The Energy News Digest for February 8, 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 Rep. Mike Simpson Releases Plan Calling for Breaching Snake River Dams after 2030 (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/feb/07/rep-mike-simpson-of-idaho-releases-plan-calling-fo/

There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too – Unpaid utility bills have been piling up since the coronavirus crisis began (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-04/unpaid-energy-bills-bring-calls-for-utility-relief

Why Cheap Wind Power Is Making Quebec’s Big, Old Dams More Valuable as a ‘Battery,’ Say Experts (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/apuiat-dam-wind-power-1.5903334

Colorado River Outlook Darkens Dramatically in New Study (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)

https://tucson.com/news/local/colorado-river-outlook-darkens-dramatically-in-new-study/article_15e0185d-60d7-597d-ba7f-366b8e69920e.html

Convergence Zone Snow Tonight & Major Lowland Snow Event Possible Later This Week (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/02/convergence-zone-snow-tonight-and-major.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson Releases Plan Calling for Breaching Snake River Dams after 2030

2.      GOP Congressman Pitches $34 Billion Plan to Breach Lower Snake River Dams in New Vision for Pacific Northwest

3.      This GOP Congressman Wants to Remove Four Dams to Save Idaho’s Salmon. It’ll Cost Billions.

4.      ‘Risky Proposition.’ Can $33 Billion Make Up for Loss of Snake River Dams? Tri-Cities Groups Leery

5.      Advocacy Group Advises Further Examination of Critical Issues Impacting Pacific NW Communities

6.      There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too – Unpaid utility bills have been piling up since the coronavirus crisis began

7.      American Utilities Are Getting Pummeled by Unpaid Bills

8.      WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Boost Fund to Help Cover the Bills for People in Need

9.      California Utilities to Spend Billions to Cut Wildfire Risk

10.   Coal-Fired Power Took a Beating During the Pandemic, Study Finds

11.   Rescuers in India Digging for 37 Trapped in Glacier Flood – Dam Burst

12.   Why Cheap Wind Power Is Making Quebec’s Big, Old Dams More Valuable as a ‘Battery,’ Say Experts

13.   EIA Projects Renewables Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Mix Will Double by 2050

14.   Wind Developers Are Retrofitting Newer Projects with Bigger, Better Blades

15.   WA State: Snohomish PUD Can Help Homeowners Harness the Power of the Sun

16.   Rooftop Solar Power Is on the Rise, But Canada Has Yet to Embrace Its Sunny Ways

17.   Energy Adviser: Upgrades Can Help You Save

18.   Arizona: Salt River Project Offering Customers Shade Trees to Save Energy, Conserve Water

19.   Bird Lovers Helping to Learn Why Haystack Rock Puffin Numbers Are Falling

20.   Oregon: Salmon in the Smoke – Recent Forest Fires Emphasize the Danger the McKenzie River’s Wild Chinook Salmon Are In

21.   Invasive Asian Carp Is Getting a New Name & a Public Makeover to Draw More Eaters

22.   Colorado River Outlook Darkens Dramatically in New Study

23.   Bitcoin’s Wild Ride Renews Worries About Its Massive Carbon Footprint

24.   Small Internet Service Providers Say SpaceX’s Starlink Shouldn’t Get Federal Funds to Expand Internet Access

25.   NTIA Provides More Details on $1 Billion Tribal Broadband Program

26.   WA State: ‘A Basic Requirement for Modern Life’: Hansen Bill Seeks to Bolster Broadband Rollout

27.   Montana Democrats Tout Bills to Expand Rural Broadband

28.   Idaho Governor Brad Little Visits Orofino to Check in on Broadband Expansion

29.   Alaska Communications Extends Broadband Connectivity to Rural Alaska

30.   Ford Boosts Investment Plan for Electric Vehicles & Self Driving Vehicles, Reports Loss

31.   2021: When Electric Trucks Trickle In

32.   Convergence Zone Snow Tonight & Major Lowland Snow Event Possible Later This Week

33.   APPA, Other Groups Call for a $10 Billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for LIHEAP

WORD OF THE DAY

Haughty /HOT-tee/ Adjective - Blatantly and disdainfully proud

The thin-lipped Duke strode across the crushed velvet carpet, his haughty demeanor in harsh contrast to the long strand of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of his shoe.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson Releases Plan Calling for Breaching Snake River Dams after 2030 (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/feb/07/rep-mike-simpson-of-idaho-releases-plan-calling-fo/

2.      GOP Congressman Pitches $34 Billion Plan to Breach Lower Snake River Dams in New Vision for Pacific Northwest (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/gop-congressman-pitches-34-billion-plan-to-breach-lower-snake-river-dams-in-new-vision-for-northwest/

3.      This GOP Congressman Wants to Remove Four Dams to Save Idaho’s Salmon. It’ll Cost Billions. (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article248988810.html

4.      ‘Risky Proposition.’ Can $33 Billion Make Up for Loss of Snake River Dams? Tri-Cities Groups Leery (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article248998910.html

5.      Advocacy Group Advises Further Examination of Critical Issues Impacting Pacific NW Communities (Northwest River Partners)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/02/advocacy-group-advises-further.html

