Wednesday, March 30, 2022

The Energy News Digest for March 30, 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

Salmon Travel Deep into the Pacific Ocean. As It Warms, Many ‘Don’t Come Back.’ (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/03/28/salmon-alaska-climate-change/

How Comcast & Other Telecoms Scuttle Rural WA Broadband Efforts (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/news/2022/03/how-comcast-and-other-telecoms-scuttle-rural-wa-broadband-efforts

Drought Effects on Hydroelectricity Generation in Western U.S. Differed by Region in 2021 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51839

U.S. Set to Hold Auction for Floating Wind Farms Off California Coast (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-29/california-coast-s-maiden-offshore-wind-auction-coming-this-year

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (OR-D) Worries Crypto Bros Are Abusing Opportunity Zones with Bogus Investments (Willamette Week)

https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/03/29/senator-ron-wyden-is-worried-that-crypto-bros-are-abusing-opportunity-zones-with-bogus-investments/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Drought Effects on Hydroelectricity Generation in Western U.S. Differed by Region in 2021

2.      Costs, Permitting Hurdles Dampen Potential for New Nuclear Capacity

3.      California: South San Joaquin Irrigation District Bid to Replace Pacific Gas & Electric as Power Provider Advances

4.      Montana: Laurel Residents’ Appeal Against NorthWestern Energy Pipeline Denied

5.      Alaska Utilities, Stakeholders Submit Long-Sought Plan for a Railbelt Grid Planning Group

6.      Colorado: United Power Should Be Able to Leave Tri-State for Less Than a Tenth of a Proposed $1.6B Exit Fee, Federal Report Says

7.      Lake Powell Continues to Disappear as Colorado Hits Pause on Plan to Prop Up Levels

8.      South Carolina: Santee Cooper Cuts Budget Since It Can’t Raise Power Rates

9.      Tribes Win Federal Funding as They Enhance Energy Security & Pursue Microgrids

10.   ‘I Think We Have a Wake-Up Call Right Now’ — FERC’s Phillips Touts Transmission’s Reliability Benefits

11.   American Public Power Association Names Reliable Public Power Provider Recipients

12.   American Public Power Association Safety Award Winners

13.   U.S. Set to Hold Auction for Floating Wind Farms Off California Coast

14.   WA Gov. Inslee Veto Kills Most of Windfarm ‘Slowdown’ Energy Bill

15.   WA State: REC Silicon Hopeful it Will Restart Moses Lake Plant by 2024

16.   Wind & Solar Generated a Record 10% of the World’s Power in 2021, Report Shows

17.   Tucson Can Use Landfill Waste as Climate-Friendly Bus Fuel – Officials Have Yet to Act

18.   EIA Data Show That by 2020, U.S. Households Had More Efficient Lighting, Larger TVs, & More Refrigerators

19.   Salmon Travel Deep into the Pacific Ocean. As It Warms, Many ‘Don’t Come Back.’

20.   Officials Seek Change of Course in Wild Salmon Recovery

21.   California Calls for More Local Water Conservation

22.   WA State: Bellingham Considers Tax Method for Funding Programs to Fight Climate Change

23.   Climate Change Is Making Pollen Season Worse Across the Country

24.   How Comcast & Other Telecoms Scuttle Rural WA Broadband Efforts

25.   Politicians Meet at Local, Federal Levels to Discuss Rural Broadband

26.   Regional Utility Districts Can Help Fill Gaps in Broadband Service

27.   Partnerships With Electric Utilities Can Help Expand Broadband Access

28.   U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (OR-D) Worries Crypto Bros Are Abusing Opportunity Zones with Bogus Investments

29.   White House Officials Open Crypto Climate Inquiry

30.   EarthTalk: As Millions of Electric Car Batteries Start to Reach the End of Their Useful Lives, How Can We Avoid an E-Waste Apocalypse?

