Energy News Digest for September 22, 2020

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Utah Lawmakers Seek Details on Planned Nuclear Plant in Idaho (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/9/19/21438026/news-nuclear-plant-in-idaho-lawmakers-seek-details-on-planned-nuscale-uamps

‘No More Wind.’ WA State Utility Questions Efficacy of Wind Farms for Power Generation (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/article245808810.html

Montana Coal Production Down 21% from Last Year (KPVI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/montana-coal-production-down-21-from-last-year/article_268909e9-dff0-51d6-8b23-817332ceccb6.html

Fish in Oregon Hatcheries Die, Released Early as Fires Rage (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2020-09-17/fish-in-oregon-hatcheries-die-released-early-as-fires-rage

Water Shortages in U.S. West Likelier Than Previously Thought (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/be04e1fa0008d0dbcd537148dd7f2ab0

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1.      Utah Lawmakers Seek Details on Planned Nuclear Plant in Idaho

2.      Editorial: City Council Should Remain Committed to Small Modular Reactor Project

3.      Montana Coal Production Down 21% from Last Year

4.      GE Throws in the Towel on Coal-Fired Power

5.      Tree on Power Line Apparent Start for Washington State Fire

6.      California Is Burning: Here’s What It Means for Utilities

7.      Lewis County PUD Proposes 3.8 Percent Rate Increase to Balance 2020-21 Budget

8.      Cascade Natural Gas Rates May See Short-Term Decrease, Boost in 2021

9.      Bullying, Spying & Harassment Revealed in Montana Public Service Commission Documents

10.   Two Workers Struck by Electricity at Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion Site

11.   FERC Investigates Risk of Foreign Adversary-Supplied Bulk Power Equipment, With Focus on Huawei, ZTE

12.   ‘No More Wind.’ WA State Utility Questions Efficacy of Wind Farms for Power Generation

13.   FERC Approves Final Rule Enabling DERs to Compete in Regional Electric Markets

14.   Fish in Oregon Hatcheries Die, Released Early as Fires Rage

15.   Pikeminnow Program Extended on Columbia, Snake Rivers

16.   Open-Ocean Fish Farm Proposed Off San Diego Coast Could Be First in Federal Waters

17.   Researchers Attach Cameras to Pacific Northwest Orcas, Revealing a Marvelous Underwater World

18.   Pend Oreille PUD Receives Results of CNS Fiber Feasibility Study

19.   The U.S. Needs a Broadband Reboot

20.   Water Shortages in U.S. West Likelier Than Previously Thought

21.   Oregon Democrats Won't Try to Pass Cap & Trade in '21: Report

22.   Norway to Build $3 Billion ‘Longship’ Carbon Dioxide Capture Project

23.   Founder of GM Electric Truck Partner Quits Amid Allegations

24.   Puget Sound Energy Rolls Out First of Several Public EV Charging Stations

WORD OF THE DAY

Provocateur • \pro-vock-uh-TER\ • Noun - One who incites or stimulates another to action

After a five minute reprieve, the six year old provocateur kicking the federal marshal’s seat in economy class learned the meaning of a fully reclined airliner seat…spending the remaining three hours and 55 minutes immobilized under the back of a seat, whose magazine bin contained old “Skymall” catalogs, crumpled peanut snack bags, and what appeared to be slightly used air travel “discomfort” bags.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Utah Lawmakers Seek Details on Planned Nuclear Plant in Idaho (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/9/19/21438026/news-nuclear-plant-in-idaho-lawmakers-seek-details-on-planned-nuscale-uamps

2.      Editorial: City Council Should Remain Committed to Small Modular Reactor Project (Idaho Falls Post-Register, ID)

https://www.postregister.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-city-council-should-remain-committed-to-smr-project/article_c803c516-47f4-509a-ba00-552823c8affd.html

3.      Montana Coal Production Down 21% from Last Year (KPVI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/montana-coal-production-down-21-from-last-year/article_268909e9-dff0-51d6-8b23-817332ceccb6.html

4.      GE Throws in the Towel on Coal-Fired Power (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/ge-throws-in-the-towel-on-coal-fired-power/

5.      Tree on Power Line Apparent Start for Washington State Fire (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2020-09-20/tree-on-power-line-apparent-start-for-washington-state-fire

6.      California Is Burning: Here’s What It Means for Utilities (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2020/09/17/california-is-burning-heres-what-it-means-for-utilities/#6b00944c6bb5

7.      Lewis County PUD Proposes 3.8 Percent Rate Increase to Balance 2020-21 Budget (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/news/lewis-county-pud-proposes-3-8-percent-rate-increase-to-balance-2020-21-budget/article_b5135468-f9fd-11ea-9467-afbe710b91ba.html

8.      Cascade Natural Gas Rates May See Short-Term Decrease, Boost in 2021 (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/local/cascade-natural-gas-rates-may-see-short-term-decrease-boost-in-2021/article_5413d43c-8086-501f-8350-2e0672249cf3.html

9.      Bullying, Spying & Harassment Revealed in Montana Public Service Commission Documents (Montana Standard)

https://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/bullying-spying-and-harassment-revealed-in-montana-psc-documents/article_28918174-84e8-51ba-94bf-124bb9256174.html

10.   Two Workers Struck by Electricity at Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion Site (KSNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV)

https://news3lv.com/news/local/two-workers-electrocuted-at-las-vegas-convention-center-expansion-site