6.      There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too – Unpaid utility bills have been piling up since the coronavirus crisis began (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-04/unpaid-energy-bills-bring-calls-for-utility-relief

7.      American Utilities Are Getting Pummeled by Unpaid Bills (Oil Price)

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/American-Utilities-Are-Getting-Pummeled-By-Unpaid-Bills.html

8.      WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Boost Fund to Help Cover the Bills for People in Need (Cashmere Valley Record, WA)

https://www.cashmerevalleyrecord.com/news/pud-commissioners-boost-fund-help-cover-bills-people-need

9.      California Utilities to Spend Billions to Cut Wildfire Risk (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-fires-california-utilities-san-diego-a60ca66f90009d234c193b7a8a6321d9

10.   Coal-Fired Power Took a Beating During the Pandemic, Study Finds (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/08/climate/coal-climate-change.html

11.   Rescuers in India Digging for 37 Trapped in Glacier Flood – Dam Burst (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/india-glacier-collapse-updates-782497632330d11acdb3b53c277283e8

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   Why Cheap Wind Power Is Making Quebec’s Big, Old Dams More Valuable as a ‘Battery,’ Say Experts (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/apuiat-dam-wind-power-1.5903334

13.   EIA Projects Renewables Share of U.S. Electricity Generation Mix Will Double by 2050 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46676

14.   Wind Developers Are Retrofitting Newer Projects with Bigger, Better Blades (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2021/02/04/midwest/wind-developers-are-retrofitting-newer-projects-with-bigger-better-blades/

15.   WA State: Snohomish PUD Can Help Homeowners Harness the Power of the Sun (Everett Herald, WA)

https://www.heraldnet.com/life/the-pud-can-help-homeowners-harness-the-power-of-the-sun/

16.   Rooftop Solar Power Is on the Rise, But Canada Has Yet to Embrace Its Sunny Ways (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-rooftop-solar-power-canada-1.5901134?cmp=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   Energy Adviser: Upgrades Can Help You Save (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/feb/06/energy-adviser-upgrades-can-help-you-save/

18.   Arizona: Salt River Project Offering Customers Shade Trees to Save Energy, Conserve Water (KTAR TV, Phoenix, AZ)

https://ktar.com/story/3985239/srp-offering-customers-shade-trees-to-save-energy-conserve-water/

FISH & WILDLIFE

19.   Bird Lovers Helping to Learn Why Haystack Rock Puffin Numbers Are Falling (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/02/08/cannon-beach-last-place-to-see-tufted-puffins-from-shore-but-for-how-long/

20.   Oregon: Salmon in the Smoke – Recent Forest Fires Emphasize the Danger the McKenzie River’s Wild Chinook Salmon Are In (Eugene Weekly, OR)

https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2021/02/04/salmon-in-the-smoke/

21.   Invasive Asian Carp Is Getting a New Name & a Public Makeover to Draw More Eaters (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/invasive-asian-carp-getting-name-111506073.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Colorado River Outlook Darkens Dramatically in New Study (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)

https://tucson.com/news/local/colorado-river-outlook-darkens-dramatically-in-new-study/article_15e0185d-60d7-597d-ba7f-366b8e69920e.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Bitcoin’s Wild Ride Renews Worries About Its Massive Carbon Footprint (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/05/bitcoin-btc-surge-renews-worries-about-its-massive-carbon-footprint.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24.   Small Internet Service Providers Say SpaceX’s Starlink Shouldn’t Get Federal Funds to Expand Internet Access (Markets Insider)

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/starlink-spacex-fcc-rural-america-2021-2-1030046137

25.   NTIA Provides More Details on $1 Billion Tribal Broadband Program (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/ntia-provides-more-details-on-1-billion-tribal-broadband-program/

26.   WA State: ‘A Basic Requirement for Modern Life’: Hansen Bill Seeks to Bolster Broadband Rollout (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2021/02/04/a-basic-requirement-modern-life-hansen-bill-seeks-bolster-broadband-rollout/4376022001/

27.   Montana Democrats Tout Bills to Expand Rural Broadband (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/montana-democrats-touts-bills-to-expand-rural-broadband/article_6c24da49-60a8-5d4a-afc7-796195bcc5c5.html

28.   Idaho Governor Brad Little Visits Orofino to Check in on Broadband Expansion (KLEW-TV, Lewiston, ID)

https://klewtv.com/news/local/governor-brad-little-visits-orofino-to-to-check-in-on-broadband-expansion

29.   Alaska Communications Extends Broadband Connectivity to Rural Alaska (Capacity Media)

https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3827614/alaska-communications-extends-broadband-connectivity-to-rural-alaska

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   Ford Boosts Investment Plan for Electric Vehicles & Self Driving Vehicles, Reports Loss (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/ford-motor-results/update-4-ford-boosts-investment-plan-for-evs-and-self-driving-vehicles-reports-loss-idUSL1N2KA31A

31.   2021: When Electric Trucks Trickle In (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electric-class-8-trucks-battery-hydrogen/594526/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32.   Convergence Zone Snow Tonight & Major Lowland Snow Event Possible Later This Week (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/02/convergence-zone-snow-tonight-and-major.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

