Wednesday, October 28, 2020

The Energy News Digest for October 28, 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

Power Outages Linger: Calmer California Winds Help Firefighters Beat Back Two Blazes (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-los-angeles-utilities-fires-california-e42e8ddb66e01bde4488cf145a16631e

Idaho Power Will Leave Nevada Coal Plant Three Years Early (KOZE Radio, Lewiston, ID)

https://www.koze.com/2020/10/27/idaho-power-will-leave-nevada-coal-plant-three-years-early/

Nevada: Gerlach Residents Say the Black Rock’s Dark Skies Threatened by Proposed Geothermal Plant (Reno Gazette-Journal, NV)

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/10/26/gerlach-residents-geothermal-plant-threatens-dark-skies-near-burning-man/5997894002/

New Mexico: Navajo Energy Company in Talks Over Coal-Fired Power Plant (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2020-10-28/navajo-energy-company-in-talks-over-coal-fired-power-plant

Montana: NorthWest Energy Customers Pay $14.3 Million In Unexpected Costs (Montana Standard, Butte, MT)

https://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/nwe-customers-pay-14-3-million-in-uexpected-costs/article_90613826-652c-5aa4-979d-e55ab41878d2.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Power Outages Linger: Calmer California Winds Help Firefighters Beat Back Two Blazes

2.      Idaho Power Will Leave Nevada Coal Plant Three Years Early

3.      New Mexico: Navajo Energy Company in Talks Over Coal-Fired Power Plant

4.      Montana: NorthWest Energy Customers Pay $14.3 Million In Unexpected Costs

5.      Despite Troubled Past, Critics Say Oregon Department of Energy Is Ignoring Rules to Benefit Power Plants

6.      Florida: After Public Interviews of Three CEO Candidates, Including BPA Exec, JEA Board Expects to Make Hire in Days

7.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Wants Changes to System of Dividing Costs Among Customers

8.      Authority Overseeing New California Municipal Utility Executes Agreement Tied to Microgrid

9.      Oregon: Bonneville Power Administration to Host Public Session on Mary’s Peak Towers

10.   Colorado: As Costs Rack Up in Boulder’s Push to Split with Xcel, Voters to Have the Final Say

11.   Americans Fear Rising Cost of Working from Home as Pandemic Continues

12.   Propane Heaters Are the New Toilet Paper

13.   Nevada: Gerlach Residents Say the Black Rock’s Dark Skies Threatened by Proposed Geothermal Plant

14.   NV Energy Seeks More Renewables in Nevada

15.   Utah Ranks No. 1 for Home Energy Efficiency

16.   British Columbia: Sockeye Salmon Predicted to Return in Record Numbers to Okanagan Rivers & Lakes

17.   Long Thought Extinct, Lampreys Return to Oregon’s Miller Lake

18.   WA State: Hole Discovered Downstream of Pinto Dam No Threat

19.   Oregon Supreme Court Rules Against Youth Plaintiffs in Climate Change Lawsuit

20.   Climate Change Is on the Ballot in Seven Cities & States

21.   Grant PUD Given $1.6 Million for Broadband Expansion as Demand for Fiber Internet Intensifies

22.   WA State: $2.3 Million Will Be Used in Ilwaco to Bring Broadband to Unserved Areas

23.   WA State: Public Works Board Approves $17.8 million for Broadband Construction - $200,000 to Hood Canal Communications

24.   WA State: State Public Works Board Denies Lewis PUD Grant Request for Broadband Expansion

25.   Remote Learning in Remote Locations: Washington Students without Internet Options Face Challenges

26.   190 Electric Co-ops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction

27.   Oregon: Consumer Cellular Sells in Deal Pegged at $2.3 Billion

28.   The Benefits of Washington State’s Hydropower & Energy Efficiency

29.   Microsoft Revenues Surge as Pandemic Drives Growth in Cloud Services

30.   Trump Sanctions Against Russian Institute with Malware Ties to U.S. Power Sector Only Scratch at Recourse

31.   Report Released by Sen. Maria Cantwell Slams Google & Facebook for Decimating Local News Outlets

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU

Cassandra /kuh-SAND-druh/ Noun – 1: A daughter of Priam endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated never to be believed 2: One that predicts misfortune or disaster.

