Monday, November 1, 2021

The Energy News Digest for November 1, 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

WA State: Natural Gas Customers Will See Bigger Bills Starting Nov. 1. Here’s Why (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article255384981.html

Tough Room: WA State Gov. Inslee Defends Climate Commitment Act Veto, Vows to Continue This Work with Tribes (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/washington/article255332316.html

California: Environmentalists, Native Americans & Fishermen Blast Vandenberg Offshore Wind Project (San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA)

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/environment/article255366796.html

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Bid to Curb Federal Power to Limit Carbon Emissions (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-hear-bid-curb-federal-power-limit-carbon-emissions-2021-10-29/

Diablo Dam Powerhouse Damaged After Rockslide, Seattle City Light Says (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/rockslide-damages-seattle-city-light-diablo-dam/281-59e233ea-8ae8-4867-a5f1-49da99f61cb1

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      WA State: Natural Gas Customers Will See Bigger Bills Starting Nov. 1. Here’s Why

2.      Regulators Approve Cost-Driven Jump in Oregon Natural Gas Rates

3.      Home Heating Prices Are Skyrocketing - There’s Nothing President Biden Can Do About It

4.      Diablo Dam Powerhouse Damaged After Rockslide, Seattle City Light Says

5.      Nuclear Power Plant Operators Want to Run for Eight Decades - A Federal Lab in Washington State Found ‘Critical Gaps’ in Knowledge About How Reactors Age

6.      While Coal Makes a Comeback, Reduced Supplies Stoke Fears Over Electrical Grids

7.      Montana Court Rejects Permit for Rosebud Coal Strip Mine Expansion

8.      Oregon: PacifiCorp Wildfire Lawsuit – New Filings Provide Look at Possible Causes of Labor Day Fires

9.      Arizona Regulators OK Belt-Tightening in Utility Rate Case

10.   Yucca Mountain Report ‘Good News’ for Nevada

11.   Electricity Travels 42 Feet to Kill Construction Worker in Ditch, Pennsylvania Officials Say

12.   Warm Springs Man Tapped to Replace Sams on Northwest Power & Conservation Council

13.   Guest Essay: Hydropower’s Absence in the Reconciliation Bill Is a Major Gap in U.S. Clean Energy Strategy

14.   Guest Essay: Struggling Families About to Take Another Hit: Home Heating Costs Projected to Soar

15.   News Release: Snake River Dams - Murray, Inslee Bend to Political Hostage-Taking

16.   Guest Essay: Eyewitnesses to Disaster - Commercial Fishermen Implore Action on the Collapse of Alaska Ecosystems

17.   California: Environmentalists, Native Americans & Fishermen Blast Vandenberg Offshore Wind Project

18.   Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Project Faces Criticism

19.   Federal Grant to Fund Oregon Wildlife Research Ahead of Offshore Wind Farm Development

20.   Old Power Gear Is Slowing Use of Clean Energy

21.   Will Reviving British Columbia’s Declining Salmon Stocks Require a Rethink of Hatcheries?

22.   ‘A Giant Step’ for Salmon: As Dam-Breaching Debate Rages, Cantwell Quietly Secures Billions for Fish Recovery

23.   Biologists Have Giant Questions About Monster Fish in Upper Snake River

24.   U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Bid to Curb Federal Power to Limit Carbon Emissions

25.   Tough Room: WA State Gov. Inslee Defends Climate Commitment Act Veto, Vows to Continue This Work with Tribes

26.   Earth Gets Hotter, Deadlier During Decades of Climate Talks

27.   The World’s Largest Companies Are Turning to Carbon Credits - The Market Is Smoking Hot.

28.   Sophisticated Hackers Could Crash the U.S. Power Grid. Money, Not Sabotage, Is Their Focus

29.   Idaho Ranked as the Third Worst State to Own an Electric Vehicle

30.   Seattle Kraken ‘Three Stars’ Postgame Ceremony Features Players Tossing Plush Salmon to Fans

31.   WA State Gov. Inslee Lets Eviction Moratorium Expire on Sunday

32.   Americans Sour on Economy Amid Inflation Woes: AP-NORC Poll

WORD OF THE DAY

Sequacious \suh-KWAY-shuss\ Adjective - Intellectually servile

Sequacious viewer

Left and right, talking heads shout

Truth is on the outs

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      WA State: Natural Gas Customers Will See Bigger Bills Starting Nov. 1. Here’s Why (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article255384981.html

2.      Regulators Approve Cost-Driven Jump in Oregon Natural Gas Rates (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/10/29/natural-gas-bills-set-for-steep-rise-in-oregon.html

3.      Home Heating Prices Are Skyrocketing - There’s Nothing President Biden Can Do About It (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/2021/10/28/home-heating-prices-are-skyrocketing-and-theres-nothing-biden-can-do-about-it/

4.      Diablo Dam Powerhouse Damaged After Rockslide, Seattle City Light Says (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/rockslide-damages-seattle-city-light-diablo-dam/281-59e233ea-8ae8-4867-a5f1-49da99f61cb1

5.      Nuclear Power Plant Operators Want to Run for Eight Decades - A Federal Lab in Washington State Found ‘Critical Gaps’ in Knowledge About How Reactors Age (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/nuclear-power-plant-operators-want-to-run-for-eight-decades-but-a-federal-lab-in-washington-state-found-critical-gaps-in-knowledge/

6.      While Coal Makes a Comeback, Reduced Supplies Stoke Fears Over Electrical Grids (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/news/while-coal-makes-a-comeback-reduced-supplies-stoke-fears-over-electrical-grids/article_f8cf7bf7-eaf3-5276-94d9-9fd09d6dc891.html

7.      Montana Court Rejects Permit for Rosebud Coal Strip Mine Expansion (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/montana-court-rejects-permit-rosebud-coal-strip-mine-expansion-2021-10-28/

8.      Oregon: PacifiCorp Wildfire Lawsuit – New Filings Provide Look at Possible Causes of Labor Day Fires (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2021/10/pacificorp-wildfire-lawsuit-new-filings-provide-look-at-possible-causes-of-labor-day-fires.html

9.      Arizona Regulators OK Belt-Tightening in Utility Rate Case (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arizona/articles/2021-10-28/arizona-regulators-ok-belt-tightening-in-utility-rate-case

10.   Yucca Mountain Report ‘Good News’ for Nevada (Pahrump Valley Times, NV)

https://pvtimes.com/news/yucca-mountain-report-good-news-for-nevada-106104/

11.   Electricity Travels 42 Feet to Kill Construction Worker in Ditch, Pennsylvania Officials Say (Fresno Bee, CA)

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/nation-world/national/article255351666.html

12.   Warm Springs Man Tapped to Replace Sams on Northwest Power & Conservation Council (Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/environment/warm-springs-man-tapped-to-replace-sams-on-northwest-power-and-conservation-council/article_d561884c-3846-11ec-a9b3-c3908a29bd0f.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   Guest Essay: Hydropower’s Absence in the Reconciliation Bill Is a Major Gap in U.S. Clean Energy Strategy (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/hydropowers-absence-in-the-reconciliation-bill-is-a-major-gap-in-us-clea/609055/

14.   Guest Essay: Struggling Families About to Take Another Hit: Home Heating Costs Projected to Soar (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/578313-struggling-families-about-to-take-another-hit-home-heating-costs?rl=1

15.   News Release: Snake River Dams - Murray, Inslee Bend to Political Hostage-Taking (U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-WA)

https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns-and-op-eds/murray-inslee-bend-political-hostage-taking

16.   Guest Essay: Eyewitnesses to Disaster - Commercial Fishermen Implore Action on the Collapse of Alaska Ecosystems (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/eyewitnesses-to-disaster-commercial-fishermen-implore-action-on-the-collapse-of-alaska-ecosystems/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

17.   California: Environmentalists, Native Americans & Fishermen Blast Vandenberg Offshore Wind Project (San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA)

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/environment/article255366796.html

18.   Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Project Faces Criticism (KIVI-TV, Twin Falls, ID)

https://www.kivitv.com/ksaw/lava-ridge-wind-project-faces-criticism

19.   Federal Grant to Fund Oregon Wildlife Research Ahead of Offshore Wind Farm Development (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/federal-grant-to-fund-oregon-wildlife-research-ahead-of-offshore-wind-farm-development,276329

20.   Old Power Gear Is Slowing Use of Clean Energy (NY Times)

https://finance-commerce.com/2021/10/old-power-gear-is-slowing-use-of-clean-energy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Will Reviving British Columbia’s Declining Salmon Stocks Require a Rethink of Hatcheries? (The Narwhal)

https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-salmon-hatcheries/

22.   ‘A Giant Step’ for Salmon: As Dam-Breaching Debate Rages, Cantwell Quietly Secures Billions for Fish Recovery (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/oct/31/a-giant-step-for-salmon-as-dam-breaching-debate-ra/

23.   Biologists Have Giant Questions About Monster Fish in Upper Snake River (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/nov/01/biologists-have-giant-questions-about-monster-fish/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

24.   U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Bid to Curb Federal Power to Limit Carbon Emissions (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-hear-bid-curb-federal-power-limit-carbon-emissions-2021-10-29/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Tough Room: WA State Gov. Inslee Defends Climate Commitment Act Veto, Vows to Continue This Work with Tribes (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/washington/article255332316.html

26.   Earth Gets Hotter, Deadlier During Decades of Climate Talks (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-technology-environment-europe-98e55f2c64aa6d3dc76a5fc64f8d4ba2

27.   The World’s Largest Companies Are Turning to Carbon Credits - The Market Is Smoking Hot. (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/carbon-credits-fighting-climate-change-100006028.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   Sophisticated Hackers Could Crash the U.S. Power Grid. Money, Not Sabotage, Is Their Focus (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/sophisticated-hackers-could-crash-the-us-power-grid-but-money-not-sabotag/603764/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Idaho Ranked as the Third Worst State to Own an Electric Vehicle (KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)

https://www.kmvt.com/2021/10/28/idaho-ranked-third-worst-state-own-an-electric-vehicle/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Seattle Kraken ‘Three Stars’ Postgame Ceremony Features Players Tossing Plush Salmon to Fans (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/seattle-kraken-stars-postgame-ceremony-features-players-tossing/story?id=80834502

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

31.   WA State Gov. Inslee Lets Eviction Moratorium Expire on Sunday (Associated Press)

https://www.koin.com/news/washington/gov-inslee-lets-eviction-moratorium-expire-on-sunday/

32.   Americans Sour on Economy Amid Inflation Woes: AP-NORC Poll (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-11-01/americans-sour-on-economy-amid-inflation-woes-ap-norc-poll

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

1,000 Andy Warhol Sketches Will Be Sold for $250 Each. The Catch? 999 Are Forgeries.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/10/25/andy-warhol-sketches-sale-250-each-only-one-real/8542832002/

Hundreds of Paddleboarding Witches Brave Heavy Winds on the Willamette River for Biggest Turnout Yet

https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2021/10/hundreds-of-paddleboarding-witches-brave-heavy-winds-on-the-willamette-river-for-biggest-turnout-yet-photos.html

Editors Add 455 New Words to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/29/1050379814/editors-add-455-new-words-to-merriam-websters-online-dictionary

This Ruby Is 2.5 Billion Years Old & Contains Evidence of Ancient Life

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-university-rubies-ruby-chris-yakymchuk-greenland-1.6224006?cmp=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Rickie Lee Jones - Chuck E’s in Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o31hyNDV2B0