The Energy News Digest for February 28, 2022

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

Vulnerable U.S. Electric Grid Facing Threats from Russia & Domestic Terrorists (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/america-electric-grid-60-minutes-2022-02-27/

WA State: Armed Standoff at Priest Rapids Dam Ends with Help of K9 Chewbacca (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/armed-standoff-at-priest-rapids-dam-ends-with-help-of-k9-chewbacca/

U.S. Plans to Auction 3 GW Offshore Oregon, Pinpoints Three Areas (Offshore Wind Biz)

https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/02/25/us-plans-to-auction-3-gw-offshore-oregon/

U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Limits to EPA Efforts on Climate Change (Associated Press)

https://ktar.com/story/4918374/high-court-to-weigh-limits-to-epa-efforts-on-climate-change/

‘Atmospheric River’ Fuels Rains, Snow in Pacific Northwest (Associated Press)

https://ktvz.com/news/2022/02/28/atmospheric-river-fuels-rains-snow-in-pacific-northwest/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Vulnerable U.S. Electric Grid Facing Threats from Russia & Domestic Terrorists

2.      WA State: Armed Standoff at Priest Rapids Dam Ends with Help of K9 Chewbacca

3.      Three Plead Guilty to Terrorism Charges in White Supremacist Plot to Disrupt U.S. Power Grid, Start Race War

4.      Klamath River Basin: Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Set to Begin in Northern California

5.      Idaho’s Public Utilities Report an Uptick in Worker Assaults. This Bill Adds Penalties for It.

6.      Pioneer Survey Finds 60% of Co-ops Plan In-person Member Meetings in 2022

7.      News Release: Dams – One Structure, Many Benefits

8.      The Dammed Rivers That Shaped America’s West

9.      Commentary: A Brief History of Rural Broadband

10.   U.S. Plans to Auction 3 GW Offshore Oregon, Pinpoints Three Areas

11.   Company Proposing to Build Idaho’s Largest Solar Farm Near American Falls

12.   California: BLM Denies Permit for Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project

13.   Can a Community Energy Group Help Cut Your Bills?

14.   Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Season Looking Up

15.   Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Harming Industry

16.   Modern Aquaculture Sustains Treaty Rights & Tribal Food Security

17.   U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Limits to EPA Efforts on Climate Change

18.   Water Supply in Columbia River Basin Recovers from Drought Conditions, Still Below Normal for Hydropower Outlook

19.   What New Projections of Sea Level Rise Mean for Puget Sound & the WA Coast

20.   Amid the Gloom of Climate Change There Is Hope, Says UN Report

21.   Department of Commerce’s NTIA Awards $277 Million in Grants to Expand Broadband Infrastructure – Ferry, Jefferson, Kittitas, Okanogan, and Stevens Counties, WA

22.   SpaceX Launches Batch of StarLink Satellites from California

23.   The Digital World’s Real-World Impact on the Environment

24.   Bring Your Dog to Work Policy Boosts Employee Morale at Columbia REA in Walla Walla

25.   ‘Atmospheric River’ Fuels Rains, Snow in Pacific Northwest

26.   Permits Required to Drive Along Waterfall Corridor of Columbia River Highway This Spring

WORD OF THE DAY

Sentient \SEN-shee-unt\ Adjective – 1: responsive to or conscious of sense impressions 2: aware 3: finely sensitive in perception or feeling

Bert was intrigued by his girlfriend’s obsession with cleaning out his refrigerator. “You’ve got some things that have been in here for at least ten years,” her muffled voice exclaimed from the interior of the mossy cold-storage device. “In fact, I think that this carton of cottage cheese has evolved into some sort of sentient being. It just asked me for a date!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Vulnerable U.S. Electric Grid Facing Threats from Russia & Domestic Terrorists (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/america-electric-grid-60-minutes-2022-02-27/

2.      WA State: Armed Standoff at Priest Rapids Dam Ends with Help of K9 Chewbacca (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/armed-standoff-at-priest-rapids-dam-ends-with-help-of-k9-chewbacca/

3.      Three Plead Guilty to Terrorism Charges in White Supremacist Plot to Disrupt U.S. Power Grid, Start Race War (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/25/power-grid-terrorism-race-war/

4.      Klamath River Basin: Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Set to Begin in Northern California (iHeart Radio News)

https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-02-25-largest-dam-removal-in-us-history-set-to-begin-in-northern-california/

5.      Idaho’s Public Utilities Report an Uptick in Worker Assaults. This Bill Adds Penalties for It. (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/idaho-s-public-utilities-report-an-uptick-in-worker-assaults-this-bill-adds-penalties-for/article_f8c03f6b-7325-55bb-b2ef-de2412951b14.html

