Wednesday, December 29, 2021

The Energy News Digest for December 29, 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

Alaska Experiences Record-High Temperature for December, Freezing Rain (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/12/28/alaska-record-temperatures-climate/

Lake Tahoe Shatters 50-Year December Snowfall Record with More Than 16 Feet of Snow (USA Today – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/28/lake-tahoe-december-snow-fall-breaks-record/9031911002/

British Columbia: Electricity Demand Breaks Records Reports BC Hydro (E-Know, Canada)

https://www.e-know.ca/regions/east-kootenay/electricity-demand-breaks-records-reports-bc-hydro/

Dismissal of Charges Sought in Death of Skookumchuck Wind Farm Worker (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/dismissal-of-charges-sought-in-death-of-skookumchuck-wind-farm-worker,281595

What We Learned This Year About Human Waste & Puget Sound (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/12/what-we-learned-year-about-human-waste-and-puget-sound

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      British Columbia: Electricity Demand Breaks Records Reports BC Hydro

2.      WA State: Chelan PUD Expecting Record-Breaking Energy Demand with Frigid Cold This Week

3.      NW Natural Asks Oregon Regulators for a 9.9% Rate Hike

4.      Idaho Power Seeking Approval for Large-Load Special Contract

5.      New Mexico Tribes Concerned About Plan to Power Nuclear Lab

6.      Buffett, Anschutz-Backed Power Lines Get Deal to Move Forward

7.      How New England Bungled Its Plan to Transition to Renewable Energy

8.      Clark Public Utilities Gives Out $3.4 Million in Aid

9.      WA State: Okanogan County PUD Helps Ratepayers Keep the Lights On

10.   Will Nuclear Fusion Ever Power the World?

11.   Alexa Tells 10-Year-Old Girl to Touch Live Plug with Penny

12.   One Unexpected Way for Biden to Help the Climate & Rural America at the Same Time – The president has the power to reform the wayward Tennessee Valley Authority

13.   Guest Essay: Utility Pole Regs Could Hamper Montana Broadband Initiative

14.   The Future of the Universal Service Fund

15.   Dismissal of Charges Sought in Death of Skookumchuck Wind Farm Worker

16.   As Miners Chase Clean-Energy Minerals Across the West, Tribes Fear a Repeat of the Past

17.   Clean Hydrogen Use Gaining Momentum in Countries

18.   Keep Your Bills Low During Winter Weather with Energy Saving Tips from the Benton PUD

19.   Here’s How to Save Big on Your Energy Bill During Whatcom’s Record-Breaking Low Temps

20.   What We Learned This Year About Human Waste & Puget Sound

21.   Sewage Spill Contaminates Percival Creek, Capitol Lake, Budd Inlet

22.   Alaska Experiences Record-High Temperature for December, Freezing Rain

23.   Data Confirms All-Time Record Temperatures During Summer Heatwave in North Central Washington

24.   Oregon’s Smallest, Southernmost Glacier Has Disappeared, Observers Say

25.   For The Northwest, Climate Change Was Hard to Ignore in 2021

26.   Washington State Public Works Board Has Approved $44.6 Million In New Grants for Broadband Expansion

27.   WA State: Broadband to Expand West of Port Angeles – Agency Leaders Anticipate More Fund Opportunities

28.   China Urges U.S. to Protect Its Space Station from Internet-Providing Satellites

29.   The Generation That Desires Good Internet Over Love: Young People Value Strong Broadband Connection More Than Finding Romance, Survey Finds

30.   Watch a Tesla Owner Blow Up His Model S with 66 Pounds of Dynamite Instead of Paying $22,000 to Repair It

31.   Montana Producers Prepare for Recreational Marijuana Jan. 1

32.   How Oklahoma Became a Marijuana Boom State

33.   Is Noon 12 AM or 12 PM?

34.   Lake Tahoe Shatters 50-Year December Snowfall Record with More Than 16 Feet of Snow

35.   Western Washington State: Clear & Cold Before Another Round of Snow Overnight

WORD OF THE DAY

Wreak \REEK\ Verb - 1: to cause the infliction of (vengeance or punishment) 2: to give free play or course to (malevolent feeling) 3: bring about, cause.

“Good grief,” opined Samuel Morse to his illiterate assistant. “It’s ‘what hath God wrought,’ you ninny. Not, ‘what hath god wreaked’.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      British Columbia: Electricity Demand Breaks Records Reports BC Hydro (E-Know, Canada)

https://www.e-know.ca/regions/east-kootenay/electricity-demand-breaks-records-reports-bc-hydro/

2.      WA State: Chelan PUD Expecting Record-Breaking Energy Demand with Frigid Cold This Week (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/chelan-pud-expecting-record-breaking-energy-demand-with-frigid-cold-this-week/

3.      NW Natural Asks Oregon Regulators for a 9.9% Rate Hike (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/12/27/nw-natural-wants-a-9-9-general-rate-increase.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search

4.      Idaho Power Seeking Approval for Large-Load Special Contract (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/33245-idaho-power-seeking-approval-for-large-load-special-contract/?amp

5.      New Mexico Tribes Concerned About Plan to Power Nuclear Lab (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2021-12-29/new-mexico-tribes-concerned-about-plan-to-power-nuclear-lab

6.      Buffett, Anschutz-Backed Power Lines Get Deal to Move Forward (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-28/buffett-anschutz-backed-power-lines-get-deal-to-move-forward

7.      How New England Bungled Its Plan to Transition to Renewable Energy (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/29/maine-renewable-energy-hydropower-new-england

8.      Clark Public Utilities Gives Out $3.4 Million in Aid (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/dec/29/clark-public-utilities-gives-out-3-4m-in-aid/

9.      WA State: Okanogan County PUD Helps Ratepayers Keep the Lights On (Quad City Herald, Chelan, WA)

https://www.qcherald.com/public-utility-dist/okanogan-county-pud-helps-ratepayers-keep-lights

10.   Will Nuclear Fusion Ever Power the World? (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/will-nuclear-fusion-ever-power-the-world-1848149991

11.   Alexa Tells 10-Year-Old Girl to Touch Live Plug with Penny (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59810383

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   One Unexpected Way for Biden to Help the Climate & Rural America at the Same Time – The president has the power to reform the wayward Tennessee Valley Authority (The New Republic)

https://newrepublic.com/article/164722/biden-climate-tennessee-valley-authority

13.   Guest Essay: Utility Pole Regs Could Hamper Montana Broadband Initiative (Montana Standard, Butte. MT)

https://mtstandard.com/opinion/columnists/guest-view-utility-pole-regs-could-hamper-montana-broadband-initiative/article_314904a7-26be-5294-903c-1694fb5af495.html

14.   The Future of the Universal Service Fund (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2021/12/29/the-future-of-the-universal-service-fund/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   Dismissal of Charges Sought in Death of Skookumchuck Wind Farm Worker (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/dismissal-of-charges-sought-in-death-of-skookumchuck-wind-farm-worker,281595

16.   As Miners Chase Clean-Energy Minerals Across the West, Tribes Fear a Repeat of the Past (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/as-miners-chase-clean-energy-minerals-across-the-west-tribes-fear-a-repeat-of-the-past/

17.   Clean Hydrogen Use Gaining Momentum in Countries (U.S. News & World Report)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2021-12-27/hydrogen-use-gaining-momentum-in-countries-amid-climate-change

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18.   Keep Your Bills Low During Winter Weather with Energy Saving Tips from the Benton PUD (KAPP/KVEW TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/keep-your-bills-low-during-winter-weather-with-energy-saving-tips-from-the-benton-pud/

19.   Here’s How to Save Big on Your Energy Bill During Whatcom’s Record-Breaking Low Temps (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/weather-news/article256893062.html

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

20.   What We Learned This Year About Human Waste & Puget Sound (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/12/what-we-learned-year-about-human-waste-and-puget-sound

21.   Sewage Spill Contaminates Percival Creek, Capitol Lake, Budd Inlet (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article256905512.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

22.   Alaska Experiences Record-High Temperature for December, Freezing Rain (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/12/28/alaska-record-temperatures-climate/

23.   Data Confirms All-Time Record Temperatures During Summer Heatwave in North Central Washington (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/data-confirms-all-time-record-temperatures-during-summer-heatwave-in-north-central-washington/

24.   Oregon’s Smallest, Southernmost Glacier Has Disappeared, Observers Say (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2021/12/oregons-smallest-southernmost-glacier-has-disappeared-observers-say.html

 

25.   For The Northwest, Climate Change Was Hard to Ignore in 2021 (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/climate-change-was-hard-to-ignore-for-the-northwest-in-2021

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

26.   Washington State Public Works Board Has Approved $44.6 Million In New Grants for Broadband Expansion (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/washington-state-public-works-board-has-approved-446-million-in-new-grants-for-broadband-expansion

27.   WA State: Broadband to Expand West of Port Angeles – Agency Leaders Anticipate More Fund Opportunities (Sequim Gazette, WA)

https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/broadband-to-expand-west-of-port-angeles/

28.   China Urges U.S. to Protect Its Space Station from Internet-Providing Satellites (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-12-28/china-calls-on-us-to-protect-space-station-from-satellites

29.   The Generation That Desires Good Internet Over Love: Young People Value Strong Broadband Connection More Than Finding Romance, Survey Finds (The Daily Mail, UK)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10351553/Young-people-value-strong-broadband-connection-finding-romance-survey-finds.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   Watch a Tesla Owner Blow Up His Model S with 66 Pounds of Dynamite Instead of Paying $22,000 to Repair It (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/watch-tesla-owner-blow-model-161712290.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

31.   Montana Producers Prepare for Recreational Marijuana Jan. 1 (KFYR-TV, Bismarck, ND)

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2021/12/28/montana-producers-prepare-recreational-marijuana-jan-1/

32.   How Oklahoma Became a Marijuana Boom State (Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, CA)

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/how-oklahoma-became-a-marijuana-boom-state/?ref=TSM

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

33.   Is Noon 12 AM or 12 PM? (Royal Museums, Greenwich, UK)

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/noon-12-am-or-12-pm

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

34.   Lake Tahoe Shatters 50-Year December Snowfall Record with More Than 16 Feet of Snow (USA Today – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/28/lake-tahoe-december-snow-fall-breaks-record/9031911002/

35.   Western Washington State: Clear & Cold Before Another Round of Snow Overnight (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/clear-cold-before-another-round-snow-overnight/56226JT6VNANNC63VTTQION2BA/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

NFL Hall of Fame Coach & Former Grays Harbor Community College Alum Choker John Madden Dead at 85

https://www.kxro.com/nfl-hall-of-fame-coach-and-former-grays-harbor-choker-john-madden-dead-at-85/

Trial to Open Next Month in Spectacular German Jewelry Theft

https://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2021-12-29/trial-to-open-next-month-in-spectacular-german-jewelry-theft

The 3,500-Year-Old Mummy of an Egyptian King Has Been ‘Digitally Unwrapped’ for the First Time

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/28/world/egyptian-mummy-unwrap-scn/index.html

Letter That Arrived 68 Years Late Returned to Family

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/12/28/long-lost-letter-arrives-68-years-late/4291640716840/

SONG OF THE DAY

Sam Spence – The Power & Glory: Up as She Rises (NFL Films)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpbM8djgzwM