Monday, September 13, 2021

The Energy News Digest for September 13, 2021

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

Depleted by Drought, Lakes Powell & Mead Were Doomed from the Beginning (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/09/10/lake-powell-mead-drought-history/

Utility Shutoff Moratoriums Protected Many Consumers Earlier in the Pandemic. What Happens Now? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/utility-shutoff-moratoriums-during-pandemic-whats-next/606287/

$3.9 Billion Cost to Decommission Diablo Canyon Power Plant Approved (KEYT-TV, Santa Barbara, CA)

https://keyt.com/news/san-luis-obispo-county/2021/09/09/diablo-canyon-power-plant-cost-to-decommission-approved/

California Lawmakers Go All-In for Offshore Wind (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-lawmakers-go-all-in-for-offshore-wind/

Judge Orders Willamette River Dam Improvements to Aid Salmon in Oregon (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/571351-judge-orders-dam-improvements-to-aid-salmon-in-oregon?rl=1

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Utility Shutoff Moratoriums Protected Many Consumers Earlier in the Pandemic. What Happens Now?

2.      Unpaid SMUD Bills Skyrocketed During Pandemic. How California Will Help Pay Off Debts

3.      LIHEAP to Help Record 1.2 Million Households Pay for Cooling This Year

4.      $3.9 Billion Cost to Decommission Diablo Canyon Power Plant Approved

5.      Lower Snake River Irrigators Propose Two-Dam Drawdown, Breaking with Some Farmers & Bargers

6.      Canada: Thomas Gives Update on Columbia River Treaty Negotiations

7.      U.S. Natural Gas Consumption to Decline Through 2022, Led By the Electric Power Sector

8.      FERC: Former GOP Energy Regulator Regrets Partisan Past

9.      Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration’s Part in Infrastructure Bill Aids Clean Energy

10.   Guest Essay: Collaboration, Not Litigation, Will Build a Sustainable Future

11.   Guest Essay: We Can Have Our Salmon & Eat It, Too

12.   Guest Essay: Removing the Enloe Dam Not as Simple a Decision as It First Seems

13.   California Lawmakers Go All-In for Offshore Wind

14.   WA State: After Appeal, Three Companies Involved in the Wind Farm Death of Chehalis Man Will Pay Out Full $549,874

15.   Oregon Farmers Allege Violations at Sherman County Wind Turbine Project

16.   Major California Battery Outage Highlights Energy Storage Risks

17.   The Left’s NIMBY War Against Renewable Energy

18.   Used Solar Panels Are Powering the Developing World

19.   San Diego Gas & Electric Pays $57 Million Over Botched Bulb Program

20.   Load-Shifting Potential of Heat Pump Water Heaters Studied in Pacific Northwest

21.   Cultivation Experts Bust Three Common Cannabis Lighting Myths

22.   Judge Orders Willamette River Dam Improvements to Aid Salmon in Oregon

23.   Extreme Summer Heat Puts Enormous Strain on Salmon in Columbia River

24.   Prized Trout Streams Shrink as Heat, Drought Grip U.S. West

25.   British Columbia Government Continues Logging of Old Growth as Two-Year Protest in the Woods Drags On

26.   Depleted by Drought, Lakes Powell & Mead Were Doomed from the Beginning

27.   Summer of 2021 Tied for Hottest in U.S. Since 1936 Dust Bowl

28.   Internet Funding Rule Could Favor Rural Areas Over Cities

29.   WA State: Mason PUD 3 Named ‘Wi-Fi at Work’ Award Winner

30.   President Biden’s Electric Car Plans Hinge on Having Enough Chargers

31.   Ad Wars Intensify as Democrats’ Green Energy Plans Take Shape

32.   WA State: Port of Chehalis Enters Agreement with Twin Transit Over Hydrogen Fueling Station Project

33.   U.S. Democrats Unveil Details of $150 Billion Clean Electricity Plan in Budget Bill

34.   President Biden Taps DC Regulator Phillips to Fill FERC’s Fifth Seat; ‘A Gift to Corporate Utilities,’ Says Critic

WORD OF THE DAY

Maladroit \mah-luh-DROYT\ Adjective - lacking adroitness: inept 

Watch where you’re walking

Dog poo danger in the park

Maladroit steps; oops!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Utility Shutoff Moratoriums Protected Many Consumers Earlier in the Pandemic. What Happens Now? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/utility-shutoff-moratoriums-during-pandemic-whats-next/606287/

2.      Unpaid SMUD Bills Skyrocketed During Pandemic. How California Will Help Pay Off Debts (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/equity-lab/article254115958.html

3.      LIHEAP to Help Record 1.2 Million Households Pay for Cooling This Year (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/31812-liheap-to-help-record-1-2-million-households-pay-for-cooling-this-year/?amp

4.      $3.9 Billion Cost to Decommission Diablo Canyon Power Plant Approved (KEYT-TV, Santa Barbara, CA)

https://keyt.com/news/san-luis-obispo-county/2021/09/09/diablo-canyon-power-plant-cost-to-decommission-approved/

5.      Lower Snake River Irrigators Propose Two-Dam Drawdown, Breaking with Some Farmers & Bargers (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/lower-snake-river-irrigators-propose-two-dam-drawdown-breaking-with-some-farmers-and-bargers/

6.      Canada: Thomas Gives Update on Columbia River Treaty Negotiations (Columbia Valley Pioneer, BC)

https://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/thomas-gives-update-on-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations/

7.      U.S. Natural Gas Consumption to Decline Through 2022, Led By the Electric Power Sector (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=49496

8.      FERC: Former GOP Energy Regulator Regrets Partisan Past (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/571144-former-gop-energy-regulator-regrets-partisan-past?rl=1

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

9.      Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration’s Part in Infrastructure Bill Aids Clean Energy (Everett Herald – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-bpas-part-in-infrastructure-bill-aids-clean-energy/

10.   Guest Essay: Collaboration, Not Litigation, Will Build a Sustainable Future (Hermiston Herald, OR)

https://www.hermistonherald.com/opinion/columnists/other-views-collaboration-not-litigation-will-build-a-sustainable-future/article_420c7ada-0a8c-11ec-869e-3f6b6f8a70d2.html

11.   Guest Essay: We Can Have Our Salmon & Eat It, Too (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/09/02/guest-view-we-can-have-our-salmon-and-eat-it-too-hydro-power-killer-whales-chinook-oregon-idaho/5657156001/

12.   Guest Essay: Removing the Enloe Dam Not as Simple a Decision as It First Seems (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/opinion/opinion-kurt-miller-removing-the-enloe-dam-not-as-simple-a-decision-as-it-first/article_69a38392-09ef-11ec-ae43-6f2f2000d201.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   California Lawmakers Go All-In for Offshore Wind (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-lawmakers-go-all-in-for-offshore-wind/

14.   WA State: After Appeal, Three Companies Involved in the Wind Farm Death of Chehalis Man Will Pay Out Full $549,874 (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/after-appeal-three-companies-involved-in-the-wind-farm-death-of-chehalis-man-will-pay-out-full,271687

15.   Oregon Farmers Allege Violations at Sherman County Wind Turbine Project (Capital Press)

https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/09/10/oregon-farmers-allege-violations-at-wind-turbine-project/

16.   Major California Battery Outage Highlights Energy Storage Risks (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/major-calif-battery-outage-highlights-energy-storage-risks/

17.   The Left’s NIMBY War Against Renewable Energy (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-09-12/the-left-s-nimby-war-against-renewable-energy

18.   Used Solar Panels Are Powering the Developing World (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-08-25/used-solar-panels-are-powering-the-developing-world

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   San Diego Gas & Electric Pays $57 Million Over Botched Bulb Program (KPBS Radio, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/2021/sep/10/san-diego-gas-electric-pays-57m-bulb-program/

20.   Load-Shifting Potential of Heat Pump Water Heaters Studied in Pacific Northwest (Tech Explore)

https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-load-shifting-potential-heaters.html

 

21.   Cultivation Experts Bust Three Common Cannabis Lighting Myths (Hemp Industry Daily)

https://hempindustrydaily.com/cultivation-experts-bust-3-common-cannabis-lighting-myths/

FISH & WILDLIFE

22.   Judge Orders Willamette River Dam Improvements to Aid Salmon in Oregon (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/571351-judge-orders-dam-improvements-to-aid-salmon-in-oregon?rl=1

23.   Extreme Summer Heat Puts Enormous Strain on Salmon in Columbia River (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/extreme-summer-heat-puts-enormous-strain-on-salmon-in-columbia-river/

24.   Prized Trout Streams Shrink as Heat, Drought Grip U.S. West (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-environment-and-nature-droughts-science--fb247eb1eb5f2889afcbe6c3456c675d

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

25.   British Columbia Government Continues Logging of Old Growth as Two-Year Protest in the Woods Drags On (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/b-c-government-continues-logging-of-old-growth-as-2-year-protest-in-the-woods-drags-on/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

26.   Depleted by Drought, Lakes Powell & Mead Were Doomed from the Beginning (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/09/10/lake-powell-mead-drought-history/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

27.   Summer of 2021 Tied for Hottest in U.S. Since 1936 Dust Bowl (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/571559-summer-of-2021-tied-for-hottest-in-us-since-1936-dust-bowl?rl=1

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Internet Funding Rule Could Favor Rural Areas Over Cities (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-8f7c100bd09331542ed7af5168c800d2

29.   WA State: Mason PUD 3 Named ‘Wi-Fi at Work’ Award Winner (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

https://masonwebtv.com/archives/45369

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   President Biden’s Electric Car Plans Hinge on Having Enough Chargers (Silicon Valley Business Journal)

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2021/09/09/nyt-biden-electric-car-chargers.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   Ad Wars Intensify as Democrats’ Green Energy Plans Take Shape (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/climate-change-ad-wars-congress-democrats-green-energy-ada03521-f0ad-4e37-b8a7-2b8fa7f705e5.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32.   WA State: Port of Chehalis Enters Agreement with Twin Transit Over Hydrogen Fueling Station Project (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/port-chehalis-enters-agreement-twin-035900929.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

33.   U.S. Democrats Unveil Details of $150 Billion Clean Electricity Plan in Budget Bill (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-democrats-unveil-details-150-bln-clean-electricity-plan-budget-bill-2021-09-09/

34.   President Biden Taps DC Regulator Phillips to Fill FERC’s Fifth Seat; ‘A Gift to Corporate Utilities,’ Says Critic (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/biden-taps-dc-regulator-phillips-to-fill-fercs-5th-seat-a-gift-to-corpor/606327/

RHINOS IN THE AIR – DIVERSIONS

Fans Catch Falling Cat in U.S. Flag at University of Miami Football Game

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/13/University-of-Miami-cat-catch-Hard-Rock-Stadium/5531631547336/

Dog Steals Ball During Cricket Match in Ireland

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/13/ireland-cricket-dog-stole-ball-T20-cup/8591631549561/

Ig Nobel Prizes awarded for chewing gum research, upside-down rhino

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/10/2021-ig-nobel-prizes-upside-down-rhino-gum-bacteria/3661631301125/

Stowaway Gecko Takes 4,000-Mile Trip in Traveler’s Bra

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/10/RSPCA-gecko-stowaway-Barbados-bra/8761631294153/

SONG OF THE DAY

LeBlanc & Carr – Falling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMKli8afm6s