6.      Pioneer Survey Finds 60% of Co-ops Plan In-person Member Meetings in 2022 (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/2022meetingplans/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

7.      News Release: Dams – One Structure, Many Benefits (Benton REA, Prosser, WA)

https://bentonrea.org/dams-one-structure-many-benefits/

8.      The Dammed Rivers That Shaped America’s West (Governing)

https://www.governing.com/context/the-dammed-rivers-that-shaped-americas-west

9.      Commentary: A Brief History of Rural Broadband (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2022/02/25/a-brief-history-of-rural-broadband/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   U.S. Plans to Auction 3 GW Offshore Oregon, Pinpoints Three Areas (Offshore Wind Biz)

https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/02/25/us-plans-to-auction-3-gw-offshore-oregon/

11.   Company Proposing to Build Idaho’s Largest Solar Farm Near American Falls (East Idaho Business Journal)

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/business_journal/agriculture/company-proposing-to-build-idahos-largest-solar-farm-in-power-county/article_001e8211-19fd-5a87-b244-f9288872977c.html

12.   California: BLM Denies Permit for Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project (Lake County News, Lakeport, CA)

https://www.lakeconews.com/news/71836-blm-denies-permit-for-walker-ridge-wind-energy-project

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

13.   Can a Community Energy Group Help Cut Your Bills? (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60323668

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Season Looking Up (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/feb/25/columbia-river-spring-chinook-salmon-fishing-seaso/

15.   Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Harming Industry (Associated Press)

https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/warming-rivers-in-us-west-killing-fish-harming-industry/

16.   Modern Aquaculture Sustains Treaty Rights & Tribal Food Security (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/modern-aquaculture-sustains-treaty-rights-and-tribal-food-security/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

17.   U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Limits to EPA Efforts on Climate Change (Associated Press)

https://ktar.com/story/4918374/high-court-to-weigh-limits-to-epa-efforts-on-climate-change/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

18.   Water Supply in Columbia River Basin Recovers from Drought Conditions, Still Below Normal for Hydropower Outlook (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/33996-water-supply-in-columbia-river-basin-recovers-from-drought-conditions-still-below-normal-for-hydropower-outlook/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

19.   What New Projections of Sea Level Rise Mean for Puget Sound & the WA Coast (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/what-new-projections-of-sea-level-rise-mean-for-puget-sound-and-the-wa-coast/

20.   Amid the Gloom of Climate Change There Is Hope, Says UN Report (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2022/0228/Amid-the-gloom-of-climate-change-there-is-hope-says-UN-report?icid=rss

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

21.   Department of Commerce’s NTIA Awards $277 Million in Grants to Expand Broadband Infrastructure – Ferry, Jefferson, Kittitas, Okanogan, and Stevens Counties, WA (U.S. Dept. of Commerce)

https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2022/02/department-commerces-ntia-awards-277m-grants-expand-broadband

22.   SpaceX Launches Batch of StarLink Satellites from California (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/spacex-launches-batch-of-starlink-satellites-from-california/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

23.   The Digital World’s Real-World Impact on the Environment (High Country News)

https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.3/infographic-technology-the-digital-worlds-real-world-impact-on-the-environment

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

24.   Bring Your Dog to Work Policy Boosts Employee Morale at Columbia REA in Walla Walla (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/lifestyles/bring-your-dog-to-work-policy-boosts-employee-morale-at-columbia-rea-in-walla-walla/article_a5de8fe0-8556-11ec-9912-0fa76c62d0b1.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

25.   ‘Atmospheric River’ Fuels Rains, Snow in Pacific Northwest (Associated Press)

https://ktvz.com/news/2022/02/28/atmospheric-river-fuels-rains-snow-in-pacific-northwest/

26.   Permits Required to Drive Along Waterfall Corridor of Columbia River Highway This Spring (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/02/28/historic-columbia-river-highway-permit-waterfall-corridor/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Avocado Supply Faces ‘Big Concern’ as Inflation, Scarcity Send Prices on a Tear

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/avocado-market-faces-big-concern-as-inflation-scarcity-send-prices-on-a-tear-195347946.html

Woman Finds Decades-Old Love Letters Hidden in Virginia Home

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/25/Henrico-County-Virginia-secret-room-love-letters/2551645823393/

Canadian Teen Solves 211 Rubik’s Cubes While on a Pogo Stick

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/25/canada-Guinness-World-Records-pogo-stick-Rubiks-cube/4851645811953/

