Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The Energy News Digest for January 20, 2021

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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Feds Urge State, Territorial Governments to Prioritize Vaccination of Critical Energy Infrastructure Workers (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/28749-doe-urges-state-territorial-governments-to-prioritize-vaccination-of-critical-energy-infrastructure-workers/?amp

Ferocious Winds Wreak Havoc in California, Knocking Out Power to Thousands & Fanning Wildfires (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/01/20/california-winds-fan-wildfires-knock-out-power-thousands/4229579001/

WA State Seeking Public Comments Before Starting Environmental Review of Klickitat County Pumped Storage Energy Project (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/state-seeking-public-comments-before-starting-environmental-review-of-klickitat-county-energy-project/article_3ea5e44c-f9d3-56ee-803f-18c02c69e8ca.html

New Bill Could Kill Wyoming’s Solar Energy Sector, Critics Say (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/new-bill-could-kill-wyomings-solar-energy-sector-critics-say/article_24b01f08-7a8f-584f-80c6-4e32ace75381.html

2020 Was Hottest Year on Record by Narrow Margin, NASA Says (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/14/2020-hottest-year-on-record-nasa

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        Feds Urge State, Territorial Governments to Prioritize Vaccination of Critical Energy Infrastructure Workers

2.        Ferocious Winds Wreak Havoc in California, Knocking Out Power to Thousands & Fanning Wildfires

3.        California Releases Final Root Cause Analysis of August Rolling Blackouts

4.        Natural Gas Terminal Plans in Oregon Hit Snag Over Permit

5.        Washington State Ecologists Deny Pivotal Permit for Kalama Methanol Refinery

6.        Maine: Federal Judge Halts Work on Hydropower Transmission Project with Temporary Injunction

7.        When Does Food Go Bad in a Power Outage? ‘Best to Err on the Side of Caution,’ Experts Say

8.        Siemens Energy Sinks as GE Accuses Rival of Trade-Secret Theft

9.        EIA Forecasts Less Power Generation from Natural Gas Because of Rising Fuel Costs

10.     NuScale SMR Chosen for UK Wind-Nuclear Hybrid

11.     WA State Seeking Public Comments Before Starting Environmental Review of Klickitat County Pumped Storage Energy Project

12.     New Bill Could Kill Wyoming’s Solar Energy Sector, Critics Say

13.     Editorial: A Sad End to Oregon Solar Manufacturing

14.     Tribes Want President Biden to Balance Technology & Cultural Issues in Renewable Energy Projects

15.     Roaring Speeds Meant Little Wind Energy in Montana Jan. 13

16.     Audit Finds Grays Harbor PUD Is Exceeding Conservation Goals

17.     Empty Office Buildings Are Still Devouring Energy. Why?

18.     Report: Salmon in WA State Are ‘Teetering on the Brink of Extinction’

19.     Conservation Groups Ask Federal Judge to Halt Salmon Plan

20.     Op/Ed: Ocean Conditions Affect Idaho Salmon

21.     Female Orcas More Likely to Stop Feeding When Close to Boats, Study Finds, Raising Reproduction Concerns

22.     Anglers Remove More than 100,000 Pikeminnow from Rivers During Pandemic

23.     Op/Ed: All-Electric Homes Would Clear Air We Breathe

24.     Idaho: Water Storage Underway on Lake Pend Oreille

25.     2020 Was Hottest Year on Record by Narrow Margin, NASA Says

26.     What Does a Green Grid Mean? Can Biden Make One?

27.     The Internet’s Carbon Footprint Issue Isn’t Tied to Individuals

28.     With Trump Loss, Charter Backs Off FCC Request to Allow Broadband Caps

29.     Utah: UTOPIA Broadband Signups Rose 50 Percent in 2020

30.     Idaho National Laboratory & POWER Partner to Strengthen Cybersecurity

31.     Social Media Liability Law Is Likely to be Reviewed under President Biden

32.     WA State: ‘Snow Looks Likely’ as Soon as Sunday in Puget Sound Region

33.     President Biden’s COVID Relief Plan Reimburses State & Local Governments for Cost of Leave

34.     Work from Hawaii Is Now an Option for Many Professionals as Remote Work Accelerated by the Covid-19 Pandemic Attracts New Residents to the Islands

