Monday, September 20, 2021

The Energy News Digest for September 20, 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

Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Safety Blackouts in Northern California Amid Risky Wildfire Conditions (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article254365913.html

WA State: Massive Cryptocurrency Mining Operation Planned at Former Ponderay Newsprint Mill (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/massive-cryptocurrency-mining-operation-planned-150100110.html

Sauk-Suiattle Tribe Sues Seattle City Light Over Green Stance (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-science-lawsuits-fish-seattle-c81966e58203b70ca5b8e8624b64cea3

Illegal Marijuana Farms Take West’s Water in ‘Blatant Theft’ (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-oregon-droughts-marijuana-333e813d352fd2343e3adfe4f954e61a

Fearing Battery Fires After Recalls, People Are Selling Their Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicles Back to GM (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/18/cars/chevrolet-bolt-buybacks/index.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Safety Blackouts in Northern California Amid Risky Wildfire Conditions

2.      WA State: Massive Cryptocurrency Mining Operation Planned at Former Ponderay Newsprint Mill

3.      Sauk-Suiattle Tribe Sues Seattle City Light Over Green Stance

4.      Montana: Senator Tester Faces Choice on Colstrip, Energy Jobs

5.      Montana Consumer Advocate Seeks Electricity Rate Change Dismissal for NorthWest Energy

6.      WA State to Use Federal Utility Funds to Help People Pay for Air Conditioning, Not Just Heat

7.      Amid Soaring Natural Gas Prices, A Boost for Coal

8.      ‘Perfect Storm’ for Power Outages Brewing in British Columbia, Hydro Report Says

9.      Mylar Balloons Cause Power Outages This Year for 68,000 in El Paso, Las Cruces

10.   News Release: USDA Forest Service & Western Area Power Administration Working Together to Reduce Wildfire Threat & Prevent Outages

11.   Dems’ Federal Clean Electricity Plan Could Leave Out Big Utilities

12.   Britain & Norway Sign Pact on New Power Interconnector – Hydropower Boost in the Offing

13.   To Prevent Electricity Shortages, Save Nuclear & Coal Plants

14.   Guest Essay: President Biden Needs One Voice to Lead on Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s Plan to Save Salmon

15.   Guest Essay: Rural Oregon Seeks Bold Action on Climate

16.   A Hydrogen Hub in Utah Could Power Los Angeles’ Climate Future. Now Chevron Wants In

17.   Idaho: ‘Can’t Please Everybody.’ Community Members, Local Officials Continue to Question Wind Project

18.   California: Water Authority Seeks Proposals for Pumped Storage System at San Vicente

19.   World’s Longest-Operating Solar Thermal Facility Is Retiring Most of Its Capacity

20.   New Design for Offshore Wind Farm Has Lots of Fans

21.   Feds OK Plan to Cut Salmon Fishing When Needed for Orcas

22.   Record Alaska Salmon Catches Buoy Gig Harbor Fishing Fleet with ‘Best Season’ in Years

23.   Why Are Columbia River Steelhead Having Such a Bad Year?

24.   Faroe Islands Will Review Regulations after Record Dolphin Slaughter

25.   Your Gas Stove Is Polluting Your Own Home. Go Electric

26.   Illegal Marijuana Farms Take West’s Water in ‘Blatant Theft’

27.   Drought Tests Centuries-Old Water Traditions in New Mexico

28.   2020-21: The Water Year of Surprises

29.   WA State: ToledoTel Seeks Partnership with Lewis County to Expand High-Speed Internet to Winlock & Napavine

30.   WA State: Jefferson PUD Aims to Extend High Speed Internet

31.   Bitcoin Uses as Much Electricity as Washington State. How Is That Possible?

32.   Fearing Battery Fires After Recalls, People Are Selling Their Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicles Back to GM

