices (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/politics/the-fate-of-thousands-of-u-s-dams-hangs-in-the-balance-leaving-rural-communities-with-hard-choices/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Oregon’s Data Centers Want a Lot More Electricity. Who’s Going to Pay? It Could Be You

2.      To Meet U.S. Nuclear Goals, Big Reactors Need to Get Built Today, DOE Says

3.      Nuclear Power Could Solve U.S. Electricity Needs. But at What Cost?

4.      Federal Agencies Join Forces to Bring Little Goose Dam Back Online

5.      WA State: Grant PUD Plans Major Power Supply Expansions Amid Growing Demand in Grant County

6.      Florida Power Outage Map: More Than 400,000 Still in the Dark in Hurricane Milton Aftermath

7.      A New Move in the Grid of Thrones

8.      U.S. Hourly Electricity Demand Peaked in July with Widespread Heatwaves

9.      Central Coast Fishermen Sue California Coastal Commission Over Wind Energy

10.   Nevada: The Battle for Bahsahwahbee – Federal Solar Plan at Odds with Decadeslong Monument Fight

11.   Volunteers Bring Solar Power to Hurricane Helene’s Disaster Zone

12.   ‘Very Lumpy & Skinny’: Endangered Southern Resident Orca Calf Emaciated, Stopped Breathing

13.   Steelhead Fishing to Open in Upper Columbia River for First Time in Nine Years

14.   Spokane Man Claims 20-Year-Old Water Meter Led to Inflated Water Bill

15.   Washington’s Old-Growth Forests Capture Carbon Better Than Nearly Any Other

16.   Oregon-Led Report Calls for Action as Climate Change Accelerates

17.   WA State: Port of Coupeville Broadband Project May Leave Out Some Residents

18.   Microwave Power? Waves That Heat Your Burritos Will Get Internet to Part of Pierce County

19.   When Meteor Showers Will Dazzle Night Skies This Fall

20.   Will Carbon Tax Initiative 2117 Lower Washington Gas Prices? That’s Debatable

21.   The Fate of Thousands of U.S. Dams Hangs in the Balance, Leaving Rural Communities with Hard Choices

22.   Guest Essay: Energy Projects, Preemption & Politics

23.   Guest Essay: Why Digital Access Is the Key to Survival for Washington’s Small Businesses

24.   Podcast: Eleventy-First Episode & Energy System Analogy World Cup Championship

Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition

Monstrous \MON-struss\ 1: Strange, unnatural 2: having extraordinary, often overwhelming size 3: gigantic 3a: having the qualities or appearance of a monster 3b: teeming with monsters 4a: extraordinarily ugly or vicious: 4b: shockingly wrong or ridiculous 5: deviating significantly from the natural form or character: 6: very great — used as an intensive

     Men in rubber suits

     Tiny Tokyo destroyed

     Monstrous behavior

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Oregon’s Data Centers Want a Lot More Electricity. Who’s Going to Pay? It Could Be You (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/oregon-s-data-centers-want-a-lot-more-electricity-who-s-going-to-pay-it-could-be-you/ar-AA1sc30Y

2.      To Meet U.S. Nuclear Goals, Big Reactors Need to Get Built Today, DOE Says (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/nuclear/to-meet-us-nuclear-goals-big-reactors-need-to-get-built-today-doe-says

3.      Nuclear Power Could Solve U.S. Electricity Needs. But at What Cost? (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nuclear-power-could-solve-us-100007851.html

4.      Federal Agencies Join Forces to Bring Little Goose Dam Back Online (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20241010-federal-agencies-join-forces-to-bring-little-goose-dam-back-online

5.      WA State: Grant PUD Plans Major Power Supply Expansions Amid Growing Demand in Grant County (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/powering-up-grant-pud-plans-major-power-supply-expansions-amid-growing-demand-in-grant-county/article_226f24c4-8820-11ef-97c7-f338ad5e4b9f.html

6.      Florida Power Outage Map: More Than 400,000 Still in the Dark in Hurricane Milton Aftermath (USA Today – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-power-outage-map-more-111916162.html

7.      A New Move in the Grid of Thrones (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2024/10/09/a-new-move-in-the-grid-of-thrones-00183173

