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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
June Heat Wave in the
Northwest United States Resulted in More Demand for Electricity (U.S. Energy
Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48796
Wells Run Dry in Many
Klamath Basin Homes (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2021/07/wells-run-dry-in-many-klamath-basin-homes.html
Four-State
Collaboration May Squeeze Out E. Wash. Interests in Keeping Snake River Dams
(Tri-City Herald, WA)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article252767743.html
Judge Hears Fight Over
Lithium Mine on Nevada-Oregon Line (Associated Press)
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/21/judge-hears-fight-over-lithium-mine-on-nevada-oregon-line/
Massive Wildfires in
U.S. West Bring Haze to East Coast (Associated Press)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1. June
Heat Wave in the Northwest United States Resulted in More Demand for
Electricity
2. Four-State
Collaboration May Squeeze Out E. Wash. Interests in Keeping Snake River Dams
3. Alaska
Federation of Natives & Other Groups Sue Dunleavy Administration Over Fund
That Subsidizes Rural Energy
4. The
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Calls on Seattle to Remove the Gorge Dam
5. Portland
General Electric, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Extend Partnership on
Hydropower Facility for 16 Years
6. California:
Paradigm Shift – Tribe Is Now an Owner of the Power Grid
7. Portland
General Electric Agrees to Pay $6.75M to Settle Trading-Debacle Lawsuit
8. Montana
Coal Production Slides 23% During 2020
9. U.S.
Barrasso (R-WY) Says New Legislation Sets Stage for New Wyoming Natrium Nuclear
Reactor
10. Governments,
Utilities & the Nuclear Industry Hope Small Modular Reactors Will Power
Canada’s Future. Can They Actually Build One?
11. A
Visit with the Bonneville Power Administration Administrator
12. Three
Viewpoints: A Proposal to Lay Cables Beneath the Columbia River Is Met with
Skepticism from an Indigenous Activist & the River’s Advocates.
13. Cost
Allocation Remains Key Challenge for FERC Ahead of Transmission Reform, Glick
Says
14. Maine
Legislature Sustains Mills’ Veto of Consumer-Owned Utility Bill
15. How
to Prevent a Power Outage from Becoming a Crisis
16. Columnist:
Damned If You Do – Klamath River – The Thorny Decision to Remove Hydro Dams
17. News
Release: U.S. Reps McMorris Rodgers, Newhouse Call Out Oregon, Radical Groups
for Latest Legal Stunt on the Columbia & Lower Snake Rivers
18. An
Inconvenient Truth About Fish & Why Liberals Can’t Accept the Facts
19. California:
Developer’s Deals with Community Organizations Under Fire as Giant Solar Farm
Moves Closer to Approval
20. WA
State: Quinault Indian Nation Gets Federal Funding for Solar Power in New
Generations Building
21. Are
Wind Turbines a Danger to Wildlife? Ask the Dogs.
22. Efficiency
Builds Community & Generates Savings
23. Scientists
Haven’t Had ‘A Good Look at J-Pod’ Of Orcas in Last Three Months
24. Salmon-Killing
Tires Get Congressional Hearing
25. Virtual
Reality Experience Lets Viewers ‘Swim’ with Pacific Salmon
26. Renaming
Asian Carp: Concern Over Racism, Waterways Inspires Push for New Moniker
27. Judge
Hears Fight Over Lithium Mine on Nevada-Oregon Line
28. Wells
Run Dry in Many Klamath Basin Homes
29. Oregon
Utilities Face Big Challenges Meeting 100% Clean Electricity by 2040 Target
30. California
to Spend $6 Billion to Bridge the Digital Divide
31. WA
State Awards $1.7 Million to Port of Whitman County for Pine City & Malden
Broadband Project
32. WA
State Legislature Expands Municipal Authority to Provide Broadband, but to What
Extent?
