Monday, June 14, 2021

The Energy News Digest for June 14, 2021

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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Looming California Heat Wave May Strain Electricity Supplies (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-11/looming-california-heat-wave-may-strain-electricity-supplies

Water, Power Systems in U.S. Are Shockingly Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks (Associated Press)

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/06/water-power-systems-in-us-are-shockingly-vulnerable-to-cyber-attacks.html

Operator Says China Nuclear Plant Facing ‘Performance Issue’ (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-06-14/operator-says-china-nuclear-plant-facing-performance-issue

Pacific Salmon Abundance Plummeted in 2020 – Poor Ocean Conditions Suspected (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/business/pacific-salmon-abundance-plummeted-in-2020-1.24329794

Oregon on Verge of Requiring 100% Clean Electricity by 2040 (Clean Technica)

https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/13/oregon-on-verge-of-requiring-100-clean-electricity-by-2040/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Looming California Heat Wave May Strain Electricity Supplies

2.      Operator Says China Nuclear Plant Facing ‘Performance Issue’

3.      Bill Gates: Stop Shutting Down Nuclear Reactors & Build New Nuclear Power Plants to Fight Climate Change

4.      WA State: Tri-Cities Loses TerraPower Advanced Nuclear Plant to Coal Site in Wyoming

5.      Wheat Farmers Ponder Idaho U.S. Rep. Simpson’s Next Dam Moves

6.      Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Makes Deal to Buy Power from University of Alaska Fairbanks

7.      Company Drops Plan for $2.3 Billion Methanol Plant in Washington State

8.      Help Keep the Power on by Preventing Fires

9.      Puerto Rico Probes Substation Fire That Left 900,000 without Power

10.   Take Out a Loan, Texas Legislators Tell Hurting Utilities, Consumers

11.   Glick: FERC to Outline Plan to Tackle Transmission ‘Certainly’ by the End of Summer

12.   Opinion: Bipartisan Federal Broadband Plan Would Benefit Yakima

13.   Guest Essay: Oregon Can Lead the Nation in Showing Bipartisan Support for Climate Action

14.   Guest Essay: Finding Solutions for Restoring Cowlitz River Fisheries

15.   Puget Sound Energy Appoints Advisory Group for Clean Energy Plan

16.   Wave Energy Could Be Close By

17.   How Voltage Optimization Helps Utilities Learn More About Their Grid

18.   Pacific Salmon Abundance Plummeted in 2020 – Poor Ocean Conditions Suspected

19.   Tiny Specks Bring Big Hope That Ocean Is Improving After the Devastating ‘Blob’

20.   California’s Latest Bid to Bolster Its Economy? Releasing 17 Million Fish Into the San Francisco Bay.

21.   Colville Tribes Encouraged by Young Salmon Spawning Behind Grand Coulee Dam

22.   Thin Snowpack, Low Rivers Add to Eastern Oregon Drought & Wildfire Fears

23.   Oregon on Verge of Requiring 100% Clean Electricity by 2040

24.   Broadband Bipartisanship? Senators Introduce Digital Equity Push

25.   About 1% of Idaho Households Request Federal Broadband Cash in Program’s First Weeks

26.   Oregon: Jefferson County Awarded $140,000 Federal Broadband Assist

27.   AT&T CEO Seems Confident Industry Can Kill President Biden’s Municipal Broadband Plan

28.   Telecom Titans Cut the Power on NY Plan for Affordable Internet

29.   At These Low-Income Apartment Buildings, Solar Power Helps Pay for Free Wi-Fi

30.   Water, Power Systems in U.S. Are Shockingly Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

31.   New Grants Give Local Libraries Support in Bridging Digital Divide

32.   Bitcoin Tops $40,000 After Musk Says Tesla Could Use It Again

33.   Yellowstone Launches Electric Driverless Shuttle & Will Test 2 Routes This Summer

34.   Biden Nominee Linked to 1989 Idaho Timber Harvest Sabotage Draws Republican Ire

35.   Clash Between WA State Gov. Inslee, Legislature Takes Center Stage in Washington Supreme Court

36.   Study: 1 in 5 Washington Workers Have Worked from Their Car During the COVID-19 Pandemic

WORD OF THE DAY

Ululate ● \ul-yuh-layt\ ● Verb – To cry loudly, howl, wail.

