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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson Releases Plan Calling for Breaching
Snake River Dams after 2030 (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/feb/07/rep-mike-simpson-of-idaho-releases-plan-calling-fo/
There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too – Unpaid
utility bills have been piling up since the coronavirus crisis began (Bloomberg
News)
Why Cheap Wind Power Is Making Quebec’s Big, Old Dams More Valuable
as a ‘Battery,’ Say Experts (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/apuiat-dam-wind-power-1.5903334
Colorado River Outlook Darkens Dramatically in New Study
(Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)
Convergence Zone Snow Tonight & Major Lowland Snow Event
Possible Later This Week (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/02/convergence-zone-snow-tonight-and-major.html
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson Releases Plan Calling
for Breaching Snake River Dams after 2030
2.
GOP Congressman Pitches $34 Billion Plan to
Breach Lower Snake River Dams in New Vision for Pacific Northwest
3.
This GOP Congressman Wants to Remove Four Dams
to Save Idaho’s Salmon. It’ll Cost Billions.
4.
‘Risky Proposition.’ Can $33 Billion Make Up for
Loss of Snake River Dams? Tri-Cities Groups Leery
5.
Advocacy Group Advises Further Examination of
Critical Issues Impacting Pacific NW Communities
6.
There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too
– Unpaid utility bills have been piling up since the coronavirus crisis began
7.
American Utilities Are Getting Pummeled by
Unpaid Bills
8.
WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Boost Fund to
Help Cover the Bills for People in Need
9.
California Utilities to Spend Billions to Cut
Wildfire Risk
10.
Coal-Fired Power Took a Beating During the
Pandemic, Study Finds
11.
Rescuers in India Digging for 37 Trapped in
Glacier Flood – Dam Burst
12.
Why Cheap Wind Power Is Making Quebec’s Big, Old
Dams More Valuable as a ‘Battery,’ Say Experts
13.
EIA Projects Renewables Share of U.S.
Electricity Generation Mix Will Double by 2050
14.
Wind Developers Are Retrofitting Newer Projects
with Bigger, Better Blades
15.
WA State: Snohomish PUD Can Help Homeowners
Harness the Power of the Sun
16.
Rooftop Solar Power Is on the Rise, But Canada
Has Yet to Embrace Its Sunny Ways
17.
Energy Adviser: Upgrades Can Help You Save
18.
Arizona: Salt River Project Offering Customers
Shade Trees to Save Energy, Conserve Water
19.
Bird Lovers Helping to Learn Why Haystack Rock
Puffin Numbers Are Falling
20.
Oregon: Salmon in the Smoke – Recent Forest
Fires Emphasize the Danger the McKenzie River’s Wild Chinook Salmon Are In
21.
Invasive Asian Carp Is Getting a New Name &
a Public Makeover to Draw More Eaters
22.
Colorado River Outlook Darkens Dramatically in
New Study
23.
Bitcoin’s Wild Ride Renews Worries About Its
Massive Carbon Footprint
24.
Small Internet Service Providers Say SpaceX’s
Starlink Shouldn’t Get Federal Funds to Expand Internet Access
25.
NTIA Provides More Details on $1 Billion Tribal
Broadband Program
26.
WA State: ‘A Basic Requirement for Modern Life’:
Hansen Bill Seeks to Bolster Broadband Rollout
27.
Montana Democrats Tout Bills to Expand Rural
Broadband
28.
Idaho Governor Brad Little Visits Orofino to
Check in on Broadband Expansion
29.
Alaska Communications Extends Broadband
Connectivity to Rural Alaska
30.
Ford Boosts Investment Plan for Electric
Vehicles & Self Driving Vehicles, Reports Loss
31.
2021: When Electric Trucks Trickle In
32.
Convergence Zone Snow Tonight & Major
Lowland Snow Event Possible Later This Week
33. APPA, Other Groups Call for a $10 Billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for LIHEAP
WORD OF THE DAY
Haughty /HOT-tee/ Adjective - Blatantly and disdainfully proud
The thin-lipped Duke strode across the crushed velvet carpet, his haughty demeanor in harsh contrast to the long strand of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson Releases Plan Calling for
Breaching Snake River Dams after 2030 (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/feb/07/rep-mike-simpson-of-idaho-releases-plan-calling-fo/
2.
GOP Congressman Pitches $34 Billion Plan to Breach
Lower Snake River Dams in New Vision for Pacific Northwest (Seattle Times, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
3.
This GOP Congressman Wants to Remove Four Dams to
Save Idaho’s Salmon. It’ll Cost Billions. (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article248988810.html
4.
‘Risky Proposition.’ Can $33 Billion Make Up for
Loss of Snake River Dams? Tri-Cities Groups Leery (Tri-City Herald, WA)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article248998910.html
5.
Advocacy Group Advises Further Examination of
Critical Issues Impacting Pacific NW Communities (Northwest River Partners)
https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/02/advocacy-group-advises-further.html
6.
There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too –
Unpaid utility bills have been piling up since the coronavirus crisis began (Bloomberg
News)
7.
American Utilities Are Getting Pummeled by
Unpaid Bills (Oil Price)
8.
WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Boost Fund to
Help Cover the Bills for People in Need (Cashmere Valley Record, WA)
https://www.cashmerevalleyrecord.com/news/pud-commissioners-boost-fund-help-cover-bills-people-need
9.
California Utilities to Spend Billions to Cut
Wildfire Risk (Associated Press)
10.
Coal-Fired Power Took a Beating During the
Pandemic, Study Finds (NY Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/08/climate/coal-climate-change.html
11.
Rescuers in India Digging for 37 Trapped in Glacier
Flood – Dam Burst (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/india-glacier-collapse-updates-782497632330d11acdb3b53c277283e8
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
12.
Why Cheap Wind Power Is Making Quebec’s Big, Old
Dams More Valuable as a ‘Battery,’ Say Experts (Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/apuiat-dam-wind-power-1.5903334
13.
EIA Projects Renewables Share of U.S.
Electricity Generation Mix Will Double by 2050 (U.S. Energy Information
Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46676
14.
Wind Developers Are Retrofitting Newer Projects with
Bigger, Better Blades (Energy News Network)
15.
WA State: Snohomish PUD Can Help Homeowners
Harness the Power of the Sun (Everett Herald, WA)
https://www.heraldnet.com/life/the-pud-can-help-homeowners-harness-the-power-of-the-sun/
16.
Rooftop Solar Power Is on the Rise, But Canada Has
Yet to Embrace Its Sunny Ways (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-rooftop-solar-power-canada-1.5901134?cmp=rss
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
17.
Energy Adviser: Upgrades Can Help You Save (Vancouver
Columbian, WA)
https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/feb/06/energy-adviser-upgrades-can-help-you-save/
18.
Arizona: Salt River Project Offering Customers
Shade Trees to Save Energy, Conserve Water (KTAR TV, Phoenix, AZ)
https://ktar.com/story/3985239/srp-offering-customers-shade-trees-to-save-energy-conserve-water/
FISH & WILDLIFE
19.
Bird Lovers Helping to Learn Why Haystack Rock Puffin
Numbers Are Falling (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
20.
Oregon: Salmon in the Smoke – Recent Forest
Fires Emphasize the Danger the McKenzie River’s Wild Chinook Salmon Are In
(Eugene Weekly, OR)
https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2021/02/04/salmon-in-the-smoke/
21.
Invasive Asian Carp Is Getting a New Name & a
Public Makeover to Draw More Eaters (Yahoo News)
https://news.yahoo.com/invasive-asian-carp-getting-name-111506073.html
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
22.
Colorado River Outlook Darkens Dramatically in New
Study (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
23.
Bitcoin’s Wild Ride Renews Worries About Its
Massive Carbon Footprint (CNBC)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
24.
Small Internet Service Providers Say SpaceX’s
Starlink Shouldn’t Get Federal Funds to Expand Internet Access (Markets
Insider)
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/starlink-spacex-fcc-rural-america-2021-2-1030046137
25.
NTIA Provides More Details on $1 Billion Tribal
Broadband Program (Telecompetitor)
https://www.telecompetitor.com/ntia-provides-more-details-on-1-billion-tribal-broadband-program/
26.
WA State: ‘A Basic Requirement for Modern Life’:
Hansen Bill Seeks to Bolster Broadband Rollout (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
27.
Montana Democrats Tout Bills to Expand Rural
Broadband (Helena Independent-Record, MT)
28.
Idaho Governor Brad Little Visits Orofino to Check
in on Broadband Expansion (KLEW-TV, Lewiston, ID)
29.
Alaska Communications Extends Broadband
Connectivity to Rural Alaska (Capacity Media)
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
30.
Ford Boosts Investment Plan for Electric
Vehicles & Self Driving Vehicles, Reports Loss (Reuters)
31.
2021: When Electric Trucks Trickle In (Utility
Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electric-class-8-trucks-battery-hydrogen/594526/
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
32.
Convergence Zone Snow Tonight & Major
Lowland Snow Event Possible Later This Week (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/02/convergence-zone-snow-tonight-and-major.html
GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
33.
APPA, Other Groups Call for a $10 Billion
Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for LIHEAP (American Public Power
Association)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Big Crowd Turns Out for Annual Eaton Family Cattle Drive
$22,000 Flute Lost on Chicago Train Turns Up in Pawn Shop
Wallet Lost in Antarctica in ‘60s Returned to California Man
https://apnews.com/article/antarctica-california-san-diego-ba251d7bdfc451509e7339006ed69b1a
Shelter Offers to Have Cats Poop on the Names of Donors’
Exes
SONG OF THE DAY
Jethro Tull – Bourée
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6ZJGaT30wk
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