Rare Pokemon Card Featuring Pikachu Sells for Record $900,000

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/24/Pokemon-card-auction-Goldin-new-record-Pikachu/7421645734518/

SONG OF THE DAY

Bonnie Raitt - Love Letter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_cFTcqdtI8

The Energy News Digest for February 23, 2022

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

WA State: $10 Million Enticement Could Help Modernize Ferndale Smelter, Help Sale Go Through (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/money/economy/10-million-enticement-state-budget-ferndale-intalco-alcoa-smelter/281-38be68ee-fdec-4755-8907-8a73b1c8fa5f

Load Growth, Retiring Fossil Fuels Creating ‘Urgent Need’ for New Electric Resources in the U.S. Southwest (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/load-growth-retiring-fossil-fuels-creating-urgent-need-for-new-electric/619088/

Mixed Water Supply Conditions in the Pacific Northwest Affect 2022 Hydropower Outlook (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51378

WA Gov. Inslee Supports Wind Farms Ahead of Horse Heaven Decision During Tri-Cities Visit (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article258656458.html

The Sun Has Erupted Non-Stop All Month – There Are More Giant Flares Coming (Science Alert)

https://www.sciencealert.com/the-sun-has-erupted-non-stop-all-month-and-there-are-more-giant-flares-coming

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Load Growth, Retiring Fossil Fuels Creating ‘Urgent Need’ for New Electric Resources in the U.S. Southwest

2.      Mixed Water Supply Conditions in the Pacific Northwest Affect 2022 Hydropower Outlook

3.      Pipeline Expansion Would Increase the Flow of Natural Gas Through the Pacific Northwest

4.      Council Adopts 2021 Northwest Power Plan – Highlights Renewables, Energy Efficiency in a Changing Power System

5.      Report Says New Nuclear Reactor Is Risky; Utilities Disagree

6.      14 States Urge FERC to Tighten Accounting Rules to Prevent Utilities from Recouping Lobbying Expenses

7.      Solar-Powered Homes Caught in Crossfire as a Rural Colorado Electric Co-Op Aims to Squeeze More from Second-Home Owners

8.      9th Circuit Rules Publicly Owned Utilities Not Exempt from Federal Antitrust Challenges Under Filed-Rate Doctrine

9.      New Mexico: Proposed Study of Publicly Owned Utilities Gains No Traction Before End of Legislative Session

10.   How Electric Stoves Are Poised to Dethrone the Mighty Gas Range

11.   Bonneville Power Administration Engineers Share Advice for Girls Considering a STEM Career

12.   Can Quebec’s Dams Power New York City? Blackstone Is Betting $4.5 Billion on It.

13.   Ethiopia Starts Partial Power Generation from Blue Nile Dam

14.   Guest Essay: You Can’t ‘Offset’ Extinction of Fraser River Chinook Salmon

15.   Lower Snake River Dams Important to Western Montana Co-Ops

16.   Guest Essay: Clearing the Air on WA State’s Clean Energy Bill

17.   Hydropower for a Resilient Grid — Why We Need It

18.   WA Gov. Inslee Supports Wind Farms Ahead of Horse Heaven Decision During Tri-Cities Visit

19.   Idaho: Magic Valley Wind Project Moves Forward, BLM Considers Alternatives

20.   Nevada: Developer Files with FERC for 1 GW Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project

21.   REC Silicon Still Committed to 2023 Reopening in Moses Lake, WA

22.   United Kingdom: Wind Farms Were Paid Not to Generate Half Their Potential Electricity

23.   What Are the Top Ten Energy Users in Your Home?

24.   Replace Incandescent Bulbs with LEDs for Energy Savings

25.   Thousands of Fish Stocked in Salt River Project Canals to Clear Vegetation

26.   Cascades See Boost to Snowpack with Weekend Storms

27.   WA State: Work Continues on Skagit Public Utility District’s Water Pipeline Project

28.   Greenland Ice Sheet the World’s Largest ‘Dam’ Due to Rapid Melting

29.   Montana: Bitcoin Miners Revived a Dying Coal Plant – Then Carbon Dioxide Emissions Soared

30.   Idaho: Facebook Parent Meta Is Opening a 100% Renewable Data Center Here

31.   Oregon Electric Vehicle Startup Arcimoto Opens New 250,000 Square-Foot Factory

32.   Clark Public Utilities to Launch New Smart EV Charging Program

33.   Utilities Using New Tactics to Improve Bill Collection, Customer Experience

34.   The Sun Has Erupted Non-Stop All Month – There Are More Giant Flares Coming

35.   Interest In Seaweed Farming Across Puget Sound Is ‘Booming’

36.   WA State: $10 Million Enticement Could Help Modernize Ferndale Smelter, Help Sale Go Through

37.   WA Democrats in Olympia Undeterred by Anger from Oregon, Idaho & Alaska Over Targeted Fuel Tax

WORD OF THE DAY

Apropos \ah-pruh-POE \ Adverb – 1: at an opportune time: seasonably 2: by way of interjection or further comment: with regard to the present topic.

