Monday, October 19, 2020

The Energy News Digest for October 19, 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

U.S. Awards $1.4 Billion to Help Build Small Reactors in Idaho (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/utah-nuclear-power-idaho-28a8fb1c3de8a4bf7ab13e734f574bd2

Portland General Electric Shuts Oregon’s Only Coal-Fired Power Plant (Reuters)

https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-power-portland-gen-ele/portland-general-electric-shuts-oregons-only-coal-fired-power-plant-idINL4N2H73R5

Bitcoin Miner Marathon Signs for Coal-Fired Electricity in Montana (Data Center Dynamics)

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/bitcoin-miner-marathon-signs-coal-fired-electricity-montana/

The United States Consumed a Record Amount of Renewable Energy in 2019 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=45516

U.S. Utility Companies Rush to Declare Net-Zero Targets (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/10/15/us-utility-companies-rush-to-declare-net-zero-targets/#7272ec6693b0

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Awards $1.4 Billion to Help Build Small Reactors in Idaho

2.      Feds Approve Up to $1.4B to Test 12-Module NuScale Reactor

3.      WA State: ‘Game Changer.’ Could Tri-Cities Be the Future Home of an Advanced Nuclear Reactor?

4.      Portland General Electric Shuts Oregon’s Only Coal-Fired Power Plant

5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Lacked Basic Training Before California Blackouts

6.      Masked Men Rebuild Breaker

7.      Massachusetts: Fearing ‘Explosion,’ Activists, Councilors Push Back on East Boston Power Substation

8.      Chum Salmon Operations, La Nina Bullish for 2020 Bonneville Power Administration Hydro

9.      Africa’s Largest Dam Powers Dreams of Prosperity in Ethiopia — And Fears of Hunger in Egypt

10.   The United States Consumed a Record Amount of Renewable Energy in 2019

11.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project Offers Few Benefits for Tri-City Economy

12.   Idaho: Oversized Loads of Windmill Parts to Travel North

13.   Arizona Cities Defend Progress After Slipping in Clean Energy Ranking

14.   City Clean Energy Scorecard

15.   The Pandemic Is Destroying Energy Efficiency

16.   Editorial: This Is Easy – New Buildings Should Be Designed for a Fossil Fuel-Free Future

17.   Bonneville Power Administration Earns DOE Sustainability Award for Reducing Electricity & Water Use

18.   Columbia River Biology: Early-Arriving Endangered Chinook Salmon Take the Brunt of Sea Lion Predation

19.   Columbia River Gorge Gets Approval for a Historic Revised Management Plan

20.   Japan Expected to Announce It Will Release Radioactive Water from Crippled Fukushima Nuclear Plant into Ocean

21.   U.S. Utility Companies Rush to Declare Net-Zero Targets

22.   FERC Confirms Carbon Pricing Jurisdiction in Wholesale Markets, Chatterjee ‘Encourages’ Proposals

23.   Natural Gas Generators Make Up Largest Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity

24.   Newly Formed Research Group Declares Oregon Glacier Dead

25.   Alaska: Federal Grant to Fund Broadband in Aleutian Chain

26.   Idaho Port Takes a Shot at Federal Broadband Grant

27.   These U.S. Rural Areas Have the Highest (and Lowest) Internet Speeds

28.   Bitcoin Miner Marathon Signs for Coal-Fired Electricity in Montana

29.   Spread of Electric Cars Sparks Fights for Control Over Charging

30.   Pacific Northwest Marijuana Companies Seek Disaster Relief

31.   As Local News Dies, a Pay-for-Play Network Rises in Its Place

32.   President Trump Changes Course, Approves California Relief for Six Fires

33.   Energy Secretary Returns to DC After Security Staffers Test Positive for Coronavirus

34.   Op/Ed: Vote No on Nevada’s Question 6. Clean Energy Policy Matters Should Be Enacted in the Legislature

WORD OF THE DAY

Quotidian /kwoh-TID-ee-un/ Adjective – 1: occurring every day 2a: belonging to each day: everyday b: commonplace, ordinary

“I Got You Babe” starts

Quotidian “Groundhog Day”

The circle of life

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      U.S. Awards $1.4 Billion to Help Build Small Reactors in Idaho (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/utah-nuclear-power-idaho-28a8fb1c3de8a4bf7ab13e734f574bd2

2.      Feds Approve Up to $1.4B to Test 12-Module NuScale Reactor (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-approves-up-to-14b-to-test-12-module-nuscale-reactor/587265/

3.      WA State: ‘Game Changer.’ Could Tri-Cities Be the Future Home of an Advanced Nuclear Reactor? (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article246468145.html

4.      Portland General Electric Shuts Oregon’s Only Coal-Fired Power Plant (Reuters)

https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-power-portland-gen-ele/portland-general-electric-shuts-oregons-only-coal-fired-power-plant-idINL4N2H73R5

5.      Pacific Gas & Electric Lacked Basic Training Before California Blackouts (Associated Press)

https://mynorthwest.com/2243428/ap-exclusive-utility-lacked-basic-training-before-blackouts/

6.      Masked Men Rebuild Breaker (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2020/Pages/Masked-men-rebuild-breaker.aspx

7.      Massachusetts: Fearing ‘Explosion,’ Activists, Councilors Push Back on East Boston Power Substation (Boston Herald, MA)

https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/10/14/fearing-explosion-advocates-councilors-push-back-on-east-boston-power-substation/

8.      Chum Salmon Operations, La Nina Bullish for 2020 Bonneville Power Administration Hydro (Enverus)

https://www.enverus.com/blog/chum-salmon-operations-la-nina-bullish-for-2020-bpa-hydro/