Soothsayers expound

Political Cassandras

Gone November 4

https://joelshorriblehaiku.blogspot.com/

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Power Outages Linger: Calmer California Winds Help Firefighters Beat Back Two Blazes (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-los-angeles-utilities-fires-california-e42e8ddb66e01bde4488cf145a16631e

2.      Idaho Power Will Leave Nevada Coal Plant Three Years Early (KOZE Radio, Lewiston, ID)

https://www.koze.com/2020/10/27/idaho-power-will-leave-nevada-coal-plant-three-years-early/

3.      New Mexico: Navajo Energy Company in Talks Over Coal-Fired Power Plant (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2020-10-28/navajo-energy-company-in-talks-over-coal-fired-power-plant

4.      Montana: NorthWest Energy Customers Pay $14.3 Million In Unexpected Costs (Montana Standard, Butte, MT)

https://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/nwe-customers-pay-14-3-million-in-uexpected-costs/article_90613826-652c-5aa4-979d-e55ab41878d2.html

5.      Despite Troubled Past, Critics Say Oregon Department of Energy Is Ignoring Rules to Benefit Power Plants (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2020/10/despite-troubled-past-critics-say-oregon-department-of-energy-is-ignoring-rules-to-benefit-power-plants.html

6.      Florida: After Public Interviews of Three CEO Candidates, Including BPA Exec, JEA Board Expects to Make Hire in Days (Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL)

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2020/10/27/jea-board-interview-3-ceo-finalists-during-tuesday-morning-meeting/6051230002/

7.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Wants Changes to System of Dividing Costs Among Customers (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/pg-e-wants-changes-to-system-of-dividing-costs-among-customers/article_372ac08e-17b9-11eb-b3c9-0be5a715b092.html

8.      Authority Overseeing New California Municipal Utility Executes Agreement Tied to Microgrid (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/authority-overseeing-new-calif-municipal-utility-executes-agreement-tied-microgrid

9.      Oregon: Bonneville Power Administration to Host Public Session on Mary’s Peak Towers (Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)

https://www.gazettetimes.com/bpa-to-host-public-session-on-marys-peak-towerrs/article_b20d428b-cee4-5440-bb7a-2903f0fdfb48.html

10.   Colorado: As Costs Rack Up in Boulder’s Push to Split with Xcel, Voters to Have the Final Say (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2020/10/27/west/as-costs-rack-up-in-boulders-push-to-split-with-xcel-voters-to-have-the-final-say/

11.   Americans Fear Rising Cost of Working from Home as Pandemic Continues (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americans-fear-rising-cost-working-home-pandemic-continues-n1242676

12.   Propane Heaters Are the New Toilet Paper (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90568536/propane-heaters-are-the-new-toilet-paper

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   Nevada: Gerlach Residents Say the Black Rock’s Dark Skies Threatened by Proposed Geothermal Plant (Reno Gazette-Journal, NV)

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/10/26/gerlach-residents-geothermal-plant-threatens-dark-skies-near-burning-man/5997894002/

14.   NV Energy Seeks More Renewables in Nevada (Renewables Now)

https://renewablesnow.com/news/nv-energy-seeks-more-renewables-in-nevada-718699/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15.   Utah Ranks No. 1 for Home Energy Efficiency (KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://ksltv.com/447734/utah-ranks-no-1-for-home-energy-efficiency/

FISH & WILDLIFE

16.   British Columbia: Sockeye Salmon Predicted to Return in Record Numbers to Okanagan Rivers & Lakes (Welland Tribune, BC)

https://www.wellandtribune.ca/ts/news/canada/2020/10/27/sockeye-salmon-predicted-to-return-in-record-numbers-to-okanagan-rivers-and-lakes.html