Whistling in the dark, the debate over streetlights goes on until, apropos of nothing, the meaning of life, the universe, and everything commandeered the discussions…always ending, inexplicably, in the number 42.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Load Growth, Retiring Fossil Fuels Creating ‘Urgent Need’ for New Electric Resources in the U.S. Southwest (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/load-growth-retiring-fossil-fuels-creating-urgent-need-for-new-electric/619088/

2.      Mixed Water Supply Conditions in the Pacific Northwest Affect 2022 Hydropower Outlook (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51378

3.      Pipeline Expansion Would Increase the Flow of Natural Gas Through the Pacific Northwest (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/02/20/oregon-natural-gas-pipeline-idaho-washington/

4.      Council Adopts 2021 Northwest Power Plan – Highlights Renewables, Energy Efficiency in a Changing Power System (NW Power & Conservation Council)

https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/2021power-plan-adopted

5.      Report Says New Nuclear Reactor Is Risky; Utilities Disagree (Associated Press)

https://kjzz.com/news/report-says-new-oregon-nuclear-reactor-clean-energy-castle-dale-utah-idaho-new-mexico-nevada-risky-utilities-disagree

6.      14 States Urge FERC to Tighten Accounting Rules to Prevent Utilities from Recouping Lobbying Expenses (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/state-utility-regulators-ags-ferc-clarify-lobbying-accounting-rules/619268/

7.      Solar-Powered Homes Caught in Crossfire as a Rural Colorado Electric Co-Op Aims to Squeeze More from Second-Home Owners (Colorado Sun, Denver, CO)

https://coloradosun.com/2022/02/21/sangre-de-cristo-electric-rate-high-part-time-residents/

8.      9th Circuit Rules Publicly Owned Utilities Not Exempt from Federal Antitrust Challenges Under Filed-Rate Doctrine (JDSupra)

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/9th-circuit-rules-publicly-owned-5305821/

9.      New Mexico: Proposed Study of Publicly Owned Utilities Gains No Traction Before End of Legislative Session (Santa Fe New Mexican)

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/proposed-study-of-publicly-owned-utilities-gains-no-traction-before-end-of-legislative-session/article_d9835272-93ed-11ec-8c8e-b7f19d636776.html

10.   How Electric Stoves Are Poised to Dethrone the Mighty Gas Range (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/electric-stoves-poised-dethrone-mighty-121358152.html

11.   Bonneville Power Administration Engineers Share Advice for Girls Considering a STEM Career (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-engineers-share-advice-for-girls-considering-a-STEM-career.aspx

12.   Can Quebec’s Dams Power New York City? Blackstone Is Betting $4.5 Billion on It. (Wall Street Journal – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-quebecs-dams-power-new-york-city-blackstone-is-betting-4-5-billion-on-it-11645180226

13.   Ethiopia Starts Partial Power Generation from Blue Nile Dam (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-africa-egypt-sudan-environment-and-nature-d1d970efbc8fb0464c1b24ccf5c799f3

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

14.   Guest Essay: You Can’t ‘Offset’ Extinction of Fraser River Chinook Salmon (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/you-cant-offset-extinction-of-fraser-river-chinook-salmon/

15.   Lower Snake River Dams Important to Western Montana Co-Ops (Rural Montana, Electric Co-Op Association Magazine)

https://online.fliphtml5.com/oztl/luii/#p=14

16.   Guest Essay: Clearing the Air on WA State’s Clean Energy Bill (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/opinion/opinion_columns/clearing-the-air-on-clean-energy-bill/article_a717c45a-90ee-11ec-b120-9b979440da71.html

17.   Hydropower for a Resilient Grid — Why We Need It (Clean Technica)

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/02/06/hydropower-for-a-resilient-grid-why-we-need-it/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

18.   WA Gov. Inslee Supports Wind Farms Ahead of Horse Heaven Decision During Tri-Cities Visit (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article258656458.html

19.   Idaho: Magic Valley Wind Project Moves Forward, BLM Considers Alternatives (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2022-02-18/magic-valley-wind-project-moves-forward-blm-considers-alternatives