33.   Our Electric Road-Trip Future Looks a Lot Like Buc-ee’s

34.   Public Wants Washington State to Help Struggling Newspapers

35.   Goats Are Cute, Hungry, and Might Help Save California

36.   Interior Reverses Trump, Moves BLM Headquarters Back to DC

37.   High-Stakes Christmas Looms as Surging Toy Demand Meets Supply-Chain Snarls

WORD OF THE DAY

Élan • \ay-LAWN\ • Noun - Vigorous spirit or enthusiasm

A great description of élan comes from Stevie Winwood’s Back in the High Life Again, “…We will drink and dance with one hand free…”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Safety Blackouts in Northern California Amid Risky Wildfire Conditions (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article254365913.html

2.      WA State: Massive Cryptocurrency Mining Operation Planned at Former Ponderay Newsprint Mill (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/massive-cryptocurrency-mining-operation-planned-150100110.html

3.      Sauk-Suiattle Tribe Sues Seattle City Light Over Green Stance (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-science-lawsuits-fish-seattle-c81966e58203b70ca5b8e8624b64cea3

4.      Montana: Senator Tester Faces Choice on Colstrip, Energy Jobs (The Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, MT)

https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/sep/19/senator-tester-faces-choice-colstrip-energy-jobs/

5.      Montana Consumer Advocate Seeks Electricity Rate Change Dismissal for NorthWest Energy (Yellowstone Public Radio)

https://www.ypradio.org/energy/2021-09-16/montana-consumer-advocate-seeks-electricity-rate-change-dismissal

6.      WA State to Use Federal Utility Funds to Help People Pay for Air Conditioning, Not Just Heat (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/article254265978.html?

7.      Amid Soaring Natural Gas Prices, A Boost for Coal (Casper Star-Tribune WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/amid-soaring-natural-gas-prices-a-boost-for-coal/article_9449ef2e-abe9-510f-aae1-140e5374c966.html

8.      ‘Perfect Storm’ for Power Outages Brewing in British Columbia, Hydro Report Says (The Weather Network)

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/perfect-storm-for-power-outages-brewing-in-british-columbia-hydro-report-says

9.      Mylar Balloons Cause Power Outages This Year for 68,000 in El Paso, Las Cruces (KVIA-TV, El Paso, TX)

https://kvia.com/news/local-news/2021/09/16/mylar-balloons-cause-power-outages-this-year-for-68000-in-el-paso-las-cruces/

10.   News Release: USDA Forest Service & Western Area Power Administration Working Together to Reduce Wildfire Threat & Prevent Outages (USDA Forest Service)

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD953616

11.   Dems’ Federal Clean Electricity Plan Could Leave Out Big Utilities (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/dems-clean-electricity-plan-could-leave-out-big-utilities/

12.   Britain & Norway Sign Pact on New Power Interconnector – Hydropower Boost in the Offing (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/britain-norway-sign-pact-new-power-interconnector-2021-09-16/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   To Prevent Electricity Shortages, Save Nuclear & Coal Plants (Washington Examiner)

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/to-prevent-electricity-shortages-save-nuclear-and-coal-plants

14.   Guest Essay: President Biden Needs One Voice to Lead on Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s Plan to Save Salmon (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article254259178.html

15.   Guest Essay: Rural Oregon Seeks Bold Action on Climate (Eugene Register-Guard, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/09/18/guest-view-rural-oregon-seeks-bold-action-climate-climate-change-fossil-fuels-energy-ruarl-community/8353379002/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16.   A Hydrogen Hub in Utah Could Power Los Angeles’ Climate Future. Now Chevron Wants In (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2021-09-16/hydrogen-hub-utah-los-angeles-chevron-boiling-point

17.   Idaho: ‘Can’t Please Everybody.’ Community Members, Local Officials Continue to Question Wind Project (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

https://magicvalley.com/news/local/cant-please-everybody-community-members-local-officials-continue-to-question-wind-project/article_d38fa47f-2737-5918-8ec1-4acfa5f26a58.html

18.   California: Water Authority Seeks Proposals for Pumped Storage System at San Vicente (California News-Times)

https://californianewstimes.com/water-authority-seeks-proposals-for-pumped-storage-system-at-san-vicente/524859/

19.   World’s Longest-Operating Solar Thermal Facility Is Retiring Most of Its Capacity (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=49616

20.   New Design for Offshore Wind Farm Has Lots of Fans (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/new-design-for-offshore-wind-farm-has-lots-of-fans-a935cdbe-321e-4e1b-a578-e5c821f3ceb2.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Feds OK Plan to Cut Salmon Fishing When Needed for Orcas (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/feds-ok-plan-to-cut-salmon-fishing-when-needed-for-orcas

22.   Record Alaska Salmon Catches Buoy Gig Harbor Fishing Fleet with ‘Best Season’ in Years (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-news/article254270273.html

23.   Why Are Columbia River Steelhead Having Such a Bad Year? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/09/16/steelhead-columbia-river-record-low-science/

24.   Faroe Islands Will Review Regulations after Record Dolphin Slaughter (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/faroe-islands-dolphin-follow-1.6179472?cmp=rss

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

25.   Your Gas Stove Is Polluting Your Own Home. Go Electric (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/16/your-gas-stove-is-leaking-air-pollution-inside-your-own-home-go-electric

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

26.   Illegal Marijuana Farms Take West’s Water in ‘Blatant Theft’ (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-oregon-droughts-marijuana-333e813d352fd2343e3adfe4f954e61a

27.   Drought Tests Centuries-Old Water Traditions in New Mexico (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-mountains-climate-environment-and-nature-new-mexico-24965087147cf6c38af75bfabc840b01

28.   2020-21: The Water Year of Surprises (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/2020-21-the-water-year-of-surprises/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   WA State: ToledoTel Seeks Partnership with Lewis County to Expand High-Speed Internet to Winlock & Napavine (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/toledotel-seeks-partnership-with-lewis-county-to-expand-high-speed-internet-to-winlock-and-napavine,272859

30.   WA State: Jefferson PUD Aims to Extend High Speed Internet (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/pud-aims-to-extend-high-speed-internet/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   Bitcoin Uses as Much Electricity as Washington State. How Is That Possible? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/bitcoin-uses-as-much-electricity-as-washington-state-how-is-that-possible/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

32.   Fearing Battery Fires After Recalls, People Are Selling Their Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicles Back to GM (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/18/cars/chevrolet-bolt-buybacks/index.html

33.   Our Electric Road-Trip Future Looks a Lot Like Buc-ee’s (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-09-14/our-ev-road-trip-future-looks-a-lot-like-buc-ee-s

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

34.   Public Wants Washington State to Help Struggling Newspapers (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/public-wants-state-to-help-struggling-newspapers/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

35.   Goats Are Cute, Hungry, and Might Help Save California (Marie Claire)

https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a37654029/goats-wildfires-california-2021/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW TODAY

36.   Interior Reverses Trump, Moves BLM Headquarters Back to DC (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/572796-interior-to-restore-dc-land-management-hq-while-also-maintaining

37.   High-Stakes Christmas Looms as Surging Toy Demand Meets Supply-Chain Snarls (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/high-stakes-christmas-looms-surging-toy-demand-meets-supply-chain-snarls-2021-09-20/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘A Big Gray Elephant’: Paris’ Arc de Triomphe Is Wrapped Up

https://komonews.com/news/offbeat/a-big-gray-elephant-paris-arc-de-triomphe-is-wrapped-up

‘New’ Van Gogh Drawing to Go on Display in Amsterdam Museum

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-europe-museums-amsterdam-3cddc59408c2b405004cb674ca4d838c

Samuel Adams’ Latest Potent Beer Is Illegal in 15 States

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/20/Samuel-Adams-Utopias-beer-illegal-15-states/7301632163091/

Boston’s ‘Skinny House’ Sells for $1.25 Million

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/09/18/Boston-Skinny-House-sells-million/2781631985645/

SONG OF THE DAY

Joni Mitchell – Free Man in Paris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQj6h8KpkiQ