17.   Long Thought Extinct, Lampreys Return to Oregon’s Miller Lake (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/28/lamprey-miller-lake-oregon-extinct/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

18.   WA State: Hole Discovered Downstream of Pinto Dam No Threat (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/hole-discovered-downstream-of-pinto-dam-no-threat/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

19.   Oregon Supreme Court Rules Against Youth Plaintiffs in Climate Change Lawsuit (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2020/10/oregon-supreme-court-rules-against-youth-plaintiffs-in-climate-change-lawsuit.html

20.   Climate Change Is on the Ballot in Seven Cities & States (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/politics/climate-change-is-on-the-ballot-in-7-cities-and-states/

BOFFO BUCKS – TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUNDING BONANZA

21.   Grant PUD Given $1.6 Million for Broadband Expansion as Demand for Fiber Internet Intensifies (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/grant-pud-given-1-6-million-for-broadband-expansion-as-demand-for-fiber-internet-intensifies/article_51ddb31e-18b8-11eb-9702-8f15b0ff98ed.html

22.   WA State: $2.3 Million Will Be Used in Ilwaco to Bring Broadband to Unserved Areas (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

https://www.kxro.com/2-3-million-will-be-used-in-ilwaco-to-bring-broadband-to-unserved-areas/

23.   WA State: Public Works Board Approves $17.8 million for Broadband Construction - $200,000 to Hood Canal Communications (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/41499

24.   WA State: State Public Works Board Denies Lewis PUD Grant Request for Broadband Expansion (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/news/state-public-works-board-denies-pud-grant-request-for-broadband-expansion/article_ce344278-17e8-11eb-9ec3-7ff22ada5ffc.html

25.   Remote Learning in Remote Locations: Washington Students without Internet Options Face Challenges (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/education/no-internet-access-north-mason-reykdal/281-35dc5d44-7c1e-4f27-ba4a-acead7fdb91b

26.   190 Electric Co-ops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/190-electric-co-ops-qualify-to-bid-at-fcc-16-billion-broadband-auction/

27.   Oregon: Consumer Cellular Sells in Deal Pegged at $2.3 Billion (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2020/10/consumer-cellular-one-of-oregons-biggest-tech-companies-sold-to-private-equity-firm-for-more-than-2-billion.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   The Benefits of Washington State’s Hydropower & Energy Efficiency (Data Center Frontier)

https://datacenterfrontier.com/washington-states-hydropower-energy/

29.   Microsoft Revenues Surge as Pandemic Drives Growth in Cloud Services (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/10/27/microsoft-reaps-big-revenues.html

30.   Trump Sanctions Against Russian Institute with Malware Ties to U.S. Power Sector Only Scratch at Recourse (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-sanctions-russia-institute-malware-industrial/587763/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   Report Released by Sen. Maria Cantwell Slams Google & Facebook for Decimating Local News Outlets (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/report-released-by-sen-maria-cantwell-slams-google-and-facebook-for-decimating-local-news-outlets/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Tupperware Is Partying Like It’s 1965

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/business/national/tupperware-is-partying-like-its-1965/article_954480d8-f8d2-599c-84d9-23c12fcb1e5d.html

Hairless Opossum Needs to Keep Warm, So People Are Donating a Winter Wardrobe

https://www.today.com/pets/hairless-opossum-gets-sweater-donations-survive-winter-t196443

An Electrician’s Good Deed Launches a Movement of Helpers

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2020/1028/An-electrician-s-good-deed-launches-a-movement-of-helpers?icid=rss

111-Foot-Long Lego Bridge Breaks Guinness Record at British Museum

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/10/28/111-foot-long-Lego-bridge-breaks-Guinness-record-at-British-museum/9201603908937/

SONG OF THE DAY

Simon & Garfunkel - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWBvcJAXwu4