Thursday, February 11, 2021

The Energy News Digest for February 11, 2021

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

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PROGRAMMING NOTE

The Energy News Digest will be observing President’s Day, Monday February 15, 2021. It will return to regularly scheduled programming on Wednesday, February 17.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Winter Storm Warning Issued for Portland Area; Blizzard Conditions Expected in Columbia Gorge (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2021/02/winter-storm-warning-issued-for-portland-area-blizzard-conditions-expected-in-columbia-river-gorge.html

Inslee Praises Bold Thinking in $33 Billion Proposal to Breach Four Snake River Dams (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/northwest_regional_news/inslee-praises-bold-thinking-in-33-billion-proposal-to-breach-four-snake-river-dams/article_5932dde2-6bb0-11eb-ba08-9f1bd5ae7022.html

McMorris Rodgers Calls Dams Breach ‘Fiscally Irresponsible;’ Supports Expanded Hydropower (Ripon Advance)

https://riponadvance.com/stories/mcmorris-rodgers-calls-dams-breach-fiscally-irresponsible-supports-expanded-hydropower/

California’s Aging Dams Face New Perils, 50 Years After Sylmar Quake Crisis (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2021-02-10/earthquakes-climate-change-threaten-california-dams

Environmental Groups Side with Tribes, Oppose Big Energy Storage Project on Columbia River (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/02/environmental-groups-side-with-tribes.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.        California’s Aging Dams Face New Perils, 50 Years After Sylmar Quake Crisis

2.        Maine: Construction Starts on Disputed $1 Billion Electricity Corridor to Bring Hydropower from Canada to the NE U.S.

3.        Canada Plans Hydropower Push as Biden Looks to Clean Up U.S. Grid

4.        California Community Choice Aggregators Form Joint Powers Authority

5.        Tennessee Valley Authority: Federal Utility Gives Raise to CEO That Trump Had Criticized – Made $7.3 Million in 2020

6.        Montana: Droppings from Thousands of Roosting Ravens Cause Power Outages near Roundup

7.        Inslee Praises Bold Thinking in $33 Billion Proposal to Breach Four Snake River Dams

8.        McMorris Rodgers Calls Dams Breach ‘Fiscally Irresponsible;’ Supports Expanded Hydropower

9.        Idaho Farm Bureau Blasts Simpson’s Proposed Plan to Remove Four Lower Snake River Dams

10.     Local Utility Responds to Lower Snake River Dams Proposal

11.     Snake River Dams: Simpson’s Salmon Plan

12.     Op/Ed: Despite Unknowns, Snake River Dam-Breaching Proposal Is Opening Honest Conversations

13.     Misleading Snake River Data Undermine Region-Wide Salmon Recovery Efforts

14.     Editorial: As Good as It Is, Simpson’s Snake River Dam Plan Isn’t Enough

15.     Environmental Groups Side with Tribes, Oppose Big Energy Storage Project on Columbia River

16.     California: Palm Springs Residents Will Now Get Some of Their Energy from Palm Springs Wind Farms

17.     Waste Incinerators Won Renewable Energy Subsidies Despite Violations

18.     The Greater Appeal of Energy-Efficient Appliances Is a Reduction in Energy Costs, Not in Emissions

19.     Space Heaters Pose Safety Concerns, May Cause High Electric Bills

20.     Three Small Changes That Can Make a Big Difference in Your Utility Bill

21.     Op/Ed: We Must Work Together to Save Treasured Lake Washington Sockeye

22.     Hackers Breach, Attempt to Poison Florida City’s Water Supply

23.     Water Wars Heat Up in California

24.     WA State: Republicans Speak Out in House Environment & Energy Committee Against Natural Gas Bill

25.     How the Fossil Fuel Industry Convinced Americans to Love Gas Stoves

26.     Alaska Tribes Apply for Broadband Licenses to Improve Internet Access

27.     WA State: Data Breach at Company That Sends Utility Bills for Monroe, Redmond

28.     Bitcoin Consumes ‘More Electricity Than Argentina’

29.     Carmakers in US to Spend $250 Billion on Electrification By 2023, Push for National Standard, Group Says

30.     Public Power News in an Exciting Virtual Package – Clatskanie PUD Introduces Public Power Underground Podcast

31.     ‘Mission Unstoppable’ on CBS Encouraging Girls in STEM

32.     Biden Names Pick for Deputy Energy Chief

33.     Winter Storm Warning Issued for Portland Area; Blizzard Conditions Expected in Columbia Gorge

34.     Light Snow Falling in Parts of Western Washington, South Sound to Get Several Inches – Chance for Major Snow Event This Weekend Increasing

WORD OF THE DAY

Docile \DOSS-ill\ Adjective - 1: easily taught 2: easily led or managed.