33.   APPA, Other Groups Call for a $10 Billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for LIHEAP (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-other-groups-call-10-billion-emergency-supplemental-appropriation-liheap

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Big Crowd Turns Out for Annual Eaton Family Cattle Drive

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/big-crowd-turns-out-for-annual-cattle-drive/article_0ee3ab49-2654-592f-b563-393b1b7a388e.html

$22,000 Flute Lost on Chicago Train Turns Up in Pawn Shop

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/22-000-flute-lost-on-chicago-train-turns-up-in-pawn-shop/article_7334fbc4-17b1-50d1-a564-a2efb70e0869.html

Wallet Lost in Antarctica in ‘60s Returned to California Man

https://apnews.com/article/antarctica-california-san-diego-ba251d7bdfc451509e7339006ed69b1a

Shelter Offers to Have Cats Poop on the Names of Donors’ Exes

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/02/05/Shelter-offers-to-have-cats-poop-on-the-names-of-donors-exes/9021612555031/

SONG OF THE DAY

Jethro Tull – Bourée

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6ZJGaT30wk

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.

Advocacy Group Advises Further Examination of Critical Issues Impacting Pacific NW Communities (Northwest River Partners)

US Rep. Mike Simpson (R - Idaho) has started discussions about a multi-billion-dollar proposal that could dramatically change the way electricity is provided and goods are delivered across the Pacific Northwest. The sheer magnitude of the plan and its timing, amid a federal stimulus push, has captured the region’s attention. Behind the plan is Rep. Simpson’s hope to put an end to the decades-long legal battle over salmon restoration and the lower Snake River dams.

The proposal, which continues to evolve, would create a $32 billion Columbia Basin Fund with many objectives, but the primary aim is to finance the breaching of the lower Snake River dams and to replace them with alternative forms of clean energy and batteries. Because the dams enable other critical benefits, such as transportation and irrigation, the fund would also attempt to compensate the many communities, farms, and businesses that depend on the dams as a mainstay for their livelihoods.

We are encouraged that the scale of the plan’s budget reflects the tremendous value that the lower Snake River dams bring to the region. That long-debated topic is effectively put to rest by the proposal’s significant price tag. Like Rep. Simpson, we also have a vision for regional collaboration that moves the Northwest beyond the courtroom and towards partnership. This collaboration is in the best interest of recovering threatened and endangered salmon populations while we work to achieve a clean and equitable energy future for all of our residents. We appreciate that the Simpson plan clearly reflects extensive input of tribal nations and hundreds of stakeholder groups.

At the same time, Northwest RiverPartners has long-opposed breaching the lower Snake River dams. We truly believe that carbon-free hydroelectricity is an important part of the solution to the salmon crisis. It is also a critical part of providing affordable, clean electricity to the region's vulnerable communities. While we remain open-minded about the Simpson proposal, there are several key issues in the plan that need to be addressed before we can consider it a fair and equitable solution for our Northwest communities.

First, we believe the case for breaching to save salmon lacks scientific rigor. Given the Pacific Coast-wide declines in salmon survival in both dammed and undammed rivers, it is hard to make the case that breaching dams with advanced fish passage technology will reverse this disturbing trend.

In addition, a growing body of science suggests warming, acidifying oceans are the driving factor behind worldwide declines in marine fish populations, including salmon. Breaching the lower Snake River dams does nothing to address this issue.

In fact, the Simpson proposal substantially increases the region’s C02 output by eliminating low-carbon barging and shifting transported goods to semi-trucks and rail. This shift could result in hundreds of thousands of additional tons of C02 in our atmosphere each year.

If sustainable salmon populations don’t return to the Snake River, US taxpayers will have footed the bill to the tune of tens of billions of dollars to end up with a larger carbon footprint than we have today.

We are also concerned by the speculative nature of the plan’s energy replacement component. Hydropower and pumped-storage dams are proven technologies that we can depend on, but long-duration utility-scale batteries and small modular nuclear reactors are still very much in the exploratory stage. We welcome the advancement of these technologies, but the region’s electric customers should not be made reliant on technological breakthroughs to keep the lights on.

We also urge a more circumspect approach to the topic of litigation. The Simpson plan includes a 35-year moratorium on salmon-related lawsuits against dam operators, but with the multitude of laws and regulations governing waterways, we are worried the plan may fall short. We are particularly concerned that state jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act provides an open door for additional legal actions. As it stands, the proposed moratorium seems ripe for a legal challenge and warrants additional safeguards.

Many families in the Northwest rely on dam-dependent employment, whether they are seasonal farmworkers or riverboat operators. Any plan around dam removal must consider how we specifically support these families. As we’ve learned throughout the pandemic, a check from the government cannot make up for the loss of one’s career. We must ensure the transition of livelihoods for those who rely on the lower Snake River dams.

We believe Rep. Simpson’s plan has the best of intentions, and it deserves to be vetted among Northwest stakeholder groups. However, considering the extremely high stakes involved, we cannot afford to ignore the need for a much more thorough analysis of what the plan can actually deliver and the deep impact it may have on our diverse Northwest communities.