Wednesday, March 17, 2021

The Energy News Digest for March 17, 2021

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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm Proposal Brings Opposition from Local Group (KVEW/KAPP-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/horse-heaven-wind-farm-proposal-brings-opposition-from-local-group/#/questions

Texas Utility Commissioner Resigns After Leaked Call Pledging to Help Banks Keep Blackout Profits (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/texas-utility-commissioner-resigns-after-leaked-call-pl-1846493798

Lower Snake River Dam-Breaching Proposal a ‘Nonstarter’ for More Than a Dozen Regional Environmental Groups (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/mar/17/lower-snake-river-dam-breaching-proposal-a-nonstar/

Officials: Detroit Dam in Oregon Could Fail in a Large Earthquake (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2021-03-16/officials-a-dam-in-oregon-could-fail-in-a-large-earthquake

New $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan Includes Additional $4.5 Billion for LIHEAP (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/new-19-trillion-covid-relief-plan-includes-additional-45-billion-liheap

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Texas Utility Commissioner Resigns After Leaked Call Pledging to Help Banks Keep Blackout Profits

2.      Texas PUC Chair Resigns, Following Pressure from Governor, Refusal to Reprice $16 Billion ERCOT

3.      Texas Senate Fast-Tracks Rollback of Winter Storm Electricity Prices

4.      Lower Snake River Dam-Breaching Proposal a ‘Nonstarter’ for More Than a Dozen Regional Environmental Groups

5.      Pacific Northwest Senators Urged to Reject Rep. Simpson’s Disastrous Plan for Endangered Salmon

6.      Op/Ed: Simpson’s Dam-Breaching Plan Is No Win-Win Scenario

7.      Officials: Detroit Dam in Oregon Could Fail in a Large Earthquake

8.      Wyoming Lawmakers Back Fund to Sue Other States (Including Washington) Over Coal

9.      California Republicans Push for Utility Bill Forgiveness

10.   The World’s Three Biggest Coal Users Get Ready to Burn Even More

11.   Fitch Affirms Utah Municipal Power Supply Bonds at ‘AA-’; Outlook Stable

12.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm Proposal Brings Opposition from Local Group

13.   WA State: Benton County Residents Voice Concerns & Praise for Wind Farm Project

14.   Op/Ed: Wind Turbines Don’t Belong on Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills

15.   California Utilities Propose Lower Payments on Rooftop Solar

16.   Ellensburg WA: Affordable Housing Complex Spurling Court Will Include Solar Power

17.   Solar Makes Up Majority of New Resource Additions for 2nd Year in a Row, Reaching Record 19.2 GW

18.   States, California IOUs Urge Changes to Trump Energy Efficiency Policies – Not Everyone Agrees

19.   Could Better Energy Efficiency Labels Help Cut Your Electricity Bill?

20.   Plans Readied by British Columbia & Washington State to Wipe Out Invasive Giant Hornet

21.   Dam Operator Sued After Turf Released in Puyallup River

22.   Possible Deal for Washington State Low Carbon Fuel Standard Bill?

23.   Op/Ed: Green Construction Can Play an Active Role as Climate Action Accelerates

24.   Why Washington State Needs Public Broadband

25.   Bill to Offer Tax Relief for Broadband Infrastructure Moves Forward in Montana House

26.   NRECA: $1 Billion Program Must Deliver Best Possible Broadband on Tribal Lands

27.   Amazon Jumps into Health Care with Telemedicine Initiative

28.   NRECA Rolling Out New Technology to Protect Electric Co-Ops from Cybersecurity Threats

29.   Hydrogen Vehicle Support Hints at Larger Policy Stance

30.   Leavenworth Cancels Oktoberfest Celebrations for Second Year in a Row Amid COVID-19

31.   New $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan Includes Additional $4.5 Billion for LIHEAP

32.   Oregon House Passes Bill to Ease Burden for Low-Income Gas, Electricity Ratepayers

33.   U.S. House Republicans Pitch Nuclear, Natural Gas as ‘Cleaner’ Energy Future

34.   American Public Power Association Opposes FEMA Proposed Disaster Threshold

35.   Why Congress Is Bringing Back ‘Pork’

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU

Hoyden \HOY-dunn\ Noun - A girl or woman of saucy, boisterous, or carefree behavior

