Programming Note: Because of a previously scheduled appointment at the Pig
& Pancake, the normally scheduled August 31 edition of the news digest will
be issued September 1.
The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.
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. Now,
go play.
HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S
TOP FIVE STORIES
A Lesson from the Blackouts: California May Be Too Reliant
on Out-Of-State Energy Imports (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
Northern Utah City Opts Out of Planned Nuclear Power Project
Over Money Concerns (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
Portland General Electric Traders Lose Big on California
Blackout (Bloomberg News)
Washington State Public Schools to Spend $8.8M to Boost Student
Internet Access (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
Utilities Face Growing Ransomware Threat as Hackers Improve
Strategy, Execution (Utility Dive)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See
Stories Below)
1.
A Lesson from the Blackouts: California May Be
Too Reliant on Out-Of-State Energy Imports
2.
Lawmakers Want to Extend California Utility
Customer Fee for Wildfire, Climate Projects
3.
Under Blackout Threat, California May Keep Gas
Power Plants State Rushed to Close
4.
Northern Utah City Opts Out of Planned Nuclear
Power Project Over Money Concerns
5.
Nuclear Advocates Fret as First Maker of Small
Reactors Encounters Trouble
6.
Utah’s Clean Energy Future Should Include
Nuclear
7.
Portland General Electric Traders Lose Big on
California Blackout
8.
Portland General Electric Hits New 12-Month Low
Following Analyst Downgrade
9.
Idaho Power Proposes Exiting Boardman Coal-Fired
Plant to Focus on Energy Efficiency
10.
Some Oregon Utilities Resume Disconnecting
Customers
11.
Grays Harbor PUD General Manager Dave Ward to
Retire
12.
Clallam PUD: Morris, Paschall Differ on Public
Power Council at Forum
13.
Lake Elsinore Hydroelectric Project Would
Threaten Sacred Land, Pechanga Tribe Says
14.
Impressive Reliability Track Record for Clark
Public Utilities Reflects Utility-Wide Focus
15.
COVID-19 Issues Continue to Dominate Utility
Regulatory Sphere in July
16.
The United States Set Record for Daily Natural
Gas Power Burn in Late July
17.
Nine Dead in Hydropower Plant Blaze in India
18.
Groups Challenge FERC’s PURPA Rule, Accuse
Commission of ‘Actively Discouraging’ Small Power Facilities
19.
Wyoming Lawmakers Look Again at Higher Wind
Energy Tax
20.
What Sparked the Arizona Battery Fire? LG Chem
Has a Different Version
21.
The Trump Administration Is Advancing Clean,
Reliable, & Affordable Hydropower
22.
Bonneville Power Administration Aims to Reignite
the Regional Energy Efficiency Economy with New Promotions
23.
Alaska Salmon Returning Smaller Amid Climate
Change & Competition with Hatchery Fish, Study Finds
24.
Federal Judge Mulls Genetically Modified Salmon
25.
Arizona: Water, Water Everywhere – At Least in
the East Valley
26.
Oregon: Deschutes River Sees Sudden, Unexplained
Drops in Water Flow, Concerning Fish Biologists
27.
The U.S. Is in a Water Crisis Far Worse Than
Most People Imagine
28.
Washington State Public Schools to Spend $8.8M
to Boost Student Internet Access
29.
Fiber Internet Service in West Lane County to
Receive Major Boost
30.
Op/Ed: Pacific PUD Commissioner – Time for
Congress to Invest in Rural Broadband Expansion
31.
Utilities Face Growing Ransomware Threat as
Hackers Improve Strategy, Execution
32.
In Rural Nevada, Bridging the Education ‘Digital
Divide’ Largely Means Improving Internet Access
33.
Massive Laptop Shortage Hits U.S.
34.
Electric Trucks Are Coming. Where Should They
Go?
35.
Will California’s Power Blackouts Affect
Pennsylvania Voters - And the Election?
WORD OF THE DAY
Interminable • \in-TERM-nuh-bull\ • Adjective - Having or
seeming to have no end; especially: wearisomely protracted
Sorry classical fans…my definition of interminable includes
the “Impressionistic” period. ‘Nuff Said. Baroque=Bach….yeah baby!
ENERGY &
UTILITY ISSUES
1.
A Lesson from the Blackouts: California May Be
Too Reliant on Out-Of-State Energy Imports (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
2.
Lawmakers Want to Extend California Utility
Customer Fee for Wildfire, Climate Projects (Los Angeles Times, CA)
3.
Under Blackout Threat, California May Keep Gas
Power Plants State Rushed to Close (Fox Business News)
4.
Northern Utah City Opts Out of Planned Nuclear
Power Project Over Money Concerns (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
5.
Nuclear Advocates Fret as First Maker of Small
Reactors Encounters Trouble (Washington Examiner)
6.
Utah’s Clean Energy Future Should Include
Nuclear (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
7.
Portland General Electric Traders Lose Big on
California Blackout (Bloomberg News)
8.
Portland General Electric Hits New 12-Month Low
Following Analyst Downgrade (Market Beat)
9.
Idaho Power Proposes Exiting Boardman Coal-Fired
Plant to Focus on Energy Efficiency (Ontario Argus-Observer, OR)
10.
Some Oregon Utilities Resume Disconnecting
Customers (Oregon Public Braodcasting)
11.
Grays Harbor PUD General Manager Dave Ward to Retire
(Aberdeen Daily World, WA)
12.
Clallam PUD: Morris, Paschall Differ on Public
Power Council at Forum (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
13.
Lake Elsinore Hydroelectric Project Would
Threaten Sacred Land, Pechanga Tribe Says (Riverside Press-Enterprise, CA)
14.
Impressive Reliability Track Record for Clark
Public Utilities Reflects Utility-Wide Focus (American Public Power Association)
15.
COVID-19 Issues Continue to Dominate Utility
Regulatory Sphere in July (S&P Global)
16.
The United States Set Record for Daily Natural
Gas Power Burn in Late July (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
17.
Nine Dead in Hydropower Plant Blaze in India (Power
Magazine)
RENEWABLE ENERGY
& SELF STORAGE
18.
Groups Challenge FERC’s PURPA Rule, Accuse
Commission of ‘Actively Discouraging’ Small Power Facilities (Utility Dive)
19.
Wyoming Lawmakers Look Again at Higher Wind
Energy Tax (WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC)
20.
What Sparked the Arizona Battery Fire? LG Chem
Has a Different Version (GreenTech Media)
21.
The Trump Administration Is Advancing Clean,
Reliable, & Affordable Hydropower (White House – News Release)
CONSERVATION
& EFFICIENCY
22.
Bonneville Power Administration Aims to Reignite
the Regional Energy Efficiency Economy with New Promotions (Bonneville Power
Administration)
FISH &
WILDLIFE
23.
Alaska Salmon Returning Smaller Amid Climate
Change & Competition with Hatchery Fish, Study Finds (Anchorage Daily News,
AK)
24.
Federal Judge Mulls Genetically Modified Salmon
(Courthouse News Service)
WATER, WATER,
ANYWHERE?
25.
Arizona: Water, Water Everywhere – At Least in
the East Valley (Mesa Tribune, AZ)
26.
Oregon: Deschutes River Sees Sudden, Unexplained
Drops in Water Flow, Concerning Fish Biologists (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
27.
The U.S. Is in a Water Crisis Far Worse Than
Most People Imagine (The Guardian, UK)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
28.
Washington State Public Schools to Spend $8.8M to
Boost Student Internet Access (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
29.
Fiber Internet Service in West Lane County to Receive
Major Boost (KMTR-TV, Eugene, OR)
30.
Op/Ed: Pacific PUD Commissioner – Time for
Congress to Invest in Rural Broadband Expansion (Chinook Observer, Long Beach,
WA)
THE WIZARDING
WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
31.
Utilities Face Growing Ransomware Threat as Hackers
Improve Strategy, Execution (Utility Dive)
32.
In Rural Nevada, Bridging the Education ‘Digital
Divide’ Largely Means Improving Internet Access (Nevada Independent)
33.
Massive Laptop Shortage Hits U.S. (Mashable)
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
34.
Electric Trucks Are Coming. Where Should They
Go? (Clean Technica)
GOVERNANCE &
MANAGEMENT
35.
Will California’s Power Blackouts Affect
Pennsylvania Voters - And the Election? (Forbes Magazine)
ALLIGATORS IN THE
SEWER – DIVERSIONS
KFC Suspends ‘Its Finger Lickin’ Good’ Slogan Amid Pandemic
Trillions of Rogue Planets Could Be Careening Through Our
Galaxy
B.C. Woman’s Lost Heirloom Ring Found 18 Years Later in Dresser
She Sold
Connecticut City Naming Sewage Plant After John Oliver
SONG OF THE DAY
Clint Black – The Galaxy Song
