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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
U.S. Set for Punishing Temperatures as Huge ‘Heat Dome’ to
Settle Over Country (The Guardian, UK)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/24/america-heatwave-climate-crisis-heat-dome
Lower Snake River Dams Help Region Power Through Recent
Pacific Northwest Heatwave (Bonneville Power Administration)
California Power Grid Declares Flex Alert for Monday, Asks
for Electricity Conservation (California News-Times)
Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Imperiling
Industry (Associated Press)
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/26/warming-rivers-in-us-west-killing-fish-imperiling-industry/
U.S. Energy Sect. Granholm Announces New Building Energy
Codes (The Hill, Washington, DC)
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/564134-granholm-announces-new-building-energy-codes
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Lower Snake River Dams Help Region Power Through
Recent Pacific Northwest Heatwave
2.
Snake River Dams – This Is What Saved the
Tri-Cities Area from Rolling Blackouts in Historic Heatwave, Says Bonneville
Power Administration
3.
California Power Grid Declares Flex Alert for
Monday, Asks for Electricity Conservation
4.
Drought Shrinking California Hydro, Increasing
Reliance on Thermal, Imports
5.
Californians Tired of Doing Their Part During
Triple-Digit Heat
6.
WA State: Feds Approve 32 Studies in Skagit
River Dam Relicensing Process
7.
Montana Attorney General Intervenes in
NorthWestern Energy Application for Natural Gas Power Plant
8.
California Prepares to Bury 10,000 Miles of Power
Lines as Wildfires Force New Evacuations
9.
Columbia River Powerlines: How Strengthening the
Pacific Northwest’s Electrical Grid Could End Up Doing Harm
10.
WA State: How the Snohomish PUD Kept Things
Humming During the Record Heat Wave
11.
WA State: Clallam County Commissioners to
Consider Rescue Funds for Utility Assistance
12.
Oregon: ‘Homeless Tapped Into’ Power Wires in
Overlook Neighborhood
13.
Editorial: ‘Collaborative’ Effort to Save NW
Salmon Looks Like Another Anti-Snake Dam Task Force
14.
Guest Essay: Come Together to Save Puget Sound
& Snake River Salmon
15.
Editorial: Puget Sound Salmon Have No Chance
Unless We Push for a Bigger Investment
16.
Southern Idaho Leaders Gain New Perspective of
Lava Ridge Wind Proposal
17.
I-Team: Company Withdraws Plans for Massive
Solar Farm, Which Would Have Been Nevada’s Largest
18.
REC Silicon Eyes Reopening, Upgrading in Moses
Lake, WA
19.
‘I Can See the Industry Disappearing’: U.S.
Fishermen Sound Alarm at Plans for Offshore Wind
20.
U.S. Energy Sect. Granholm Announces New
Building Energy Codes
21.
Beat the Heat: Ways to Cool Down & Reduce
Energy Use During Hot Summer Days
22.
Idaho Falls Power Recognizes Anheuser-Busch for
Energy Efficiency Award
23.
Forty Under 40 2021: Becca Yates, Northwest
Energy Efficiency Alliance
24.
Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish,
Imperiling Industry
25.
Heat Waves Put New Stress on British Columbia’s
Already Struggling Salmon
26.
Idaho Sockeye Step Up Their Game
27.
WA State: Skagit Dams in Crosshairs of Renewed
Push to Save Salmon, Orcas
28.
Maine: Groups Urge State to Protect Last Wild
Atlantic Salmon in U.S.
29.
Low Oxygen Levels Off Oregon, Washington Coast
Raise Fears of Marine Dead Zones
30.
Colorado River Shortage Expected to Hit Farms
First
31.
Lake Powell — Nation’s Second-Largest Reservoir
— Hits Record Low
32.
Water Levels at Great Salt Lake Hit Historic Low
33.
In 2020, the United States Produced the Least
CO2 Emissions from Energy in Nearly 40 Years
34.
New Laws Take Effect in Washington State Aimed
at Bridging the Digital Divide
35.
WA State: Okanogan PUD Submits Fiber Project for
Grant
36.
WA State: Port of Woodland Broadband Project
Gets $2 Million Grant for Final Phase
37.
Idaho National Lab, Visgence Demonstrate
Capability to Shield Power Grid from Cyberattacks
38.
Electric Utilities Are ‘Deeply Concerned’: Test
Shows Wi-Fi Devices in 6 GHz Spectrum Can Disrupt Grid
39.
GM Recalls Bolt Electric Vehicles Again Because
Some Batteries May Pose Fire Risk
40.
Eugene’s Homegrown Arcimoto Electric Vehicles
Finding Their Way to Local Customers
41.
Driven By Pandemic, Social Media Use Surged in
Seattle
42.
U.S. Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) Among Three Senators
to Introduce Legislation Supporting Local News
43.
Drones Are Zapping Clouds with Electricity to
Create Rain in United Arab Emirates Project
44.
WA State: Lewis EDC’s New Pilot Project Looks to
Increase ‘American Rescue Plan’ Returns for Local Governments
45.
U.S. Set for Punishing Temperatures as Huge
‘Heat Dome’ to Settle Over Country
46.
Wildfires Blasting Through West Draw States to
Lend Support
47. California’s Largest Fire Burns Homes as Blazes Scorch West
WORD OF THE DAY
Debutant \DEB-yoo-tawnt\ Noun - One making a debut.
The new employee was trembling with anticipation. His first official act was to make a twenty-minute presentation to the board of directors on his position’s duties. For a debutant, having the entire job description being listed as “other duties as assigned,” was daunting enough…but to hold forth for 20 minutes on his mysterious responsibilities was the figurative “Mount Everest” of public speaking.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Lower Snake River Dams Help Region Power Through
Recent Pacific Northwest Heatwave (Bonneville Power Administration)
2.
Snake River Dams – This Is What Saved the Tri-Cities
Area from Rolling Blackouts in Historic Heatwave, Says Bonneville Power Administration
(Tri-City Herald, WA)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article252965453.html
3.
California Power Grid Declares Flex Alert for Monday,
Asks for Electricity Conservation (California News-Times)
4.
Drought Shrinking California Hydro, Increasing
Reliance on Thermal, Imports (S&P Global)
5.
Californians Tired of Doing Their Part During
Triple-Digit Heat (Politico)
6.
WA State: Feds Approve 32 Studies in Skagit
River Dam Relicensing Process (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt. Vernon, WA)
7.
Montana Attorney General Intervenes in
NorthWestern Energy Application for Natural Gas Power Plant (The Daily
Montanan)
https://dailymontanan.com/2021/07/22/attorney-general-intervenes-in-northwestern-energy-application/
8.
California Prepares to Bury 10,000 Miles of Power
Lines as Wildfires Force New Evacuations (The Guardian, UK)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/22/california-wildfires-nevada-oregon-pge-power-lines
9.
Columbia River Powerlines: How Strengthening the
Pacific Northwest’s Electrical Grid Could End Up Doing Harm (Crosscut Seattle,
WA)
https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/07/how-strengthening-pnws-electrical-grid-could-end-doing-harm
10.
WA State: How the Snohomish PUD Kept Things
Humming During the Record Heat Wave (Everett Herald – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/how-the-pud-kept-things-humming-during-the-record-heat-wave/
11.
WA State: Clallam County Commissioners to Consider
Rescue Funds for Utility Assistance (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
12.
Oregon: ‘Homeless Tapped Into’ Power Wires in Overlook
Neighborhood (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
13.
Editorial: ‘Collaborative’ Effort to Save NW Salmon
Looks Like Another Anti-Snake Dam Task Force (Tri-City Herald, WA)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/editorials/article252977263.html
14.
Guest Essay: Come Together to Save Puget Sound &
Snake River Salmon (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/come-together-to-save-puget-sound-and-snake-river-salmon/
15.
Editorial: Puget Sound Salmon Have No Chance
Unless We Push for a Bigger Investment (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.theolympian.com/opinion/editorials/article252967908.html
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
16.
Southern Idaho Leaders Gain New Perspective of Lava
Ridge Wind Proposal (KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)
17.
I-Team: Company Withdraws Plans for Massive
Solar Farm, Which Would Have Been Nevada’s Largest (KLAS-TV, Las Vegas NV)
18.
REC Silicon Eyes Reopening, Upgrading in Moses
Lake, WA (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/jul/23/rec-eyes-reopening-upgrading-moses-lake/
19.
‘I Can See the Industry Disappearing’: U.S. Fishermen
Sound Alarm at Plans for Offshore Wind (The Guardian, UK)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
20.
U.S. Energy Sect. Granholm Announces New
Building Energy Codes (The Hill, Washington, DC)
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/564134-granholm-announces-new-building-energy-codes
21.
Beat the Heat: Ways to Cool Down & Reduce
Energy Use During Hot Summer Days (Bonneville Power Administration)
22.
Idaho Falls Power Recognizes Anheuser-Busch for
Energy Efficiency Award (Idaho Falls Magazine, ID)
https://www.idahofallsmagazine.com/2021/07/idaho-falls-power-recognizes-anheuserbusch
23.
Forty Under 40 2021: Becca Yates, Northwest
Energy Efficiency Alliance (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)
FISH & WILDLIFE
24.
Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish,
Imperiling Industry (Associated Press)
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/26/warming-rivers-in-us-west-killing-fish-imperiling-industry/
25.
Heat Waves Put New Stress on British Columbia’s Already
Struggling Salmon (Global News, Canada)
https://globalnews.ca/news/8036106/heat-waves-put-new-stress-on-b-c-s-already-struggling-salmon/
26.
Idaho Sockeye Step Up Their Game (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin,
WA)
27.
WA State: Skagit Dams in Crosshairs of Renewed
Push to Save Salmon, Orcas (Crosscut Seattle, WA)
https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/07/skagit-dams-crosshairs-renewed-push-save-salmon-orcas
28.
Maine: Groups Urge State to Protect Last Wild Atlantic
Salmon in U.S. (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-salmon-048e071677132ae1428f2b05328dfccd
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
29.
Low Oxygen Levels Off Oregon, Washington Coast
Raise Fears of Marine Dead Zones (Associated Press)
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
30.
Colorado River Shortage Expected to Hit Farms
First (Courthouse News Service)
https://www.courthousenews.com/colorado-river-shortage-expected-to-hit-farms-first/
31.
Lake Powell — Nation’s Second-Largest Reservoir
— Hits Record Low (KUNC-Radio, Greeley, CO)
32.
Water Levels at Great Salt Lake Hit Historic Low
(Associated Press)
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/26/water-levels-at-great-salt-lake-hit-historic-low/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
33.
In 2020, the United States Produced the Least CO2
Emissions from Energy in Nearly 40 Years (U.S. Energy Information
Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48856
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
34.
New Laws Take Effect in Washington State Aimed at
Bridging the Digital Divide (Seattle Medium)
35.
WA State: Okanogan PUD Submits Fiber Project for
Grant (Okanogan PUD, Okanogan, WA)
https://www.okanoganpud.org/node/1512
36.
WA State: Port of Woodland Broadband Project
Gets $2 Million Grant for Final Phase (Longview Daily News, WA)
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
37.
Idaho National Lab, Visgence Demonstrate
Capability to Shield Power Grid from Cyberattacks (Daily Energy Insider)
38.
Electric Utilities Are ‘Deeply Concerned’: Test
Shows Wi-Fi Devices in 6 GHz Spectrum Can Disrupt Grid (NRECA)
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
39.
GM Recalls Bolt Electric Vehicles Again Because
Some Batteries May Pose Fire Risk (USA Today)
40.
Eugene’s Homegrown Arcimoto Electric Vehicles
Finding Their Way to Local Customers (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
41.
Driven By Pandemic, Social Media Use Surged in Seattle
(Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
42.
U.S. Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) Among Three Senators to
Introduce Legislation Supporting Local News (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
43.
Drones Are Zapping Clouds with Electricity to Create
Rain in United Arab Emirates Project (USA Today)
GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
44.
WA State: Lewis EDC’s New Pilot Project Looks to
Increase ‘American Rescue Plan’ Returns for Local Governments (The Chronicle,
Centralia, WA)
FIRES, HEAT, & DROUGHT
45.
U.S. Set for Punishing Temperatures as Huge ‘Heat
Dome’ to Settle Over Country (The Guardian, UK)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/24/america-heatwave-climate-crisis-heat-dome
46.
Wildfires Blasting Through West Draw States to Lend
Support (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/fires-environment-and-nature-wildfires-20422ed333c200409dc34f610acc1088
47.
California’s Largest Fire Burns Homes as Blazes
Scorch West (Associated Press)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Pink Offers to Pay Bikini Bottoms Fine for Norway Women’s
Handball Team
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57967486
Reporter Suspended for Smearing Herself with Mud &
Pretending to Have Helped with Flood-Cleanup Efforts
https://www.insider.com/german-rtl-reporter-smears-herself-with-mud-fakes-flood-clean-up-2021-7
The Seemingly Cursed Tokyo Olympics Are Now in the Path of a
Tropical Storm
https://gizmodo.com/the-seemingly-cursed-tokyo-olympics-are-now-in-the-path-1847359708
Video: Extreme Heat Roasts Oregon Christmas Trees
https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idOVEMXHC2Z
SONG OF THE DAY
Dire Straits - Lady Writer