Amazonians

The ultimate hoyden clan

Don’t cross them, buddy!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Texas Utility Commissioner Resigns After Leaked Call Pledging to Help Banks Keep Blackout Profits (Gizmodo)

https://earther.gizmodo.com/texas-utility-commissioner-resigns-after-leaked-call-pl-1846493798

2.      Texas PUC Chair Resigns, Following Pressure from Governor, Refusal to Reprice $16 Billion ERCOT Overcharge (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-puc-chair-resigns-following-pressure-from-governor-refusal-to-repri/596843/

3.      Texas Senate Fast-Tracks Rollback of Winter Storm Electricity Prices (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/texas-senate-fast-tracks-rollback-of-winter-storm-electricity-prices/

4.      Lower Snake River Dam-Breaching Proposal a ‘Nonstarter’ for More Than a Dozen Regional Environmental Groups (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/mar/17/lower-snake-river-dam-breaching-proposal-a-nonstar/

5.      Pacific Northwest Senators Urged to Reject Rep. Simpson’s Disastrous Plan for Endangered Salmon (The Center for Biological Diversity)

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/northwest-senators-urged-to-reject-rep-simpsons-disastrous-plan-for-endangered-salmon-2021-03-16/

6.      Op/Ed: Simpson’s Dam-Breaching Plan Is No Win-Win Scenario (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/opinion/commentary-simpson-s-dam-breaching-plan-is-no-win-win-scenario/article_662f7274-a17f-520e-aa56-41bd7f3f59b2.html

7.      Officials: Detroit Dam in Oregon Could Fail in a Large Earthquake (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2021-03-16/officials-a-dam-in-oregon-could-fail-in-a-large-earthquake

8.      Wyoming Lawmakers Back Fund to Sue Other States (Including Washington) Over Coal (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-bills-9bd6466e4161cad4db5821e80b9b0f0b

9.      California Republicans Push for Utility Bill Forgiveness (Associated Press)

https://www.ksro.com/2021/03/17/california-republicans-push-for-utility-bill-forgiveness/

10.   The World’s Three Biggest Coal Users Get Ready to Burn Even More (Bloomberg News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/world-three-biggest-coal-users-040100380.html

11.   Fitch Affirms Utah Municipal Power Supply Bonds at ‘AA-’; Outlook Stable (Fitch Ratings)

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/fitch-affirms-utah-municipal-power-supply-rev-bonds-at-aa-outlook-stable-15-03-2021

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm Proposal Brings Opposition from Local Group (KVEW/KAPP-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/horse-heaven-wind-farm-proposal-brings-opposition-from-local-group/#/questions

13.   WA State: Benton County Residents Voice Concerns & Praise for Wind Farm Project (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://keprtv.com/news/local/benton-county-residents-voice-concerns-and-praise-for-wind-farm-project

14.   Op/Ed: Wind Turbines Don’t Belong on Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article249948539.html

15.   California Utilities Propose Lower Payments on Rooftop Solar (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-16/california-utilities-propose-reduced-payments-for-rooftop-solar

16.   Ellensburg WA: Affordable Housing Complex Spurling Court Will Include Solar Power (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

https://www.dailyrecordnews.com/monday/local_news/affordable-housing-complex-spurling-court-will-include-solar-power/article_e50099f0-5c97-57ac-9757-4aa011a19e29.html

17.   Solar Makes Up Majority of New Resource Additions for 2nd Year in a Row, Reaching Record 19.2 GW (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-makes-up-majority-of-new-resource-additions-for-2nd-year-in-a-row-re/596854/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18.   States, California IOUs Urge Changes to Trump Energy Efficiency Policies – Not Everyone Agrees (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/states-california-ious-urge-changes-to-trump-energy-efficiency-policies-b/596691/

19.   Could Better Energy Efficiency Labels Help Cut Your Electricity Bill? (Good Housekeeping)

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/consumer-advice/consumer-rights/a35860728/energy-efficiency-appliances/

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Plans Readied by British Columbia & Washington State to Wipe Out Invasive Giant Hornet (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/plans-readied-by-b-c-and-washington-state-to-wipe-out-invasive-giant-hornet-1.24295333

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

21.   Dam Operator Sued After Turf Released in Puyallup River (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/dams-lawsuits-washington-environment-tacoma-139306cb4aa602730c5be933e0912ea4

