The Energy News Digest for December 30, 2020

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

Aloha Moisture Approaching the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/12/aloha-moisture-approaching-northwest.html

Oregon Regulators Back Portland General Electric on Boost for All-Electric Home Connections (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/12/oregon-regulators-back-portland-general.html

Toxic Algae Blooms at Oregon-California Border Spurred by Climate Change, Study Says (KLCC Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/post/toxic-algae-blooms-oregon-california-border-spurred-climate-change-study-says

When Nashville Bombing Hit a Telecom Hub, the Ripples Reached Far Beyond – Investigators are questioning whether the perpetrator specifically targeted the building (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/us/nashville-bombing-telecommunications.html

Fired Tyson Boss Says COVID Office Pool Was a ‘Morale Boost’ (Associated Press)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/dec/28/fired-tyson-boss-says-covid-office-pool-was-a-morale-boost/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.    Oregon Regulators Back Portland General Electric on Boost for All-Electric Home Connections

2.    Editorial: Oregon’s State Climate Policy Reshapes Incentive for Electricity

3.    Gas-fired Electricity Advances across Most U.S. Regions over Past Five Years, EIA Says

4.    California: Pacific Gas & Electric Judge Proposes Stricter Probation after Wildfires

5.    California: Decommissioning Lawsuit, San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant

6.    Ohio: Scandal-Battered Utility Now Faces Specter of Pricy Lawsuits

7.    Vermonters Won’t Face Utility Shutoffs This Winter. Here’s What Utility Companies Had to Say.

8.    WA State: Brinnon, Quilcene Knitters Make Caps for Jefferson PUD, Mason PUD 1 Workers

9.    California: Large Energy Storage Project Would Create New Reservoir Above Isabella Lake

10. Wyoming: Commercial Solar Project Proposed in Sheridan County

11. 190,000 Ceiling Fans Recalled Because the Blades Detach & Fly Off

12. Commentary: We’ve Hit the Phase of the Trump Presidency Where People Are Suing Over Dishwashers

13. Toxic Algae Blooms at Oregon-California Border Spurred by Climate Change, Study Says

14. Opponents of Oregon’s Climate Policies Argue for Another Chance to Sue

15. California’s Landmark Cap-And-Trade Policy Faces Growing Claims of Environmental Racism

16. Climate Change Led to Record Insurance Payouts in 2020

17. When Nashville Bombing Hit a Telecom Hub, the Ripples Reached Far Beyond

18. U.S. Senator Wyden: Stimulus Bill Funds Broadband, Assistance for Farmers, Ranchers

19. WA State: Better Internet Coming to Pacific County? Not So Fast

20. Q&A: WA State Rep. DelBene on Data Privacy, Rural Broadband & the Biden Administration’s Tech Agenda

21. A Look at Less-Publicized PR Crisis Communication Tips

22. Politico Acquires Energy & Environment-Focused Trade Publication E&E News

23. Fourth Small Earthquake in Three Days Hits Puget Sound Area

24. Fired Tyson Boss Says COVID Office Pool Was a ‘Morale Boost’

25. Aloha Moisture Approaching the Pacific Northwest

WORD OF THE DAY

Supererogation • \soop-err-air-uh-GAY-shun\ • Noun - The act of performing more than is required by duty, obligation, or need

“Bartholomew, you have an exemplary talent…your supererogation is an inspiration to all the other employees here,” barked the supervisor to his cowering minion.

“Great,” thought Barty, “Now I need to buy a dictionary to see if that was a compliment or not.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Oregon Regulators Back Portland General Electric on Boost for All-Electric Home Connections (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/12/oregon-regulators-back-portland-general.html

2.      Editorial: Oregon’s State Climate Policy Reshapes Incentive for Electricity (Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://www.bendbulletin.com/opinion/editorial-state-climate-policy-reshapes-incentive-for-electricity/article_74101302-4a07-11eb-a5ff-1b7635174c19.html

3.      Gas-fired Electricity Advances across Most U.S. Regions over Past Five Years, EIA Says (Natural Gas Intelligence)

https://www.naturalgasintel.com/gas-fired-electricity-advances-across-most-u-s-regions-over-past-5-years-eia-says/

4.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Judge Proposes Stricter Probation after Wildfires (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-29/pg-e-judge-proposes-stricter-probation-terms-after-wildfires

5.      California: Decommissioning Lawsuit, San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/nuclear-power-5/

6.      Ohio: Scandal-Battered Utility Now Faces Specter of Pricy Lawsuits (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Scandal-battered-utility-now-faces-specter-of-15835773.php

7.      Vermonters Won’t Face Utility Shutoffs This Winter. Here’s What Utility Companies Had to Say. (Burlington Free Press, VT)

https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2020/12/29/covid-utility-shutoffs-moratorium-vermont-reinstated/4070846001/

8.      WA State: Brinnon, Quilcene Knitters Make Caps for Jefferson PUD, Mason PUD 1 Workers (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/brinnon-quilcene-knitters-make-caps-for-pud-workers/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

9.      California: Large Energy Storage Project Would Create New Reservoir Above Isabella Lake (Bakersfield, Californian, CA)

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/large-energy-storage-project-would-create-new-reservoir-above-isabella-lake/article_a79ff7ee-4955-11eb-a6d5-5b06b053bb14.html

10.   Wyoming: Commercial Solar Project Proposed in Sheridan County (The Buffalo Bulletin, WY)

http://www.buffalobulletin.com/news/article_331c073e-49e9-11eb-8e08-8bfb8980aafa.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

11.   190,000 Ceiling Fans Recalled Because the Blades Detach & Fly Off (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/28/business/ceiling-fan-recall-trnd/index.html

12.   Commentary: We’ve Hit the Phase of the Trump Presidency Where People Are Suing Over Dishwashers (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/weve-hit-the-phase-of-the-trump-presidency-where-people-1845963893

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

13.   Toxic Algae Blooms at Oregon-California Border Spurred by Climate Change, Study Says (KLCC Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/post/toxic-algae-blooms-oregon-california-border-spurred-climate-change-study-says

14.   Opponents of Oregon’s Climate Policies Argue for Another Chance to Sue (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/29/oregon-greenhouse-gas-emissions-court-challenge/

15.   California’s Landmark Cap-And-Trade Policy Faces Growing Claims of Environmental Racism (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2020/12/29/californias-landmark-cap-and-trade-policy-facing-backlash-from-environmental-racism/4064871001/

16.   Climate Change Led to Record Insurance Payouts in 2020 (Bloomberg News)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/dec/28/climate-change-led-to-record-insurance-payouts-in-/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

17.   When Nashville Bombing Hit a Telecom Hub, the Ripples Reached Far Beyond – Investigators are questioning whether the perpetrator specifically targeted the building (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/us/nashville-bombing-telecommunications.html

18.   U.S. Senator Wyden: Stimulus Bill Funds Broadband, Assistance for Farmers, Ranchers (Blue Mountain Eagle, John Day, OR)

https://www.bluemountaineagle.com/news/wyden-stimulus-bill-funds-broadband-assistance-for-farmers-ranchers/article_9eaa06ba-4573-11eb-965f-1b4cd6f1aca5.html

19.   WA State: Better Internet Coming to Pacific County? Not So Fast (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/better-internet-coming-not-so-fast/article_13c7bbb0-499b-11eb-8705-2bafe8662273.html

20.   Q&A: WA State Rep. DelBene on Data Privacy, Rural Broadband & the Biden Administration’s Tech Agenda (Geekwire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/qa-rep-delbene-data-privacy-rural-broadband-biden-administrations-tech-agenda/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

21.   A Look at Less-Publicized PR Crisis Communication Tips (PR News)

https://www.prnewsonline.com/crisis-tips-misinformation

22.   Politico Acquires Energy & Environment-Focused Trade Publication E&E News (Washington Business Journal, DC)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/12/politico-acquires-energy-environment.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

23.   Fourth Small Earthquake in Three Days Hits Puget Sound Area (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/fourth-small-earthquake-in-3-days-hits-puget-sound-area/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

24.   Fired Tyson Boss Says COVID Office Pool Was a ‘Morale Boost’ (Associated Press)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/dec/28/fired-tyson-boss-says-covid-office-pool-was-a-morale-boost/

WALLOPED BY THE WEATHER

25.   Aloha Moisture Approaching the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/12/aloha-moisture-approaching-northwest.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Man Tracks Down Author of 37-Year-Old Diaries in Crawlspace of Home

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/12/29/Man-tracks-down-author-of-37-year-old-diaries-in-crawlspace-of-home/9001609279459/

Utah Boy Catches 48-Pound Trout Six Months after Landing 41-Pounder

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/12/29/Utah-boy-catches-48-pound-trout-six-months-after-landing-41-pounder/9151609272540/

Virginia Man Finds Stolen 1969 Camaro after 17 Years

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/12/28/Virginia-man-finds-stolen-1969-Camaro-after-17-years/8071609187420/

Kentucky Man Uses Flamethrower to Clear Snow from Driveway

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/12/28/Kentucky-man-uses-flamethrower-to-clear-snow-from-driveway/3571609177928/

SONG OF THE DAY

Earth Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fxT82Nbwb8

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Possible Paywall restrictions are noted in the media attribution.