31.   The Funniest Travel Account on Instagram Is Run by the TSA

32.   Accused Eco-Saboteur Joseph M. Dibee Expected to Enter a Plea to Settle Cases in Oregon, WA & CA

33.   Port Angeles Naturopathic Doctor Sentenced for Selling Misbranded Drugs, Including for COVID Treatments

34.   Spam Text Messages Flood Verizon Wireless Phones

35.   Ore-Ida to End Production at Its Ontario Plant. What’s That Mean for Iconic Tater Tots?

36.   A Super Jet Stream Will Cross the Pacific Ocean this Weekend.

WORD OF THE DAY

Cabal \kuh-BAHL\ Noun – The artifices and intrigues of a group of persons secretly united in a plot (as to overturn a government); also: a group engaged in such artifices and intrigues 2: club, group.

The “Lord of the Rings” fanboys were aghast. It wasn’t until it was too late that they discovered an anti-Gandalf cabal of Saruman clones in center of their role-playing community. “The White Wizard takes your game piece,” crowed the leader of the renegade group, as he reached forth his “Cheetos”-stained fingers to snatch the small, collector’s edition statue of the Gray Wizard off the game board.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Drought Effects on Hydroelectricity Generation in Western U.S. Differed by Region in 2021 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51839

2.      Costs, Permitting Hurdles Dampen Potential for New Nuclear Capacity (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/costs-permitting-hurdles-dampen-potential-for-new-nuclear-capacity-69550774

3.      California: South San Joaquin Irrigation District Bid to Replace Pacific Gas & Electric as Power Provider Advances (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/south-san-joaquin-irrigation-district-bid-replace-pge-power-provider-advances

4.      Montana: Laurel Residents’ Appeal Against NorthWestern Energy Pipeline Denied (KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT)

https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/laurel-residents-appeal-against-northwestern-energy-pipeline-denied

5.      Alaska Utilities, Stakeholders Submit Long-Sought Plan for a Railbelt Grid Planning Group (Alaska Journal of Commerce)

https://www.alaskajournal.com/2022-03-29/utilities-stakeholders-submit-long-sought-plan-railbelt-grid-planning-group

6.      Colorado: United Power Should Be Able to Leave Tri-State for Less Than a Tenth of a Proposed $1.6B Exit Fee, Federal Report Says (Colorado Sun, Denver, CO)

https://coloradosun.com/2022/03/30/tri-state-united-power-exit-fee-ferc/

7.      Lake Powell Continues to Disappear as Colorado Hits Pause on Plan to Prop Up Levels (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/03/28/lake-powell-keep-dropping/

8.      South Carolina: Santee Cooper Cuts Budget Since It Can’t Raise Power Rates (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-carolina/articles/2022-03-28/santee-cooper-cuts-budget-since-it-cant-raise-power-rates

9.      Tribes Win Federal Funding as They Enhance Energy Security & Pursue Microgrids (Microgrid Knowledge)

https://microgridknowledge.com/tribal-microgrid-receives-more-than-500000-in-doe-funding/

10.   ‘I Think We Have a Wake-Up Call Right Now’ — FERC’s Phillips Touts Transmission’s Reliability Benefits (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/i-think-we-have-a-wake-up-call-right-now-fercs-phillips-touts-transmis/621024/

11.   American Public Power Association Names Reliable Public Power Provider Recipients (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/rp3-designated-utilities

12.   American Public Power Association Safety Award Winners (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/about/members/safety/safety-award-winners

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   U.S. Set to Hold Auction for Floating Wind Farms Off California Coast (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-29/california-coast-s-maiden-offshore-wind-auction-coming-this-year

14.   WA Gov. Inslee Veto Kills Most of Windfarm ‘Slowdown’ Energy Bill (KFLD Radio, Pasco, WA)

https://newstalk870.am/inslee-veto-kills-most-of-wind-farm-slowdown-energy-bill/

15.   WA State: REC Silicon Hopeful it Will Restart Moses Lake Plant by 2024 (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/rec-silicon-hopeful-it-will-restart-moses-lake-plant-by-2024/

16.   Wind & Solar Generated a Record 10% of the World’s Power in 2021, Report Shows (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/30/business/renewable-energy-wind-solar-electricity-climate-intl/index.html

17.   Tucson Can Use Landfill Waste as Climate-Friendly Bus Fuel – Officials Have Yet to Act (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, CA)

https://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-can-use-landfill-waste-as-climate-friendly-bus-fuel-but-officials-have-yet-to/article_fc8df20e-aad6-11ec-a612-935568bbbce3.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18.   EIA Data Show That by 2020, U.S. Households Had More Efficient Lighting, Larger TVs, & More Refrigerators (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/pressroom/releases/press499.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