Ambrose wandered amongst his docile minions, pleased that for once he was in charge. The employees in the stenographers’ pool parted like the ocean before the prow of a giant ship as he passed by. “This is great,” he pondered. “Once I replaced those troublesome employees with Shropshire sheep, complaints dropped off at once.” “Of course,” he mused, “These smelly ruminants get nothing done all day, except to fertilize the carpet.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      California’s Aging Dams Face New Perils, 50 Years After Sylmar Quake Crisis (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2021-02-10/earthquakes-climate-change-threaten-california-dams

2.      Maine: Construction Starts on Disputed $1 Billion Electricity Corridor to Bring Hydropower from Canada to the NE U.S. (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/environment-maine-847342d3a112b97ae9c5c210205cfa38

3.      Canada Plans Hydropower Push as Biden Looks to Clean Up U.S. Grid (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-hydro/canada-plans-hydropower-push-as-biden-looks-to-clean-up-us-grid-idUSKBN2A92JB

4.      California Community Choice Aggregators Form Joint Powers Authority (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/california-community-choice-aggregators-form-joint-powers-authority

5.      Tennessee Valley Authority: Federal Utility Gives Raise to CEO That Trump Had Criticized – Made $7.3 Million in 2020 (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-02-11/federal-utility-gives-raise-to-ceo-that-trump-had-criticized

6.      Montana: Droppings from Thousands of Roosting Ravens Cause Power Outages near Roundup (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2021/02/08/montana-power-outages-caused-roosting-ravens-droppings-poop-northwestern-energy/4439649001/

SNAKE RIVER CONVERSATIONS – How about the (cough) Hells Canyon Complex (cough)?

7.      Inslee Praises Bold Thinking in $33 Billion Proposal to Breach Four Snake River Dams (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/northwest_regional_news/inslee-praises-bold-thinking-in-33-billion-proposal-to-breach-four-snake-river-dams/article_5932dde2-6bb0-11eb-ba08-9f1bd5ae7022.html

8.      McMorris Rodgers Calls Dams Breach ‘Fiscally Irresponsible;’ Supports Expanded Hydropower (Ripon Advance)

https://riponadvance.com/stories/mcmorris-rodgers-calls-dams-breach-fiscally-irresponsible-supports-expanded-hydropower/

9.      Idaho Farm Bureau Blasts Simpson’s Proposed Plan to Remove Four Lower Snake River Dams (KLEW-TV, Lewiston, ID)

https://klewtv.com/newsletter-daily/idaho-farm-bureau-blasts-simpsons-proposed-plan-on-removing-four-snake-river-dams

10.   Local Utility Responds to Lower Snake River Dams Proposal (KVEW/KAPP TV, Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/utilities-company-responds-to-lower-snake-river-dams-proposal/

11.   Snake River Dams: Simpson’s Salmon Plan (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-energy/2021/02/10/simpsons-salmon-plan-793276

12.   Op/Ed: Despite Unknowns, Snake River Dam-Breaching Proposal Is Opening Honest Conversations (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2021/02/opinion-despite-unknowns-dam-breaching-proposal-is-opening-honest-conversations.html

13.   Misleading Snake River Data Undermine Region-Wide Salmon Recovery Efforts (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/misleading-snake-river-data-undermine-region-wide-salmon-recovery-efforts

14.   Editorial: As Good as It Is, Simpson’s Snake River Dam Plan Isn’t Enough (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/opinion/editorial-as-good-as-it-is-simpson-s-plan-isn-t-enough/article_86d5a89e-6a8c-11eb-b5c7-3f7986a668ab.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   Environmental Groups Side with Tribes, Oppose Big Energy Storage Project on Columbia River (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/02/environmental-groups-side-with-tribes.html

16.   California: Palm Springs Residents Will Now Get Some of Their Energy from Palm Springs Wind Farms (Palm Springs Desert Sun, CA)