Politico Acquires Energy & Environment-Focused Trade Publication E&E News (Washington Business Journal, DC)

(WASHINGTON, DC) - - Politico, the politics and policy news organization, has agreed to acquire energy and environment trade publication E&E News, the two entities said late Tuesday.

E&E News, which produces five daily newsletters covering energy policy and related topics, will remain its own brand under the Politico umbrella. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It was not immediately clear when the deal would close.

E&E News was founded in 1998 and now has 65 reporters in several offices around the United States, including a main office in Northwest D.C. Politico, which launched in 2007, is based in Arlington.

"Your ongoing support has positioned us to enter into this momentous agreement at a time when our journalism and business have never been stronger," E&E News co-founder and publisher Michael Witt wrote in a letter to readers. "In joining Politico, I believe E&E News can maximize its potential and reach even greater heights. I could not have parted with it for any less."

The acquisition furthers Politico Publisher Robert Allbritton's goal to expand the news organization's reach into more areas within the politics and policy space, according to a release.

“We are doubling down on our policy coverage by investing in journalism and growing our product offerings in the energy and environmental policy space, which touches all aspects of the economy and government," Allbritton said in a statement.

Politico currently has 600 employees in the U.S. and 200 in Europe, where it runs Politico Europe in partnership with Axel Springer. The company in 2020 launched AgencyIQ, a subscription product based on regulatory affairs.

Oregon Regulators Back Portland General Electric on Boost for All-Electric Home Connections (Portland Business Journal, OR)

(SALEM, OR) - - Oregon utility regulators got a taste this month of the tension building over a push to “electrify everything.”

The movement, promoted by climate activists as a key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is focused heavily on how buildings are heated and poses an obvious threat to natural gas distribution companies.

In the case at hand, Portland General Electric proposed boosting the rebate on the cost of extending service to all-electric homes to $2,260, compared to about $1,600 for other homes.

The Public Utility Commission agreed, although it was careful to say the decision was based on the economic benefits that the proposal would bring all PGE ratepayers by increasing revenue that supports the utility’s distribution system by a margin that exceeds new costs.

Still, the discussion of what are known as line-extension allowances brought out electrification advocates and NW Natural, the region’s dominant gas utility. And it began to frame an electricity vs. gas debate that figures to unfold in earnest in the years ahead.

It’s a debate that climate activists, many of whom would like to see NW Natural’s own line-extension allowance eliminated, are eager to have.

Their basic argument is that decarbonizing electricity is a more viable long-term strategy than cleaning up the gas system.

“We believe this is a really good example of how line-extension policies or construction-allowance policies can be used as a tool to reduce future carbon emissions and lower onsite energy consumption of new buildings,” Brian Stewart, founder of Electrify Now, told the commission at a Dec. 15 meeting.

Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Renew Oregon, Oregon Environmental Council, Sierra Club and other groups joined in supporting PGE’s proposal. And they encouraged the commission to undertake a deeper investigation that looks at the climate implications of line-extension policies, especially in light of Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon.

Commission Chair Megan Decker noted that the commission is beginning to probe the complex question as it explores implementing Brown’s order.

NW Natural didn’t strictly oppose PGE’s proposal. But the gas utility rejected a PGE framing that the proposal “supports Oregon’s decarbonization policy by providing an incentive to electrify, and therefore, increasingly decarbonize residential load.”

NW Natural called those “unsupported assertions” that would need a full investigation before being accepted by the commission. The company has argued that new gas efficiency measures, renewable natural gas and green hydrogen can make its gas system climate friendly.

The company even objected to a proposal by ratepayer advocate CUB to exclude from the higher allowance homes that will use “resistance heating” — think baseboards — instead of high-efficiency options such as heat pumps.

Resistance heating is cheap to install, but because it’s inefficient, is costly to use and adds to the grid burden, CUB said, and shouldn’t be encouraged.

NW Natural objected to the exclusion on the grounds that it reframes line-extension allowances — utility payments toward the cost of extending service to new buildings — as more than a question of the economic benefits that new customers bring the system.

But the PUC, pushed by Commissioner Mark Thompson, agreed to add the exclusion. The new pricing is set to go into effect Feb. 1.

 

WA State: Energy Adviser – Resolve to Cut Energy Consumption (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

(VANCOUVER, WA) - - New Year’s resolutions can evoke strong feelings. Some people swear by them as a means to bettering one’s life and achieving new goals, while others have sworn off them entirely, arguing they so rarely work out that to make them is to guarantee disappointment down the road.

But there’s one resolution that everyone can easily achieve and promises to reward everyone who follows it, no matter how great or modest their efforts — the resolution to reduce home energy consumption.

Whether you own a house, rent an apartment, or run a business, there many ways to conserve electricity and reduce energy expenses without sacrificing personal comfort, convenience or safety.

“There are many low-cost and no-cost ways to reduce energy consumption in our lives,” said Trevor Frick, the Clark Public Utilities Energy Councilor of the Day. “Whether it’s making behavioral changes, a little handiwork around the house or a combination of the two, a little effort will add up to some satisfying results.”

Just as the easiest way to eat an elephant is taking one bite at a time, the easiest way to change personal habits and reduce consumption is make one small change at a time.

For a head start, contact Frick, the Energy Councilor of the Day, for some personalized tips. He possesses a wealth of energy-saving knowledge.

From there, think about your habits. Do you leave the water running when you brush your teeth? Do you leave the lights on after you leave a room? Do you tend to leave your computer running all day? There are countless things we all do that consume more electricity than we actually need. Once you’ve got a sense for your habits, figure out which ones you can improve. You’ll be glad you did.

Upgrade all your lightbulbs to LEDs now or when your current bulb burns out. Most use a fraction of the electricity of traditional incandescent bulbs and about half that of compact florescent bulbs. Plus, they last for up to a decade or more. Once you’ve made the switch, remember to flip the switch and turn out the lights whenever you leave a room.

Our lives are filled with electronics that run constantly — even when we think they’re shut off. Alone they don’t use much power, but together their consumption really adds up. Rein in your electronics, especially those around the entertainment center or office, by connecting them to controlled or advanced power strips and shutting those off when not in use. You can even automate the task by investing in smart plugs and programming them to shut off at a specific time of day, like right before bedtime.

Resolve to reduce your heating expenses this winter by using sweaters or blankets to stay warm and turning down the thermostat to 70 degrees or less during the day and 65 degrees at night.

Caulk and outlet insulation are cheap, widely available and highly effective. Light switches, outlets and fixtures are often sources of tiny air leaks. Individually they’re too small to notice, but together they’re responsible for a surprising amount of heat loss. Use the caulk to seal around exterior windows or gaps behind light fixtures in and outside the home. Insulator kits fit all varieties of switches and outlets and install in minutes.

If your exterior doors leak cold air, install new weather stripping around the frame. If that’s not an option, place a rolled-up towel at the threshold.

If you want to take things to the next level, and you’re ready to invest in your property, Clark Public Utilities is offering significantly higher incentives for window replacements and heat pump systems in electrically heated homes, for a limited time only. The utility is also offering great incentives for insulation improvements for residential customers. Certain restrictions apply. There are many great solutions for business customers as well. For more information, contact the Energy Counselor of the Day by phone at 360-992-3355 or email at ecod@clarkpud.com.

Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98688.

WA State: Nearly One-Third of Spokane Utility Customers Are More Than 2 Months Late Paying Bills (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

(Spokane, WA) - - As the coronavirus pandemic continues to cripple the economy, the number of people struggling to keep up with their utility bills is outpacing the community’s ability to help them.

The number of Spokane residents and businesses who have fallen more than two months behind on their city utility bills has more than doubled since January, now accounting for nearly one-third of all utility customers.

Officials are contemplating how to respond, as the pandemic and its economic ramifications have stretched far beyond what the city planned for when the coronavirus reached Washington this spring.

Early in the pandemic, the city paused utility shutoffs and allowed customers to set up a deferral or interest-free repayment plan. It also launched a fundraising effort and distributed $182,000 through its U-Help utility assistance program, which provided $130 to the average customer who received assistance.

The city could double down on those efforts by launching another fundraising campaign for utility assistance and continuing to accept more deferrals and repayment plans. Or, the answer could simply be to hope for federal or state support, without which the city may need to cut costs to accommodate the reduced revenue from people failing to pay. The city is now owed $4.8 million from overdue utility accounts.

As city officials consider their next steps, Spokanites continue to fall further behind.

“We’re concerned about the health of our families and businesses. Long-term, we’re concerned about the financial risks for critical utility services for our community,” said Marlene Feist, director of strategic development at the city’s Public Works Department.

The U-Help program is administered by the nonprofit Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, or SNAP, which can field dozens of calls for assistance in a day, according to Carol Weltz, its director of community engagement.

“It’s constant and I don’t see it slowing down at all, and we only have a limited amount of help. They need more help than we can even offer them,” Weltz said. “I don’t know how people are going to pull out of this.”

Feist shares those concerns. A family that is months behind on city utility bills is likely to also be skipping payments like rent and electricity bills.

Many of those reaching out to SNAP have never needed assistance before, Weltz said. Funds for the U-Help program have dwindled to about $28,000, and the nonprofit can only provide so much to every person or family.

About 24% of customers are between one and two months late, which Feist says is typical, as some people just forget to pay or pay later.

But the rate of delinquency greater than 60 days increased from 15% of customers in January to about 30% this month, according to a report provided to the Spokane City Council by city officials this week.

“More people are entering delinquency … and those outstanding balances are continuing to age,” Feist said.

Avista has seen a similar trend.

“The number of Avista customers in Washington with past due amounts at the end of October this year is slightly higher, but in line, with the number at that time last year. But the dollar amount that is past due is approximately double,” Avista spokesperson Casey Fielder said.

In normal times, the city would shut off someone’s utilities between 75 and 90 days after the bill is considered late, but only after a notice is given.

Residential utility customers have fared the worst, but the number of commercial ratepayers at least 90 days late on their bill also has increased. The city approved 123 repayment plans for residential utility customers, with an average balance of $799.

Councilman Michael Cathcart asked city officials to produce a map showing the concentration of overdue accounts in 2020 compared to 2019. As he expected, it showed a dramatic increase in the number of northeast Spokane residents and businesses – who he represents in City Council District 1 – that are at least 90 days late on utility payments.

The map, he wrote on Facebook, demonstrates “how the shutdown has exacerbated these economic disadvantages and Impacted residents in North and Northeast Spokane to a significant degree worse than those elsewhere in the community.”

“We can’t control state mandates, but now more than ever it’s important that we consider how local public policies can address or worsen this situation and how we can overcome these challenges,” Cathcart wrote. “Perhaps now is the time to rethink how resources are expended and applied throughout the city.”

Those in need of utility assistance should call SNAP at (509) 456-SNAP.

 

The Energy News Digest for December 23, 2020

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

FBI: White Supremacists Plotted Attack on U.S. Power Grid (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-12-22/fbi-white-supremacists-plotted-attack-on-us-power-grid

Christmas Eve Blackout May Leave Southern California in the Dark (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-21/christmas-eve-blackout-may-leave-southern-california-in-the-dark

 

Power Out at Oregon Prison Amid COVID-19 Outbreak (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2020-12-23/power-out-at-oregon-prison-amid-covid-19-outbreak

New Washington State Whale Watching Rules to Take Effect in 2021 (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/23/washington-whale-watching-new-rules/

Survey Shows Considerable Glacier Loss in the Mountains of Oregon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/23/climate-change-oregon-mountains-glacier-loss/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      FBI: White Supremacists Plotted Attack on U.S. Power Grid

2.      Christmas Eve Blackout May Leave Southern California in the Dark

3.      Power Out at Oregon Prison Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

4.      Oregon: NW Natural Offers Hotel Rooms, Blankets to Hood River Customers During Outage

5.      Portland General Electric Energy Trading Losses Will Cost Top Execs

6.      Lawsuit Seeks Reports on Willamette River Dams’ Structural Integrity

7.      Oregon Regulators Turn PacifiCorp Rate Hike Request into a Cut

8.      WA State: Schuyler Burkhart Named Next Grays Harbor PUD General Manager

9.      Seattle’s Move to Electric Heat Won’t Kill the Gas Stove, Yet

10.   British Columbia: First Peace River Dam Turbines Expected to Arrive Here Next Month

11.   Energy Department: Idaho Top Choice for New Test Reactor

12.   A Teen & a Cat Knocked Out Power to 1,000 Pasco Customers

13.   Starlings’ Aerial Antics Behind Mystery of Scots’ Power Outages

14.   Researchers Identify Which West Coast Regions Hold Greatest Wave Energy Potential

15.   Pacific Northwest Poised to Test 100% Renewables as Utilities Weigh Gas Vs. Storage

16.   Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Issues Policy Statement on Renewable Natural Gas

17.   Green Home-Renovation Firm Bankrupted by Tougher Rules, Lawsuits

18.   New Washington State Whale Watching Rules to Take Effect in 2021

19.   Op/Ed: States Need Federal Cooperation to Save Salmon

20.   New Blue Whale Population Discovered after Scientists Hear Unknown Song

21.   Congress Passes Bill on Navajo Nation Water Rights in Utah

22.   Flint Agrees to Pay $20 Million in Water Crisis Settlement

23.   Survey Shows Considerable Glacier Loss in the Mountains of Oregon

24.   Warmer Winters Causing More Ice-Free Lakes in Northern Hemisphere, Study Finds

25.   Senator Cantwell Pushed for Tribal Broadband & FCC Telehealth Program in COVID Relief Bill

26.   Millions of Low-Income Americans Will Receive Internet Access Rebates Under New $7 Billion Broadband Stimulus Plan

27.   Industry Groups Ask FCC to Raise Broadband Speed Definition to a Gigabit

28.   FERC Proposes Incentives for Voluntary Cybersecurity Investments, in Race to Secure Nation’s Electric Grid

29.   Grammar Mistakes That Medium’s Copy Editors Really Don’t Want You to Make

30.   BP Joins Gas-From-Cow-Manure Push with Joint Venture in U.S.

31.   President Trump Threatens COVID Relief, House Speaker Pelosi Urges ‘Sign the Bill’

32.   In Massive Energy Investments, Some See Just a Start

WORD OF THE DAY

Frenetic /fruh-NET-ick/ Adjective – Marked by excitement, disorder, or anxiety-driven activity: frenzied, frantic.

Frenetic. See Costco, 5 PM, Sunday, December 23, 2018.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      FBI: White Supremacists Plotted Attack on U.S. Power Grid (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-12-22/fbi-white-supremacists-plotted-attack-on-us-power-grid

2.      Christmas Eve Blackout May Leave Southern California in the Dark (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-21/christmas-eve-blackout-may-leave-southern-california-in-the-dark

3.      Power Out at Oregon Prison Amid COVID-19 Outbreak (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2020-12-23/power-out-at-oregon-prison-amid-covid-19-outbreak

4.      Oregon: NW Natural Offers Hotel Rooms, Blankets to Hood River Customers During Outage (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/nw-natural-offers-hotel-rooms-blankets-to-hood-river-customers-during-outage

5.      Portland General Electric Energy Trading Losses Will Cost Top Execs (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/12/portland-general-electric-energy.html

6.      Lawsuit Seeks Reports on Willamette River Dams’ Structural Integrity (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/22/willamette-river-dam-structural-integrity-lawsuit/

7.      Oregon Regulators Turn PacifiCorp Rate Hike Request into a Cut (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/12/oregon-regulators-turn-pacificorp-rate.html

8.      WA State: Schuyler Burkhart Named Next Grays Harbor PUD General Manager (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

https://www.kxro.com/schuyler-burkhart-named-next-pud-general-manager/

9.      Seattle’s Move to Electric Heat Won’t Kill the Gas Stove, Yet (Seattle Metro, WA)

https://www.seattlemet.com/home-and-real-estate/2020/12/how-seattles-move-toward-electric-buildings-green-renewable-energy-affects-gas-stoves

10.   British Columbia: First Peace River Dam Turbines Expected to Arrive Here Next Month (Alaska Highway News)

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/site-c/first-site-c-turbines-expected-to-arrive-here-next-month-1.24259375

11.   Energy Department: Idaho Top Choice for New Test Reactor (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/oak-ridge-jim-risch-environment-tennessee-nuclear-power-38c218ef393f3d4cbc5646250109ef4f

12.   A Teen & a Cat Knocked Out Power to 1,000 Pasco Customers (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/crime/article248008150.html

13.   Starlings’ Aerial Antics Behind Mystery of Scots’ Power Outages (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/17/starlings-aerial-antics-behind-mystery-of-scots-power-outages

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   Researchers Identify Which West Coast Regions Hold Greatest Wave Energy Potential (Mirage News)

https://www.miragenews.com/researchers-identify-which-west-coast-regions-hold-greatest-wave-energy-potential/

15.   Pacific Northwest Poised to Test 100% Renewables as Utilities Weigh Gas Vs. Storage (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pacific-northwest-poised-to-test-100-renewables-as-utilities-weigh-gas-vs/592019/

16.   Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Issues Policy Statement on Renewable Natural Gas (National Law Review)

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/washington-utilities-and-transportation-commission-issues-policy-statement-renewable

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   Green Home-Renovation Firm Bankrupted by Tougher Rules, Lawsuits (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-22/green-home-renovation-firm-bankrupted-by-tougher-rules-lawsuits

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   New Washington State Whale Watching Rules to Take Effect in 2021 (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/23/washington-whale-watching-new-rules/

19.   Op/Ed: States Need Federal Cooperation to Save Salmon (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/dec/23/eric-crawford-state-of-play-for-salmon/

20.   New Blue Whale Population Discovered after Scientists Hear Unknown Song (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/new-blue-whale-population-discovered-after-scientists-h-1845933456

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   Congress Passes Bill on Navajo Nation Water Rights in Utah (Associated Press)

https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/congress-passes-bill-on-navajo-nation-water-rights-in-utah/article_357dba8f-5846-52d3-ba38-53c330926d82.html

22.   Flint Agrees to Pay $20 Million in Water Crisis Settlement (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/flint-agrees-to-pay-20-million-in-water-crisis-settlement/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Survey Shows Considerable Glacier Loss in the Mountains of Oregon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/23/climate-change-oregon-mountains-glacier-loss/

24.   Warmer Winters Causing More Ice-Free Lakes in Northern Hemisphere, Study Finds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/warmer-winters-ice-free-lakes-1.5851815?cmp=rss

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   Senator Cantwell Pushed for Tribal Broadband & FCC Telehealth Program in COVID Relief Bill (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/senator-cantwell-pushed-for-tribal-broadband-fcc-telehealth-program-in-relief-bill/

26.   Millions of Low-Income Americans Will Receive Internet Access Rebates Under New $7 Billion Broadband Stimulus Plan (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/22/internet-rebate-coronavirus-stimulus/

27.   Industry Groups Ask FCC to Raise Broadband Speed Definition to a Gigabit (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/industry-groups-ask-fcc-to-raise-broadband-speed-definition-to-a-gigabit/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   FERC Proposes Incentives for Voluntary Cybersecurity Investments, in Race to Secure Nation’s Electric Grid (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-proposes-incentives-for-voluntary-cybersecurity-investments-in-race-t/592591/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

29.   Grammar Mistakes That Medium’s Copy Editors Really Don’t Want You to Make (Medium)

https://medium.com/creators-hub/grammar-mistakes-that-mediums-copy-editors-really-don-t-want-you-to-make-6b9eee0c7e3e

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

30.   BP Joins Gas-From-Cow-Manure Push with Joint Venture in U.S. (Bloomberg News)

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/bp-joins-gas-from-cow-manure-push-with-u-s-joint-venture-1

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

31.   President Trump Threatens COVID Relief, House Speaker Pelosi Urges ‘Sign the Bill’ (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-bills-7d5b7e70e5193e88c6f24e425abbe0af

32.   In Massive Energy Investments, Some See Just a Start (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/531356-in-massive-energy-investments-some-see-just-a-start

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Bill Gross Harassed Neighbor with ‘Gilligan’s Island’ Song, Judge Rules

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-12-23/bill-gross-chihuly-sculpture-gilligans-island-laguna-beach-ruling

Chestnuts Roasting on a Dumpster Fire: 16 Extremely 2020 Yule Log Videos

https://mashable.com/article/2020-yule-log-dumpster-fire-video/

Seuss-Star Trek Mash-Up Crashes and Burns at Ninth Circuit

https://www.courthousenews.com/seuss-star-trek-mash-up-crash-lands-with-ninth-circuit/

Two Delta Passengers Open the Door of a Moving Plane & Slide Out (With A Dog) at LaGuardia Airport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/21/us/la-guardia-delta-flight-passengers-exit/index.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Lobo – Me & You & A Dog Named Boo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fgGNZYR5QM

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Possible Paywall restrictions are noted in the media attribution.