The Energy News Digest for April 28, 2021

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

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Salmon Have Shrunk So Much That Whole Foods Redid Its Guidelines (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-27/salmon-have-shrunk-so-much-that-whole-foods-redid-its-guidelines

Japan Utility Gets OK to Restart Three Old Nuclear Reactors (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Japan-utility-gets-OK-to-restart-3-old-nuclear-16135140.php

Federal Pumped Storage Hydropower Bill Could Add 500 Megawatts, 1,000 Jobs (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/pumped-storage-hydropower-bill-could-add-500-megawatts-1000-jobs/

Scientist: Extent of DDT Dumping in Pacific Is ‘Staggering’ (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/scientists-25000-barrels-ddt-dump-site-pacific-77328586

California’s ‘White Gold’ Rush: Lithium in Demand Amid Surge in Electric Vehicles (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/28/990867075/californias-white-gold-rush-lithium-in-demand-amid-surge-in-electric-vehicles

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Japan Utility Gets OK to Restart Three Old Nuclear Reactors

2.      Montana: Two Nuclear Power Bills Clear Legislative Hurdles

3.      Biden Administration Offers $8.25 Billion in Loans for Power Grid

4.      WA State: GM Steve Wright Leaving Chelan PUD at End of Year

5.      Report: Public Power in San Diego Would Cost Taxpayers $8.9 Billion and Entail Major Risks

6.      Maine Legislators Announce Plan to Convert State’s Investor-Owned Utilities to Consumer Ownership

7.      Arizona: Miss a Payment? New Rules Could Keep Your Power On, Especially When It’s Hot

8.      This 29-Year-Old Dangles from Helicopters to Supply Electricity to Cities Across America

9.      FERC Chair Glick Might Be Right on Transmission Incentives, But His Timing Is Not

10.   Opinion: Simpson’s Salmon Proposal Allows Idahoans Control Their Own Destinies

11.   Federal Pumped Storage Hydropower Bill Could Add 500 Megawatts, 1,000 Jobs

12.   A Major New Facility in Oregon Could Help Transform the Prospects of Wave Energy

13.   New Federal Program to Help Remote Alaska Communities with Renewable Energy Infrastructure

14.   WA State Gov. Inslee Visits Snohomish PUD’s Microgrid Project

15.   Wyoming’s Window to Capitalize on Wind Energy Is Closing, Experts Warn

16.   How Green Is Wind Power, Really? A New Report Tallies Up the Carbon Cost of Renewables

17.   Musk Touts Tesla’s Move to Only Sell Home Solar & Storage Together, Admits Mistakes with Solar Roof

18.   The Exxon of Green Power: A Spanish Company & Its Boss Set Sky-High Goals

19.   EIA Expects Commercial Energy Use to Grow More Slowly Than Floorspace

20.   Salmon Have Shrunk So Much That Whole Foods Redid Its Guidelines

21.   Bill to Kill Up to 90% of Idaho Wolves Heads to Governor

22.   New Research Shows Continued Habitat Loss Will Drive Caribou to Extinction in British Columbia

23.   Scientist: Extent of DDT Dumping in Pacific Is ‘Staggering’

24.   Water Level Raised in Lower Snake River, Fish Advocates Cry Foul

25.   Column: Water Created California and the West. Will Drought Finish Them Off?

26.   After A Decade of Failures, Washington State Passes a Cap on Carbon Emissions

27.   Rural Washington Lawmakers Fear Cap & Trade Will Create Additional Challenges for Ag Businesses

28.   Forecasting California’s Fire Season: What We Know & Don’t Know

29.   White House Backs 2030 Milestone on Path to Net Zero Grid

30.   Clallam County, Port of Port Angeles to Form Broadband Authority

31.   Broadband Proposal to Help Fund, Activate Connectivity in Rural Montana

32.   California: Supervisors Award $500,000 in Last-Mile Broadband Grants

33.   Microsoft Profits Soar as Cloud Demand Continues in Pandemic

34.   Washington Is Seventh Most ‘Catfished’ State, Losing $14 Million to Romance Scammers Last Year

35.   Washington Girls Learn Cyber Safety from PNW Company as Risks Increase

36.   California’s ‘White Gold’ Rush: Lithium in Demand Amid Surge in Electric Vehicles

37.   News Release: Utility Pole-Mounted Electric Vehicle Chargers are Revving Up Clean Energy Initiatives

38.   Microsoft Wants Your Help Picking the Next Default Font in Office

39.   Coronavirus: Outdoor Mask Guidance Echoes What Many Americans Already Do

40.   Census Results Show Above-Average Population Growth in Northwest as Oregon, Montana Gain Congressional Seats

41.   Key Republican Energy Regulator Looks to Stay Past End of Term

42.   Why Dead Trees Are ‘the Hottest Commodity on the Planet’

WORD OF THE DAY

Bogart /BOE-gart/ Verb – 1: to cause (someone) to do something by means of force or coercion: bully 2: to use the entirety of or consume without sharing.

