Wednesday, March 3, 2021

The Energy News Digest for March 3, 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

Texas’ Head Utility Regulator Resigns Following Legislative Hearing on Mass Blackouts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-head-utility-regulator-deann-walker-resigns-authority-ercot-blackouts/595932/

Microsoft Says Email Servers Hacked by Chinese Group (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/microsoft-says-email-servers-hacked-by-chinese-group/

The United States Installed More Wind Turbine Capacity in 2020 Than in Any Other Year (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46976

Potholes, Grid Failures, Aging Tunnels & Bridges: US Infrastructure Gets a C-Minus (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/03/03/potholes-grid-failures-aging-tunnels-and-bridges-u-s-infrastructure-gets-a-c-minus/

An Above Normal Winter Snowpack for the Pacific Northwest is Guaranteed! (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/03/an-above-normal-wind-snowpack-is.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Texas’ Head Utility Regulator Resigns Following Legislative Hearing on Mass Blackouts

2.      Potholes, Grid Failures, Aging Tunnels & Bridges: US Infrastructure Gets a C-Minus

3.      It’s Not Just Texas. The Energy Grid Needs an Upgrade – Including in the Pacific Northwest

4.      Inland Power & Light Power: Snake River Dam Removal Would Hurt Reliability, Raise Costs

5.      Nevada Lawmakers File Bill to Require Consent for Nuclear Waste

6.      Tucson Electric Power to Resume Utility Disconnections for Delinquent Accounts

7.      WA State: Seattle Councilmember Sawant Calls for Investigation into Puget Sound Energy

8.      Scammers Continue to Threaten Power Shutoffs

9.      California: Mayor Opts for 100% Renewable Option for City Of San Diego Facilities

10.   Columbia & Snake River Navigation Locks Will Close March 6 for Annual Maintenance

11.   After the Texas Freeze, People Are Asking: Is Electrifying Buildings Risky?

12.   Should California Link Electricity Bills to Customer Incomes?

13.   Seattle Voters Approve Electric Utility Bonds on March 4, 1902, Leading to Creation of Seattle City Light

14.   The United States Installed More Wind Turbine Capacity in 2020 Than in Any Other Year

15.   Washington State Awards Low-Income Solar Project Grants

16.   Oregon Community Solar Program Progresses, PUC Approves First Projects

17.   New Mexico Homeowners Told They Can’t Connect Solar Power Systems

18.   Regulators OK Groundbreaking Wave Energy Testing Project Off Oregon Coast

19.   United Kingdom: Climate Change – Private Hydropower Schemes ‘On Cliff Edge’

20.   Another Year of Low Salmon Returns Points Toward 2021 Season Similar to 2020

21.   WA State: ‘Looking Good’ – One-Day Smelt Fishery Serves Up Plenty of Fish & Happy Dippers

22.   New Orca Baby Sparks Questions Over Naval Training

23.   Why Salish Sea Researchers Are Targeting Superbugs in Marine Mammals

24.   An Above Normal Winter Snowpack for the Pacific Northwest is Guaranteed!

25.   Dry February Exacerbates Drought in California

26.   10th Circuit Rules Against Colorado in ‘Waters of the US’ Dispute

27.   Energy-Related Emissions Up in December Despite Pandemic

28.   Digital Maps Show How Climate Change’s Impact in Washington State Isn’t Equal

29.   The Key to Passing Climate Policy? Rein in (Or Win Over) Utilities Monopolies.

30.   Chattanooga, TN: Quantifying the Benefits of Fiber

31.   Microsoft Says Email Servers Hacked by Chinese Group

32.   Data Centers: Wyoming’s Next Powder River Basin?

33.   A Chinese Province Could Ban Bitcoin Mining to Cut Down Energy Use

34.   Clark Public Utilities Charges Up Electric Vehicle Incentive Program

35.   WA State: SnoPUD Offering $400 Charging Credit for New Electric Vehicles

36.   Major Utilities Are Gearing Up to Install EV Charging Stations Across 16 States

37.   Volvo Says It Will Be ‘Fully Electric’ by 2030 & Move Car Sales Online

38.   Amazon Changes App Logo That ‘Resembles Adolf Hitler’

39.   Proposal for Cleaner Fuel in Washington State Could Raise Gas Prices

40.   Democrats in U.S. House Introduce Wide-Ranging Climate Bill

WORD OF THE DAY

Acolyte \ACK-uh-lite\ Noun - 1: one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties 2: one who attends or assists: follower

The college intern’s enthusiasm over her new position at PepsiCo hit rock bottom on the second day. That’s when she learned that she’d been assigned to the “Gatorade” division, with the inauspicious title of “electrolyte acolyte.” Somewhere a clever HR staffer is still giggling.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Texas’ Head Utility Regulator Resigns Following Legislative Hearing on Mass Blackouts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-head-utility-regulator-deann-walker-resigns-authority-ercot-blackouts/595932/

2.      Potholes, Grid Failures, Aging Tunnels & Bridges: US Infrastructure Gets a C-Minus (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/03/03/potholes-grid-failures-aging-tunnels-and-bridges-u-s-infrastructure-gets-a-c-minus/

3.      It’s Not Just Texas. The Energy Grid Needs an Upgrade – Including in the Pacific Northwest (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/2021/02/28/its-not-just-texas-the-energy-grid-needs-an-upgrade-including-in-the-northwest/

4.      Inland Power & Light Power: Snake River Dam Removal Would Hurt Reliability, Raise Costs (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/power-company-dam-removal-would-hurt-reliability-raise-costs/article_53970d02-76f2-11eb-a7b2-6be484f87d5c.html

5.      Nevada Lawmakers File Bill to Require Consent for Nuclear Waste (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada-lawmakers-file-bill-to-require-consent-for-nuclear-waste-2292955/

6.      Tucson Electric Power to Resume Utility Disconnections for Delinquent Accounts (KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ)

https://www.kold.com/2021/03/01/tucson-electric-power-resume-utility-disconnections-delinquent-accounts/

7.      WA State: Seattle Councilmember Sawant Calls for Investigation into Puget Sound Energy (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2648186/seattle-councilmember-sawant-calls-for-investigation-into-puget-sound-energy/

8.      Scammers Continue to Threaten Power Shutoffs (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

https://www.kxro.com/scammers-continue-to-threaten-power-shutoffs/

9.      California: Mayor Opts for 100% Renewable Option for City Of San Diego Facilities (Sand Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2021-03-02/gloria-opts-for-100-renewable-option-for-city-of-sd-facilities

10.   Columbia & Snake River Navigation Locks Will Close March 6 for Annual Maintenance (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.nwpb.org/2021/02/28/its-not-just-texas-the-energy-grid-needs-an-upgrade-including-in-the-northwest/

11.   After the Texas Freeze, People Are Asking: Is Electrifying Buildings Risky? (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/energy/after-the-texas-freeze-people-are-asking-is-electrifying-buildings-risky/

12.   Should California Link Electricity Bills to Customer Incomes? (Green Tech Media)

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/should-california-link-electricity-bills-to-customer-incomes

13.   Seattle Voters Approve Electric Utility Bonds on March 4, 1902, Leading to Creation of Seattle City Light (History Link)

https://www.historylink.org/File/2317

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   The United States Installed More Wind Turbine Capacity in 2020 Than in Any Other Year (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46976

15.   Washington State Awards Low-Income Solar Project Grants (PV Magazine)

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/02/26/washington-state-awards-low-income-solar-project-grants/

16.   Oregon Community Solar Program Progresses, PUC Approves First Projects (PV Magazine)

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/press-releases/oregon-community-solar-program-progresses-puc-approves-first-projects/

17.   New Mexico Homeowners Told They Can’t Connect Solar Power Systems (KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM)

https://www.krqe.com/news/investigations/live-new-mexico-homeowners-told-they-cant-connect-solar-systems/

18.   Regulators OK Groundbreaking Wave Energy Testing Project Off Oregon Coast (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2021/03/regulators-ok-groundbreaking-wave-energy-testing-project-off-oregon-coast.html

19.   United Kingdom: Climate Change – Private Hydropower Schemes ‘On Cliff Edge’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-wales-56242378

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Another Year of Low Salmon Returns Points Toward 2021 Season Similar to 2020 (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/another-year-of-low-salmon-returns-points-toward-2021-season-similar-to-2020/