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

22.   Possible Deal for Washington State Low Carbon Fuel Standard Bill? (Business Institute of Washington)

https://thelens.news/2021/03/16/possible-deal-for-lcfs-bill/

23.   Op/Ed: Green Construction Can Play an Active Role as Climate Action Accelerates (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/as-climate-action-accelerates-green-construction-must-play-active-role/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24.   Why Washington State Needs Public Broadband (Crosscut Seattle, WA)

https://crosscut.com/opinion/2021/03/why-washington-state-needs-public-broadband

25.   Bill to Offer Tax Relief for Broadband Infrastructure Moves Forward in Montana House (Montana Public Radio)

https://www.mtpr.org/post/bill-offer-tax-relief-broadband-infrastructure-moves-forward-montana-house

26.   NRECA: $1 Billion Program Must Deliver Best Possible Broadband on Tribal Lands (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/nreca-1-billion-program-must-deliver-best-possible-broadband-on-tribal-lands

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

27.   Amazon Jumps into Health Care with Telemedicine Initiative (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Amazon-jumps-into-health-care-with-telemedicine-16032097.php

28.   NRECA Rolling Out New Technology to Protect Electric Co-Ops from Cybersecurity Threats (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/29544-nreca-rolling-out-new-technology-to-protect-electric-co-ops-from-cybersecurity-threats/?amp

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Hydrogen Vehicle Support Hints at Larger Policy Stance (Business Institute of Washington)

https://thelens.news/2021/03/16/hydrogen-vehicle-support-hints-at-larger-policy-stance/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Leavenworth Cancels Oktoberfest Celebrations for Second Year in a Row Amid COVID-19 (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/leavenworth-cancels-Oktoberfest-2021-covid-16032225.php

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

31.   New $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan Includes Additional $4.5 Billion for LIHEAP (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/new-19-trillion-covid-relief-plan-includes-additional-45-billion-liheap

32.   Oregon House Passes Bill to Ease Burden for Low-Income Gas, Electricity Ratepayers (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2021/03/oregon-house-passes-bill-to-ease-burden.html

33.   U.S. House Republicans Pitch Nuclear, Natural Gas as ‘Cleaner’ Energy Future (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/543267-house-republicans-pitch-nuclear-natural-gas-as-cleaner-energy

34.   American Public Power Association Opposes FEMA Proposed Disaster Threshold (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-opposes-fema-proposed-disaster-threshold

35.   Why Congress Is Bringing Back ‘Pork’ (Yahoo Finance)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-congress-is-bringing-back-pork-184519151.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

St Patrick’s Day: Countries Celebrate Ireland’s Patron Saint

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-56415778

This Teen Makes Tiny Bow Ties for Shelter Dogs to Help Them Look Spiffy & Get Adopted

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/03/17/dog-bowtie-shelter/

Lost Dog Travels 100 Miles from Iowa to Nebraska in 23 Days

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/03/15/lost-dog-Iowa-Nebraska-100-miles-Ivy/1261615842402/

Baby Bottle Craze Sweeps Gulf Arab States, Sparks Backlash

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/baby-bottle-craze-sweeps-gulf-arab-states-sparks-backlash/article_8d3203a9-4b68-5919-924a-12126aa04673.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Van Morrison & The Chieftains – Star of the County Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sMZ2bUv9Q4

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.

Oregon House Passes Bill to Ease Burden for Low-Income Gas, Electricity Ratepayers (Portland Business Journal, OR)


A bill that could help low-income Oregonians pay their energy utility bills has cleared the House — again.

House Bill 2475 would give regulators the ability to set lower electricity and natural gas rates or give bill credits to "energy burdened" low-income households.

Similar legislation breezed through the House last year but didn't get a Senate vote as a Republican walkout waylaid the session.

As it stands, the Public Utility Commission is required to treat all customers the same as it establishes rates for investor-owned utilities such as Portland General Electric, Pacific Power and NW Natural.

Thousands of low-income Oregon households face energy bills greater than 6% of their income, widely considered the cut-off for a reasonable energy burden, advocates say.

Under HB 2475, the PUC could also establish weatherization or demand response programs to address the issue.

A second aspect of the bill opens up low-income and environmental-justice advocacy groups for “intervenor funds” from the PUC. These are grants for nonprofits that represent broad groups or classes of customers.

Some Republicans pushed for a version of the bill that would have backed groups representing low-income residential customers and small commercial customers, dropping those that represent the interest of residential customers that are members of environmental justice communities from the bill

The House vote was 36-20, with two Republicans — Greg Smith of Heppner and Ron Noble of McMinnville — joining all the voting Democrats as “ayes.” Last year, seven Republicans supported the similar bill as it passed 43-11.