33. Sick
of Traditional Internet Providers, Brooklyn Neighbors Are Setting Up Their Own
Wi-Fi with NYC Mesh
34. The
Telecoms Industry Spends $320K a Day to Make Sure Your Broadband Sucks
35. WA
State: King County Named #1 County for Use of Public Technology
36. The
Best Olympic Logos of All Time, According to Design Experts
37. Massive
Wildfires in U.S. West Bring Haze to East Coast
38. Oregon
Gov. Kate Brown, State Leaders Outline Response to ‘Historic’ Start to Oregon
Wildfire Season
39. Two
Fast-Moving California Fires Are Creating Their Own Dangerous Weather Systems
40. State
Of Emergency Declared in British Columbia Over Growing Wildfires
41. 2021
Heat Wave Is Now the Deadliest Weather-Related Event in Washington State
History
42. Couple
Charged in California Wildfire Sparked by Gender Reveal
43. U.S.
Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Advances Energy Infrastructure
Legislation as Congress Debates Broader Climate Action
44. Ditto Outlines Opposition to Using Legislation to Encourage Public Facility Privatization
WORD OF THE DAY
Nonplussed \NON-plust\ Verb - To cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do: perplex.
Barty’s aggressive questioning during trial left the hapless defense witness nonplussed. Although the man had been called as a character witness for the “Burger King”, Barty relentlessly peppered him with questions about “Ronald McDonald”, “Jack in the Box” and the “Taco Time Cactus”. “I don’t know any of those guys,” whined the harried witness.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48796
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article252767743.html
3.
Alaska Federation of Natives & Other Groups
Sue Dunleavy Administration Over Fund That Subsidizes Rural Energy (Anchorage
Daily News, AK)
4.
The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Calls on Seattle
to Remove the Gorge Dam (High Country News)
5.
Portland General Electric, Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs Extend Partnership on Hydropower Facility for 16 Years (Daily
Energy Insider)
6.
California: Paradigm Shift – Tribe Is Now an Owner
of the Power Grid (Indian Country Today)
https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/tribe-is-now-an-owner-of-the-power-grid
7.
Portland General Electric Agrees to Pay $6.75M to
Settle Trading-Debacle Lawsuit (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall
Advisory)
https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/07/19/pge-trading-losses-lawsuit-settlement.html
8.
Montana Coal Production Slides 23% During 2020 (Helena
Independent-Record, MT)
9.
U.S. Barrasso (R-WY) Says New Legislation Sets
Stage for New Wyoming Natrium Nuclear Reactor (Oil City News)
10.
Governments, Utilities & the Nuclear
Industry Hope Small Modular Reactors Will Power Canada’s Future. Can They
Actually Build One? (Globe & Mail, Canada)
11.
A Visit with the Bonneville Power Administration
Administrator (Ruralite Magazine)
https://www.ruralite.com/a-visit-with-the-bpa-administrator/
12.
Three Viewpoints: A Proposal to Lay Cables
Beneath the Columbia River Is Met with Skepticism from an Indigenous Activist &
the River’s Advocates. (Investigate West)
13.
Cost Allocation Remains Key Challenge for FERC Ahead
of Transmission Reform, Glick Says (Utility Dive)
14.
Maine Legislature Sustains Mills’ Veto of Consumer-Owned
Utility Bill (Main Public Radio)
15.
How to Prevent a Power Outage from Becoming a
Crisis (IEEE – Spectrum)
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
16.
Columnist: Damned If You Do – Klamath River – The
Thorny Decision to Remove Hydro Dams (Troy Media)
17.
News Release: U.S. Reps McMorris Rodgers,
Newhouse Call Out Oregon, Radical Groups for Latest Legal Stunt on the Columbia
& Lower Snake Rivers (U.S. Rep McMorris Rodgers, R-WA)
18.
An Inconvenient Truth About Fish & Why
Liberals Can’t Accept the Facts (Shift Washington, Mercer Island, WA)
https://shiftwa.org/an-inconvenient-truth-about-fish-and-why-liberals-cant-accept-the-facts/
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
19.
California: Developer’s Deals with Community
Organizations Under Fire as Giant Solar Farm Moves Closer to Approval (KFMB-TV,
San Diego, CA)
20.
WA State: Quinault Indian Nation Gets Federal
Funding for Solar Power in New Generations Building (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)
21.
Are Wind Turbines a Danger to Wildlife? Ask the Dogs.
(Atlantic Magazine)
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/07/bat-dogs-wind-turbines/619482/
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
22.
Efficiency Builds Community & Generates
Savings (Pioneer Utility Resources)
https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/esgcommunity/
FISH & WILDLIFE
23.
