Wednesday, July 7, 2021

The Energy News Digest for July 7, 2021 - The Late Edition

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

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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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Some Washington Utilities Saw All-Time Usage Highs in the Historic Heat - A State Commission Is Investigating Their Preparedness After Planned Outages (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jul/03/some-washington-utilities-saw-all-time-usage-highs/

California Looks Outside the State, Again, to Secure Summer Energy Supply (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/california-looks-outside-the-state-again-to-secure-summer-energy-supply/36910289#

Massive Offshore Wind Farms Could Be Coming to Oregon (Bandon Western World, OR)

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/massive-offshore-wind-farms-could-be-coming-to-oregon/article_8450f2e6-da89-11eb-a540-5b1159cf1ac8.html

Heat Wave Evokes Fears of Another Massive Salmon Die-Off in the Pacific Northwest (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/07/heat-wave-evokes-fears-another-massive-salmon-die-pnw

U.S., Russian Officials to Meet Following Kaseya Ransomware Attack (NextGov)

https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2021/07/us-russian-officials-meet-following-kaseya-ransomware-attack/183094/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Some Washington Utilities Saw All-Time Usage Highs in the Historic Heat - A State Commission Is Investigating Their Preparedness After Planned Outages

2.      California Looks Outside the State, Again, to Secure Summer Energy Supply

3.      California’s Hydroelectric Generation Affected by Historic Drought

4.      Lake Mead Level Continues to Drop, Affecting Power Production

5.      Drought, Heat Driving Up Power Prices for Some Montana Customers

6.      WA State: Recent Heat Wave to Cause Spike in Utility Bill

7.      Montana: Rate Increases Approved for NorthWestern Energy Customers

8.      Grocery Stores Couldn’t Handle the Pacific Northwest’s Historic Heat Wave

9.      ‘We Have to Build a Better & Smarter Grid’: Sen. Cantwell Pushes for Grid Improvements amid Heatwave Blackouts

10.   Demand Response Hasn’t Taken Off in the Pacific Northwest. Will a Massive Heat Wave Change That?

11.   WA State UTC Extends COVID-19 Energy Customer Disconnect Protections to September 30

12.   Alaska: With Power Cost Equalization Unfunded, Electricity Bills in Y-K Delta Could Double

13.   A Nuclear Reactor Is Proposed for Wyoming. One Small Town Hopes the Plant Will Restore Its Economic Fortunes.

14.   New Mexico: San Juan Generating Station Taken Offline After Cooling Tower Collapse

15.   Bonneville Power Administration Ramps Up Its Energy Imbalance Market Readiness

16.   Banning the Ban: Spokane Citizen’s Initiative Looks to Protect Natural Gas Indefinitely

17.   Editorial: Your Power Bill, Flood Control Ride on Treaty with Canada. Sides Haven’t Talked in a Year

18.   Guest Essay: Is Hydropower the Cinderella of the Clean Energy Movement?

19.   Massive Offshore Wind Farms Could Be Coming to Oregon

20.   Fishing Industry Feels Stranded as Offshore Wind Gathers Momentum

21.   Heat Wave Evokes Fears of Another Massive Salmon Die-Off in the Pacific Northwest

22.   Managers Altering Water Spilling at Two Snake River Dams

23.   Maine: Energy Regulators Say Endangered Salmon Can Co-Exist with Kennebec Dams, Dismaying Conservation Groups

24.   Cloud Seeding Not a Fix to Droughts, But Adds Significant Impact to Water Levels in Idaho

25.   North America Hit Record Temperatures for Hottest June Ever

26.   Extreme Temperatures Brought Biggest Glacial Melt in Washington in About 100 Years

27.   Oregon’s Governor Worries Heat Wave a ‘Harbinger of Things to Come’

28.   Oregon Sees Washington’s 2045 Target for Grid Decarbonization, Lowers by 5

29.   WA State: U.S. Senator Zeroes in on Upping Internet Speed: ‘Your Story Is the Story We’re Trying to Solve’

30.   WA State: Cheney Council Approves Avista Edge Fiber Agreement

31.   The Fight for Broadband Cash Heats Up

32.   Why a Butter Co-Op Is Lobbying on Broadband Access

33.   U.S., Russian Officials to Meet Following Kaseya Ransomware Attack

34.   Former President Trump Files Lawsuits Against Google, Facebook & Twitter

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Cadillac ● /CADD-uh-lack/ ● Noun – 1. Trademark, a large luxury car that is the most prestigious brand of General Motors. 2. Something that is an outstanding example of its kind, especially in terms of luxury, quality, or size.