“Stop bogarting those letters of transit,” growled Rick Blaine to the weasily Ugarte.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Japan Utility Gets OK to Restart Three Old Nuclear Reactors (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Japan-utility-gets-OK-to-restart-3-old-nuclear-16135140.php

2.      Montana: Two Nuclear Power Bills Clear Legislative Hurdles (Helena Independent-Republic, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/2-nuclear-power-bills-clear-legislative-hurdles/article_02d0568b-582e-5451-8bc2-a442cb6b9ea7.html

3.      Biden Administration Offers $8.25 Billion in Loans for Power Grid (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-energy-grid-loans-idUSKBN2CE2KG

4.      WA State: GM Steve Wright Leaving Chelan PUD at End of Year (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/gm-steve-wright-leaving-chelan-pud-at-end-of-year/

5.      Report: Public Power in San Diego Would Cost Taxpayers $8.9 Billion and Entail Major Risks (Times of San Diego, CA)

https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2021/04/27/report-public-power-in-san-diego-would-cost-taxpayers-8-9-billion-and-entail-major-risks/

6.      Maine Legislators Announce Plan to Convert State’s Investor-Owned Utilities to Consumer Ownership (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/maine-legislators-announce-plan-convert-states-ious-consumer-ownership

7.      Arizona: Miss a Payment? New Rules Could Keep Your Power On, Especially When It’s Hot (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2021/04/28/corporation-commission-should-make-power-disconnection-rules-permanent/7357332002/

8.      This 29-Year-Old Dangles from Helicopters to Supply Electricity to Cities Across America (Yahoo Finance)

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/29-old-dangles-helicopters-supply-154108055.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – EDITORIALS & “ESSAYS”

9.      FERC Chair Glick Might Be Right on Transmission Incentives, But His Timing Is Not (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-chair-glick-might-be-right-on-transmission-incentives-but-his-timing/599167/

10.   Opinion: Simpson’s Salmon Proposal Allows Idahoans Control Their Own Destinies (Idaho Falls Post Register, ID)

https://www.postregister.com/opinion/guest_column/opinion-simpsons-salmon-proposal-allows-idahoans-control-their-own-destinies/article_43e0081e-779f-5716-8d38-0f0c7364dc02.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   Federal Pumped Storage Hydropower Bill Could Add 500 Megawatts, 1,000 Jobs (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/pumped-storage-hydropower-bill-could-add-500-megawatts-1000-jobs/

12.   A Major New Facility in Oregon Could Help Transform the Prospects of Wave Energy (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/28/major-project-in-oregon-could-help-transform-prospects-of-wave-energy.html

13.   New Federal Program to Help Remote Alaska Communities with Renewable Energy Infrastructure (KCAW Radio, Sitka, AK)

https://www.kcaw.org/2021/04/26/new-federal-program-to-help-remote-alaska-communities-with-renewable-energy-infrastructure/

14.   WA State Gov. Inslee Visits Snohomish PUD’s Microgrid Project (North County Outlook, Marysville, WA)

https://www.northcountyoutlook.com/news/gov-inslee-visits-microgrid-project/article_c5f7d326-a777-11eb-bdb4-a323121240ea.html

15.   Wyoming’s Window to Capitalize on Wind Energy Is Closing, Experts Warn (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/wyomings-window-to-capitalize-on-wind-energy-is-closing-experts-warn/article_5bc6a971-5ff5-5408-895d-2883a5c86c28.html

16.   How Green Is Wind Power, Really? A New Report Tallies Up the Carbon Cost of Renewables (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2021/04/28/how-green-is-wind-power-really-a-new-report-tallies-up-the-carbon-cost-of-renewables/?sh=5c89a77473cd

17.   Musk Touts Tesla’s Move to Only Sell Home Solar & Storage Together, Admits Mistakes with Solar Roof (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/musk-touts-teslas-move-to-only-sell-home-solar-and-storage-together-admit/599084/