19.   Salmon Travel Deep into the Pacific Ocean. As It Warms, Many ‘Don’t Come Back.’ (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/03/28/salmon-alaska-climate-change/

20.   Officials Seek Change of Course in Wild Salmon Recovery (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, ID/WA)

https://dnews.com/local/officials-seek-change-of-course-in-wild-salmon-recovery/article_159c80b2-d072-5c23-8ab3-c37d25677c7c.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   California Calls for More Local Water Conservation (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-california-droughts-environment-5a336fdd0e625b0ee7e551759b2a6981

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

22.   WA State: Bellingham Considers Tax Method for Funding Programs to Fight Climate Change (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/politics-government/article259740335.html

23.   Climate Change Is Making Pollen Season Worse Across the Country (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/03/29/pollen-climate-change-worse-future/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24.   How Comcast & Other Telecoms Scuttle Rural WA Broadband Efforts (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/news/2022/03/how-comcast-and-other-telecoms-scuttle-rural-wa-broadband-efforts

25.   Politicians Meet at Local, Federal Levels to Discuss Rural Broadband (KMVU-TV, Medford, OR)

https://www.fox26medford.com/politicians-meet-at-local-federal-levels-to-discuss-rural-broadband/

26.   Regional Utility Districts Can Help Fill Gaps in Broadband Service (PEW Charitable Trust)

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2022/03/29/regional-utility-districts-can-help-fill-gaps-in-broadband-service

27.   Partnerships With Electric Utilities Can Help Expand Broadband Access (PEW Charitable Trust)

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2022/03/29/partnerships-with-electric-utilities-can-help-expand-broadband-access

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (OR-D) Worries Crypto Bros Are Abusing Opportunity Zones with Bogus Investments (Willamette Week)

https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/03/29/senator-ron-wyden-is-worried-that-crypto-bros-are-abusing-opportunity-zones-with-bogus-investments/

29.   White House Officials Open Crypto Climate Inquiry (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/white-house-officials-open-crypto-climate-inquiry-e8b20218-4cb5-448d-9ae6-d9c4bf0bc484.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   EarthTalk: As Millions of Electric Car Batteries Start to Reach the End of Their Useful Lives, How Can We Avoid an E-Waste Apocalypse? (Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ)

https://azdailysun.com/opinion/columnists/earthtalk-as-millions-and-millions-of-electric-car-batteries-start-to-reach-the-end-of/article_f9783f84-4e5a-500f-a663-313c6be55d82.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   The Funniest Travel Account on Instagram Is Run by the TSA (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/the-funniest-travel-account-on-instagram-is-run-by-the-tsa-seriously/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

32.   Accused Eco-Saboteur Joseph M. Dibee Expected to Enter a Plea to Settle Cases in Oregon, WA & CA (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2022/03/accused-eco-saboteur-joseph-m-dibee-expected-to-enter-a-plea-to-settle-cases-in-oregon-wa-and-ca.html

33.   Port Angeles Naturopathic Doctor Sentenced for Selling Misbranded Drugs, Including for COVID Treatments (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2022-03-29/naturopathic-doctor-sentenced-for-selling-misbranded-drugs

34.   Spam Text Messages Flood Verizon Wireless Phones (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/article/spam-text-messages-verizon-wireless-own-number

35.   Ore-Ida to End Production at Its Ontario Plant. What’s That Mean for Iconic Tater Tots? (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/29/ore-ida-to-end-production-at-its-ontario-plant-wha/

36.   A Super Jet Stream Will Cross the Pacific Ocean this Weekend. (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/03/a-super-jet-stream-will-cross-pacific.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Is Portland Home to America’s First All-Female Cooperative Winery Facility?

https://www.oregonlive.com/wine/2022/03/is-portland-home-to-americas-first-all-female-winery-facility.html

Oregon: Owner to Sell Historic ‘Terrible Tilly’ Lighthouse

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/29/historic-terrible-tilly-tillamook-lighthouse-for-sale/