Took some liberties with Boston’s “Rock & Roll Band” lyrics.

Guy saw us one night

A cigar, Cadillac Car

“This band’s outa sight”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Some Washington Utilities Saw All-Time Usage Highs in the Historic Heat - A State Commission Is Investigating Their Preparedness After Planned Outages (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jul/03/some-washington-utilities-saw-all-time-usage-highs/

2.      California Looks Outside the State, Again, to Secure Summer Energy Supply (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/california-looks-outside-the-state-again-to-secure-summer-energy-supply/36910289#

3.      California’s Hydroelectric Generation Affected by Historic Drought (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48616

4.      Lake Mead Level Continues to Drop, Affecting Power Production (KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV)

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/lake-mead-level-continues-to-drop-affecting-power-production/

5.      Drought, Heat Driving Up Power Prices for Some Montana Customers (Missoula Current, MT)

https://missoulacurrent.com/business/2021/07/drought-heat-power/

6.      WA State: Recent Heat Wave to Cause Spike in Utility Bill (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.keprtv.com/news/local/recent-heat-wave-to-cause-spike-in-utility-bill

7.      Montana: Rate Increases Approved for NorthWestern Energy Customers (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/rate-increases-approved-for-northwestern-energy-customers/article_1f8b291c-6d54-50ae-8c4a-c950f93f7550.html

8.      Grocery Stores Couldn’t Handle the Pacific Northwest’s Historic Heat Wave (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/grocery-stores-couldnt-handle-the-pacific-northwests-hi-1847221810

9.      ‘We Have to Build a Better & Smarter Grid’: Sen. Cantwell Pushes for Grid Improvements amid Heatwave Blackouts (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/we-have-to-build-a-better-and-smarter-grid-sen-cantwell-pushes-for-grid-improvements-amid-heatwave-blackouts/

10.   Demand Response Hasn’t Taken Off in the Pacific Northwest. Will a Massive Heat Wave Change That? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/demand-response-hasnt-taken-off-in-the-pacific-northwest/

11.   WA State UTC Extends COVID-19 Energy Customer Disconnect Protections to September 30 (Washington State UTC)

https://www.utc.wa.gov/news/2021/utc-extends-covid-19-energy-customer-protections

12.   Alaska: With Power Cost Equalization Unfunded, Electricity Bills in Y-K Delta Could Double (KYUK Radio, Bethel, AK)

https://www.kyuk.org/post/pce-unfunded-electricity-bills-y-k-delta-could-double

13.   A Nuclear Reactor Is Proposed for Wyoming. One Small Town Hopes the Plant Will Restore Its Economic Fortunes. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/a-nuclear-reactor-is-proposed-for-wyoming-one-small-town-hopes-the-plant-will-restore/article_6d261d33-c076-52ed-a5b5-d356fc8a2fc2.html

14.   New Mexico: San Juan Generating Station Taken Offline After Cooling Tower Collapse (New Mexico Political Report)

https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2021/07/06/san-juan-generating-station-offline-after-cooling-tower-collapse/

15.   Bonneville Power Administration Ramps Up Its Energy Imbalance Market Readiness (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-ramps-up-its-EIM-readiness.aspx

16.   Banning the Ban: Spokane Citizen’s Initiative Looks to Protect Natural Gas Indefinitely (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jul/04/banning-the-ban-spokane-citizens-initiative-looks-/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

17.   Editorial: Your Power Bill, Flood Control Ride on Treaty with Canada. Sides Haven’t Talked in a Year (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/editorials/article252594638.html

18.   Guest Essay: Is Hydropower the Cinderella of the Clean Energy Movement? (Business Institute of Washington)

https://thelens.news/2021/06/30/is-hydropower-the-cinderella-of-the-clean-energy-movement/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

19.   Massive Offshore Wind Farms Could Be Coming to Oregon (Bandon Western World, OR)

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/massive-offshore-wind-farms-could-be-coming-to-oregon/article_8450f2e6-da89-11eb-a540-5b1159cf1ac8.html

20.   Fishing Industry Feels Stranded as Offshore Wind Gathers Momentum (Connecticut Public Radio)

https://www.wnpr.org/post/fishing-industry-feels-stranded-offshore-wind-gathers-momentum

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Heat Wave Evokes Fears of Another Massive Salmon Die-Off in the Pacific Northwest (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/07/heat-wave-evokes-fears-another-massive-salmon-die-pnw

22.   Managers Altering Water Spilling at Two Snake River Dams (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/managers-altering-water-spilling-at-two-dams/article_50b097e9-1a39-5443-bb82-f47292b73911.html

23.   Maine: Energy Regulators Say Endangered Salmon Can Co-Exist with Kennebec Dams, Dismaying Conservation Groups (Maine Public Radio)

https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2021-07-06/energy-regulators-say-endangered-salmon-can-co-exist-with-kennebec-dams-dismaying-conservation-groups

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   Cloud Seeding Not a Fix to Droughts, But Adds Significant Impact to Water Levels in Idaho (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/cloud-seeding-water-impact-idaho/277-5d143a05-1b6c-4257-8f53-e7c7013b34c8

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   North America Hit Record Temperatures for Hottest June Ever (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-07/north-america-hit-record-temperatures-for-hottest-june-ever

26.   Extreme Temperatures Brought Biggest Glacial Melt in Washington in About 100 Years (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/extreme-temperatures-brought-biggest-glacial-melt-in-washington-in-about-100-years

27.   Oregon’s Governor Worries Heat Wave a ‘Harbinger of Things to Come’ (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/04/oregon-governor-heat-wave-harbinger-498047

28.   Oregon Sees Washington’s 2045 Target for Grid Decarbonization, Lowers by 5 (National Law Review)

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/oregon-sees-washington-s-2045-target-grid-decarbonization-lowers-5

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   WA State: U.S. Senator Zeroes in on Upping Internet Speed: ‘Your Story Is the Story We’re Trying to Solve’ (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/your-story-is-the-story-were-trying-to-solve-cantwell-visits-county-for-broadband-roundtable/article_d54d1fce-ddf6-11eb-86e4-ef582c6cda47.html

30.   WA State: Cheney Council Approves Avista Edge Fiber Agreement (Cheney Free Press, WA)

https://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2021/07/01/news/cheney-council-approves-avista-edge-fiber-agreement/28401.html

31.   The Fight for Broadband Cash Heats Up (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/infrastructure-broadband-money-fight-digital-divide-2e91a471-f999-4705-ae72-ddc1360a0ab6.html

32.   Why a Butter Co-Op Is Lobbying on Broadband Access (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2021/07/02/why-a-butter-company-is-lobbying-on-broadband-access-796305

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

33.   U.S., Russian Officials to Meet Following Kaseya Ransomware Attack (NextGov)

https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2021/07/us-russian-officials-meet-following-kaseya-ransomware-attack/183094/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

34.   Former President Trump Files Lawsuits Against Google, Facebook & Twitter (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-announces-lawsuit-against-google-facebook-and-twitter/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Rescue Cat Summits All 48 of New Hampshire’s Tallest Mountains in Nine Months

https://people.com/pets/rescue-cat-summits-48-new-hampshires-mountains-in-nine-months/

Wisconsin Water Tower Repainted with Embarrassing Typo

https://www.foxnews.com/us/wisconsin-water-tower-plover-paint-typo

Driver Pulled Over in California Had Satellite Dish Mounted on Car’s Hood

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/07/06/California-Highway-Patrol-Antelope-Valley-satellite-dish/5241625590502/

Man Balances Garden Hoe on Head for Over 2 1/2 Hours for Guinness Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/07/06/Guinness-World-Records-David-Rush-balancing-garden-hoe-head/6621625587026/

SONG OF THE DAY

Climb Every Mountain (The Sound of Music Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtCRBs5p4EQ