Scientists Haven’t Had ‘A Good Look at J-Pod’ Of
Orcas in Last Three Months (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)
https://mynorthwest.com/3046287/where-is-jpod-orcas-puget-sound/
24.
Salmon-Killing Tires Get Congressional Hearing (KUOW
Radio, Seattle, WA)
https://kuow.org/stories/salmon-killing-tires-get-congressional-hearing
25.
Virtual Reality Experience Lets Viewers ‘Swim’
with Pacific Salmon (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/uninterrupted-vr-salmon-1.6104883?cmp=rss
26.
Renaming Asian Carp: Concern Over Racism, Waterways
Inspires Push for New Moniker (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/asian-carp-renaming-fish-racism-1.6103742?cmp=rss
ENVIRONMENTAL
AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
27. Judge Hears Fight Over Lithium Mine on Nevada-Oregon Line (Associated Press)
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/21/judge-hears-fight-over-lithium-mine-on-nevada-oregon-line/
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
28. Wells
Run Dry in Many Klamath Basin Homes (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2021/07/wells-run-dry-in-many-klamath-basin-homes.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
29.
Oregon Utilities Face Big Challenges Meeting
100% Clean Electricity by 2040 Target (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
30.
California to Spend $6 Billion to Bridge the
Digital Divide (Courthouse News Service)
https://www.courthousenews.com/california-to-spend-6-billion-to-bridge-the-digital-divide/
31.
WA State Awards $1.7 Million to Port of Whitman
County for Pine City & Malden Broadband Project (KQQQ Radio, Pullman, WA)
https://pullmanradio.com/cerb-awards-1-7-million-to-port-for-pine-city-and-malden-broadband-project/
33.
Sick of Traditional Internet Providers, Brooklyn
Neighbors Are Setting Up Their Own Wi-Fi with NYC Mesh (BK Reader, New York,
NY)
https://bkreader.com/2021/05/10/nyc-mesh-brooklyn-new-york-community-mutual-aid-pandemic/
34.
The Telecoms Industry Spends $320K a Day to Make
Sure Your Broadband Sucks (Gizmodo)
https://gizmodo.com/the-telecoms-industry-spends-230k-a-day-to-make-sure-y-1847324005
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
35.
WA State: King County Named #1 County for Use of
Public Technology (Washington State Wire)
https://washingtonstatewire.com/king-county-named-1-county-for-use-of-public-technology/
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
36.
The Best Olympic Logos of All Time, According to
Design Experts (Fast Company)
https://www.fastcompany.com/90656667/the-best-olympic-logos-of-all-time-according-to-design-experts
WILDFIRES AND THE WEST
37. Massive
Wildfires in U.S. West Bring Haze to East Coast (Associated Press)
38.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, State Leaders Outline
Response to ‘Historic’ Start to Oregon Wildfire Season (Oregonian, Portland,
OR)
39.
Two Fast-Moving California Fires Are Creating
Their Own Dangerous Weather Systems (Los Angeles Times, CA)
40.
State Of Emergency Declared in British Columbia Over
Growing Wildfires (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
41.
2021 Heat Wave Is Now the Deadliest
Weather-Related Event in Washington State History (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)
https://kuow.org/stories/heat-wave-death-toll-in-washington-state-jumps-to-112-people
42.
Couple Charged in California Wildfire Sparked by
Gender Reveal (Huffington Post)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gender-reveal-california-wildfire-charges_n_60f7b019e4b0ddf009797554
GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
43.
U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources
Committee Advances Energy Infrastructure Legislation as Congress Debates
Broader Climate Action (JD Supra)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/senate-energy-and-natural-resources-2850545/
44.
Ditto Outlines Opposition to Using Legislation
to Encourage Public Facility Privatization (American Public Power Association)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
An Archivist Sneezes
on a Priceless Document. Then What?
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/07/archival-mishaps/619420/
This Model Train
Layout May Be Bigger Than Your House
Milwaukee Wins First NBA
Title Since 1971
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/milwaukee-beat-phoenix-claim-nba-championship-2021-07-21/
Massive &
Mysterious, A 100-Pound Fish Washed Ashore in Oregon – Scientists Hope to Learn
Its Secrets
https://news.yahoo.com/massive-mysterious-100-pound-fish-024510073.html?soc_src=yahooapp
SONG OF THE DAY
Albert Hammond - I’m a
Train