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Gulosity /goo-LAW-suh-tee/ Noun – Excessive appetite: greediness

Bulk gulosity

The all-you-can-eat buffet

But, eat all you take

https://joelshorriblehaiku.blogspot.com/

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Feds Urge State, Territorial Governments to Prioritize Vaccination of Critical Energy Infrastructure Workers (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/28749-doe-urges-state-territorial-governments-to-prioritize-vaccination-of-critical-energy-infrastructure-workers/?amp

2.      Ferocious Winds Wreak Havoc in California, Knocking Out Power to Thousands & Fanning Wildfires (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/01/20/california-winds-fan-wildfires-knock-out-power-thousands/4229579001/

3.      California Releases Final Root Cause Analysis of August Rolling Blackouts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-releases-final-root-cause-analysis-of-august-rolling-blackouts/593436/

4.      Natural Gas Terminal Plans in Oregon Hit Snag Over Permit (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/01/20/bc-us-natural-gas-pipeline-oregon/

5.      Washington State Ecologists Deny Pivotal Permit for Kalama Methanol Refinery (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/01/20/washington-ecologists-kalama-methanol-refinery-permit/

6.      Maine: Federal Judge Halts Work on Hydropower Transmission Project with Temporary Injunction (WBUR Radio, Boston, MA)

https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2021/01/15/avangrid-maine-massachusetts-power-energy-grid

7.      When Does Food Go Bad in a Power Outage? ‘Best to Err on the Side of Caution,’ Experts Say (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jan/20/when-does-food-go-bad-in-a-power-outage-best-to-er/

8.      Siemens Energy Sinks as GE Accuses Rival of Trade-Secret Theft (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-14/ge-accuses-siemens-of-stealing-trade-secrets-for-gas-turbines

9.      EIA Forecasts Less Power Generation from Natural Gas Because of Rising Fuel Costs (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46497

10.   NuScale SMR Chosen for UK Wind-Nuclear Hybrid (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/nuscale-smr-chosen-for-uk-wind-nuclear-hybrid/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   WA State Seeking Public Comments Before Starting Environmental Review of Klickitat County Pumped Storage Energy Project (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/state-seeking-public-comments-before-starting-environmental-review-of-klickitat-county-energy-project/article_3ea5e44c-f9d3-56ee-803f-18c02c69e8ca.html

12.   New Bill Could Kill Wyoming’s Solar Energy Sector, Critics Say (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/new-bill-could-kill-wyomings-solar-energy-sector-critics-say/article_24b01f08-7a8f-584f-80c6-4e32ace75381.html

13.   Editorial: A Sad End to Oregon Solar Manufacturing (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/37-opinion/494300-396705-our-opinion-a-sad-end-to-solar-manufacturing

14.   Tribes Want President Biden to Balance Technology & Cultural Issues in Renewable Energy Projects (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-environment/2021/01/18/tribes-want-biden-balance-renewable-energy-and-cultural-issues/4102836001/

15.   Roaring Speeds Meant Little Wind Energy in Montana Jan. 13 (Montana Standard, Butte, MT)

https://mtstandard.com/news/local/roaring-speeds-meant-little-wind-energy-in-montana-on-jan-13/article_44e27585-c03b-5c51-9c17-52cc60fa0140.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

16.   Audit Finds Grays Harbor PUD Is Exceeding Conservation Goals (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/business/audit-finds-pud-is-exceeding-conservation-goals/

17.   Empty Office Buildings Are Still Devouring Energy. Why? (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90595577/empty-office-buildings-are-still-devouring-energy-why

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   Report: Salmon in WA State Are ‘Teetering on the Brink of Extinction’ (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/01/report-salmon-wa-are-teetering-brink-extinction