8.      U.S. Hourly Electricity Demand Peaked in July with Widespread Heatwaves (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=63445

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Central Coast Fishermen Sue California Coastal Commission Over Wind Energy (Cal Coast News)

https://calcoastnews.com/2024/10/central-coast-fishermen-sue-california-coastal-commission-over-wind-energy/?utm_medium=email

10.   Nevada: The Battle for Bahsahwahbee – Federal Solar Plan at Odds with Decadeslong Monument Fight (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/battle-for-bahsahwahbee-federal-solar-plan-at-odds-with-decadeslong-monument-fight-3186419/

11.   Volunteers Bring Solar Power to Hurricane Helene’s Disaster Zone (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/volunteers-bring-solar-power-to-hurricane-19834243.php

Fish & Wildlife

12.   ‘Very Lumpy & Skinny’: Endangered Southern Resident Orca Calf Emaciated, Stopped Breathing (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/very-lumpy-skinny-endangered-southern-resident-whale-calf-emaciated-stopped-breathing/FNHBWEA4HRHBBOOZ4WADLO72UY/

13.   Steelhead Fishing to Open in Upper Columbia River for First Time in Nine Years (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/steelhead-fishing-to-open-in-upper-columbia-river-for-first-time-in-nine-years/article_82cad3a2-86b5-11ef-aab2-db2ea425a996.html

Water, Water, Anywhere?

14.   Spokane Man Claims 20-Year-Old Water Meter Led to Inflated Water Bill (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/helpmehayley/spokane-man-claims-20-year-old-water-meter-led-to-inflated-water-bill/article_e6b42cb4-8751-11ef-bc43-cb5e2308c87a.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

15.   Washington’s Old-Growth Forests Capture Carbon Better Than Nearly Any Other (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/oct/14/washingtons-old-growth-forests-capture-carbon-better-than-nearly-any-other/

16.   Oregon-Led Report Calls for Action as Climate Change Accelerates (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/10/09/oregon-report-action-climate-change/

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   WA State: Port of Coupeville Broadband Project May Leave Out Some Residents (Whidbey News-Times, Oak Harbor, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/port-broadband-project-may-leave-out-some-residents/

18.   Microwave Power? Waves That Heat Your Burritos Will Get Internet to Part of Pierce County (Tacoma News-Tribune, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/microwave-power-waves-heat-burritos-194500758.html

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

19.   When Meteor Showers Will Dazzle Night Skies This Fall (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2024/10/when-meteor-showers-will-dazzle-night-skies-this-fall.html

Management & Governance

20.   Will Carbon Tax Initiative 2117 Lower Washington Gas Prices? That’s Debatable (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/10/will-carbon-tax-initiative-2117-lower-gas-prices-thats-debatable

Other Things to Know About Today

21.   The Fate of Thousands of U.S. Dams Hangs in the Balance, Leaving Rural Communities with Hard Choices (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/politics/the-fate-of-thousands-of-u-s-dams-hangs-in-the-balance-leaving-rural-communities-with-hard-choices/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

22.   Guest Essay: Energy Projects, Preemption & Politics (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/10/10/energy-projects-preemption-and-politics/

23.   Guest Essay: Why Digital Access Is the Key to Survival for Washington’s Small Businesses (Olympian, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-digital-access-key-survival-120000259.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

24.   Podcast: Eleventy-First Episode & Energy System Analogy World Cup Championship (Public Power Underground)

https://publicpowerunderground.substack.com/p/eleventy-first-episode-and-energy

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Model Makers in Madagascar Are Bringing History’s Long-Lost Ships Back to Life

https://apnews.com/article/madagascar-model-ships-history-famous-1649d037fe34d3435616721d26eac6c5

Ohio-Based Eatery Breaks World Record for Hot Dog Photos

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/10/Guinness-World-Records-got-dog-photos-Instagram/8721728579293/

Baby Born in Microbrewery Parking Lot Honored with Special Beer

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/14/One-Well-Brewing-baby-beer/2961728925931/

Farm Creates Massive ‘Beetlejuice’ Pumpkin Mosaic

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/11/Beetlejuice-mosaic-Sunnyfields-Farm/7641728660539/

Song of the Day

Paul Anka – (You’re) Having My Baby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXzuaybzS6k

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.