9.      Africa’s Largest Dam Powers Dreams of Prosperity in Ethiopia — And Fears of Hunger in Egypt (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2020/grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam-egypt-nile/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   The United States Consumed a Record Amount of Renewable Energy in 2019 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=45516

11.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project Offers Few Benefits for Tri-City Economy (Tri-Cities Business News, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2020/10/wind-farm-opinion/

12.   Idaho: Oversized Loads of Windmill Parts to Travel North (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/idaho/articles/2020-10-17/oversized-loads-of-windmill-parts-to-travel-north

13.   Arizona Cities Defend Progress After Slipping in Clean Energy Ranking (Phoenix Business Journal)

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2020/10/18/arizona-cities-defend-progress-clean-energy.html

14.   City Clean Energy Scorecard (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

https://www.aceee.org/local-policy/city-scorecard

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15.   The Pandemic Is Destroying Energy Efficiency (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/pandemic-energy-efficiency-004eaa80-0fc6-4ca7-a212-3c248125f148.html

16.   Editorial: This Is Easy – New Buildings Should Be Designed for a Fossil Fuel-Free Future (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-10-19/new-buildings-code-electric-vehicles-international-code-council

17.   Bonneville Power Administration Earns DOE Sustainability Award for Reducing Electricity & Water Use (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-earns-DOE-Sustainability-Award-for-reducing-electricity-and-water-use.aspx

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   Columbia River Biology: Early-Arriving Endangered Chinook Salmon Take the Brunt of Sea Lion Predation (TuniSieoir News)

https://www.tunisiesoir.com/science/biology-early-arriving-endangered-chinook-salmon-take-the-brunt-of-sea-lion-predation-25094-2020/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

19.   Columbia River Gorge Gets Approval for a Historic Revised Management Plan (Oregon Public Radio)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/19/columbia-river-gorge-gets-approval-for-a-historic-revised-management-plan/

20.   Japan Expected to Announce It Will Release Radioactive Water from Crippled Fukushima Nuclear Plant into Ocean (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2020/10/japan-expected-to-announce-it-will-release-radioactive-water-from-crippled-fukushima-nuclear-plant-into-ocean.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21.   U.S. Utility Companies Rush to Declare Net-Zero Targets (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottcarpenter/2020/10/15/us-utility-companies-rush-to-declare-net-zero-targets/#7272ec6693b0

22.   FERC Confirms Carbon Pricing Jurisdiction in Wholesale Markets, Chatterjee ‘Encourages’ Proposals (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-confirms-carbon-pricing-jurisdiction-in-wholesale-markets-chatterjee/587147/

23.   Natural Gas Generators Make Up Largest Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity (Oil & Gas 360)

https://www.oilandgas360.com/natural-gas-generators-make-up-largest-share-of-u-s-electricity-generation-capacity/

24.   Newly Formed Research Group Declares Oregon Glacier Dead (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/19/glaciers-oregon-shrinking/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   Alaska: Federal Grant to Fund Broadband in Aleutian Chain (Kodiak Daily Mirror, AK)

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/extra/article_d81afb50-0e9d-11eb-bbab-77caea81570b.html

26.   Idaho Port Takes a Shot at Federal Broadband Grant (Government Technology)

https://www.govtech.com/network/Idaho-Port-Takes-a-Shot-at-Federal-Broadband-Grant.html

27.   These U.S. Rural Areas Have the Highest (and Lowest) Internet Speeds (PC Magazine)

https://uk.pcmag.com/news/129374/these-us-rural-areas-have-the-highest-and-lowest-internet-speeds

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   Bitcoin Miner Marathon Signs for Coal-Fired Electricity in Montana (Data Center Dynamics)

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/bitcoin-miner-marathon-signs-coal-fired-electricity-montana/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Spread of Electric Cars Sparks Fights for Control Over Charging (Fox Business News)

https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/electric-cars-sparks-fights-control-charging

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

30.   Pacific Northwest Marijuana Companies Seek Disaster Relief (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/oct/18/northwest-marijuana-companies-seek-disaster-relief/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   As Local News Dies, a Pay-for-Play Network Rises in Its Place (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/18/technology/timpone-local-news-metric-media.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

32.   President Trump Changes Course, Approves California Relief for Six Fires (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-san-francisco-fires-california-heat-waves-bcf51e7cce54882a9580431ee97e36ff

33.   Energy Secretary Returns to DC After Security Staffers Test Positive for Coronavirus (The Hill, Washington DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/521371-energy-secretary-returns-to-dc-after-security-staffers-test

34.   Op/Ed: Vote No on Nevada’s Question 6. Clean Energy Policy Matters Should Be Enacted in the Legislature (Reno Gazette-Journal, NV)

https://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2020/10/17/vote-no-6-policy-matters-should-enacted-legislation-fitch/3696527001/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Comic John Oliver Now Has a Sewage Plant Named After Him

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/john-oliver-now-has-a-sewage-plant-named-after-him/article_1a63108b-6f22-573d-8bc5-430749aea2c0.html

‘There’s a Lemur!’ 5-Year-Old Helps Crack SF Zoo Theft Case

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/theres-a-lemur-5-year-old-helps-crack-sf-zoo-theft-case/article_131c4c70-6019-5a98-9d9d-59ad9cad1ae3.html

 

Rudolph & His Nose-So-Bright into Auction Will Take Flight

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/rudolph-and-his-nose-so-bright-into-auction-will-take-flight/article_6e47ffa7-6f3d-569e-9fa7-c88d5adf1a69.html

Idaho Man Tries for Guinness Title by Running 29 Miles While Juggling

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/10/19/Idaho-man-runs-29-miles-while-juggling-for-Guinness-title/5621603119037/

SONG OF THE DAY

Simon & Garfunkel - At the Zoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xKLBne1CoI

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