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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Montana: Power Plant
Owners Say New Law Interferes in Colstrip Contract (Associated Press)
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/plant-owners-say-new-law-interferes-in-colstrip-contract
Oregon Democrat
Congressman Jumps on Snake River Dam Breaching Bandwagon (Lewiston Tribune, ID)
News Release: PNW
Lawmakers React to Release of Public Records Detailing Hidden Coordination on
Dam-Breaching Proposal (U.S. Rep Dan Newhouse)
Even in the Bright of
Day, Some Central Washington Residents Have a Solar Energy ‘Nightmare’ (KNKX
Radio, Tacoma, WA)
NOAA Unveils New U.S.
Climate ‘Normals’ That Are Warmer Than Ever (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/05/04/noaa-new-climate-normals/
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1. Montana:
Power Plant Owners Say New Law Interferes in Colstrip Contract
2. Oregon
Democrat Congressman Jumps on Snake River Dam Breaching Bandwagon
3. News
Release: PNW Lawmakers React to Release of Public Records Detailing Hidden
Coordination on Dam-Breaching Proposal
4. Montana:
More Details Are Emerging About NorthWestern Energy’s Proposed Gas-Fired Power
Plant Near Laurel
5. Oregon
Natural Gas Plant Might Have New Life with ‘Potential Buyer’
6. WA
State: Chelan PUD & GE Renewable Energy Collaborate for Rock Island Dam
Powerhouse II Modernization
7. California:
U.S. Judge Weighs If Pacific Gas & Electric Violated Probation with 2019
Fire
8. California:
State Optimistic About Avoiding Power Outages This Summer
9. A
New, Deadly Risk for Cities in Summer: Power Failures During Heat Waves –
Blackouts have increased more than 60 percent in the United States since 2015
10. Fitch
Rates Energy Northwest Bonds ‘AA’; Affirms Bonneville’s Issuer Default Rating
At ‘AA-’
11. White
House Eyes Subsidies for Nuclear Plants to Help Meet Climate Targets – Sources
12. The
Controversial Future of Nuclear Power in the U.S.
13. Gridlocked:
These Policies Might Put President Biden’s Transmission Infrastructure Plans on
Hold
14. Wayward
Wind Turbine Blade Knocks Out Power
15. Commentary:
Rethinking Natural Gas Bans
16. Even
in the Bright of Day, Some Central Washington Residents Have a Solar Energy
‘Nightmare’
17. U.S.
Approves Massive Solar Project in California Desert
18. Build
It; We Dare You - Solar Farms Will Redefine Energy If They Can Get Installed
19. Oregon:
Combining Solar Panels & Lamb Grazing Increases Land Productivity, Study
Finds
20. Arizona:
Biomass Turns to Energy Instead of Ash
21. A
Secure Battery Metals Supply Chain Runs Through Nevada & Is Critical to
America’s Energy Security
22. LEED-Certified
Federal Buildings Aren’t Using Less Energy, Carnegie Mellon Study Finds
23. Idaho:
Sockeye Smolts Released Early After Killing Event at Hatchery
24. Suitable
Spawning Habitat Awaits Salmon in Upper Columbia River Basin
25. Fish
or Farmers? Gov. Newsom Drought Declaration Would Trigger New War Over
California Water
26. NOAA
Unveils New U.S. Climate ‘Normals’ That Are Warmer Than Ever
27. This
Map Shows the Climate Impacts on Every County in the Western U.S.