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2021/02/09/desert-community-energy-signs-agreement-palm-springs-wind-farms/4440695001/

17.   Waste Incinerators Won Renewable Energy Subsidies Despite Violations (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/09/new-jersey-incinerators-energy-subsidies-467877

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18.   The Greater Appeal of Energy-Efficient Appliances Is a Reduction in Energy Costs, Not in Emissions (Morning Consult)

https://morningconsult.com/2021/02/11/energy-efficiency-consumer-appliances/

19.   Space Heaters Pose Safety Concerns, May Cause High Electric Bills (The Ada Herald, OH)

https://timesbulletin.com/Content/Default/Homepage-Rotator/Article/Space-heaters-pose-safety-concerns-may-cause-high-electric-bills/-3/1168/226771

20.   Three Small Changes That Can Make a Big Difference in Your Utility Bill (WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC)

https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/3-ways-to-save-money-by-saving-energy-at-home/275-b184ffd4-b272-4c6a-8a86-1d9586fab115

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Op/Ed: We Must Work Together to Save Treasured Lake Washington Sockeye (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/we-must-work-together-to-save-treasured-lake-washington-sockeye/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Hackers Breach, Attempt to Poison Florida City’s Water Supply (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/537890-hackers-breach-attempt-to-poison-florida-citys-water-supply

23.   Water Wars Heat Up in California (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/water-wars-heat-up-in-california/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   WA State: Republicans Speak Out in House Environment & Energy Committee Against Natural Gas Bill (Battleground Reflector, WA)

http://www.thereflector.com/news/article_eef1fb6a-6be2-11eb-a6fe-cfdf4e9d8695.html

25.   How the Fossil Fuel Industry Convinced Americans to Love Gas Stoves (Mother Jones)

https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/02/how-the-fossil-fuel-industry-convinced-americans-to-love-gas-stoves/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

26.   Alaska Tribes Apply for Broadband Licenses to Improve Internet Access (KTOO Radio, Juneau, AK)

https://www.ktoo.org/2021/02/10/alaska-tribes-apply-for-broadband-licenses-to-improve-internet-access/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

27.   WA State: Data Breach at Company That Sends Utility Bills for Monroe, Redmond (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2560158/data-breach-utility-bills-monroe-redmond/

28.   Bitcoin Consumes ‘More Electricity Than Argentina’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56012952

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Carmakers in US to Spend $250 Billion on Electrification By 2023, Push for National Standard, Group Says (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/carmakers-in-us-to-spend-250b-on-electrification-by-2023-push-for-nationa/594833/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Public Power News in an Exciting Virtual Package – Clatskanie PUD Introduces Public Power Underground Podcast (Public Power Underground)

https://publicpowerunderground.substack.com/p/clatskanie-pud-power-department-podcast

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

31.   ‘Mission Unstoppable’ on CBS Encouraging Girls in STEM (CBS News)

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/02/11/mission-unstoppable-on-cbs-encouraging-girls-in-stem/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

32.   Biden Names Pick for Deputy Energy Chief (The Hill. Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/538200-biden-names-pick-for-deputy-energy-chief

SNOW. YES, SNOW

33.   Winter Storm Warning Issued for Portland Area; Blizzard Conditions Expected in Columbia Gorge (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2021/02/winter-storm-warning-issued-for-portland-area-blizzard-conditions-expected-in-columbia-river-gorge.html

34.   Light Snow Falling in Parts of Western Washington, South Sound to Get Several Inches – Chance for Major Snow Event This Weekend Increasing (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/snow-forecast-wide-range-possibilities/OOP3JE4SRNFHVLTH5FBMEVY5SQ/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Ancient Shell Horn Can Still Play a Tune after 18,000 Years

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/ancient-shell-horn-can-still-play-a-tune-after-18-000-years/article_77cee9fd-7e2d-5644-b3f8-fd55f58bb698.html

That Cat Zoom Filter Is Almost Impossible to Find. Here’s Why

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/10/tech/cat-lawyer-zoom-filter/index.html

The Staying Power of the Smiley Face

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/artsy-smiley-face-origin/index.html

Music to My Fears: Man Swallows Earbud While Sleeping

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Music-to-my-fears-Man-swallows-earbud-while-15930034.php

SONG OF THE DAY

James Taylor - Your Smiling Face

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSsfNlS42Cc

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.