21.   WA State: ‘Looking Good’ – One-Day Smelt Fishery Serves Up Plenty of Fish & Happy Dippers (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/local/looking-good-one-day-smelt-fishery-serves-up-plenty-of-fish-and-happy-dippers/article_f934f5c9-42fe-5744-8a51-5e6c5d20b89f.html

22.   New Orca Baby Sparks Questions Over Naval Training (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/2650939/new-orca-baby-navy-seals-parks/

23.   Why Salish Sea Researchers Are Targeting Superbugs in Marine Mammals (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/03/why-salish-sea-researchers-are-targeting-superbugs-marine-mammals

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   An Above Normal Winter Snowpack for the Pacific Northwest is Guaranteed! (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2021/03/an-above-normal-wind-snowpack-is.html

25.   Dry February Exacerbates Drought in California (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/dry-february-exacerbates-drought-in-california/

26.   10th Circuit Rules Against Colorado in ‘Waters of the US’ Dispute (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/10th-circuit-rules-against-colorado-in-waters-of-the-u-s-dispute/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

27.   Energy-Related Emissions Up in December Despite Pandemic (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Energy-related-emissions-up-in-December-despite-15992394.php

28.   Digital Maps Show How Climate Change’s Impact in Washington State Isn’t Equal (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/03/digital-maps-show-how-climate-changes-impact-wa-isnt-equal

29.   The Key to Passing Climate Policy? Rein in (Or Win Over) Utilities Monopolies. (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/fix/investor-owned-utilities-climate-policy/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

30.   Chattanooga, TN: Quantifying the Benefits of Fiber (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2021/03/03/10564/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   Microsoft Says Email Servers Hacked by Chinese Group (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/microsoft-says-email-servers-hacked-by-chinese-group/

32.   Data Centers: Wyoming’s Next Powder River Basin? (WyoFile)

https://www.wyofile.com/data-centers-wyomings-next-powder-river-basin/

33.   A Chinese Province Could Ban Bitcoin Mining to Cut Down Energy Use (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/a-chinese-province-could-ban-bitcoin-mining-to-cut-down-1846397717

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

34.   Clark Public Utilities Charges Up Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/mar/03/clark-public-utilities-charges-up-ev-incentive-program/

35.   WA State: SnoPUD Offering $400 Charging Credit for New Electric Vehicles (My Edmonds News, WA)

https://myedmondsnews.com/2021/02/snopud-offering-400-charging-credit-for-new-electric-vehicles/

36.   Major Utilities Are Gearing Up to Install EV Charging Stations Across 16 States (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/major-utilities-are-gearing-up-to-install-ev-charging-s-1846399234

37.   Volvo Says It Will Be ‘Fully Electric’ by 2030 & Move Car Sales Online (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/02/volvo-says-it-will-be-fully-electric-by-2030-move-car-sales-online.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

38.   Amazon Changes App Logo That ‘Resembles Adolf Hitler’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56266514

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

39.   Proposal for Cleaner Fuel in Washington State Could Raise Gas Prices (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/politics/state-politics/proposal-for-cleaner-fuel-in-washington-could-raise-gas-prices/281-5227b045-6df1-4bc4-aa52-1a75336fb1f2

40.   Democrats in U.S. House Introduce Wide-Ranging Climate Bill (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-climate-house/democrats-in-u-s-house-introduce-wide-ranging-climate-bill-idUSKCN2AU2JQ

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Gang of 100 Feral Chickens Terrorize Town, Chase Joggers

https://www.wideopenpets.com/feral-chickens-terrorizing-town/

Connecticut Man Finds Bowl from Ming Dynasty at Yard Sale

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/02/972742607/connecticut-man-finds-bowl-from-ming-dynasty-at-yard-sale

Man Trapped under Massive Hay Bale. He Was Trying To Steal It, Say Franklin Deputies

https://www.thedailyworld.com/northwest/man-trapped-under-massive-hay-bale-he-was-trying-to-steal-it-say-franklin-deputies/

Women Who Worked at Same Restaurant Find Out They’re Biological Sisters

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/03/02/Cassandra-Madison-Julia-Tinetti-same-restaurant-biological-sisters/5331614712576/

SONG OF THE DAY

Steely Dan – Aja

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-FMrz7OwLo

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.