28. California:
San Diego Gas & Electric Walks Back Claim It Delivers 45 Percent Renewable
Energy
29. Off-Put
by Offsets: Why Some Advocates Doubt ‘Net Zero’ Pledges
30. Idaho:
Gov. Little Signs Bill Directing $45 Million to New Broadband Investments
31. The
Massive Jump in Broadband Usage Won’t Be Going Away After the Pandemic Ends
32. A
U.S. Broadband Build-Out Should Require Open Access
33. Facing
Chips Shortage, President Biden May Shelve Blunt Tool Used in COVID Fight
34. New
Law Reduces Sales Tax on Hydrogen Vehicle Purchases in Washington State
35. Utah
Joins 14-State Partnership to Advance Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles
36. Facebook
Board Upholds Trump Suspension
37. Twitter’s
Upcoming Subscription Service Looms Following Latest Acquisition
38. Did
You See It? SpaceX Starlink Seen in the Sky Throughout the Pacific Northwest
39. Federal Judge Vacates CDC’s Eviction Moratorium
WORD OF THE DAY
Mise-en-scène \meez-awn-SENN\ Noun - 1a: the arrangement of actors & scenery on a stage for a theatrical production b: stage setting 2a: the physical setting of an action (as of a narrative or a motion picture): context b: environment, milieu.
The utility’s accounting department had the misfortune to work for a supervisor whose hobbies included improv theater…based on “Star Trek’s” Klingon mythology. To the staff’s immense displeasure, the last day of each workweek had been converted from casual Friday to the Klingon ritual “Rite of passage.”
At the start of each Friday, along employees dressing in costume, the boardroom was converted into a mise-en-scène of Klingon finery. Each employee, from the mail boy to the head accountant was required to chant “Today I am a Warrior. I must show you my heart. I travel the river of blood.” Thankfully, members of the gauntlet used rolled up newspapers to whack the participants as they fled the room, instead of traditional Klingon pain sticks.
(I am ashamed I know even THIS much about Klingons)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1. Montana:
Power Plant Owners Say New Law Interferes in Colstrip Contract (Associated
Press)
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/plant-owners-say-new-law-interferes-in-colstrip-contract
2. Oregon
Democrat Congressman Jumps on Snake River Dam Breaching Bandwagon (Lewiston
Tribune, ID)
3. News
Release: PNW Lawmakers React to Release of Public Records Detailing Hidden
Coordination on Dam-Breaching Proposal (U.S. Rep Dan Newhouse)
4.
Montana: More Details Are Emerging About
NorthWestern Energy’s Proposed Gas-Fired Power Plant Near Laurel (Ravalli
Republic, Hamilton, MT)
https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/montana-more-details-are-emerging-about.html
5.
Oregon Natural Gas Plant Might Have New Life
with ‘Potential Buyer’ (Portland Business Journal, OR)
https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/oregon-natural-gas-plant-might-have-new.html
6.
WA State: Chelan PUD & GE Renewable Energy
Collaborate for Rock Island Dam Powerhouse II Modernization (KPQ Radio,
Wenatchee, WA)
7.
California: U.S. Judge Weighs If Pacific Gas
& Electric Violated Probation with 2019 Fire (Associated Press)
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/US-judge-weighs-if-PG-E-violated-probation-with-16151897.php
8.
California: State Optimistic About Avoiding
Power Outages This Summer (Bakersfield Californian, CA)
9.
A New, Deadly Risk for Cities in Summer: Power
Failures During Heat Waves – Blackouts have increased more than 60 percent in
the United States since 2015 (NY Times)
https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-new-deadly-risk-for-cities-in-summer.html
10.
Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Bonds ‘AA’; Affirms
Bonneville’s Issuer Default Rating At ‘AA-’ (Fitch Ratings)
11.
White House Eyes Subsidies for Nuclear Plants to
Help Meet Climate Targets - Sources (Reuters)
12.
The Controversial Future of Nuclear Power in the
U.S. (National Geographic Magazine)
13.
Gridlocked: These Policies Might Put President Biden’s
Transmission Infrastructure Plans on Hold (Grist Online)
14.
Wayward Wind Turbine Blade Knocks Out Power
(Mohave Daily News, Bullhead City, AZ)
https://mohavedailynews.com/news/131490/wayward-turbine-knocks-out-power/
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
15.
Commentary: Rethinking Natural Gas Bans
(Battleground Reflector, WA)
http://www.thereflector.com/opinion/article_d6407b8c-ace7-11eb-92e0-0778ef99db51.html
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
17.
U.S. Approves Massive Solar Project in California
Desert (Reuters)
18.
Build It; We Dare You - Solar Farms Will
Redefine Energy If They Can Get Installed (Governing)
https://www.governing.com/next/solar-farms-will-redefine-energy-if-they-can-get-installed
19.
Oregon: Combining Solar Panels & Lamb
Grazing Increases Land Productivity, Study Finds (Tillamook Headlight-Herald,
OR)
20.
Arizona: Biomass Turns to Energy Instead of Ash
(Payson Roundup, AZ)
21.
A Secure Battery Metals Supply Chain Runs
Through Nevada & Is Critical to America’s Energy Security (The Nevada
Independent)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
22.
LEED-Certified Federal Buildings Aren’t Using
Less Energy, Carnegie Mellon Study Finds (Utility Dive)
FISH & WILDLIFE
23.
Idaho: Sockeye Smolts Released Early After
Killing Event at Hatchery (Idaho Falls Post-Register, ID)
24.
Suitable Spawning Habitat Awaits Salmon in Upper
Columbia River Basin (Phys.Org)
https://phys.org/news/2021-05-suitable-spawning-habitat-awaits-salmon.html
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
25.
Fish or Farmers? Gov. Newsom Drought Declaration
Would Trigger New War Over California Water (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article251167759.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
26. NOAA
Unveils New U.S. Climate ‘Normals’ That Are Warmer Than Ever (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/05/04/noaa-new-climate-normals/
27.
This Map Shows the Climate Impacts on Every
County in the Western U.S. (Fast Company)
28.
California: San Diego Gas & Electric Walks
Back Claim It Delivers 45 Percent Renewable Energy (The Voice of San Diego, CA)
29.
Off-Put by Offsets: Why Some Advocates Doubt ‘Net
Zero’ Pledges (Roll Call)
https://www.rollcall.com/2021/05/05/off-put-by-offsets-why-some-advocates-doubt-net-zero-pledges/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
30.
Idaho: Gov. Little Signs Bill Directing $45
Million to New Broadband Investments (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls ID)
31.
The Massive Jump in Broadband Usage Won’t Be
Going Away After the Pandemic Ends (Yahoo News)
https://news.yahoo.com/the-120219824.html
32.
A U.S. Broadband Build-Out Should Require Open
Access (Council on Foreign Relations)
https://www.cfr.org/blog/us-broadband-build-out-should-require-open-access
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
33.
Facing Chips Shortage, President Biden May
Shelve Blunt Tool Used in COVID Fight (Reuters)
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC & OTHERWISE
34.
New Law Reduces Sales Tax on Hydrogen Vehicle
Purchases in Washington State (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)
https://mynorthwest.com/2869667/law-promotes-hydrogen-powered-vehicles-washington/
35.
Utah Joins 14-State Partnership to Advance
Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles (KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
36.
Facebook Board Upholds Trump Suspension (Associated
Press)
https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/may/05/facebook-board-upholds-trump-suspension/
37.
Twitter’s Upcoming Subscription Service Looms
Following Latest Acquisition (Gizmodo)
https://gizmodo.com/twitters-upcoming-subscription-service-looms-following-1846822503
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
38.
Did You See It? SpaceX Starlink Seen in the Sky
Throughout the Pacific Northwest (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)
GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, COMMERCE
39.
Federal Judge Vacates CDC’s Eviction Moratorium
(The Hill, Washington, DC)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Scientists Find That
Cats Love to Sit Inside Squares—Even Fake Ones
https://gizmodo.com/scientists-find-that-cats-love-to-sit-inside-squares-ev-1846828029
Comic Strip Artists
Band Together for a Silly & Good Cause
200 Years: Remote St.
Helena Island Marks Napoleon’s Death
The story of Dave
Brubeck’s ‘Take Five’
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/04/the-story-of-dave-brubeck-s-take-five/
SONG OF THE DAY
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Take
Five
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsHc2IGmk60
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