19.   Conservation Groups Ask Federal Judge to Halt Salmon Plan (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/conservation-groups-ask-federal-judge-to-halt-salmon-plan/article_cd6be136-531c-520d-ba91-ce3073ae6e52.html

20.   Op/Ed: Ocean Conditions Affect Idaho Salmon (Idaho Falls Post Register, ID)

https://www.postregister.com/opinion/guest_column/ocean-conditions-affect-idaho-salmon/article_f04b51ff-21cf-5eb4-af84-8b7690a795bb.html

21.   Female Orcas More Likely to Stop Feeding When Close to Boats, Study Finds, Raising Reproduction Concerns (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/orca-foraging-disruptions-study-1.5880001?cmp=rss

22.   Anglers Remove More than 100,000 Pikeminnow from Rivers During Pandemic (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/news/anglers-remove-more-than-100-000-pikeminnow-from-rivers-during-pandemic/article_949d75f6-59ed-11eb-842a-3fe33e910e95.html

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

23.   Op/Ed: All-Electric Homes Would Clear Air We Breathe (Everett Herald, WA)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-all-electric-homes-would-clear-air-we-breathe/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   Idaho: Water Storage Underway on Lake Pend Oreille (Bonner County Daily Bee, ID)

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2021/jan/17/water-storage-underway-lpo/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   2020 Was Hottest Year on Record by Narrow Margin, NASA Says (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/14/2020-hottest-year-on-record-nasa

26.   What Does a Green Grid Mean? Can Biden Make One? (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/what-does-a-green-grid-mean-and-can-biden-make-one/2021/01/20/21154bde-5b43-11eb-a849-6f9423a75ffd_story.html

27.   The Internet’s Carbon Footprint Issue Isn’t Tied to Individuals (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-internets-carbon-footprint-issue-isnt-tied-to-indiv-1846068464

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   With Trump Loss, Charter Backs Off FCC Request to Allow Broadband Caps (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210119/10235946079/with-trump-loss-charter-backs-off-fcc-request-to-allow-broadband-caps.shtml

29.   Utah: UTOPIA Broadband Signups Rose 50 Percent in 2020 (Broadband Communities)

https://www.bbcmag.com/breaking-news/utopia-subscriber-counts-surge-50-percent

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

30.   Idaho National Laboratory & POWER Partner to Strengthen Cybersecurity (KIVI-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.kivitv.com/news/idaho-national-laboratory-and-power-partner-to-strengthen-cybersecurity

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   Social Media Liability Law Is Likely to be Reviewed under President Biden (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/18/biden-section-230/

WHITHER THE WEATHER

32.   WA State: ‘Snow Looks Likely’ as Soon as Sunday in Puget Sound Region (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2473777/snow-looks-likely-puget-sound-region-january-2021/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

33.   President Biden’s COVID Relief Plan Reimburses State & Local Governments for Cost of Leave (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/biden-covid-relief-plan-reimburses-state-and-local-governments-cost-leave

34.   Work from Hawaii Is Now an Option for Many Professionals as Remote Work Accelerated by the Covid-19 Pandemic Attracts New Residents to the Islands (Pacific Business News, HI)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/01/work-from-hawaii-is-now-option-for-many.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Amanda Gorman: Inauguration Poet Calls for ‘Unity & Togetherness’

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55738564

Racing Pigeon That Reportedly Crossed Pacific to Australia Isn’t from Oregon After All

https://www.oregonlive.com/nation/2021/01/racing-pigeon-that-reportedly-crossed-pacific-to-australia-wasnt-from-oregon-after-all.html

Tintin Comic Book Art Breaks Auction Record at $3.1 Million

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Tintin-comic-book-art-breaks-auction-record-at-15870161.php

Wilson! Irish Girl’s Lost Soccer Ball Floats 124 Miles to Welsh Beach

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/01/19/Irish-girls-lost-soccer-ball-floats-124-miles-to-Welsh-beach/7971611088679/

SONG OF THE DAY

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0W1v0kOELA

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions.