Wednesday, October 27, 2021

The Energy News Digest for October 27, 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.

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

Judge Orders Stay in Case Seeking to Remove Snake River Dams (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2021-10-26/judge-orders-stay-in-case-seeking-to-remove-snake-river-dams

Projects Would Invest Billions at Lake Roosevelt for Needed Renewable-Energy Storage – Hurdles Are High (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/oct/27/projects-would-invest-billions-on-lake-roosevelt-f/

California: Lake Oroville Hydroelectric Power Plant Remains Offline, But Could Resume in December (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/lake-oroville-hydroelectric-power-plant-remains-offline-could-resume-december/38071906

Oregon: The Dalles Approves Tax Break for New Google Data Centers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/10/26/google-data-center-the-dalles-tax-break/

Wildlife Agencies to Cancel Trump Endangered Species Rules (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-10-26/wildlife-agencies-to-cancel-trump-endangered-species-rules

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Judge Orders Stay in Case Seeking to Remove Snake River Dams

2.      Oregon State Reaches Short-Term Agreement for Columbia Basin Dams

3.      California: Lake Oroville Hydroelectric Power Plant Remains Offline, But Could Resume in December

4.      Montana: Conservation Group Presses Court for ‘Secret’ Coal Council Records

5.      New Mexico Energizes First Leg of Major Transmission Line

6.      Maine: Another $23 Million Flows into Record-Setting CMP Transmission Corridor Race in Month Before Election

7.      Xcel Energy Requests Electric Rate Hike of About 20%

8.      Canada: Facing Sky-High Connection Fees, Rural Ontarians Go Off the Grid

9.      Editorial: Study on Snake River Dam Breaching Questionable

10.   Salmon & Hydroelectric Power Can Co-Exist

11.   Guest Essay: APPA’s Joy Ditto – Infrastructure Bill Represents Significant Opportunity to Support Public Power

12.   Column: If President Biden Is Serious About the Climate Crisis, He Should Put Nuclear Power on the Table

13.   Projects Would Invest Billions at Lake Roosevelt for Needed Renewable-Energy Storage – Hurdles Are High

14.   California: Shasta Supervisors Agree with Commission, Deny Use Permit for Controversial Wind Farm (Redding Record-Searchlight, CA)

15.   Canada: Is Tidal Energy the Surge Remote Coastal Communities Need?

16.   New $90 Million Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Center to Focus on Solving Clean Energy’s Biggest Puzzles

17.   70 Public Power Utilities Earn Smart Energy Provider Designation

18.   Wildlife Agencies to Cancel Trump Endangered Species Rules

19.   Potential ‘Irreparable Damage’ to Puget Sound Orcas Over Alleged Illegal Salmon Hatchery Expansion

20.   California Still Deep in Drought Despite Atmospheric River

21.   Massive Storm Brings Lake Tahoe’s Water Levels Back Above Natural Rim

22.   Court Strikes Down Trump EPA Water Permitting Rule

23.   Oregon: Portland Officials Pivot from Sweeping Carbon Tax Plan, Seek Scaled-Back Pollution Fee

24.   Climate Change: Posting Pictures Online & Storing Emails Are Contributing to Crisis, Says Report

25.   U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA-R) Worried Broadband Funding Will Miss Mark without New Maps

26.   U.S. Rep. Newhouse (R-WA) Announces $2 Million in Rural Broadband Funding for Central Washington State

27.   White House Picks Jessica Rosenworcel as First Female FCC Chair

28.   Oregon: The Dalles Approves Tax Break for New Google Data Centers

29.   Russian Hackers Used Home Networks to Evade Detection

30.   Thirty-Eight Public Power Electric Utilities & Utility Organizations Earn Public Power Communications Awards

31.   WA State: ‘Atmospheric River’ of Rain Is on Its Way to Seattle Area, But Dry Weekend Ahead – Haiku Hopefuls Attend

WORD OF THE DAY

Atavistic • \at-uh-VIS-stick\ • adjective – 1a: recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination b: recurrence of or reversion to a past style, manner, outlook, approach, or activity 2: one that manifests atavism: throwback

Beauregard was horrified by the greeting he received from his new houseguest. Unfortunately, the wretch who had been rescued from ten long years living among the apes of Africa showed his happy salutation in an atavistic ritual of looking for nits on the thinning scalp of the squirming southern gentleman. “Nope, you’re clean,” beamed the neo-Tarzan to his host.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Judge Orders Stay in Case Seeking to Remove Snake River Dams (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2021-10-26/judge-orders-stay-in-case-seeking-to-remove-snake-river-dams

2.      Oregon State Reaches Short-Term Agreement for Columbia Basin Dams (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/oregon-state-has-reached-a-short-term-agreement-for-columbia-basin-dams/article_0a4ba652-374b-11ec-b50b-2fb0c14fa0db.html

3.      California: Lake Oroville Hydroelectric Power Plant Remains Offline, But Could Resume in December (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/lake-oroville-hydroelectric-power-plant-remains-offline-could-resume-december/38071906

4.      Montana: Conservation Group Presses Court for ‘Secret’ Coal Council Records (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/conservation-group-presses-court-secret-coal-council-records-2021-10-21/

5.      New Mexico Energizes First Leg of Major Transmission Line (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-new-mexico-80213c3b8c1e5104fbfa6ada8346d4db

6.      Maine: Another $23 Million Flows into Record-Setting CMP Transmission Corridor Race in Month Before Election (Bangor Daily News, ME)

https://bangordailynews.com/2021/10/26/politics/another-23m-flows-into-record-setting-cmp-corridor-race-in-month-before-election/

