Wednesday, March 24, 2021

The Energy News Digest for March 24, 2021

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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Damage from Virus: Utility Bills Overwhelm Some Households (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/overdue-energy-bills-pandemic-fb2f14c89027dc2440c617017c8c7d80

USPS Plans Biggest Rollback of Mail Services in a Generation (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/usps-plans-biggest-rollback-of-mail-services-in-a-generation/

Spring Outlook: Drought to Persist, Expand in U.S. West & High Plains (NOAA)

https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/spring-outlook-drought-to-persist-expand-in-us-west-and-high-plains

Oregon Department of Energy Says Illegally Dumped Radioactive Fracking Waste Can Stay in the Ground (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/03/24/oregon-landfill-radioactive-fracking/

Clallam County PUD Votes 2-1 to Support Snake River Dams (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/clallam-county-pud-votes-2-1-to-support.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Damage from Virus: Utility Bills Overwhelm Some Households

2.      Study of Utility Shutoffs During COVID-19 Finds Disproportionate Impact in Southeastern States

3.      Clallam County PUD Votes 2-1 to Support Snake River Dams

4.      Could Breaching 4 Hydro Dams to Save Salmon Jeopardize Our Electricity? What to Know

5.      Critics: Nuclear Not Needed in Snake River Replacement Plan

6.      Snake River Dam Beaching Proposal Could Come in Stages

7.      Fund the Dam Agreement

8.      Federal Judge Considers Ordering California Utility to Turn Power Off More Often

9.      California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant Is Poised to Shut Down. What Happens Next?

10.   WA State: Chelan PUD Outlines Potential New Approach to Energy Sales Contracts

11.   PNW Shows Spark – Public Power Utilities Honored with American Public Power Association Award for Reliable Electric Operations

12.   PNW Shines – American Public Power Association Recognizes 129 Utilities for Outstanding Safety Practices

13.   Along Those Lines: Hear from Women Making Inroads in Male-Dominated Job Roles

14.   Bonus Episode: Southwest Power Pool’s Market+ Concept

15.   States with the Most (and Least) Expensive Electricity

16.   Researchers Discuss U.S. Electric Power Grid Future

17.   FERC Open to Revisiting Minimum Offer Price Rule, as Grid Operators, Utilities Mull Future of Wholesale Markets

18.   Suez Canal Blockage May Ripple Through Global Energy Market

19.   WA State: Klickitat County Commissioners Enact Solar Moratorium

20.   WA State: The Goldendale Pumped Storage Hydro Project Would Provide Much-Needed Energy Storage for the 21st Century Grid

21.   What Are The 5 Largest Wind Energy Farms in the World?

22.   Trees Store Carbon, But a Wind Farm Produces Power. Which Is Greener?

23.   EIA’s 2021 Annual Energy Outlook Shows Growing Use of Batteries on the U.S. Electricity Grid

24.   WA State Senate Hears Dye’s Bill on Urban Heat Islands

25.   Tonnes of Dumped Herring Off Vancouver Island a Fish ‘Murder Mystery,’ Says Expert

26.   Op/Ed: The Orca Task Force

27.   U.S. Report: Bald Eagle Populations Soar in Lower 48 States

28.   Oregon Department of Energy Says Illegally Dumped Radioactive Fracking Waste Can Stay in the Ground

29.   Pipe Dream: Feds Sued Over Desert Water Pipeline OK’d by Trump

30.   Bipartisan Federal Lawmakers Introduce $35 Billion Water Infrastructure Bill

31.   100% Clean Energy Supporters Debate How to Get Oregon to Goal

32.   Major Investors Find Electric Utilities Are Not on Track to Meet Decarbonization Goals

33.   Potatoes & Fiber Aplenty in Grant County, Washington

34.   State Lawmakers Introduce ‘Broadband for All Act’ To Help Close Digital Divide in California

35.   The FCC Wants to Know How Bad Your Broadband Is

36.   Five Tech Commandments to a Safer Digital Life

37.   Mullen Technologies Future in Spokane Uncertain as Company Plans Electric Vehicle Plant in Memphis

38.   Spring Outlook: Drought to Persist, Expand in U.S. West & High Plains

39.   U,S. Weather Model Upgraded to Better Forecast Extreme Events

40.   USPS Plans Biggest Rollback of Mail Services in a Generation

41.   Lumber Shortage Hitting New Home, Renovation Projects

42.   Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley Faces Prison Over Tax Fraud

43.   Study: Washington Is One of the Top-Ranked States to Find a Remote Job

WORD OF THE DAY

Exigent \ECK-suh-jent\ Adjective – 1: requiring immediate aid or action 2: requiring or calling for much

“Jobs are on the line,” bellowed the attendee at the public meeting. “The inability to get enough energy supply has created exigent circumstances. We need that power to melt our plastics for the production of professional-grade tiddlywinks products for the upcoming pro-am season!” The Wham-O Toy delegation, sitting on a tiddlywink chip surplus, was inscrutable.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Damage from Virus: Utility Bills Overwhelm Some Households (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/overdue-energy-bills-pandemic-fb2f14c89027dc2440c617017c8c7d80

2.      Study of Utility Shutoffs During COVID-19 Finds Disproportionate Impact in Southeastern States (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/study-of-utility-shutoffs-during-covid-19-finds-disproportionate-impact-in/596984/

3.      Clallam County PUD Votes 2-1 to Support Snake River Dams (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/clallam-county-pud-votes-2-1-to-support.html

4.      Could Breaching 4 Hydro Dams to Save Salmon Jeopardize Our Electricity? What to Know (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article249965224.html

5.      Critics: Nuclear Not Needed in Snake River Replacement Plan (Public News Service, ID)

https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2021-03-24/nuclear-waste/critics-nuclear-not-needed-in-snake-river-replacement-plan/a73642-1

6.      Snake River Dam Beaching Proposal Could Come in Stages (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, ID)

https://dnews.com/local/breaching-proposal-could-come-in-stages/article_f40a1f61-52f1-51a4-8ed0-c4ef53ff758e.html

7.      Fund the Dam Agreement (Politico)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/fund-dam-agreement-politico.html

8.      Federal Judge Considers Ordering California Utility to Turn Power Off More Often (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/544580-federal-judge-considers-ordering-california-utility-to-turn-power-off?rl=1

9.      California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant Is Poised to Shut Down. What Happens Next? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/californias-last-nuclear-plant-is-poised-to-shut-down-what-happens-next/596970/

10.   WA State: Chelan PUD Outlines Potential New Approach to Energy Sales Contracts (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/chelan-pud-outlines-potential-new-approach-energy-sales-contracts

11.   PNW Shows Spark – Public Power Utilities Honored with American Public Power Association Award for Reliable Electric Operations (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/public-power-utilities-honored-with-appa-award-reliable-electric-operations

12.   PNW Shines – American Public Power Association Recognizes 129 Utilities for Outstanding Safety Practices (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-recognizes-129-utilities-outstanding-safety-practices

13.   Along Those Lines: Hear from Women Making Inroads in Male-Dominated Job Roles (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-hear-from-women-making-inroads-in-male-dominated-job-roles

14.   Bonus Episode: Southwest Power Pool’s Market+ Concept (Public Power Underground)

https://publicpowerunderground.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-spps-market-concept

15.   States with the Most (and Least) Expensive Electricity (KMVU-TV, Medford, WA)

https://www.fox26medford.com/states-with-the-most-and-least-expensive-electricity/

16.   Researchers Discuss U.S. Electric Power Grid Future (Washington State University Insider)

https://news.wsu.edu/2021/03/22/researchers-discuss-u-s-electric-power-grid-future-2/

17.   FERC Open to Revisiting Minimum Offer Price Rule, as Grid Operators, Utilities Mull Future of Wholesale Markets (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-open-to-revisiting-mopr-as-grid-operators-utilities-mull-future-of-w/597233/

18.   Suez Canal Blockage May Ripple Through Global Energy Market (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-24/suez-canal-blockage-set-to-ripple-through-global-energy-market

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

19.   WA State: Klickitat County Commissioners Enact Solar Moratorium (Blue Mountain Eagle, John Day, OR)

https://www.bluemountaineagle.com/news/state/klickitat-county-commissioners-enact-solar-moratorium/article_a16dbef2-3c52-500d-864c-4867f28a617f.html

20.   WA State: The Goldendale Pumped Storage Hydro Project Would Provide Much-Needed Energy Storage for the 21st Century Grid (Morning Consult)

https://morningconsult.com/opinions/goldendale-project-would-provide-much-needed-energy-storage/

21.   What Are The 5 Largest Wind Energy Farms in the World? (GineersNow)

https://gineersnow.com/industries/renewables/5-largest-wind-energy-farms-world

22.   Trees Store Carbon, But a Wind Farm Produces Power. Which Is Greener? (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2021/0323/Trees-store-carbon-but-a-wind-farm-produces-power.-Which-is-greener?icid=rss

23.   EIA’s 2021 Annual Energy Outlook Shows Growing Use of Batteries on the U.S. Electricity Grid (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=47276

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

24.   WA State Senate Hears Dye’s Bill on Urban Heat Islands (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/mar/24/senate-hears-dye-sponsored-bill-urban-heat-islands/

FISH & WILDLIFE

25.   Tonnes of Dumped Herring Off Vancouver Island a Fish ‘Murder Mystery,’ Says Expert (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tonnes-of-dumped-herring-a-fish-murder-mystery-says-expert-1.5960762?cmp=rss

26.   Op/Ed: The Orca Task Force (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/opinion/pat-neal-the-orca-task-force/

27.   U.S. Report: Bald Eagle Populations Soar in Lower 48 States (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/US-report-Bald-eagle-populations-soar-in-lower-16050096.php

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

28.   Oregon Department of Energy Says Illegally Dumped Radioactive Fracking Waste Can Stay in the Ground (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/03/24/oregon-landfill-radioactive-fracking/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

29.   Pipe Dream: Feds Sued Over Desert Water Pipeline OK’d by Trump (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/pipe-dream-feds-sued-over-desert-water-pipeline-okd-by-trump/

30.   Bipartisan Federal Lawmakers Introduce $35 Billion Water Infrastructure Bill (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/544587-bipartisan-lawmakers-introduce-35-billion-water-infrastructure-bill?rl=1

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

31.   100% Clean Energy Supporters Debate How to Get Oregon to Goal (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/100-clean-energy-supporters-debate-how.html

32.   Major Investors Find Electric Utilities Are Not on Track to Meet Decarbonization Goals (Energy & Policy Institute)

https://www.energyandpolicy.org/investors-utility-decarbonization/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

33.   Potatoes & Fiber Aplenty in Grant County, Washington (Community Networks)

https://muninetworks.org/content/potatoes-and-fiber-aplenty-grant-county-washington

34.   State Lawmakers Introduce ‘Broadband for All Act’ To Help Close Digital Divide in California (KTVU-TV, Oakland, CA)

https://www.ktvu.com/news/state-lawmakers-introduce-broadband-for-all-act-to-help-close-digital-divide-in-california

35.   The FCC Wants to Know How Bad Your Broadband Is (Light Reading)

https://www.lightreading.com/opticalip/fttx/the-fcc-wants-to-know-how-bad-your-broadband-is/a/d-id/768282

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

36.   Five Tech Commandments to a Safer Digital Life (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/technology/personaltech/online-data-privacy.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

37.   Mullen Technologies Future in Spokane Uncertain as Company Plans Electric Vehicle Plant in Memphis (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/mullen-technologies-future-in-spokane.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

38.   Spring Outlook: Drought to Persist, Expand in U.S. West & High Plains (NOAA)

https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/spring-outlook-drought-to-persist-expand-in-us-west-and-high-plains

39.   U,S. Weather Model Upgraded to Better Forecast Extreme Events (Phys.Org)

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-weather-extreme-events.html

GOVERNANCE, ECONOMY, & MANAGEMENT

40.   USPS Plans Biggest Rollback of Mail Services in a Generation (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/usps-plans-biggest-rollback-of-mail-services-in-a-generation/

41.   Lumber Shortage Hitting New Home, Renovation Projects (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/lumber-shortage-hitting-new-home-renovation-projects/5VGVS7INIFBHJNDKZ7F6BGGZPY/

42.   Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley Faces Prison Over Tax Fraud (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/former-washington-state-auditor-troy-kelley-faces-prison-over-tax-fraud

43.   Study: Washington Is One of the Top-Ranked States to Find a Remote Job (Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle, WA)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/study-washington-is-one-of-top-ranked.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Popcorn Machine Nixed at North Dakota Capitol After Smoke Alarms

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/popcorn-machine-nixed-at-north-dakota-capitol-after-alarms/article_bf5c6bfb-9f92-5a5c-b64e-92229d3bd446.html

Part of Wright Brothers’ First Airplane on NASA’s Mars Chopper

https://news.yahoo.com/part-wright-brothers-1st-airplane-123300934.html

Scientists Cook Hot Dogs in Lava from Iceland’s Erupting Volcano

https://gizmodo.com/scientists-cook-hot-dogs-in-lava-from-icelands-erupting-1846541739

Tree Frog Named as 2021 Cadbury Bunny

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/03/23/2021-Cadbury-Bunny-Betty-frog/3841616527898/

SONG OF THE DAY

Hot Butter – Popcorn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EnXLQuAJj4

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.