The Energy News Digest for October 12, 2020

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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

Team Investigating Deadly Calif. Fire Seizes Pacific Gas & Electric Equipment (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-10-10/utility-tells-state-equipment-might-have-caused-deadly-fire

Four Governors Agree to Work Together as Pacific NW Salmon May Have Just 20 to 30 Years Left (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/outdoors/article246247210.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Prepared to Cut Power in Northern California This Week If Necessary (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pg-e-us-fire-california/pge-prepared-to-cut-power-in-california-this-week-if-necessary-idUSKBN26X00E

WA State: Hoh Tribe Gets Early Access to SpaceX's Starlink & Says It's Fast (PC Magazine)

https://www.pcmag.com/news/native-american-tribe-gets-early-access-to-spacexs-starlink-and-says-its

Human Error Was Factor in Fatal Gush of Dam Water in North Vancouver, BC (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/human-error-was-factor-in-fatal-gush-of-dam-water-in-north-vancouver-1.24217454

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Team Investigating Deadly Calif. Fire Seizes Pacific Gas & Electric Equipment

2.      Pacific Gas & Electric Prepared to Cut Power in Northern California This Week If Necessary

3.      Colstrip Purchase Gets Public Listening Session

4.      Wyoming Criticizes PacifiCorp’s Plans to Replace Coal with Renewables

5.      Grays Harbor PUD’s, Other Public Utility Shut-Off Moratoria Ends Next Week, But Inslee Could Step In

6.      Recent NV Energy Rate Changes Bring Lower Bills to Northern Nevada Customers

7.      Former Pacific PUD Worker Who Got $186K in ‘Dog Phobia’ Case Owned Dogs All Along, WA Officials Say

8.      Clark Public Utilities Inspecting Power Lines with Helicopters

9.      Power Companies Turn to Small-Scale Nuclear Reactors

10.   Oregon: Blue Marmot Solar Facility Moves Forward

11.   Renewable Energy Company with Kern County Ties Breaks Ground on Nevada Facility

12.   Solar Groups Challenge FERC Broadview Order Reversing 40 Years of PURPA Precedent

13.   Can Farmland Fix Solar Power’s Real Estate Problem?

14.   Public-Private Partnership Working Toward Renewable Hydrogen Facility in Eugene

15.   California Has a Renewables Curtailment Problem. Can Your Google & Facebook Activity Help?

16.   Once Shut Out, Maine Cannabis Industry Now Eligible for Sustainable Energy Grants

17.   Four Governors Agree to Work Together as Pacific NW Salmon May Have Just 20 to 30 Years Left

18.   News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Supports Goals of Four Governors; Asks for Scientific Grounding to Ensure Best Outcome

19.   Editorial: Saving Salmon to Feed Orcas?

20.   Pacific Salmon Foundation Expands Online Tool to Track Fish Returning to Spawn in British Columbia's Rivers

21.   Timber Harvest Protester Who Climbed Tree in Capitol Forest Is Still ‘Going Strong,’ Friend Says

22.   Human Error Was Factor in Fatal Gush of Dam Water in North Vancouver, BC

23.   Carbon Capture ‘Moonshot’ Moves Closer as Billions of Dollars Pour In

24.   Op/Ed: Without Nuclear Power, The World's Climate Challenge Will Get a Whole Lot Harder

25.   WA State: Hoh Tribe Gets Early Access to SpaceX's Starlink & Says It's Fast

26.   Mason PUD 3 Celebrates Completion of First Fiberhood

27.   Washington State’s Broadband Guru on an Internet Moonshot & Being a Metaphorical Prom King

28.   Feds May Target Google’s Chrome Browser for Breakup

29.   Washington Voters Support Full Transition to Electric Cars by 2030

30.   Four Types of Scandals Utility Companies Get into with Money from Your Electric Bills

WORD OF THE DAY

Somnambulism • \sawm-NAMB-yuh-liz-zum\ • noun – An abnormal condition of sleep in which motor acts (as walking) are performed

The show was about to begin. The lights dimmed; the darkness enhanced by the red glow from a digital alarm clock on the bedside table. Doreen was initially amused by the display of somnambulism performed nightly by her new husband, Walter. As time went on, however, his nightly raucous, sleep-walking performance of Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm” understandably lost its luster.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Team Investigating Deadly Calif. Fire Seizes Pacific Gas & Electric Equipment (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-10-10/utility-tells-state-equipment-might-have-caused-deadly-fire

2.      Pacific Gas & Electric Prepared to Cut Power in Northern California This Week If Necessary (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pg-e-us-fire-california/pge-prepared-to-cut-power-in-california-this-week-if-necessary-idUSKBN26X00E

3.      Colstrip Purchase Gets Public Listening Session (Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, MT)

https://ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/article_27dfb957-0252-5507-a980-f7a7416e7f72.html

4.      Wyoming Criticizes PacifiCorp’s Plans to Replace Coal with Renewables (WyoFile)

https://www.wyofile.com/wyo-criticizes-utilitys-plans-to-replace-coal-with-renewables/

5.      Grays Harbor PUD’s, Other Public Utility Shut-Off Moratoria Ends Next Week, But Inslee Could Step In (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/ghpuds-shut-off-moratorium-ends-next-week-but-inslee-could-step-in/

6.      Recent NV Energy Rate Changes Bring Lower Bills to Northern Nevada Customers (Carson City News, NV)

https://carsonnow.org/story/10/11/2020/nv-energy-rate-change-october-bring-lower-bills-northern-nevada-customers

7.      Former Pacific PUD Worker Who Got $186K in ‘Dog Phobia’ Case Owned Dogs All Along, WA Officials Say (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/article246354070.html

8.      Clark Public Utilities Inspecting Power Lines with Helicopters (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/clark-county-pud-inspecting-power-lines-with-helicopters

9.      Power Companies Turn to Small-Scale Nuclear Reactors (South Florida Times, Ft Lauderdale, FL)

http://www.sfltimes.com/news/power-companies-turn-to-small-scale-nuclear-reactors

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Oregon: Blue Marmot Solar Facility Moves Forward (Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, OR)

http://www.lakecountyexam.com/news/lake_county/blue-marmot-solar-facility-moves-forward/article_a3b5a95a-e932-5d88-980b-280abc23f100.html

11.   Renewable Energy Company with Kern County Ties Breaks Ground on Nevada Facility (KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA)

https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/renewable-energy-company-with-kern-county-ties-breaks-ground-on-nevada-facility/

12.   Solar Groups Challenge FERC Broadview Order Reversing 40 Years of PURPA Precedent (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-groups-challenge-ferc-broadview-order-reversing-40-years-of-purpa-pre/586624/

13.   Can Farmland Fix Solar Power’s Real Estate Problem? (Quartz)

https://qz.com/1913868/why-agricultural-land-is-better-than-rooftops-for-solar-panels/

14.   Public-Private Partnership Working Toward Renewable Hydrogen Facility in Eugene (KVAL-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://kval.com/news/local/public-private-partnership-working-toward-renewable-hydrogen-facility-in-eugene

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15.   California Has a Renewables Curtailment Problem. Can Your Google & Facebook Activity Help? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-has-a-renewables-curtailment-problem-can-your-google-and-facebo/585932/

16.   Once Shut Out, Maine Cannabis Industry Now Eligible for Sustainable Energy Grants (Portland Press-Herald, ME)

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/10/07/once-shut-out-maine-cannabis-industry-now-eligible-for-sustainable-energy-grants/

FISH & WILDLIFE

17.   Four Governors Agree to Work Together as Pacific NW Salmon May Have Just 20 to 30 Years Left (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/outdoors/article246247210.html

18.   News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Supports Goals of Four Governors; Asks for Scientific Grounding to Ensure Best Outcome (NW RiverPartners)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/10/northwest-riverpartners-supports-goals.html

19.   Editorial: Saving Salmon to Feed Orcas? (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-saving-salmon-to-feed-orcas/article_0ff01380-043a-11eb-bec1-1fddbfeeddda.html

20.   Pacific Salmon Foundation Expands Online Tool to Track Fish Returning to Spawn in British Columbia's Rivers (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-returns-1.5751264

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

21.   Timber Harvest Protester Who Climbed Tree in Capitol Forest Is Still ‘Going Strong,’ Friend Says (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article246390880.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Human Error Was Factor in Fatal Gush of Dam Water in North Vancouver, BC (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/human-error-was-factor-in-fatal-gush-of-dam-water-in-north-vancouver-1.24217454

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Carbon Capture ‘Moonshot’ Moves Closer as Billions of Dollars Pour In (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/climate/carbon-capture-moonshot-moves-closer-as-billions-of-dollars-pour-in/

24.   Op/Ed: Without Nuclear Power, The World's Climate Challenge Will Get a Whole Lot Harder (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/opinions/without-nuclear-power-the-worlds-climate-challenge-birol-grossi/index.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   WA State: Hoh Tribe Gets Early Access to SpaceX's Starlink & Says It's Fast (PC Magazine)

https://www.pcmag.com/news/native-american-tribe-gets-early-access-to-spacexs-starlink-and-says-its

26.   Mason PUD 3 Celebrates Completion of First Fiberhood (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/41270

27.   Washington State’s Broadband Guru on an Internet Moonshot & Being a Metaphorical Prom King (Geekwire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/washingtons-broadband-guru-states-connectivity-moonshot-metaphorical-prom-king/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   Feds May Target Google’s Chrome Browser for Breakup (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/10/feds-may-target-googles-chrome-browser-for-breakup-428468

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Washington Voters Support Full Transition to Electric Cars by 2030 (PR Newswire)

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/washington-voters-support-full-transition-to-electric-cars-by-2030-301147777.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

30.   Four Types of Scandals Utility Companies Get into with Money from Your Electric Bills (ProPubicla)

https://www.propublica.org/article/four-types-of-scandals-utility-companies-get-into-with-money-from-your-electric-bills

RATS IN THE MINEFIELD – DIVERSIONS

French Couple Trying to Buy Savannah Cat Get Tiger Cub, Instead

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/10/09/French-couple-trying-to-buy-Savannah-cat-get-tiger-cub-instead/8831602272868/

Giant Rat Wins Animal Hero Award for Sniffing Out Landmines

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/giant-rat-wins-animal-hero-award-for-sniffing-out-landmines/article_a44dc6e8-3b1f-50e3-a712-cdff3e3416dd.html

Driverless Boat in Florida Spins of Control, Smashing Docks

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/driverless-boat-in-florida-spins-of-control-smashing-docks/article_f5cbe5ed-cc87-5b7a-90a4-100d5d51f083.html

Two of the Happiest U.S. States? Washington & Idaho

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/oct/11/two-of-the-happiest-us-states-washington-and-idaho/

SONG OF THE DAY

Donna Fargo – The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJlD7Wp4o4g

Northwest RiverPartners Supports Goals of Four Governors; Asks for Scientific Grounding to Ensure Best Outcome (NW RiverPartners)

(VANCOUVER, WA) -- Today, the governors of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana released a joint letter committing to an effort to help recover threatened and endangered salmonid species in the Columbia River Basin.

The governors have expressed their desire to continue the work of the Columbia Basin Partnership (CBP). Established by NOAA Fisheries in 2017, the objective of the CBP was to bring together regional stakeholders to create a shared vision for salmon abundance goals and to discuss measures that could help achieve those goals. While the CBP was able to agree on abundance goals, it was not able to find broad agreement on solutions.

The new multi-year effort signified by the governors’ letter will establish processes and decision-making groups to attempt to find solid and practicable solutions to the challenges facing struggling salmon populations.

Northwest RiverPartners is supportive of the goals included in the four governors’ letter but asks that the process specifically be tasked with providing scientific rigor. While there are many stakeholders who genuinely believe that dams have been the limiting factor in salmon recovery, recent research has shown that this anti-dam conclusion is not scientifically founded.

Fisheries researcher Lisa Crozer stated that scientists are seeing “Nearsynchronous declines” in worldwide salmon populations, likely due to the effects of climate change. These declines include rivers with and without hydroelectric dams.

Two studies released this summer also point to the strong relationship between climate change, warming oceans, and declining Chinook salmon health.
In its recently released Biological Opinion, NOAA Fisheries showed that climate change appears to have a much larger effect on salmon survival in the oceans than in rivers and Chinook salmon may only have 20 to 30 years left in the region if the observed relationships between warming ocean temperatures and salmon survival remain steady.

Pointing to a more hostile ocean environment due to climate change and salmon spending fewer years at sea, scientists at the University of Alaska also found that the size of Chinook salmon in Alaska’s rivers had declined significantly since 1960.
Given the widespread nature of the decline in salmon populations, we encourage the governors’ process to look more holistically at the shared environment of all Pacific Salmon, which is the Pacific Ocean. We have to reverse ocean warming if we are going to save our iconic salmon and orca species.

Addressing climate change is critical not only in terms of the salmon debate but our region is now also being forced to confront the issue due to the recent and devastating wildfire event which will tragically go down in Oregon history as the most intense ever recorded. In a recent interview on the fires, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said “This is a wake-up call for all of us that we’ve got to do everything in our power to tackle climate change.”

We know that hydropower plays a critical role in the Pacific Northwest in our goals to reduce our carbon footprint. Our region has the least carbon-intensive electric service territory and the most affordable renewable power in the nation thanks to its hydropower system.

The governors’ process needs to ensure the vitality of the hydropower system as a means to help both salmon and people avoid climate-driven disasters.