Monday, February 1, 2021

The Energy News Digest for February 1, 2021

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

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Idaho: LS Power Releases Timeline, Economic Projections for $1 Billion Wind Farm (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/the-windy-windfall-ls-power-releases-timeline-economic-projections-for-1-billion-wind-farm/article_3203a25e-13c9-5b98-bcb0-cf5dd62d8395.html

Energy Associations Urge Congressional Leadership for $10 Billion in Emergency LIHEAP Funds (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/28915-energy-associations-plead-with-congressional-leadership-for-10b-in-emergency-liheap-funds/

Groups Fear California Blackout Prevention Plan Could Increase Gas Use, Threaten Climate Goals (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/groups-fear-california-blackout-prevention-plan-could-increase-gas-use-thr/594237/

WA State: Broad Lewis County Coalition Supports Bill to Get Internet from PUDs (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/news/broad-lewis-county-coalition-supports-bill-to-get-internet-from-puds/article_1b6c0e54-6294-11eb-9ff4-bb555c4ed970.html

WA State: Clark County Homebuilders Decry Timing of New Energy Standards, Say Home Prices Will Go Up (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/jan/28/cclark-county-homebuilders-decry-timing-of-new-energy-standards-say-home-prices-will-go-up/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Energy Associations Urge Congressional Leadership for $10 Billion in Emergency LIHEAP Funds

2.      Groups Fear California Blackout Prevention Plan Could Increase Gas Use, Threaten Climate Goals

3.      Groups Challenge Utility Plan to Dump New Mexico Power Plant

4.      Idaho: Avista Proposes Plan That Benefits Idaho Customers

5.      Montana: Missoula, Bozeman, Helena Working on Green Tariff with NorthWestern Energy

6.      CCAs Accelerate California’s Clean Energy Transition, Providing a Model for Other States: Report

7.      Hawaii’s Electricity Most Expensive in the Nation, But Tax Credit Extension Could Help

8.      Op/Ed: January Windstorm Is Reminder of Value of Diverse Energy Sources

9.      Energy Adviser: Servicemen Key to Short Power Outages

10.   Idaho: LS Power Releases Timeline, Economic Projections for $1 Billion Wind Farm

11.   Tidal Power: Sea Trials to Begin for Next Contender Trying to Master Bay of Fundy’s Tides

12.   Pennsylvania: Allegheny County Commits to Renewable Energy Agreement, Building Hydropower Facility on Ohio River

13.   WA State: Clark County Homebuilders Decry Timing of New Energy Standards, Say Home Prices Will Go Up

14.   DOE, House Energy Committee Question Proposed Building Energy Code Changes

15.   Want to Actually Fix the Environment? Change How Buildings Are Built

16.   Northwest’s Salmon Population May Be Running Out of Time

17.   Op/Ed: Oregon Gov. Brown Chooses Litigation Over Collaboration

18.   A Group of Orca Outcasts Is Now Dominating an Entire Sea

19.   Sea Lions Are Dying from a Mysterious Cancer. The Culprits? Herpes & DDT

20.   WA State: A Closer Look – Why the Proposed Chehalis River Dam Is Not Designed to Generate Power

21.   British Columbia: BC Hydro to Offer ‘Clean’ Industries Reduced Rate as Province Aims to Cut Emissions

22.   WA State: As Climate Proposals Move Through Legislature, Offset Provisions Are Causing Controversy

23.   WA State: Broad Lewis County Coalition Supports Bill to Get Internet from PUDs

24.   In a World of ‘Remote Everything,’ Washington State Sees New Push for Public Broadband Networks

25.   WA State: Grant PUD Internet Service Revenues Soared Past Expected Money-Making Benchmarks in 2020

26.   Report: Seniors Hit Hard by the Digital Divide

27.   30% of ‘SolarWinds’ Hacking Victims Did Not Actually Use SolarWinds Software, Feds Say

28.   Washington State Lawmakers Consider Shifting All New Car Sales to Electric-Only by 2030

29.   Op/Ed: When the Electric Car Is King, Less Energy Is More

30.   I’m a Social Media Manager. Facebook & Twitter Have Made My Job an Ethical Nightmare

31.   The Unlikely Star of NFL’s Pregame Super Bowl Commercial: A Walking, Talking Vince Lombardi

32.   WA State: Personal Data of 1.6 Million Washington Unemployment Claimants Exposed in Hack of State Auditor

33.   Constitutional Ban on Legal Cannabis Advances in Idaho

WORD OF THE DAY

Peregrine \PAIR-uh-grin\ Adjective – Having a tendency to wander.

Walter Mitty sat immobile at his desk, his unfocused eyes betraying his peregrine mind, as it took a flight of fancy to a Renaissance Festival in Belfair, Washington.

WORD HISTORY FROM MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY – The current meaning of “peregrine” has wandered a bit from its earlier meanings. The word originally meant “foreign,” as did its Latin predecessor “peregrinus.” But even before “peregrine” appeared on its own in English, it was part of the name of that well-known bird of prey, the peregrine falcon. The bird’s appellation derives from “falco peregrinus” -- literally, “pilgrim falcon” in Medieval Latin. Peregrine falcons typically nest in high places, such as on cliff ledges or, in modern times, city skyscrapers. Because of the nests’ inaccessibility, medieval falconers who wanted young peregrine falcons to train had captured them on their first flights or migratory “pilgrimages.” That practice led to a new sense of “peregrine” (“engaged in or traveling on a pilgrimage”), which was later broadened to “wandering.” 

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Energy Associations Urge Congressional Leadership for $10 Billion in Emergency LIHEAP Funds (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/28915-energy-associations-plead-with-congressional-leadership-for-10b-in-emergency-liheap-funds/

2.      Groups Fear California Blackout Prevention Plan Could Increase Gas Use, Threaten Climate Goals (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/groups-fear-california-blackout-prevention-plan-could-increase-gas-use-thr/594237/

3.      Groups Challenge Utility Plan to Dump New Mexico Power Plant (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/environment-statutes-new-mexico-070b4c43fe026f23ff7dc7774269d666

4.      Idaho: Avista Proposes Plan That Benefits Idaho Customers (Coeur d’Alene Press, ID)

https://cdapress.com/news/2021/jan/31/avista-proposes-plan-benefits-idaho-customers/

5.      Montana: Missoula, Bozeman, Helena Working on Green Tariff with NorthWestern Energy (Missoula Current, MT)

https://missoulacurrent.com/business/2021/01/missoula-green-tariff-2/

6.      CCAs Accelerate California’s Clean Energy Transition, Providing a Model for Other States: Report (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ccas-accelerate-californias-clean-energy-transition-providing-a-model-for/594103/

7.      Hawaii’s Electricity Most Expensive in the Nation, But Tax Credit Extension Could Help (KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI)

https://www.khon2.com/local-news/hawaiis-electricity-most-expensive-in-the-nation-but-tax-credit-extension-could-help/

8.      Op/Ed: January Windstorm Is Reminder of Value of Diverse Energy Sources (Wenatchee World, WA)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/wvbusiness/kris-johnson-january-windstorm-is-reminder-of-value-of-diverse-energy-sources/article_525403f6-5b58-11eb-9e54-4f357833884c.html

9.      Energy Adviser: Servicemen Key to Short Power Outages (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/jan/30/energy-adviser-servicemen-key-to-short-outages/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Idaho: LS Power Releases Timeline, Economic Projections for $1 Billion Wind Farm (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/the-windy-windfall-ls-power-releases-timeline-economic-projections-for-1-billion-wind-farm/article_3203a25e-13c9-5b98-bcb0-cf5dd62d8395.html

11.   Tidal Power: Sea Trials to Begin for Next Contender Trying to Master Bay of Fundy’s Tides (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/sea-trials-tidal-energy-turbines-1.5894314?cmp=rss

12.   Pennsylvania: Allegheny County Commits to Renewable Energy Agreement, Building Hydropower Facility on Ohio River (Pittsburgh Business Times, PA)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/02/pennsylvania-allegheny-county-commits.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

13.   WA State: Clark County Homebuilders Decry Timing of New Energy Standards, Say Home Prices Will Go Up (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/jan/28/cclark-county-homebuilders-decry-timing-of-new-energy-standards-say-home-prices-will-go-up/

14.   DOE, House Energy Committee Question Proposed Building Energy Code Changes (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2021/02/01/national/doe-house-energy-committee-question-proposed-building-energy-code-changes/

15.   Want to Actually Fix the Environment? Change How Buildings Are Built (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90599069/want-to-actually-fix-the-environment-change-how-buildings-are-built

FISH & WILDLIFE

16.   Northwest’s Salmon Population May Be Running Out of Time (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/climate/washington-salmon-extinction-climate-change.html

17.   Op/Ed: Oregon Gov. Brown Chooses Litigation Over Collaboration (Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://www.bendbulletin.com/opinion/guest-column-gov-brown-chooses-litigation-over-collaboration/article_8c7f8c62-625b-11eb-9862-63cf47817f6d.html

18.   A Group of Orca Outcasts Is Now Dominating an Entire Sea (Atlantic Magazine)

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/01/orcas-killer-whale-resident-transient/617862/

19.   Sea Lions Are Dying from a Mysterious Cancer. The Culprits? Herpes & DDT (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2021-01-31/california-sea-lions-cancer-ddt

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

20.   WA State: A Closer Look – Why the Proposed Chehalis River Dam Is Not Designed to Generate Power (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/opinion/a-closer-look-why-the-proposed-dam-is-not-designed-to-generate-power/article_3d11f53c-628f-11eb-88e8-f3682a6f037f.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21.   British Columbia: BC Hydro to Offer ‘Clean’ Industries Reduced Rate as Province Aims to Cut Emissions (Alaska Highway News, BC)

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/b-c-hydro-to-offer-clean-industries-reduced-rate-as-province-aims-to-cut-emissions-1.24274270

22.   WA State: As Climate Proposals Move Through Legislature, Offset Provisions Are Causing Controversy (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/post/climate-proposals-move-through-legislature-offset-provisions-are-causing-controversy

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

23.   WA State: Broad Lewis County Coalition Supports Bill to Get Internet from PUDs (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/news/broad-lewis-county-coalition-supports-bill-to-get-internet-from-puds/article_1b6c0e54-6294-11eb-9ff4-bb555c4ed970.html

24.   In a World of ‘Remote Everything,’ Washington State Sees New Push for Public Broadband Networks (GeekWire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2021/world-remote-everything-washington-state-sees-new-push-public-broadband-networks/

25.   WA State: Grant PUD Internet Service Revenues Soared Past Expected Money-Making Benchmarks in 2020 (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/internet-service-providing-revenues-soared-past-expected-money-making-benchmarks-in-2020/article_2d63e378-6192-11eb-865d-9fec59062bff.html

26.   Report: Seniors Hit Hard by the Digital Divide (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/report-seniors-hit-hard-by-the-digital-divide/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

27.   30% of ‘SolarWinds’ Hacking Victims Did Not Actually Use SolarWinds Software, Feds Say (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/30-of-solarwinds-hacking-victims-did-not-actually-use-1846160687

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

28.   Washington State Lawmakers Consider Shifting All New Car Sales to Electric-Only by 2030 (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/01/29/washington-lawmakers-consider-shifting-all-new-car-sales-to-electric-only-by-2030/

29.   Op/Ed: When the Electric Car Is King, Less Energy Is More (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2021-opinion-renewables-will-power-future-of-us-energy/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   I’m a Social Media Manager. Facebook & Twitter Have Made My Job an Ethical Nightmare (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90599419/im-a-social-media-manager-facebook-and-twitter-have-made-my-job-an-ethical-nightmare

31.   The Unlikely Star of NFL’s Pregame Super Bowl Commercial: A Walking, Talking Vince Lombardi (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super-bowl/2021/01/31/nfls-super-bowl-commercial-features-walking-talking-vince-lombardi/4292993001/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

32.   WA State: Personal Data of 1.6 Million Washington Unemployment Claimants Exposed in Hack of State Auditor (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/personal-data-of-1-6-million-washington-unemployment-claimants-exposed-in-hack-of-state-auditor/

33.   Constitutional Ban on Legal Cannabis Advances in Idaho (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/01/29/idaho-ban-legal-marijuana-state-constitution/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Frontline Nurse Wins Contest to Watch Movies in a Remote Lighthouse by Herself

https://mashable.com/article/covid-nurse-goteborg-film-festival-lighthouse-contest/

Production of Olympia Beer Paused as Demand Declines

https://www.king5.com/article/money/business/olympia-beer-paused-producted/281-2b27df77-cd02-4b52-ba69-2762a127ba5c

Scientists Finally Figured Out Why Wombats Poop Cubes. Thank Heavens.

https://mashable.com/article/wombat-cube-poop-mystery-solved/

Japanese Woman ‘Kept Mother’s Body in Freezer for 10 Years’

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55867390

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Carmen – All by Myself

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

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.

Pennsylvania: Allegheny County Commits to Renewable Energy Agreement, Building Hydropower Facility on Ohio River (Pittsburgh Business Times, PA)


Allegheny County has committed to a 35-year power purchase agreement to buy renewable energy generated by a hydropower facility set to be built on the Ohio River.

“We are going to use our rivers to produce electricity,” Allegheny County Rich Fitzgerald said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. “We have decided we are going to have a hydroplant.”

The hydropower facility will offset the emissions of electrical consumption for about 3,400 households annually, according to Fitzgerald. Over the 35 years, he said use of the renewable energy will offset 1 million tons of carbon from the environment. 

Fitzgerald said the project will provide 150 to 200 temporary construction jobs, and about two full-time jobs.

Rye Development will construct the hydropower facility, a structure about the size of a five to six story building, at the Emsworth Main Channel Dam. Paul Jacob, CEO of Rye Development, said construction is scheduled to begin in late 2021 and span about two years.

Jacob said the structure will cost about $50 million to build and will be funded by private funds.  

“It will keep producing energy for the foreseeable future,” Jacob said. “There are minimal impacts to the environment because the dams are already in existence.”

Jacob said structures like this last for 80 to 100 years. Rye Development plans to develop another nine hydropower projects in southwestern Pennsylvania on all three rivers.

Electricity from the facility will be used to power county government buildings.

Fitzgerald spoke of the project as an effort in line with the executive orders on climate change the Biden Administration signed this week.

“I was in contact with our congressional delegation … and I can tell you that both of them were very excited that this is the type of project that President Biden and his administration want to push,” Fitzgerald said. “To be carbon neutral by 2050 is the goal …and this feeds right into that.”

Joylette Portlock, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh, praised the project.

“We know that any realistic plan to protect our region from the impacts of climate change must increase sources of renewable electricity production,” Portlock said. “The county is today demonstrating what leadership and intentional effort look like when applied to our most pressing challenges.”

This process started with a request for proposals for developers of hydro facilities in April 2019, and the county issued an intent to award Rye Development in late 2019.

“This is not just about this project and the county’s piece,” Davitt Woodwell, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, said. “It is emblematic of what has to be done across the commonwealth.”