18.   The Exxon of Green Power: A Spanish Company & Its Boss Set Sky-High Goals

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/business/wind-power-industry-iberdrola.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   EIA Expects Commercial Energy Use to Grow More Slowly Than Floorspace (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=47736

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Salmon Have Shrunk So Much That Whole Foods Redid Its Guidelines (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-27/salmon-have-shrunk-so-much-that-whole-foods-redid-its-guidelines

21.   Bill to Kill Up to 90% of Idaho Wolves Heads to Governor (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/bills-idaho-wolves-environment-and-nature-lifestyle-7e18d06ccff0705ca4282e2b097040a9

22.   New Research Shows Continued Habitat Loss Will Drive Caribou to Extinction in British Columbia (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/caribou-population-at-risk-1.6004413?cmp=rss

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

23.   Scientist: Extent of DDT Dumping in Pacific Is ‘Staggering’ (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/scientists-25000-barrels-ddt-dump-site-pacific-77328586

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   Water Level Raised in Lower Snake River, Fish Advocates Cry Foul (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/water-level-raised-in-lower-snake-river.html

25.   Column: Water Created California and the West. Will Drought Finish Them Off? (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/column-water-created-california-and.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   After A Decade of Failures, Washington State Passes a Cap on Carbon Emissions (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/economics/after-a-decade-of-failures-washington-state-passes-a-cap-on-carbon-emissions/

27.   Rural Washington Lawmakers Fear Cap & Trade Will Create Additional Challenges for Ag Businesses (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

https://www.pnwag.net/2021/04/26/rural-washington-lawmakers-fear-cap-trade-will-create-additional-challenges-for-ag-businesses/

28.   Forecasting California’s Fire Season: What We Know & Don’t Know (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-27/forecasting-californias-fire-season-what-we-know-and-dont-know

29.   White House Backs 2030 Milestone on Path to Net Zero Grid (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/exclusive-white-house-pushing-80-clean-us-power-grid-by-2030-2021-04-26/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

30.   Clallam County, Port of Port Angeles to Form Broadband Authority (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/clallam-county-port-of-port-angeles-to-form-broadband-authority/

31.   Broadband Proposal to Help Fund, Activate Connectivity in Rural Montana (Fairfield Sun Times, MT)

https://www.fairfieldsuntimes.com/news/state/broadband-proposal-to-help-fund-activate-connectivity-in-rural-montana/article_95211a8a-a7d8-11eb-9a9c-bf07ae23dffe.html

32.   California: Supervisors Award $500,000 in Last-Mile Broadband Grants (YubaNet)

https://yubanet.com/regional/supervisors-award-500000-in-last-mile-broadband-grants/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

33.   Microsoft Profits Soar as Cloud Demand Continues in Pandemic (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/health-technology-business-coronavirus-d2af74bc8c77250ec9525793bf31e169

34.   Washington Is Seventh Most ‘Catfished’ State, Losing $14 Million to Romance Scammers Last Year (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-is-7th-most-catfished-state-losing-a-record-14m-to-romance-scammers-last-year/

35.   Washington Girls Learn Cyber Safety from PNW Company as Risks Increase (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/education/washington-girls-learn-cyber-safety-from-pnw-company-as-risks-increase/283-e9879ffa-ce85-479e-ab3d-0d41b652124c

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

36.   California’s ‘White Gold’ Rush: Lithium in Demand Amid Surge in Electric Vehicles (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/28/990867075/californias-white-gold-rush-lithium-in-demand-amid-surge-in-electric-vehicles

37.   News Release: Utility Pole-Mounted Electric Vehicle Chargers are Revving Up Clean Energy Initiatives (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/press-release/20210427-utility-pole-mounted-electric-vehicle-chargers-are-revving-up-clean-energy/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

38.   Microsoft Wants Your Help Picking the Next Default Font in Office (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/microsoft-wants-your-help-picking-the-next-default-font-1846779392

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

39.   Coronavirus: Outdoor Mask Guidance Echoes What Many Americans Already Do (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-government-and-politics-health-science-religion-d68e628a3af72e2d73adb67fbaa5b396

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

40.   Census Results Show Above-Average Population Growth in Northwest as Oregon, Montana Gain Congressional Seats (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/apr/26/census-results-show-above-average-population-growt/

41.   Key Republican Energy Regulator Looks to Stay Past End of Term (Bloomberg News)

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/key-republican-energy-regulator-looks-to-stay-past-end-of-term