Stubbed toe REALLY hurts

A victim’s ululation

Awakens the dead

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Looming California Heat Wave May Strain Electricity Supplies (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-11/looming-california-heat-wave-may-strain-electricity-supplies

2.      Operator Says China Nuclear Plant Facing ‘Performance Issue’ (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-06-14/operator-says-china-nuclear-plant-facing-performance-issue

3.      Bill Gates: Stop Shutting Down Nuclear Reactors & Build New Nuclear Power Plants to Fight Climate Change (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/11/bill-gates-bullish-on-using-nuclear-power-to-fight-climate-change.html

4.      WA State: Tri-Cities Loses TerraPower Advanced Nuclear Plant to Coal Site in Wyoming (Tri-Cities Business News, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2021/06/terrapower/

5.      Wheat Farmers Ponder Idaho U.S. Rep. Simpson’s Next Dam Moves (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/wheat-farmers-ponder-simpsons-next-dam-moves/article_cbf90c0c-c9fc-11eb-9ec3-aba3a9358bb8.html

6.      Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Makes Deal to Buy Power from University of Alaska Fairbanks (Fairbanks Daily News Miner, AK – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-makes-deal-to-buy-power-from-uaf/article_7f2e7146-c99d-11eb-98c2-7f38bd8bb4d4.html

7.      Company Drops Plan for $2.3 Billion Methanol Plant in Washington State (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wa-state-wire-or-state-wire-environment-and-nature-business-b0a094dd20bdb65be505c0e080eddac7

8.      Help Keep the Power on by Preventing Fires (Ontario Argus-Observer, OR)

https://www.argusobserver.com/independent/news/help-keep-the-power-on-by-preventing-fires/article_04ae3c38-cb07-11eb-a6b6-87bcc2853408.html

9.      Puerto Rico Probes Substation Fire That Left 900,000 without Power (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-puerto-rico-business-caf43f0c694a153ec76819d37e23d9e3

10.   Take Out a Loan, Texas Legislators Tell Hurting Utilities, Consumers (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/llewellynking/2021/06/10/take-out-a-loan-texas-legislators-tell-hurting-utilities-consumers/

11.   Glick: FERC to Outline Plan to Tackle Transmission ‘Certainly’ by the End of Summer (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/glick-ferc-to-outline-plan-to-tackle-transmission-certainly-by-the-end-o/601648/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Opinion: Bipartisan Federal Broadband Plan Would Benefit Yakima (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/opinion-bipartisan-broadband-plan-would-benefit-yakima/article_54018396-7ca2-53c3-bf4b-8ab70def5e01.html

13.   Guest Essay: Oregon Can Lead the Nation in Showing Bipartisan Support for Climate Action (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2021/06/oregon-can-lead-the-nation-in-showing-bipartisan-support-for-climate-action.html

14.   Guest Essay: Finding Solutions for Restoring Cowlitz River Fisheries (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/guest-commentary-finding-solutions-for-restoring-cowlitz-river-fisheries,267523

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   Puget Sound Energy Appoints Advisory Group for Clean Energy Plan (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/30687-puget-sound-energy-appoints-advisory-group-for-clean-energy-plan/

16.   Wave Energy Could Be Close By (Tonkon Torp)

https://tonkon.com/ear-to-the-ground-blog/2021-03-12/wave-energy-could-be-close-by.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   How Voltage Optimization Helps Utilities Learn More About Their Grid (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/how-voltage-optimization-helps-utilities-learn-more-about-their-grid/601619/

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   Pacific Salmon Abundance Plummeted in 2020 – Poor Ocean Conditions Suspected (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/business/pacific-salmon-abundance-plummeted-in-2020-1.24329794

19.   Tiny Specks Bring Big Hope That Ocean Is Improving After the Devastating ‘Blob’ (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/years-after-the-devastating-blob-ocean-conditions-appear-to-be-improving-plankton-survey-shows/