Look Up! When to Watch For ‘Exquisite’ Celestial Sights & Cuddling Planets

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/look-up-check-out-the-predawn-sky-this-week-for-celestial-treats/

Metal Detectorist to the Rescue When Beach Proposal Goes Awry

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/03/28/engagement-ring-lost-beach-Lincolnshire-England/9701648496264/

SONG OF THE DAY

Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAfc5xnjb5U

Monday, March 28, 2022

The Energy News Digest for March 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

Gov. Inslee Guts Legislation to Look at How Wind, Solar Projects Would Change Eastern Washington (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/inslee-guts-legislation-to-look-at-how-wind-solar-projects-would-change-eastern-washington,286770

One Big Detail Could Derail the Pacific Northwest’s Clean-Energy Goals (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/25/one-big-detail-could-derail-northwests-clean-energ/

High Natural Gas Prices Persist for Montana Homeowners (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/high-natural-gas-prices-persist-for-montana-homeowners/article_aff6940e-2559-5265-8998-0cf7c1fc0ec7.html

Lewis River Fish Passages Back on Track in New Plan from PacifiCorp (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/lewis-river-fish-passages-back-on-track-in-new-plan-from-pacificorp/article_b0e9ab34-3a63-530a-95b6-0a5a01c75e50.html

California’s Snowpack Is ‘Roasting in the Dry & Sunny Conditions’ (San Francisco Chronicle, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Snowpack-melting-in-heat-wave-17028307.php

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      High Natural Gas Prices Persist for Montana Homeowners

2.      FERC Approves BPA’s 2022 Power & Transmission Rates

3.      House Committee Investigates Shut-Off Rates for Dominion, DTE, Duke, Exelon, Nextera, & Southern

4.      Cut ‘Unjust’ Electricity Standing Charges, UK Regulator Urged

5.      California Issued Wildfire Safety Certifications to Utilities Despite ‘Serious Deficiencies’: Audit

6.      California: Balloons Blamed for Santa Clara Power Outage

7.      California: Over 24,000 Residents without Power Because of a Squirrel

8.      Come Hail or High Water, Transmission’s Construction Crews Persevere

9.      Guest Essay: Hydropower Provides Many Benefits in Changing Energy Environment

10.   Guest Essay: To Recover Salmon Populations, We Need to Think Bigger

11.   Guest Opinion: Lower Snake River Dam Removal Has Two Sides

12.   Gov. Inslee Guts Legislation to Look at How Wind, Solar Projects Would Change Eastern Washington

13.   One Big Detail Could Derail the Pacific Northwest’s Clean-Energy Goals

14.   Misinformation Is Derailing Renewable Energy Projects Across the United States

15.   Frustrated with Utilities, Some Are Leaving the Grid

16.   WA Gov. Jay Inslee Has Solar Panels Installed at His Home on Bainbridge Island

17.   Once The Epicenter of the Oilpatch, Texas Now Humming with Wind & Solar Power

18.   Bountiful Wind, Sun Boost German Renewable Power This Year

19.   U.S. Energy Dept. Pushes Heat Pumps to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions

20.   Lewis River Fish Passages Back on Track in New Plan from PacifiCorp

21.   Fishing Seasons on Clearwater, Salmon, & Snake Rivers Begin in Less Than a Month

22.   Holding Out Hope on the Upper Columbia River

23.   New Orca Listening Post Installed in Puget Sound

24.   California’s Snowpack Is ‘Roasting in the Dry & Sunny Conditions’

25.   Race to the Bottom: Draining Oregon’s Summer Lake

26.   Some Cities Have Outlawed New Natural Gas Hookups – There’s No Nationwide Ban

27.   Huge Ice Shelf Collapses Amid Antarctic Heat Wave

28.   Alaska Internet ‘Gold Rush’: Billions Could Be Headed to Rural Communities to Close the Digital Divide

29.   Should States Fund Municipal Broadband & Cooperatives?

30.   Mark Vasconi Appointed to Lead Washington State Broadband Office

31.   WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Defer Higher Rates for Five Crypto Customers — For Two Months

32.   WA State: An Electric Vehicle Future Is on the Horizon – Here’s How It Could Affect Spokane

33.   Three Ways REI Shapes Its Co-op Story

34.   Move Ahead Washington Plan Takes a Completely new Approach to Transportation in Washington

35.   Supreme Court Agrees to Review California Law on Pork Sales

36.   The New National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles Glows with Nostalgia

WORD OF THE DAY

Recurring \rih-KURR-ring\ Verb – 1: To happen, come up, or show up again or repeatedly 2: to return to one’s attention or memory 3: to return in thought or discourse.

