The Energy News Digest for November 2, 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. Senate Democrats Call on Power, Water, Telecom Giants to Halt All Utility Shutoffs (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/30/power-water-internet-shutoffs-congress/

Deal Falls Through to Sell Puget Sound Energy’s Stake in Montana’s Colstrip Coal Plant (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/oct/30/deal-falls-through-to-sell-puget-sound-energys-sta/

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Should Be Fined $166 Million for Botched Power Shut-Offs, Watchdog Agency Says (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-10-30/pge-fine-recommended-power-outages

Arizona Officials Rule Utilities Must Be Carbon-Free by 2050 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/electric-utilities-arizona-utilities-385406624077453506bea9486e6ef5fb

An $11 Trillion Global Hydrogen Energy Boom Is Coming. Here’s What Could Trigger It (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/01/how-salt-caverns-may-trigger-11-trillion-hydrogen-energy-boom-.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Senate Democrats Call on Power, Water, Telecom Giants to Halt All Utility Shutoffs

2.      Deal Falls Through to Sell Puget Sound Energy’s Stake in Montana’s Colstrip Coal Plant

3.      Montana; NorthWestern Abandons Colstrip Bid; Utility Blames State of Washington & PSC

4.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Should Be Fined $166 Million for Botched Power Shut-Offs, Watchdog Agency Says

5.      Two Nevada Towns Among Those Betting on ‘New Nuclear’

6.      British Columbia: When Did BC Hydro Really Know About Peace River Dam Stability Issues? Utilities Watchdog Wants to Know

7.      Avista Files Rate Proposals in Washington State That Would Not Impact Customer Bills

8.      Ohio Utility at Center of $60 Million Bribery Case Fires CEO

9.      EIA Forecasts More Residential Natural Gas Consumption This Winter Than Last

10.   Western Regional Transmission Organization – Lowering Electricity Bills in Colorado

11.   An $11 Trillion Global Hydrogen Energy Boom Is Coming. Here’s What Could Trigger It

12.   Analysis: Utah Cities Pursue 100% Net-Renewable Electricity

13.   United Kingdom’s Bid to Power Every Home Via Offshore Windfarms by 2030 at Risk

14.   Idaho’s Sockeye Salmon Run Falters Again; Experts Perplexed

15.   Washington State Salmon Management Challenged by Anglers

16.   New Research Reveals Flawed Approach to Salmon Recovery Programs - With Major Implications for Dams Debate

17.   Op/Ed: Pacific Northwest States’ Action on Columbia Basin Salmon Offer a Needed Lifeline

18.   Will Oregon See Sea Otters Again?

19.   WA State: Intended Lawsuit Over Puyallup River Artificial Turf Pollution Grows

20.   WA State: Pilchuck River Is Five Degrees Too Warm & Threatening Salmon Runs

21.   British Columbia: Three Workers Dismissed by Metro Vancouver After Fatal Incident at Cleveland Dam

22.   Long-Running Pecos River Snarl Captivates U.S. Supreme Court Again

23.   Arizona Officials Rule Utilities Must Be Carbon-Free by 2050

24.   Energy Regulator FERC Finds Itself Cornered Over Climate Change

25.   More Than 20 Million Americans to Relocate Amid Rise in Telework

26.   Rural Broadband Is an $80 Billion Problem

27.   Q&A – How LocalTel Helped Workers, Students Make the Switch to Working from Home

28.   WA State: Microsoft Buys Land Near East Wenatchee for Potential Development

29.   Baby Shark Becomes YouTube’s Most-Watched Video of All Time

30.   Asteroid Samples Tucked into Capsule for Return to Earth

31.   U.S. Supreme Court – Justice Barrett’s Confirmation & How It May Affect the Energy Industry

WORD OF THE DAY

hubris /HYOO-briss/ Noun – Exaggerated pride or self-confidence.

Hubris: he who the gods would destroy, they would first make proud.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      U.S. Senate Democrats Call on Power, Water, Telecom Giants to Halt All Utility Shutoffs (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/30/power-water-internet-shutoffs-congress/

2.      Deal Falls Through to Sell Puget Sound Energy’s Stake in Montana’s Colstrip Coal Plant (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/oct/30/deal-falls-through-to-sell-puget-sound-energys-sta/

3.      Montana; NorthWestern Abandons Colstrip Bid; Utility Blames State of Washington & PSC (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, MT)

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/northwestern-abandons-colstrip-bid-utility-blames-state-of-washington-and-psc/article_80d5e290-01a5-504c-8e3b-321069772a66.html

4.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Should Be Fined $166 Million for Botched Power Shut-Offs, Watchdog Agency Says (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-10-30/pge-fine-recommended-power-outages

5.      Two Nevada Towns Among Those Betting on ‘New Nuclear’ (Nevada Current)

https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/10/29/two-nevada-towns-among-those-betting-on-new-nuclear/

6.      British Columbia: When Did BC Hydro Really Know About Peace River Dam Stability Issues? Utilities Watchdog Wants to Know (The Narwhal, BC)

https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-hydro-site-c-slope-instability-bcuc/

7.      Avista Files Rate Proposals in Washington State That Would Not Impact Customer Bills (Global Newswire)

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/10/30/2118041/0/en/Avista-files-rate-proposals-in-Washington-that-would-not-impact-customer-bills.html

8.      Ohio Utility at Center of $60 Million Bribery Case Fires CEO (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Ohio-utility-at-center-of-60-million-bribery-15688054.php

9.      EIA Forecasts More Residential Natural Gas Consumption This Winter Than Last (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=45716

10.   Western Regional Transmission Organization – Lowering Electricity Bills in Colorado (Mountain Town News, Arvada, CO)

https://mountaintownnews.net/2020/11/02/vibrant-clean-energy-study/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   An $11 Trillion Global Hydrogen Energy Boom Is Coming. Here’s What Could Trigger It (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/01/how-salt-caverns-may-trigger-11-trillion-hydrogen-energy-boom-.html

12.   Analysis: Utah Cities Pursue 100% Net-Renewable Electricity (Utah Policy)

https://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/25337-analysis-utah-cities-pursue-100-net-renewable-electricity

13.   United Kingdom’s Bid to Power Every Home Via Offshore Windfarms by 2030 at Risk (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/01/uks-bid-to-power-every-home-via-offshore-windfarms-by-2030-at-risk

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Idaho’s Sockeye Salmon Run Falters Again; Experts Perplexed (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/idaho/articles/2020-10-29/idahos-sockeye-salmon-run-falters-again-experts-perplexed

15.   Washington State Salmon Management Challenged by Anglers (KOMO-News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/wash-state-salmon-management-challenged-by-anglers

16.   New Research Reveals Flawed Approach to Salmon Recovery Programs - With Major Implications for Dams Debate (Northwest RiverPartners)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/11/new-research-reveals-flawed-approach-to.html

17.   Op/Ed: Pacific Northwest States’ Action on Columbia Basin Salmon Offer a Needed Lifeline (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2020/11/opinion-northwest-states-action-on-columbia-basin-salmon-offer-a-needed-lifeline.html

18.   Will Oregon See Sea Otters Again? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/02/will-oregon-see-sea-otters-again/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

19.   WA State: Intended Lawsuit Over Puyallup River Artificial Turf Pollution Grows (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2272833/puyallup-river-turf-lawsuit/

20.   WA State: Pilchuck River Is Five Degrees Too Warm & Threatening Salmon Runs (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/pilchuck-river-is-5-degrees-too-warm-and-threatening-salmon-runs/281-3a1a744a-3c89-481f-8f76-b880514c7161

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   British Columbia: Three Workers Dismissed by Metro Vancouver After Fatal Incident at Cleveland Dam (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/three-workers-dismissed-by-metro-vancouver-after-fatal-incident-at-cleveland-dam-1.24230746

22.   Long-Running Pecos River Snarl Captivates U.S. Supreme Court Again (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/long-running-pecos-river-snarl-captivates-high-court-again/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Arizona Officials Rule Utilities Must Be Carbon-Free by 2050 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/electric-utilities-arizona-utilities-385406624077453506bea9486e6ef5fb

24.   Energy Regulator FERC Finds Itself Cornered Over Climate Change (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andystone/2020/11/01/energy-regulator-ferc-finds-itself-cornered-over-climate-change/?sh=1504c6061793

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   More Than 20 Million Americans to Relocate Amid Rise in Telework (Bloomberg News)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/nov/01/more-than-20-million-americans-to-relocate-amid-ri/

26.   Rural Broadband Is an $80 Billion Problem (Farm & Dairy)

https://www.farmanddairy.com/news/rural-broadband-is-an-80-billion-problem/636030.html

27.   Q&A – How LocalTel Helped Workers, Students Make the Switch to Working from Home (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/q-a-how-localtel-helped-workers-students-make-the-switch-to-working-from-home/article_cd3d8340-17c8-11eb-8158-2f7b70db50d4.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   WA State: Microsoft Buys Land Near East Wenatchee for Potential Development (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/microsoft-buys-land-near-east-wenatchee-for-potential-development/article_4a82cb3a-1ad5-11eb-88f4-6bb251233b34.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

29.   Baby Shark Becomes YouTube’s Most-Watched Video of All Time (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54783116

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

30.   Asteroid Samples Tucked into Capsule for Return to Earth (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Asteroid-samples-tucked-into-capsule-for-return-15685773.php

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

31.   U.S. Supreme Court – Justice Barrett’s Confirmation & How It May Affect the Energy Industry (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/justice-barretts-confirmation-and-how-it-may-affect-the-energy-industry/588151/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

What a Fluke: Dutch Whale Tail Sculpture Catches Metro Train

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/world_news/what-a-fluke-dutch-whale-tail-sculpture-catches-metro-train/article_625c901f-24a5-55a6-b873-e01d4a4eae60.html

Missing Thurston County Cat Reunited with Family After Being Found in Alaska

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/cat-south-sound-reunited-with-family-after-trip-alaska/CSXOWAJ2GNGM5OKFANHUTUGFVM/

Paws Over the Pacific: 600 Pets Arrive at Seattle’s Boeing Field in Large Rescue Flight Operation

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/paws-over-the-pacific-600-rescued-pets-seattle-15686424.php

Artist Adds ‘Star Wars’ to Discarded Paintings He Finds in Thrift Stores

https://mymodernmet.com/altered-thrift-store-paintings/

SONG OF THE DAY

Steve Miller Band – Jet Airliner’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPbWPxE2mDA

New Research Reveals Flawed Approach to Salmon Recovery Programs - With Major Implications for Dams Debate (Northwest RiverPartners)

(VANCOUVER, WA) - - Newly published research has unveiled remarkable insight into the survival rates of Chinook salmon populations along the North American West Coast, highlighting a dramatic omission in the way such data has been interpreted for over two decades.

The peer-reviewed research entitled, "A Synthesis of the Coast-wide Decline in Survival of West Coast Chinook Salmon” has been published by the leading science journal, Fish and Fisheries. The research was carried out by a team from Kintama Research, led by the award-winning Dr. David Welch, who has been involved in marine research on salmon for 40 years and recognized globally for his work.

Importantly, this pivotal research comes at a time when many interest groups continue to press for the removal of productive, cost-effective hydroelectric dams, despite the region’s aggressive carbon reduction goals. Many believe that the federally-operated dams are preventing the recovery of threatened and endangered salmon populations - specifically in the Snake River, the largest tributary of the Columbia in the Pacific Northwest. 

However, Dr. Welch’s research questions that conclusion. The study reveals that Chinook salmon survival has fallen by two-thirds, on average, for almost all regions along the western coast of North America - in both dammed and undammed areas - and not just in the Columbia River Basin. 

The study is supported by deep technical and scientific analyses of the extensive survival data collected by government agencies over many decades. The research also reveals that survival is indistinguishable for Puget Sound and Snake River spring Chinook populations, despite the absence of major dams in the Puget Sound region.

The implication of the research is that the shared ecosystem of all Pacific salmon, the Pacific Ocean, is likely the source of the coastal-wide decline in Chinook salmon populations. Dams, while having some effect on salmon survival, do not appear to be a key limiting factor for recovery.

Harvest Omitted

Dr. Welch’s scientific analysis also found a significant flaw in the models used to produce adult survival estimates for the Columbia River Basin salmon. The two predominant models used to formulate regional salmon policy both rely on PIT tag data--small RFID tags implanted in some fish, which only track salmon when they swim past in-river receivers.

Adult salmon caught in fisheries in the ocean or river are not counted by these monitoring systems, meaning that harvest is ignored in the models. The assumption by the modelers is that harvest is insignificant and stable from year to year, so excluding it isn’t a problem. 

In contrast, Dr. Welch’s research found that harvest of Columbia River Chinook stocks can be large--as much as 75% of the total salmon run for some Columbia River populations--and highly variable over time.  

This finding means that the predominant models fail to recognize that the reason for good or bad salmon returns may have been strongly influenced by how a range of US federal, state, and Canadian agencies were regulating the adult salmon catch.

As a result, the model outcomes are unintentionally providing erroneous information. 

This new research clearly shows a need to revise the models and, ultimately, salmon policies themselves. 

No Evidence for Delayed Mortality

Those who oppose hydroelectric dams with advanced fish passage systems often refer to the theory of delayed mortality. This assumption is rooted in the unproven idea that juvenile salmon are injured by successive dam powerhouses and fish bypass systems, reducing their survival in the ocean.

However, Dr. Welch makes a convincing case that there is no real evidence for delayed mortality in the data. He provides solid reasoning, using data from both the Fish Passage Center and other independent datasets, that greater dam passage does not usually cause lower survival rates.

This finding is critical, because policies based on the delayed mortality theory have cost the region billions of dollars and increased our carbon footprint without addressing the real issues leading to lower salmon survival--climate change and warming oceans.

The governors of Oregon and Washington both recently pointed to the region’s devastating and deadly wildfires as signs that climate change will continue to have a very negative effect on Pacific Northwest communities. Dr. Welch’s study shows that they should be similarly concerned about the oceanic impacts of climate change and their effects on salmon survival. 

This conclusion means that our carbon-free hydropower resources are more important than ever.