42.   Why Dead Trees Are ‘the Hottest Commodity on the Planet’ (Atlantic Magazine)

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/04/climate-origins-massive-lumber-shortage/618727/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter Photographed a Friend on Its Third Mars Flight

https://gizmodo.com/nasa-s-ingenuity-helicopter-photographed-a-friend-on-it-1846779388

Virginia Girls Scouts Making Cookie Deliveries Via Drone

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/28/Girl-Scouts-Virginia-Skyline-Council-Wing-drone-cookie-deliveries/3561619632607/

Forgotten Lottery Ticket Found in Purse Earns Maryland Woman $250,000

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/27/lotto-Maryland-Lottery-forgotten-scratch-off-purse-Westminster-Maryland/4311619554304/

Raccoon Rescued from Atop Massachusetts Turnpike Light Pole

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/27/raccoon-Massachusetts-Turnpike-light-pole-Newton-Fire-Department/9251619547590/

SONG OF THE DAY

Brooklyn Duo at Carnegie Hall – Take On Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHbLuIxw3y4

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.

The Energy News Digest for April 26, 2021

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

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Spring Spill Begins Facilitating Fish Passage at Snake & Columbia River Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/2581103/spring-spill-begins-facilitating-fish-passage-at-snake-and-columbia-river-dams/

Montana Senators Hijack Bill, Revive Colstrip Power Plant Legislation (Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, MT)

https://ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/senators-hijack-bill-revive-colstrip-legislation/article_9665d78c-bf61-5d36-9198-f788ad6f0bb3.html

Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Holds Meetings for Proposed Wind Project (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2021-04-23/magic-valley-energy-holds-meetings-for-proposed-wind-project

Oregon Governor Brown Calls on Legislature to Support Statewide ‘Broadband Expansion’ (KTVL-TV, Medford, OR)

https://ktvl.com/news/local/governor-brown-calls-on-legislature-to-support-statewide-broadband-expansion

As Washington Legislature Wraps Up, Lawmakers Pass a New Budget, Capital Gains Tax & Clean-Fuels Standard (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/as-washington-legislature-wraps-up-lawmakers-pass-a-capital-gains-tax-and-clean-fuels-standard/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Montana Senators Hijack Bill, Revive Colstrip Power Plant Legislation

2.      WA State: Tacoma Bans Use of Fossil Fuels in New City Buildings. Are Commercial, Residential Next?

3.      Canada: Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets Boost Enthusiasm for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

4.      Snake River Is Most Endangered in the Country: Inside the Fight to Save It

5.      WA State: Tepid Approval of Dam Removals – Snake River Project Divides Electeds

6.      Hawaii Is Most Expensive State in America for Energy Bills

7.      Your Job Saved Money on Electric Bills During the Pandemic. You Didn’t.

8.      Washington Politicians Are Failing Salmon, Forests, & the Climate. Market Innovation Is Saving Them.

9.      Op/Ed: Hydropower Crucial to a Future for Electric Vehicles

10.   Op/Ed: It’s Time to Remove Restrictions on Electric Vehicle Sales in Washington State

11.   Op/Ed: Bryan Smith Perpetuates Myths About Lower Snake River Dams

12.   Editorial: The Part of the Broadband Debate We’re Missing

13.   Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Holds Meetings for Proposed Wind Project

14.   Idaho Falls Power Conducts Microgrid Test

15.   Using Hydrogen to Back Up the Grid

16.   In-River Hydro Project in Alaska Chosen for Federal Assistance Aimed to Get Communities Off Diesel

17.   Renewable Electricity Can Slash Cascadia Pollution, Research Shows

18.   Power from Colorado Water Is Now Renewable Energy Under New Law

19.   Number of Americans Using Solar Power Expected to More Than Triple by 2030

20.   ‘World’s Most Powerful Tidal Turbine’ Gears Up for Operation

21.   Spring Spill Begins Facilitating Fish Passage at Snake & Columbia River Dams

22.   NOAA Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Plan to Save Puget Sound’s Struggling Orcas

23.   Parched California Orders Nestle to Back Off the Water Bottling

24.   Avista Unveils Emissions Strategy

25.   Oregon Governor Brown Calls on Legislature to Support Statewide ‘Broadband Expansion’

26.   U.S. Rep Schrier: Broadband Is Vital for Rural Washington State

27.   President Biden Wants Local Governments to Provide Broadband Internet. Could They Compete with Comcast & Verizon?

28.   About Half the Public Thinks Local Governments Should Be Able to Pursue Their Own Broadband Network Build-Outs

29.   Why Bitcoin Is Bad for the Environment

30.   Daimler Trucks North America, Portland General Electric Launch First Heavy Heavy-Duty Electric Truck Charging Site

31.   VP Kamala Harris Encourages a Nervous New Hampshire Electric Coop Worker During His Speech

32.   This Portable Lantern Can Be Charged by Salt Water or Urine

33.   As Washington Legislature Wraps Up, Lawmakers Pass a New Budget, Capital Gains Tax & Clean-Fuels Standard

34.   Montana: Bill Would Launch Investigation Against ‘Environmental Groups’

35.   Oregon State Professor Tapped by President Biden to Lead National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

WORD OF THE DAY

Parvum Opus \PARR-vum OPE-uss\ Noun – Translated literally from Latin as “little work” (as opposed to magnum opus, which is “great work”).

Alfred’s once-tiny daughter always resented his referring to her as his “parvum opus”. As a child she did not reach her growth spurt until her late teens, when she shot up from a diminutive four-foot-two to a six-foot-seven giantess by the age of 21. Her retort one day was that her “magnum opus” was to crack him over the head with a broom…which effectively ended his “little joke”.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Montana Senators Hijack Bill, Revive Colstrip Power Plant Legislation (Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, MT)

https://ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/senators-hijack-bill-revive-colstrip-legislation/article_9665d78c-bf61-5d36-9198-f788ad6f0bb3.html

2.      WA State: Tacoma Bans Use of Fossil Fuels in New City Buildings. Are Commercial, Residential Next? (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article250840924.html

3.      Canada: Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets Boost Enthusiasm for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/greenhouse-gas-emission-targets-boost-enthusiasm-for-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-1.24311385

4.      Snake River Is Most Endangered in the Country: Inside the Fight to Save It (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/snake-river-endangered-country-inside-fight-save/story?id=77254773

5.      WA State: Tepid Approval of Dam Removals – Snake River Project Divides Electeds (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/tepid-approval-of-dam-removals/

6.      Hawaii Is Most Expensive State in America for Energy Bills (Honolulu Star Advertiser, HI)

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/04/21/breaking-news/hawaii-is-most-expensive-state-in-america-for-energy-bills/

7.      Your Job Saved Money on Electric Bills During the Pandemic. You Didn’t. (Vox)

https://www.vox.com/recode/22398250/electric-bills-pandemic-work-from-home-office-remote

SOAPBOX SERENADE – EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS

8.      Washington Politicians Are Failing Salmon, Forests, & the Climate. Market Innovation Is Saving Them. (Washington Policy Institute)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/washington-politicians-are-failing-salmon-forests-and-the-climate-market-innovation-is-saving-them

9.      Op/Ed: Hydropower Crucial to a Future for Electric Vehicles (Everett Herald – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-hydropower-crucial-to-a-future-for-electric-vehicles/

10.   Op/Ed: It’s Time to Remove Restrictions on Electric Vehicle Sales in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/oped-its-time-to-remove-restrictions-on.html

11.   Op/Ed: Bryan Smith Perpetuates Myths About Lower Snake River Dams (Idaho Falls Post Register, ID)

https://www.postregister.com/opinion/guest_column/opinion-bryan-smith-perpetuates-myths-about-lower-snake-river-dams/article_215208cd-e728-5640-a90d-8a0d2641ebfe.html

12.   Editorial: The Part of the Broadband Debate We’re Missing (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-part-of-the-broadband-debate-were-missing/2021/04/24/1872491a-9ee5-11eb-8005-bffc3a39f6d3_story.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Holds Meetings for Proposed Wind Project (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2021-04-23/magic-valley-energy-holds-meetings-for-proposed-wind-project

14.   Idaho Falls Power Conducts Microgrid Test (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls ID)

https://localnews8.com/news/2021/04/22/idaho-falls-power-conducts-microgrid-test/

15.   Using Hydrogen to Back Up the Grid (Investigate West)

https://www.invw.org/2021/04/23/using-hydrogen-to-back-up-the-grid/

16.   In-River Hydro Project in Alaska Chosen for Federal Assistance Aimed to Get Communities Off Diesel (KTOO Radio, Juneau, AK)

https://www.ktoo.org/2021/04/24/in-river-hydro-project-in-alaska-chosen-for-federal-assistance-aimed-to-get-communities-off-diesel/

17.   Renewable Electricity Can Slash Cascadia Pollution, Research Shows (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/renewable-electricity-can-slash-cascadia-pollution-research-shows

18.   Power from Colorado Water Is Now Renewable Energy Under New Law (Colorado Politics)

https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/power-from-colorado-water-is-now-renewable-energy-under-new-law/article_f4695d5c-a39d-11eb-8eaa-63468b1b2287.html

19.   Number of Americans Using Solar Power Expected to More Than Triple by 2030 (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/solar-power-american-triple-2030/

20.   ‘World’s Most Powerful Tidal Turbine’ Gears Up for Operation (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/worlds-most-powerful-tidal-turbine-gears-up-for-operation-.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Spring Spill Begins Facilitating Fish Passage at Snake & Columbia River Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/2581103/spring-spill-begins-facilitating-fish-passage-at-snake-and-columbia-river-dams/

22.   NOAA Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Plan to Save Puget Sound’s Struggling Orcas (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2833479/noaa-action-plan-puget-sound-orcas/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   Parched California Orders Nestle to Back Off the Water Bottling (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/parched-california-orders-nestle-to-back-off-the-bottling-water/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   Avista Unveils Emissions Strategy (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/avista-unveils-emissions-strategy.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   Oregon Governor Brown Calls on Legislature to Support Statewide ‘Broadband Expansion’ (KTVL-TV, Medford, OR)

https://ktvl.com/news/local/governor-brown-calls-on-legislature-to-support-statewide-broadband-expansion

26.   U.S. Rep Schrier: Broadband Is Vital for Rural Washington State (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

https://www.pnwag.net/2021/04/22/schrier-broadband-is-vital-for-rural-washington/

27.   President Biden Wants Local Governments to Provide Broadband Internet. Could They Compete with Comcast & Verizon? (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA)

https://www.inquirer.com/business/biden-municipal-broadband-infrastructure-kutztown-comcast-chattanooga-20210424.html

28.   About Half the Public Thinks Local Governments Should Be Able to Pursue Their Own Broadband Network Build-Outs (Morning Consult)

https://morningconsult.com/2021/04/26/municipal-broadband-private-isps-poll/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

29.   Why Bitcoin Is Bad for the Environment (New Yorker Magazine)

https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/why-bitcoin-is-bad-for-the-environment

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   Daimler Trucks North America, Portland General Electric Launch First Heavy Heavy-Duty Electric Truck Charging Site (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/30021-daimler-trucks-north-america-portland-general-electric-launch-first-heavy-heavy-duty-electric-truck-charging-site/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   VP Kamala Harris Encourages a Nervous New Hampshire Electric Coop Worker During His Speech (Grio)

https://thegrio.com/2021/04/24/kamala-harris-new-hampshire/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32.   This Portable Lantern Can Be Charged by Salt Water or Urine (Interesting Engineering)

https://interestingengineering.com/a-startup-just-created-a-urine-powered-lantern

GOVERNANCE, BUSINESS, & MANAGEMENT

33.   As Washington Legislature Wraps Up, Lawmakers Pass a New Budget, Capital Gains Tax & Clean-Fuels Standard (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/as-washington-legislature-wraps-up-lawmakers-pass-a-capital-gains-tax-and-clean-fuels-standard/

34.   Montana: Bill Would Launch Investigation Against ‘Environmental Groups’ (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2021/04/23/bill-would-launch-investigation-against-environmental-groups/

35.   Oregon State Professor Tapped by President Biden to Lead National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/04/oregon-state-professor-tapped-by-biden-to-lead-national-ocean-and-atmospheric-administration.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘Nomadland’ Wins Best Picture at a Social Distanced Oscars

https://apnews.com/article/oscars-2021-guide-67f5600e59179e1161d2db3ba48ad31d

Hundreds Lose Internet Service in Northern B.C. after Beaver Chews Through Cable

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/beaver-internet-down-1.6001594?cmp=rss

Gender Reveal Party Is Behind Massive Blast That Rocked Several New Hampshire Towns

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gender-reveal-explosion-new-hampshire_n_60820beae4b082bab00aef39

Meet the Man in a Bear Suit Walking from Los Angeles to San Francisco

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/meet-man-bear-suit-walking-los-angeles-san-francisco-2021-04-22/

SONG OF THE DAY

AJR – Overture, Soul Soundtrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM9xWqqbG8Q

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.