7.      Xcel Energy Requests Electric Rate Hike of About 20% (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/minnesota/articles/2021-10-26/xcel-energy-requests-electric-rate-hike-of-about-20

8.      Canada: Facing Sky-High Connection Fees, Rural Ontarians Go Off the Grid (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/wind-solar-power-rural-ontario-1.6224159?cmp=rss

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

9.      Editorial: Study on Snake River Dam Breaching Questionable (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/opinion/editorials/study-on-dam-breaching-questionable/article_48b5914a-35f8-11ec-bc34-fb696d83a72e.html

10.   Salmon & Hydroelectric Power Can Co-Exist (WA State Republican Caucus)

https://houserepublicans.wa.gov/2021/10/26/case-against-dam-removal/

11.   Guest Essay: APPA’s Joy Ditto – Infrastructure Bill Represents Significant Opportunity to Support Public Power (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/578712-infrastructure-bill-represents-significant-opportunity-to-support?rl=1

12.   Column: If President Biden Is Serious About the Climate Crisis, He Should Put Nuclear Power on the Table (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-10-26/climate-change-nuclear-power-biden-crisis

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   Projects Would Invest Billions at Lake Roosevelt for Needed Renewable-Energy Storage – Hurdles Are High (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/oct/27/projects-would-invest-billions-on-lake-roosevelt-f/

14.   California: Shasta Supervisors Agree with Commission, Deny Use Permit for Controversial Wind Farm (Redding Record-Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2021/10/27/shasta-supervisors-agree-commission-and-deny-use-permit-controversial-wind-farm/8555976002/

15.   Canada: Is Tidal Energy the Surge Remote Coastal Communities Need? (The Toronto Star, Ontario)

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/10/26/is-tidal-energy-the-surge-remote-coastal-communities-need.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

16.   New $90 Million Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Center to Focus on Solving Clean Energy’s Biggest Puzzles (Tri-City Herald, WA)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/pacific-northwest-national-lab/article255185637.html

17.   70 Public Power Utilities Earn Smart Energy Provider Designation (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/70-public-power-utilities-earn-smart-energy-provider-designation

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   Wildlife Agencies to Cancel Trump Endangered Species Rules (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-10-26/wildlife-agencies-to-cancel-trump-endangered-species-rules

19.   Potential ‘Irreparable Damage’ to Puget Sound Orcas Over Alleged Illegal Salmon Hatchery Expansion (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3198655/potential-irreparable-damage-to-puget-sound-orcas-over-alleged-illegal-salmon-hatchery-expansion/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

20.   California Still Deep in Drought Despite Atmospheric River (KIRO News, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3204778/california-still-deep-in-drought-despite-atmospheric-river/

21.   Massive Storm Brings Lake Tahoe’s Water Levels Back Above Natural Rim (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/massive-storm-brings-lake-tahoes-004653494.html

22.   Court Strikes Down Trump EPA Water Permitting Rule (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/court-strikes-down-trump-epa-water-permitting-rule/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Oregon: Portland Officials Pivot from Sweeping Carbon Tax Plan, Seek Scaled-Back Pollution Fee (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/10/portland-officials-pivot-from-sweeping-carbon-tax-plan-seek-scaled-back-pollution-fee.html

24.   Climate Change: Posting Pictures Online & Storing Emails Are Contributing to Crisis, Says Report (Sky News, UK)

https://news.sky.com/story/dirty-data-posting-pictures-online-and-storing-emails-are-contributing-to-climate-crisis-says-report-12444665

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA-R) Worried Broadband Funding Will Miss Mark without New Maps (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/578580-mcmorris-rodgers-worried-broadband-funding-will-miss-mark-without-new-maps

26.   U.S. Rep. Newhouse (R-WA) Announces $2 Million in Rural Broadband Funding for Central Washington State (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

https://www.pnwag.net/2021/10/26/newhouse-announces-2m-in-rural-broadband-funding-for-central-washington/

27.   White House Picks Jessica Rosenworcel as First Female FCC Chair (Engadget)

https://www.engadget.com/fcc-jessica-rosenworcel-first-female-chair-154933419.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   Oregon: The Dalles Approves Tax Break for New Google Data Centers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/10/26/google-data-center-the-dalles-tax-break/

29.   Russian Hackers Used Home Networks to Evade Detection (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-26/suspected-russian-hackers-use-home-networks-to-evade-detection

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Thirty-Eight Public Power Electric Utilities & Utility Organizations Earn Public Power Communications Awards (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/publication/thirty-eight-public-power-electric-utilities-and-utility-organizations-earn-public-power

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

31.   WA State: ‘Atmospheric River’ of Rain Is on Its Way to Seattle Area, But Dry Weekend Ahead – Haiku Hopefuls Attend (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/an-atmospheric-river-of-rain-is-on-its-way-to-the-seattle-area/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Woman Sues Kellogg Over Lack of Strawberries in Strawberry Pop-Tarts, Seeks $5 Million

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/26/kellogg-sued-strawberry-pop-tarts/

Virginia ‘Criminal Couponer’ Who Robbed $31.8 Million Used Funds for High-End Vacations

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/10/26/criminal-couponer-tricked-shoppers-robbed-stores-31-8-million/8548454002/

Super Troupers! ABBA on Fame, Divorce, Ageing Backwards – And Why They’ve Returned to Rescue 2021

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/27/abba-reunion-interview-voyage-younger-selves

Volunteers Crush the Grapes & Raise A Glass At London Winery

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/volunteers-crush-grapes-raise-glass-london-winery-2021-10-27/

SONG OF THE DAY

ABBA – Money, Money, Money

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