Wednesday, September 1, 2021

The Energy News Digest for September 1, 2021

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

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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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

In Ida’s Wake, Louisiana Faces a Month without Power as Heat Soars (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/louisiana-left-without-power-mississippi-highway-collapses-idas-wake-2021-08-31/

2 Alabama Electric Company Employees Killed While on Duty (Associated Press)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/alabama-electric-company-employees-killed-duty-79761680

WA State Gov. Inslee to End Utility Moratorium September 30 (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://keprtv.com/news/local/gov-inslee-to-end-utility-moratorium-september-30th

Residential Electric Panels Represent a Nearly $100B ‘Roadblock’ to Full Electrification, Report Finds (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/residential-electric-panels-represent-a-nearly-100b-roadblock-to-full-el/605829/

Record 2020 Wind Installations Represented 42% of New Power (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-30/record-2020-wind-installations-represented-42-of-new-power

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      In Ida’s Wake, Louisiana Faces a Month without Power as Heat Soars

2.      2 Alabama Electric Company Employees Killed While on Duty

3.      WA State Gov. Inslee to End Utility Moratorium September 30

4.      Irrigation Districts Secure Ruling from FERC, Await Action by Grant PUD on Rates

5.      Avista Makes Annual Price Adjustment Requests in Washington

6.      WA State: Clallam PUD to Raise Rates in 2022, 2023

7.      Texas Utility Settles Over Sky-High Energy Bills from Freeze

8.      Zenith Oil Terminal Fined by State of Oregon for ‘Flagrant’ Conduct

9.      Pacific Gas & Electric Installs More Than 200 New Weather Stations to Better Monitor Severe Weather Events

10.   Sept. Is National Preparedness Month: PGE, Pacific Power Urge Building an ‘Outage Kit’

11.   Bills Soar as Spain Approaches Record for Electricity Prices

12.   Guest Essay: George Nethercutt – It’s Time for Washington State to Establish a Competitive Electricity Market

13.   $2.3 Billion to Improve or Remove U.S. Dams Included in New Federal Infrastructure Bill in Wake of a Stanford Uncommon Dialogue Agreement

14.   Guest Column: Montana’s Economic Potential Is Tied to Reliable, Affordable Electricity

15.   Guest Column: Portland Clean Energy Fund Needs Better Criteria for Choosing Climate Projects

16.   Record 2020 Wind Installations Represented 42% of New Power

17.   WA State: Input Wanted on Douglas County Prohibition on Large Solar & Wind Farms

18.   California: San Diego County to Join 5-City CCA as Alternative to SDG&E. Will It Bring Lower Electric Rates?

19.   This Startup Helps Build Solar Farms Where the Grid Is Dirtiest

20.   Residential Electric Panels Represent a Nearly $100B ‘Roadblock’ to Full Electrification, Report Finds

21.   Increased Energy Incentives on the Rise Throughout Idaho

22.   Vermont Digs in on Incentives to Boost Geothermal Heat Pumps

23.   Pressed By Drought & Climate Change, A California City Turns to Desalination

24.   Former Republican FERC Chairman Joins Group Promoting Carbon Tax

25.   Invasive Earthworms Are Remaking Our Forests – Climate Scientists Are Worried

26.   How Five States Tackled Broadband Expansion During the Pandemic

27.   Here’s How Much Electricity It Takes to Mine Bitcoin & Why People Are Worried

28.   Ida-Wrecked Power Grid Could Boost Support for Infrastructure Bill

WORD OF THE DAY

Symbiosis \sim-bee-OH-sis\ Noun - 1: the living together in close association of two dissimilar organisms especially when mutually beneficial *2: a cooperative relationship.

In the silent depths of the clear blue water, the gray torpedo-like bulk of the shark sliced through the water, remora fish in close by…awaiting crumbs from the table in their symbiotic relationship with the remorseless hunter of the deep.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      In Ida’s Wake, Louisiana Faces a Month without Power as Heat Soars (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/louisiana-left-without-power-mississippi-highway-collapses-idas-wake-2021-08-31/

2.      2 Alabama Electric Company Employees Killed While on Duty (Associated Press)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/alabama-electric-company-employees-killed-duty-79761680

3.      WA State Gov. Inslee to End Utility Moratorium September 30 (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://keprtv.com/news/local/gov-inslee-to-end-utility-moratorium-september-30th

4.      Irrigation Districts Secure Ruling from FERC, Await Action by Grant PUD on Rates (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/sep/01/irrigation-districts-secure-ruling-ferc-await-acti/

5.      Avista Makes Annual Price Adjustment Requests in Washington (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/news/avista-makes-annual-price-adjustment-requests-in-washington/article_4524dddd-d6cf-5f6a-a7bc-28c92a039882.html

6.      WA State: Clallam PUD to Raise Rates in 2022, 2023 (Sequim Gazette, WA)

https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/clallam-pud-to-raise-rates-in-2022-2023/

7.      Texas Utility Settles Over Sky-High Energy Bills from Freeze (Associated Press)

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/texas-utility-settles-sky-high-energy-bills-freeze-79730572

8.      Zenith Oil Terminal Fined by State of Oregon for ‘Flagrant’ Conduct (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-d7cb0ff35668ed489917580422e3d36f

9.      Pacific Gas & Electric Installs More Than 200 New Weather Stations to Better Monitor Severe Weather Events (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/31675-pge-installs-more-than-200-new-weather-stations-to-better-monitor-severe-weather-events/

10.   Sept. Is National Preparedness Month: PGE, Pacific Power Urge Building an ‘Outage Kit’ (KVTZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/community/community-billboard/2021/08/31/sept-is-national-preparedness-month-pge-pacific-power-urge-building-an-outage-kit/

11.   Bills Soar as Spain Approaches Record for Electricity Prices (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Bills-soar-as-Spain-approaches-record-for-16428167.php

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Guest Essay: George Nethercutt – It’s Time for Washington State to Establish a Competitive Electricity Market (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/aug/31/george-nethercutt-its-time-for-washington-state-to/

13.   $2.3 Billion to Improve or Remove U.S. Dams Included in New Federal Infrastructure Bill in Wake of a Stanford Uncommon Dialogue Agreement (Stanford News)

https://news.stanford.edu/2021/08/30/improve-remove-funding-u-s-dams/

14.   Guest Column: Montana’s Economic Potential Is Tied to Reliable, Affordable Electricity (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, MT)

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/guest-column-montanas-economic-potential-is-tied-to-reliable-affordable-electricity/article_8a45e8f2-ceec-5d79-8721-7111b3ba6f28.html

15.   Guest Column: Portland Clean Energy Fund Needs Better Criteria for Choosing Climate Projects (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2021/08/opinion-portland-clean-energy-fund-needs-better-criteria-for-choosing-climate-projects.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16.   Record 2020 Wind Installations Represented 42% of New Power (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-30/record-2020-wind-installations-represented-42-of-new-power

17.   WA State: Input Wanted on Douglas County Prohibition on Large Solar & Wind Farms (KOZI Radio, Chelan, WA)

https://www.kozi.com/input-wanted-on-douglas-county-prohibition-on-large-solar-and-wind-farms/

18.   California: San Diego County to Join 5-City CCA as Alternative to SDG&E. Will It Bring Lower Electric Rates? (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2021-08-31/sd-county-board-of-supervisors-joins-local-5-city-community-choice-energy-program

19.   This Startup Helps Build Solar Farms Where the Grid Is Dirtiest (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/90670612/this-startup-helps-build-solar-farms-where-the-grid-is-dirtiest

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

20.   Residential Electric Panels Represent a Nearly $100B ‘Roadblock’ to Full Electrification, Report Finds (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/residential-electric-panels-represent-a-nearly-100b-roadblock-to-full-el/605829/

MVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)

https://www.kmvt.com/2021/08/31/increased-energy-incentives-rise-throughout-idaho/

22.   Vermont Digs in on Incentives to Boost Geothermal Heat Pumps (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2021/09/01/vermont-digs-in-on-incentives-to-boost-geothermal-heat-pumps/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   Pressed By Drought & Climate Change, A California City Turns to Desalination (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/pressed-by-drought-and-climate-change-a-california-city-turns-to-desalination/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   Former Republican FERC Chairman Joins Group Promoting Carbon Tax (Washington Examiner)

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/former-ferc-chairman-neil-chatterjee-joins-carbon-tax-group

25.   Invasive Earthworms Are Remaking Our Forests – Climate Scientists Are Worried (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/invasive-earthworms-threat-forests-climate-change-1.6154164?cmp=rss

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

26.   How Five States Tackled Broadband Expansion During the Pandemic (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2021/08/how-five-states-tackled-broadband-expansion-during-the-pandemic/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

27.   Here’s How Much Electricity It Takes to Mine Bitcoin & Why People Are Worried (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/heres-how-much-electricity-it-takes-to-mine-bitcoin-and-why-people-are-worried/

OTHER NEWS WORTH KNOWING

28.   Ida-Wrecked Power Grid Could Boost Support for Infrastructure Bill (Bloomberg News)

https://www.pressherald.com/2021/09/01/ida-wrecked-power-grid-could-boost-support-for-infrastructure-bill/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Once Green, Prehistoric Arabia Drew Early Humans from Africa

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-environment-and-nature-early-humans-science--0d7686aacf1616f500571bdd340d4d60

Old Farmer’s Almanac Says We’re in for One of the Coldest Winters in ‘Years.’ Should You Trust It?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/01/old-farmers-almanac-predicts-cold-winter/5665506001/

Raw Chicken Ends Up on Seattle Airport’s Baggage Carousel

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/08/31/raw-chicken-baggage-carousel-Seattle-Tacoma-International-Airport-TSA/8831630442779/

Man Bounces More Than 10 Miles on Inflatable Ball for Guinness World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/08/31/Guinness-World-Records-space-hopper-David-Kay-long-bounce/7001630444551/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Cyrcle – Red Rubber Ball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIHuwqQNv10