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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Utility Customers Owe Up to $40 Billion in COVID-19 Debt,
But Who Will Pay It? (Utility Dive)
Power Shutoffs Possible in Southern California as Dangerous
Fire Weather Returns (Los Angeles Times, CA)
Army Corps Withdraws Plan to Charge for Reservoir Water
(Associated Press)
Human Activities, Shipping, Fishing, Polluting, Links to
Killer Whale Deaths: Study (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
Migration to Booming ‘Zoom Towns’ in Pacific Northwest Sends
Home Prices into Overdrive (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/07/coronavirus-pandemic-migration-zoom-towns-pacific-northwest/
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Utility Customers Owe Up to $40 Billion in
COVID-19 Debt, But Who Will Pay It?
2.
Public Power Utilities Extend Disconnect
Moratoriums, Offer Payment Options to Customers
3.
Power Shutoffs Possible in Southern California
as Dangerous Fire Weather Returns
4.
Bonneville Power Administration Proposes Debt
Reduction Measures to Augment Cost Containment
5.
WA State: Puget Sound Energy Electric Rates to
Go Up This Month
6.
California: Pacific Gas & Electric Bills to
Rise Over $160 Per Year on Average to Fund Wildfire Risk Reduction
7.
West Tracker: Power Prices Plunge on Abundant
Pacific Northwest Hydro Supply
8.
Utah: Hyrum City Power Could Benefit from Idaho
Modular Nuclear Reactor
9.
Op/Ed: San Diego Shouldn’t Rush into Another
Rip-Off Utility Franchise Deal
10.
Oklahoma: Burying Power Lines Could Prevent Some
Future Outages, But the Astronomical Cost Might Be Too Much to Bear
11.
S. Carolina: Santee Cooper Settles Lawsuit Over
Bonds Issued During Failed Nuclear Project for $2 Million
12.
Florida Utility Regulators Will Ask for Law
Changes That Allow Secrecy at Public Hearings
13.
Natural Gas-Fired Generation Has Increased in
Most U.S. Regions Since 2015
14.
Seattle Takes New Approach in Latest Bid to Curb
Use of Natural Gas in Homes
15.
San Jose, Oakland Join Growing List of
California Cities to Ban Natural Gas Construction
16.
Nevada Climate Strategy Outlines Framework to
Phase Out Natural Gas, Electrify Transportation
17.
Trump ‘Midnight Regulations’ May Hinder Biden
Efforts to Advance Energy Efficiency, Advocates Say
18.
Avista: Helps Customers Take Simple Steps to
Manage Their Winter Energy Costs
19.
Human Activities, Shipping, Fishing, Polluting,
Links to Killer Whale Deaths: Study
20.
Research Groups Buys ‘Salmon Ranch’ to Feed
Southern Resident Orcas
21.
Idaho’s Salmon Workgroup Finalizing
Recommendations to Save Salmon & Steelhead Populations
22.
British Columbia: Sockeye Restoration Efforts
Spark Hope & Heartbreak on the Coquitlam River
23.
Outdated Sewage Treatment Is Suffocating Fish in
Puget Sound
24.
Army Corps Withdraws Plan to Charge for
Reservoir Water
25.
Editorial: Getting Climate Change & The
Economy Right
26.
Idaho Broadband Access Expanded Using Federal
Pandemic Funds
27.
Fitch Rates Northwest Open Access Network’s
Telecom Bonds at ‘A’; Outlook Stable
28.
Editorial: Time for A New Federal Broadband Plan
29.
The Quick FCC Fix That Would Get More Students
Online
30.
Migration to Booming ‘Zoom Towns’ in Pacific
Northwest Sends Home Prices into Overdrive
31.
Idaho: Boise Code Requires New Homes Have
High-Voltage Outlets for Electric Cars
32.
Japan’s Capsule with Asteroid Samples Retrieved
in Australia
33. U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ Top Tech Target for Next Congress: Section 230
WORD OF THE DAY
Infamy /INN-fuh-mee/ Noun – 1: evil reputation brought about by something grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal 2a: an extreme and publicly known criminal or evil act b: the state of being infamous.
“…Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy…” Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Utility Customers Owe Up to $40 Billion in COVID-19
Debt, But Who Will Pay It? (Utility Dive)
2.
Public Power Utilities Extend Disconnect
Moratoriums, Offer Payment Options to Customers (American Public Power
Association)
3.
Power Shutoffs Possible in Southern California as
Dangerous Fire Weather Returns (Los Angeles Times, CA)
4.
Bonneville Power Administration Proposes Debt
Reduction Measures to Augment Cost Containment (Bonneville Power
Administration)
5.
WA State: Puget Sound Energy Electric Rates to
Go Up This Month (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)
6.
California: Pacific Gas & Electric Bills to
Rise Over $160 Per Year on Average to Fund Wildfire Risk Reduction (MSN News)
7.
West Tracker: Power Prices Plunge on Abundant Pacific
Northwest Hydro Supply (S&P Global)
8.
Utah: Hyrum City Power Could Benefit from Idaho Modular
Nuclear Reactor (Cache Valley Daily, Logan, UT)
9.
Op/Ed: San Diego Shouldn’t Rush into Another
Rip-Off Utility Franchise Deal (Times of San Diego, CA)
10.
Oklahoma: Burying Power Lines Could Prevent Some
Future Outages, But the Astronomical Cost Might Be Too Much to Bear (The
Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK)
11.
S. Carolina: Santee Cooper Settles Lawsuit Over
Bonds Issued During Failed Nuclear Project for $2 Million (Charleston Post
& Courier, SC)
https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2020/12/s-carolina-santee-cooper-settles.html
12.
Florida Utility Regulators Will Ask for Law
Changes That Allow Secrecy at Public Hearings (Tampa Bay Times, FL)
13.
Natural Gas-Fired Generation Has Increased in
Most U.S. Regions Since 2015 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46143
NOW WE’RE COOKING WITH GAS
14.
Seattle Takes New Approach in Latest Bid to Curb
Use of Natural Gas in Homes (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
https://mynorthwest.com/2345086/seattle-new-approach-curb-use-natural-gas-homes/
15.
San Jose, Oakland Join Growing List of California
Cities to Ban Natural Gas Construction (Utility Dive)
16.
Nevada Climate Strategy Outlines Framework to
Phase Out Natural Gas, Electrify Transportation (The Nevada Independent)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
17.
Trump ‘Midnight Regulations’ May Hinder Biden Efforts
to Advance Energy Efficiency, Advocates Say (Utility Dive)
18.
Avista: Helps Customers Take Simple Steps to
Manage Their Winter Energy Costs (MarketScreener)
FISH & WILDLIFE
19.
Human Activities, Shipping, Fishing, Polluting,
Links to Killer Whale Deaths: Study (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
20.
Research Groups Buys ‘Salmon Ranch’ to Feed
Southern Resident Orcas (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
21.
Idaho’s Salmon Workgroup Finalizing
Recommendations to Save Salmon & Steelhead Populations (KSAW-TV, Twin Falls,
ID)
22.
British Columbia: Sockeye Restoration Efforts
Spark Hope & Heartbreak on the Coquitlam River (Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation)
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
23.
Outdated Sewage Treatment Is Suffocating Fish in
Puget Sound (Crosscut Seattle, WA)
https://crosscut.com/environment/2020/12/outdated-sewage-treatment-suffocating-fish-puget-sound
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
24.
Army Corps Withdraws Plan to Charge for
Reservoir Water (Associated Press)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
25.
Editorial: Getting Climate Change & The
Economy Right (Everett Herald, WA)
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-getting-climate-change-and-the-economy-right/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
26.
Idaho Broadband Access Expanded Using Federal
Pandemic Funds (Associated Press)
https://www.kansascity.com/news/article247564550.html
27.
Fitch Rates Northwest Open Access Network’s
Telecom Bonds at ‘A’; Outlook Stable (Fitch Ratings)
28.
Editorial: Time for A New Federal Broadband Plan
(Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/time-for-a-new-federal-broadband-plan/
29.
The Quick FCC Fix That Would Get More Students
Online (Axios)
https://www.axios.com/digital-divide-fcc-quick-fix-e-rate-70eab132-4f60-4e50-b194-d107393b05ce.html
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
30.
Migration to Booming ‘Zoom Towns’ in Pacific
Northwest Sends Home Prices into Overdrive (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/07/coronavirus-pandemic-migration-zoom-towns-pacific-northwest/
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
31.
Idaho: Boise Code Requires New Homes Have
High-Voltage Outlets for Electric Cars (Idaho Press, Nampa, ID)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
32.
Japan’s Capsule with Asteroid Samples Retrieved in
Australia (Associated Press)
GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
33.
U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ Top Tech Target for
Next Congress: Section 230 (Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/04/mcmorris-rodger-tech-target-section-230-442817
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
‘Date Which Will Live in Infamy’: What to Remember About Pearl
Harbor, 79 Years Later
The Dylan Catalogue, A 60-Year Rock ‘N’ Roll Odyssey, Is
Sold
https://www.timescolonist.com/the-dylan-catalogue-a-60-year-rock-n-roll-odyssey-is-sold-1.24251263
Mysterious Monoliths Are Appearing Across the World. Here’s What
We Know.
https://www.vox.com/culture/22062796/monoliths-utah-california-romania
Scene from ‘Elf’ Comes to Life as Buddy Meets Dad in Boston
SONG OF THE DAY
Richard Rodgers – Victory at Sea (Soundtrack – Main Theme)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-EXNounv-U
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.