Willie the wildebeest awoke with a start. A recurring dream that had haunted his dark nights had returned. In his nocturnal wanderings, he was transformed into a humanoid biped, wandering aimlessly in packs of hundreds through concrete jungles…going hither and thither…not knowing the destination, or the reason for his travels. “The horror, the horror,” he muttered.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      High Natural Gas Prices Persist for Montana Homeowners (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/high-natural-gas-prices-persist-for-montana-homeowners/article_aff6940e-2559-5265-8998-0cf7c1fc0ec7.html

2.      FERC Approves BPA’s 2022 Power & Transmission Rates (RTO Insider – Subscription)

https://www.rtoinsider.com/articles/29843-ferc-approves-bpas-2022-power-and-transmission-rates

3.      House Committee Investigates Shut-Off Rates for Dominion, DTE, Duke, Exelon, Nextera, & Southern (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/house-committee-investigates-utility-shutoff-rates-dominion-dte-duke-exelon/620947/

4.      Cut ‘Unjust’ Electricity Standing Charges, UK Regulator Urged (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/mar/28/electricity-standing-charges-uk-energy-suppliers

5.      California Issued Wildfire Safety Certifications to Utilities Despite ‘Serious Deficiencies’: Audit (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-issued-wildfire-safety-certifications-to-utilities-despite-seri/621066/

6.      California: Balloons Blamed for Santa Clara Power Outage (KNTV-TV, San Jose, CA)

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/balloons-blamed-for-santa-clara-power-outage/2848028/

7.      California: Over 24,000 Residents without Power Because of a Squirrel (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/over-24000-residents-without-power-because-of-a-squirrel/

8.      Come Hail or High Water, Transmission’s Construction Crews Persevere (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20220323-come-hail-or-high-water-transmissions-construction-crews-persevere

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

9.      Guest Essay: Hydropower Provides Many Benefits in Changing Energy Environment (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

https://pamplinmedia.com/scs/84-opinion/540564-432818-crpud-hydropower-provides-many-benefits-in-changing-energy-environment

10.   Guest Essay: To Recover Salmon Populations, We Need to Think Bigger (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2022/03/25/kurt-miller-oped.html

11.   Guest Opinion: Lower Snake River Dam Removal Has Two Sides (The Orcasian, Eastsound, WA)

https://theorcasonian.com/guest-opinion-lower-snake-river-dam-removal-has-two-sides/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   Gov. Inslee Guts Legislation to Look at How Wind, Solar Projects Would Change Eastern Washington (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/inslee-guts-legislation-to-look-at-how-wind-solar-projects-would-change-eastern-washington,286770

13.   One Big Detail Could Derail the Pacific Northwest’s Clean-Energy Goals (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/25/one-big-detail-could-derail-northwests-clean-energ/

14.   Misinformation Is Derailing Renewable Energy Projects Across the United States (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/28/1086790531/renewable-energy-projects-wind-energy-solar-energy-climate-change-misinformation

15.   Frustrated with Utilities, Some Are Leaving the Grid (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/seattle_times/frustrated-with-utilities-some-are-leaving-the-grid/article_a76f02f5-f130-5cec-b02e-daa8e109dd4c.html

16.   WA Gov. Jay Inslee Has Solar Panels Installed at His Home on Bainbridge Island (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/03/24/gov-jay-inslee-has-solar-panels-installed-his-home-bainbridge-island/7122443001/

17.   Once The Epicenter of the Oilpatch, Texas Now Humming with Wind & Solar Power (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bakx-texas-wind-solar-1.6390107?cmp=rss

18.   Bountiful Wind, Sun Boost German Renewable Power This Year (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2022-03-28/bountiful-wind-sun-boost-german-renewable-power-this-year

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   U.S. Energy Dept. Pushes Heat Pumps to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/03/28/heat-pumps-energy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Lewis River Fish Passages Back on Track in New Plan from PacifiCorp (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/lewis-river-fish-passages-back-on-track-in-new-plan-from-pacificorp/article_b0e9ab34-3a63-530a-95b6-0a5a01c75e50.html

21.   Fishing Seasons on Clearwater, Salmon, & Snake Rivers Begin in Less Than a Month (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/27/seasons-on-clearwater-salmon-and-snake-rivers-begi/

22.   Holding Out Hope on the Upper Columbia River (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/holding-hope-upper-columbia-122100214.html

23.   New Orca Listening Post Installed in Puget Sound (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/26/new-orca-listening-post-installed-in-puget-sound/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   California’s Snowpack Is ‘Roasting in the Dry & Sunny Conditions’ (San Francisco Chronicle, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Snowpack-melting-in-heat-wave-17028307.php

25.   Race to the Bottom: Draining Oregon’s Summer Lake (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/28/race-to-the-bottom-draining-summer-lake/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   Some Cities Have Outlawed New Natural Gas Hookups – There’s No Nationwide Ban (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/verify/environment-verify/natural-gas-hookups-new-constructions-not-banned-nationally-united-states/536-94a963ee-ca1a-49f0-a00c-5b440f098e25

27.   Huge Ice Shelf Collapses Amid Antarctic Heat Wave (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/huge-ice-shelf-collapses-amid-antarctic-heat-wave/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Alaska Internet ‘Gold Rush’: Billions Could Be Headed to Rural Communities to Close the Digital Divide (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2022/03/27/alaska-internet-gold-rush-billions-could-be-headed-to-rural-communities-to-close-the-digital-divide/

29.   Should States Fund Municipal Broadband & Cooperatives? (Governing)

https://www.governing.com/now/should-states-fund-municipal-broadband-and-cooperatives

30.   Mark Vasconi Appointed to Lead Washington State Broadband Office (Washington State Dept. of Commerce)

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news/mark-vasconi-appointed-to-lead-washington-state-broadband-office/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   WA State: Chelan PUD Commissioners Defer Higher Rates for Five Crypto Customers — For Two Months (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/chelan-pud-commissioners-defer-higher-rates-for-5-crypto-customers-for-two-months/article_8bdfd19c-aa42-11ec-a4a3-3f1f42191520.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

32.   WA State: An Electric Vehicle Future Is on the Horizon – Here’s How It Could Affect Spokane (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/28/an-electric-vehicle-future-is-on-the-horizon-heres/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

33.   Three Ways REI Shapes Its Co-op Story (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/three-ways-rei-shapes-its-co-op-story/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

34.   Move Ahead Washington Plan Takes a Completely new Approach to Transportation in Washington (The Daily Fly)

https://lcvalley.dailyfly.com/Home/ArtMID/1352/userid/6/ArticleID/62837/Move-Ahead-Washington-Plan-Takes-a-Completely-new-Approach-to-Transportation-in-Washington

35.   Supreme Court Agrees to Review California Law on Pork Sales (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-california-pork-sales-31d24e59608b7cb517918325a1977d31

36.   The New National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles Glows with Nostalgia (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2022/03/the-new-national-neon-sign-museum-in-the-dalles-glows-with-nostalgia.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Supersized Goldfish Could Become Superinvaders

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/supersized-goldfish-could-become-superinvaders/

‘CODA’, DeBose, Campion Big Winners on Dramatic Oscars Night

https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Movies/2022/0328/CODA-DeBose-Campion-big-winners-on-dramatic-Oscars-night

All-Blue-Blood Final Four: Only Elite Programs Left After Upset-Laden NCAA Tournament

https://sports.yahoo.com/blue-blood-final-four-only-elite-programs-are-left-after-upset-laden-ncaa-tournament-231132898.html

Rare Copy of First Marvel Comic Sells for $2.4 Million

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/oddities/rare-copy-of-first-marvel-comic-sells-for-2-4-million/

SONG OF THE DAY

Jerry Goldsmith – Hoosiers (Main Theme, Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ZQvFj7n4g