11.   FERC Investigates Risk of Foreign Adversary-Supplied Bulk Power Equipment, With Focus on Huawei, ZTE (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-investigates-risk-of-foreign-adversary-supplied-bulk-power-equipment/585562/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   ‘No More Wind.’ WA State Utility Questions Efficacy of Wind Farms for Power Generation (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/article245808810.html

13.   FERC Approves Final Rule Enabling DERs to Compete in Regional Electric Markets (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/27222-ferc-approves-final-rule-enabling-ders-to-compete-in-regional-electric-markets/?amp

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Fish in Oregon Hatcheries Die, Released Early as Fires Rage (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2020-09-17/fish-in-oregon-hatcheries-die-released-early-as-fires-rage

15.   Pikeminnow Program Extended on Columbia, Snake Rivers (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/sep/18/pikeminnow-program-extended-on-columbia-snake-rivers/

16.   Open-Ocean Fish Farm Proposed Off San Diego Coast Could Be First in Federal Waters (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-20/open-ocean-fish-farm-proposed-off-san-diego-coast-could-be-first-in-federal-waters

17.   Researchers Attach Cameras to Pacific Northwest Orcas, Revealing a Marvelous Underwater World (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/researchers-attach-cameras-to-pacific-northwest-orcas-revealing-a-marvelous-underwater-world/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

18.   Pend Oreille PUD Receives Results of CNS Fiber Feasibility Study (Pend Oreille PUD, Newport, WA)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/09/pend-oreille-pud-receives-results-of.html

19.   The U.S. Needs a Broadband Reboot (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/517299-the-us-needs-a-broadband-reboot

“CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE” – WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

20.   Water Shortages in U.S. West Likelier Than Previously Thought (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/be04e1fa0008d0dbcd537148dd7f2ab0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21.   Oregon Democrats Won't Try to Pass Cap & Trade in '21: Report (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2020/09/18/cap-and-trade-in-oregon-2021.html

22.   Norway to Build $3 Billion ‘Longship’ Carbon Dioxide Capture Project (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nilsrokke/2020/09/21/norways-18-billion-ccs-proposal-is-great-news-for-the-climate/#7e29d9f0179e

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

23.   Founder of GM Electric Truck Partner Quits Amid Allegations (Victoria Times Colonist)

https://www.timescolonist.com/founder-of-gm-electric-truck-partner-quits-amid-allegations-1.24206551

24.   Puget Sound Energy Rolls Out First of Several Public EV Charging Stations (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

https://www.thurstontalk.com/2020/09/17/pse-rolls-out-first-of-several-public-ev-charging-stations/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Thailand Officials Mail Litter Left in Parks Back to Litterers

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/517371-thailand-officials-mail-litter-left-in-parks-back-to-litterers

As Demand Outstrips US Toilet Paper Supply, Imports Roll In

https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2020/0918/As-demand-outstrips-US-toilet-paper-supply-imports-roll-in?icid=rss

Inslee Brings Maggot-Infested Apples to Washington State Wildfire Zone, Breaking State Law

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/Inslee-brings-maggot-infested-apples-to-wildfire-15574937.php

Illinois Man Has Kept Richard Nixon's Unfinished Sandwich for 60 Years

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/09/22/Illinois-man-has-kept-Richard-Nixons-unfinished-sandwich-for-60-years/7931600792813/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Osmonds – One Bad Apple

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Cxl5bVmVU

Pend Oreille PUD Receives Results of CNS Fiber Feasibility Study

(NEWPORT, WA) – Public Utility District No. 1 of Pend Oreille County (PUD) received two $50,000 grants last year from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Washington State Public Works Board to conduct a Community Network System (CNS) feasibility study in northern Pend Oreille County. The goal of the feasibility study was to determine the cost and infrastructure needs to extend broadband fiber services to the residents of the north-end of Pend Oreille County. The study, conducted by CCG Consulting (CCG), began in February with the majority of the surveys to support the study being conducted throughout the month of March. The results of the study became available recently and revealed that it will cost an estimated $20 million to extend broadband fiber to all residents of the north-end. Research was also conducted to determine the cost to extend to only the residents in the cities, towns, and densely populated areas, that cost came in at an estimated $7 million.

CCG said that the number of survey responses they received resulted in some of the best participation they had ever seen when studying rural areas across the country. CCG also stated that “the northern county has some of the worst broadband they have ever seen”. The statistical results of the residential survey are interesting and are outlined below:

• The survey resulted in 848 residential responses (25% of all potential customers).
• 84% of respondents favored the idea of expanding fiber into the northern county. Most of the rest said they needed more information.
• 58% of homes have a broadband connection of some type today (50% RTI, 18% fixed wireless, 17% satellite, 13% use cellular).
• The results released low satisfaction with current Retail Service Providers (RSPs) (only 15% happy with download speeds, 33% happy with customer service, and 14% happy with the value they get compared to the price they pay).
• Customers buying stand-alone broadband pay an average of $105 per month. That’s one of the highest numbers CCG has ever seen.
• 64% of respondents work at home at least part time. 59% would work from home more with better broadband.
• 25% of respondents have school age children. 69% of them said the broadband was inadequate for doing schoolwork from home.
• 61% of households said they would switch to fiber and pay the same fees they pay today.
• 42% of respondents said they would pay the connection fee to get added to the network.

The PUD’s next steps are to explore potential grant funding to determine what extent fiber could be extended to the northern county. “The PUD maintains a goal of providing greater connectivity opportunities to the north-end of the county and is excited about moving forward and exploring options to make this happen,” said Sarah Holderman, the PUD’s Director of Treasury, Broadband and Strategic Planning. “The results of the study are extremely helpful - we thank and appreciate all those who took the time to participate in the survey.”