20.   Nevada: Developer Files with FERC for 1 GW Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project (Hydro Review)

https://www.hydroreview.com/hydro-industry-news/developer-files-with-ferc-for-1-gw-pumped-hydro-energy-storage-project/

21.   REC Silicon Still Committed to 2023 Reopening in Moses Lake, WA (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/feb/21/rec-still-committed-2023-reopening/

22.   United Kingdom: Wind Farms Were Paid Not to Generate Half Their Potential Electricity (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/wind-farms-were-paid-not-170702811.html?soc_src=yahooapp

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

23.   What Are the Top Ten Energy Users in Your Home? (KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA)

https://www.cbs8.com/article/money/amped/top-ten-energy-users-in-your-home/509-068cde53-e5e5-40a5-989e-626600d35dd1

24.   Replace Incandescent Bulbs with LEDs for Energy Savings (Quad City Herald, Brewster, WA)

https://www.qcherald.com/public-utility-dist/replace-incandescent-bulbs-leds-energy-savings

FISH & WILDLIFE

25.   Thousands of Fish Stocked in Salt River Project Canals to Clear Vegetation (KTAR News, Phoenix, AZ)

https://ktar.com/story/4899768/thousands-of-fish-stocked-in-srp-canals-to-clear-vegetation/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

26.   Cascades See Boost to Snowpack with Weekend Storms (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/cascades-see-boost-to-snowpack-with-weekend-storms/

27.   WA State: Work Continues on Skagit Public Utility District’s Water Pipeline Project (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/northwest/work-continues-on-skagit-public-utility-districts-water-pipeline-project/article_8d4577ab-df66-5088-93e9-644b88f88bcc.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

28.   Greenland Ice Sheet the World’s Largest ‘Dam’ Due to Rapid Melting (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/greenland-ice-sheet-the-worlds-largest-dam-due-to-rapid-melting/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

29.   Montana: Bitcoin Miners Revived a Dying Coal Plant – Then Carbon Dioxide Emissions Soared (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/18/bitcoin-miners-revive-fossil-fuel-plant-co2-emissions-soared

30.   Idaho: Facebook Parent Meta Is Opening a 100% Renewable Data Center Here (Environmental Leader)

https://www.environmentalleader.com/2022/02/facebook-parent-meta-is-opening-an-100-renewable-data-center-here/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   Oregon Electric Vehicle Startup Arcimoto Opens New 250,000 Square-Foot Factory (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2022/02/oregon-electric-vehicle-startup-arcimoto-opens-new-250000-square-foot-factory.html

32.   Clark Public Utilities to Launch New Smart EV Charging Program (Vancouver/SW Washington Business Journal)

https://www.vbjusa.com/news/news-briefs/clark-public-utilities-to-launch-new-smart-ev-charging-program/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

33.   Utilities Using New Tactics to Improve Bill Collection, Customer Experience (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/utilities-using-new-tactics-to-improve-bill-collection-customer-experience/618521/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

34.   The Sun Has Erupted Non-Stop All Month – There Are More Giant Flares Coming (Science Alert)

https://www.sciencealert.com/the-sun-has-erupted-non-stop-all-month-and-there-are-more-giant-flares-coming

35.   Interest In Seaweed Farming Across Puget Sound Is ‘Booming’ (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seaweed-agriculture-puget-sound/281-5f43ceff-2776-48b1-b92a-782e008f4a4b

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

36.   WA State: $10 Million Enticement Could Help Modernize Ferndale Smelter, Help Sale Go Through (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/money/economy/10-million-enticement-state-budget-ferndale-intalco-alcoa-smelter/281-38be68ee-fdec-4755-8907-8a73b1c8fa5f

37.   WA Democrats in Olympia Undeterred by Anger from Oregon, Idaho & Alaska Over Targeted Fuel Tax (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/democrats-in-olympia-undeterred-by-anger-from-oregon-idaho-and-alaska-over-targeted-fuel-tax

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Three WA Cities Among Nation’s Best for Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/3-wa-cities-among-nations-best-for-surviving-a-zombie-apocalypse/

Huge Opal Sells for Nearly $144,000 at Alaska Auction

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/huge-opal-sells-125k-alaska-200346403.html

Runner Takes on Canadian Half Marathon While Wearing 90 T-Shirts

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/21/canada-Guinness-World-Records-half-marathon-90-T-shirts/2941645476001/

Massive Black Bear ‘Hank the Tank’ Continues California Home Break-In Spree

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/02/21/Massive-bear-Hank-Tank-Calif-home-break-in-spree/8501645467305/

SONG OF THE DAY

A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran (So Far Away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ7NVjZ-Eyg