Monday, December 14, 2020

The Energy News Digest for December 14, 2020

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association.

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

WA State: Priest Rapids Workers ‘Sequestered’ at Grant PUD Dam as COVID Numbers Rise Locally (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2020/dec/14/priest-rapids-workers-sequestered-dam/

California: San Diego Gas & Electric on the Verge of Refunding $51.6 Million to Customers for Botched Lightbulb Program (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2020-12-11/botched-lightbulb-program

Columbia River Operators Increase Flows to Welcome Returning Chum Salmon (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/River-operators-increase-flows-to-welcome-returning-chum-salmon-2020.aspx

These Trees Are Not What They Seem – How the Nature Conservancy, The World’s Biggest Environmental Group, Became a Dealer of Meaningless Carbon Offsets (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2020-nature-conservancy-carbon-offsets-trees/

Snowpack Has Slid a Bit, But Substantial Pacific Northwest Snowfall Is Ahead (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/12/snowpack-has-slid-bit-but-substantial.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      WA State: Priest Rapids Workers ‘Sequestered’ at Grant PUD Dam as COVID Numbers Rise Locally

2.      Oregon: Hood River Electric Coop Speaks Out About Call to Remove Snake River Dams

3.      USDA Forest Service Proposes New Wildfire Prevention Directives for Power Lines

4.      Helena Senator to Seek Study on Nuclear Power in Montana

5.      Arizona: Utilities Can’t Shut Off Power without Offering a Payment Plan, Regulator Says

6.      Hard Times: One in Four Americans Have Missed a Bill Payment Since COVID-19 Emerged

7.      CAISO Focuses on Summer 2021 as Final Analysis of August Blackouts Nears Completion

8.      What Will a Green Washington State Electric Grid Look Like?

9.      B.C. Hydro Prepares for Strong Geomagnetic Storm

10.   Moody’s Says 2021 Outlook for Public Power Is Stable

11.   Fearsome Flashback: Hanukkah Eve Windstorm Ravages Western Washington Beginning on December 14, 2006.

12.   Clean Energy Project in Nevada Desert Could Be Worth $3 Billion

13.   Does Low-Cost Renewable Energy, Storage Mean Hydrogen Is Here to Stay?

14.   Modular Nuclear Reactors Promise Cost-Competitive Hydrogen Production

15.   California: San Diego Gas & Electric on the Verge of Refunding $51.6 Million to Customers for Botched Lightbulb Program

16.   Energy Issues Rule Allowing Companies to Develop Own Efficiency Tests for Products

17.   Living Building May Revitalize Quiet Corner of Downtown Portland

18.   Columbia River Operators Increase Flows to Welcome Returning Chum Salmon

19.   British Columbia; Permanent Fishway to Be Built at Fraser River Landslide: Fisheries & Oceans

20.   Op/Ed: The Salmon Are Coming Back!

21.   Snowpack Has Slid a Bit, But Substantial Pacific Northwest Snowfall Is Ahead

22.   New Mexico Gets High Court Blessing in Pecos River Evaporated Water Fight

23.   These Trees Are Not What They Seem – How the Nature Conservancy, The World’s Biggest Environmental Group, Became a Dealer of Meaningless Carbon Offsets

24.   Explainer: The Real Math Behind ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emissions

25.   Leavenworth Lost – My Christmassy Hometown Is Looking Less & Less Like a Winter Wonderland.

26.   Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction Results Already Raising Questions

27.   Arizona: Lumen Technologies Settlement Provides Fiber-Optic Improvements in Rural Areas

28.   Oregon: Hillsboro Connects HiLight Broadband

29.   This Is How Google’s Internet-Serving Loon Balloons Can Float for Nearly a Year

30.   U.S. Agencies Hacked in Months Long Global Cyberspying Campaign

31.   Back On: Gmail, YouTube, Google Docs, & Other Google Services Hit by Massive Outage

32.   Natural-Gas Ads Shouldn’t Have Gone on Buses, King County Metro Transit Says

33.   Canada: Crucial Ocean Research Disrupted by Pandemic Has Both Immediate & Long-Term Impact

34.   WA State: from Poop to Power: Manure from 2,300 Cows May Run 600 Homes

35.   Haaland, Eyed for U.S. Interior, Stresses Need for Native American Representation

WORD OF THE DAY

Antediluvian \an-tih-dih-LOO-vee-un\ adjective – 1: of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible 2a: made, evolved, or developed a long time ago *b: extremely primitive or outmoded

The keys crackled, sounding like a mad tap-dancer, temporarily silenced at intervals by the aged accountant pulling the handle on his manual Victor adding machine. The regression to the antediluvian technology was hastened that fateful day by constant computer network problems at the accounting firm. The date was henceforth marked on the calendar as “Green Eyeshades Day”.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      WA State: Priest Rapids Workers ‘Sequestered’ at Grant PUD Dam as COVID Numbers Rise Locally (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2020/dec/14/priest-rapids-workers-sequestered-dam/

2.      Oregon: Hood River Electric Coop Speaks Out About Call to Remove Snake River Dams (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/utility-speaks-out-about-call-to-remove-snake-river-dams

3.      USDA Forest Service Proposes New Wildfire Prevention Directives for Power Lines (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/28319-usda-forest-service-proposes-new-wildfire-prevention-directives-for-power-lines/

4.      Helena Senator to Seek Study on Nuclear Power in Montana (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/helena-senator-to-seek-study-on-nuclear-power-in-montana/article_dd99d508-afa5-558e-9ede-81c4ad8ccf34.html

5.      Arizona: Utilities Can’t Shut Off Power without Offering a Payment Plan, Regulator Says (Arizona Public Media)

https://www.azpm.org/p/home-articles-news/2020/12/10/185394-utilities-cant-shut-off-power-without-offering-a-payment-plan-regulator-says/

6.      Hard Times: One in Four Americans Have Missed a Bill Payment Since COVID-19 Emerged (Study Finds)

https://www.studyfinds.org/quarter-americans-missed-bill-payment-covid-19/

7.      CAISO Focuses on Summer 2021 as Final Analysis of August Blackouts Nears Completion (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/caiso-summer-2021-analysis-august-blackouts/591937/

8.      What Will a Green Washington State Electric Grid Look Like? (Vashon-Maurey Beachcomber, WA)

https://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/news/what-will-a-green-wa-electric-grid-look-like/

9.      B.C. Hydro Prepares for Strong Geomagnetic Storm (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/b-c-hydro-prepares-for-strong-geomagnetic-storm-1.24252921

10.   Moody’s Says 2021 Outlook for Public Power Is Stable (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/moodys-says-2021-outlook-public-power-stable

11.   Fearsome Flashback: Hanukkah Eve Windstorm Ravages Western Washington Beginning on December 14, 2006. (History Link)

https://www.historylink.org/File/8042

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   Clean Energy Project in Nevada Desert Could Be Worth $3 Billion (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/nevada-reno-united-states-0d808ab2e521b1fd997a19f8700bb97c

13.   Does Low-Cost Renewable Energy, Storage Mean Hydrogen Is Here to Stay? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/does-low-cost-renewable-energy-storage-mean-hydrogen-is-here-to-stay/592022/

14.   Modular Nuclear Reactors Promise Cost-Competitive Hydrogen Production (New Atlas)

https://newatlas.com/energy/nuscale-modular-nuclear-reactor-hydrogen-production/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15.   California: San Diego Gas & Electric on the Verge of Refunding $51.6 Million to Customers for Botched Lightbulb Program (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2020-12-11/botched-lightbulb-program

16.   Energy Issues Rule Allowing Companies to Develop Own Efficiency Tests for Products (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/529718-energy-dept-rule-allows-companies-to-develop-energy-efficiency

17.   Living Building May Revitalize Quiet Corner of Downtown Portland (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

https://pamplinmedia.com/but/239-news/490920-393904-living-building-may-revitalize-quiet-corner-of-downtown

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   Columbia River Operators Increase Flows to Welcome Returning Chum Salmon (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/River-operators-increase-flows-to-welcome-returning-chum-salmon-2020.aspx

19.   British Columbia; Permanent Fishway to Be Built at Fraser River Landslide: Fisheries & Oceans (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/permanent-fishway-to-be-built-at-fraser-river-landslide-fisheries-and-oceans-1.24252756

20.   Op/Ed: The Salmon Are Coming Back! (Penticton Herald, BC)

http://www.pentictonherald.ca/opinion/article_35e70a50-3c00-11eb-82f8-f31d6bc1d6a2.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   Snowpack Has Slid a Bit, But Substantial Pacific Northwest Snowfall Is Ahead (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/12/snowpack-has-slid-bit-but-substantial.html

22.   New Mexico Gets High Court Blessing in Pecos River Evaporated Water Fight (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/new-mexico-gets-high-court-blessing-in-evaporated-water-fight/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   These Trees Are Not What They Seem – How the Nature Conservancy, The World’s Biggest Environmental Group, Became a Dealer of Meaningless Carbon Offsets (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2020-nature-conservancy-carbon-offsets-trees/

24.   Explainer: The Real Math Behind ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emissions (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/news/articles/2020-12-11/explainer-the-real-math-behind-net-zero-carbon-emissions

25.   Leavenworth Lost – My Christmassy Hometown Is Looking Less & Less Like a Winter Wonderland. (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/climate/climate-change-is-giving-christmastown-usa-an-identity-crisis/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

26.   Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction Results Already Raising Questions (Light Reading)

https://www.lightreading.com/opticalip/rdof-auction-results-already-raising-questions/d/d-id/766083?

27.   Arizona: Lumen Technologies Settlement Provides Fiber-Optic Improvements in Rural Areas (Arizona Star, Tucson, AZ)

https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/settlement-provides-fiber-optic-improvements-in-rural-areas/article_e03832f7-e04e-5aea-832e-52bb296a325b.html

28.   Oregon: Hillsboro Connects HiLight Broadband (KEX Radio, Portland, OR)

https://1190kex.iheart.com/featured/portland-local-news/content/2020-12-10-hillsboro-connects-hilight-broadband/

29.   This Is How Google’s Internet-Serving Loon Balloons Can Float for Nearly a Year (Digital Trends)

https://www.digitaltrends.com/features/alphabet-google-loon-balloon-ai/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

30.   U.S. Agencies Hacked in Months-Long Global Cyberspying Campaign (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/us-agencies-hacked-global-cyberspying-e8a2e819f7cc6982f6a72f8c85209b72

31.   Back On: Gmail, YouTube, Google Docs, & Other Google Services Hit by Massive Outage (The Verge)

https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/14/22173803/gmail-youtube-google-assistant-docs-down-outage

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

32.   Natural-Gas Ads Shouldn’t Have Gone on Buses, King County Metro Transit Says (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/fossil-fuel-ads-on-a-bus-no-thank-you-king-county-says/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

33.   Canada: Crucial Ocean Research Disrupted by Pandemic Has Both Immediate & Long-Term Impact (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/ocean-research-disruption-pandemic-1.5813488?cmp=rss

34.   WA State: from Poop to Power: Manure from 2,300 Cows May Run 600 Homes (Everett Herald, WA)

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/from-poop-to-power-manure-from-2300-cows-may-run-600-homes/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

35.   Haaland, Eyed for U.S. Interior, Stresses Need for Native American Representation (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/529846-haaland-eyed-for-interior-stresses-need-for-native-american

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Charley Pride Overcame Racial Barriers as Country Music Star

https://apnews.com/article/sports-race-and-ethnicity-willie-nelson-dallas-music-444eaaf7e0c3ff9f78310dbc73ad7625

Cleveland Indians Reportedly Changing Team Name After 105 Years

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/12/14/cleveland-indians-changing-team-name-after-105-years/

UK Homeowner Delays Sale of Home After Banksy Mural Appears

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/business/national/uk-homeowner-delays-sale-of-home-after-banksy-mural-appears/article_42a8a7c2-1f11-5886-83ac-ef61eb0d0438.html

Precious Painting Lost at German Airport Found in Dumpster

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/precious-painting-lost-at-german-airport-found-at-dumpster/article_15a50243-7695-5b13-8911-cf05dbfa6ea0.html

SONGS OF THE DAY

Charlie Pride – All I Have to Offer You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1kwFJVAH94

Charlie Pride – Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’

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

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.