20.   California’s Latest Bid to Bolster Its Economy? Releasing 17 Million Fish Into the San Francisco Bay. (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/californias-latest-bid-bolster-economy-033948868.html

21.   Colville Tribes Encouraged by Young Salmon Spawning Behind Grand Coulee Dam (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/2021/06/13/colville-tribes-encouraged-by-young-salmon-spawning-behind-grand-coulee-dam/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Thin Snowpack, Low Rivers Add to Eastern Oregon Drought & Wildfire Fears (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/06/10/eastern-oregon-drought-wildfire-risks/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Oregon on Verge of Requiring 100% Clean Electricity by 2040 (Clean Technica)

https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/13/oregon-on-verge-of-requiring-100-clean-electricity-by-2040/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24.   Broadband Bipartisanship? Senators Introduce Digital Equity Push (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/broadband-bipartisanship-senators-introduce-digital-equity-push-rcna1160

25.   About 1% of Idaho Households Request Federal Broadband Cash in Program’s First Weeks (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2021-06-09/about-1-of-idaho-households-request-federal-broadband-cash-in-programs-first-weeks

26.   Oregon: Jefferson County Awarded $140,000 Federal Broadband Assist (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/jefferson-county/2021/06/11/jefferson-county-awarded-140k-federal-broadband-assist/

27.   AT&T CEO Seems Confident Industry Can Kill President Biden’s Municipal Broadband Plan (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/06/att-ceo-seems-confident-industry-can-kill-bidens-municipal-broadband-plan/

28.   Telecom Titans Cut the Power on NY Plan for Affordable Internet (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/telecom-titans-cut-the-power-on-ny-plan-for-affordable-internet/

29.   At These Low-Income Apartment Buildings, Solar Power Helps Pay for Free Wi-Fi (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90646324/at-these-low-income-apartment-buildings-solar-power-helps-pay-for-free-wifi

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

30.   Water, Power Systems in U.S. Are Shockingly Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks (Associated Press)

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/06/water-power-systems-in-us-are-shockingly-vulnerable-to-cyber-attacks.html

31.   New Grants Give Local Libraries Support in Bridging Digital Divide (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/post/new-grants-give-local-libraries-support-bridging-digital-divide

32.   Bitcoin Tops $40,000 After Musk Says Tesla Could Use It Again (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/bitcoin-jumps-after-musk-says-tesla-could-use-it-again-2021-06-14/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

33.   Yellowstone Launches Electric Driverless Shuttle & Will Test 2 Routes This Summer (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/regional/yellowstone-national-park-driverless-shuttle-routes-summer-camp-hotel-vistor-center/277-913be907-1368-48af-90a9-792627d7ad8e

GOVERNANCE, BUSINESS, AND MANAGEMENT

34.   Biden Nominee Linked to 1989 Idaho Timber Harvest Sabotage Draws Republican Ire (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-joe-biden-lifestyle-business-environment-and-nature-46552c29a0168be0fb6d9baa2ae11c57

35.   Clash Between WA State Gov. Inslee, Legislature Takes Center Stage in Washington Supreme Court (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/clash-between-inslee-legislature-takes-center-stage-in-washington-supreme-court,267461

36.   Study: 1 in 5 Washington Workers Have Worked from Their Car During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

https://www.seattlepi.com/coronavirus/article/1-in-5-Washington-employees-worked-from-car-16241535.php

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Is Flag Day a Federal Holiday? Here’s How It Started & What It Means

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/06/14/flag-day-2021-when-is-it-holiday-history/7682351002/

Prime Peke! Wasabi the Pekingese Wins Westminster Dog Show

https://apnews.com/article/dogs-sports-c14bc59b70a0b9b5c4a1fa0aab2e77c6

‘They Exploit Us Supremely’: How to Stay Safe During Peak of Seattle Crow Season

https://mynorthwest.com/2964929/crow-season-seattle-how-to-stay-safe/

Gnome Sweet Gnome: Find One in Gig Harbor, & You Could Win a Prize

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-news/article252033363.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Gnomeo & Juliet (Movie Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LFp940B5SM

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.