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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Snow Falls on Much of the Region, Creating School Closures
& Delays, Traffic Accidents & Power Outages (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Idaho Power Faces $1 Million Fine After Reporting Violations
(Associated Press)
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2022/04/idaho-power-faces-1-million-fine-after-reporting-violations/
Montana: Colstrip Operator Talen Energy Reportedly Preparing
for Bankruptcy (Billings Gazette, MT)
California: Coastal Commission Votes to Move Forward with
Humboldt Offshore Wind Exploration (North Coast Journal, Eureka, CA)
An Epic Forecast for Bristol Bay Salmon Has Industry Leaders
Worried It Will Be Too Much to Handle (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Idaho Power Faces $1 Million Fine After
Reporting Violations
2.
Montana: Colstrip Operator Talen Energy
Reportedly Preparing for Bankruptcy
3.
Arizona: A Power Plant’s Expansion Plan Galls
Environmentalists — And Sows Dread in a Black Enclave Next Door
4.
Utah: Logan City Considers Outsourcing Coal to
Meet Power Demands
5.
Portland General Electric Moves to Condemn
Property at Willamette Falls, Intensifying Tribal Dispute
6.
WA State Funds Research on Enloe Dam Removal
7.
WA State: Chelan PUD Plans for Growth in
Wenatchee, Chelan, Leavenworth
8.
Oregon: La Pine Man Delivering Concrete Blocks
Electrocuted When Boom Hits Power Lines
9.
U.S. Residential Electricity Expenditures
Increased by $5 Per Month in 2021
10.
These Charts Show Where Electricity Costs Are
Rising the Most
11.
U.S. Nuclear Electricity Generation Continues to
Decline as More Reactors Retire
12.
Here Is Joe Biden’s Plan to Build a 21st-Century
Power Grid
13.
Power Restored to 1.3 Million in Puerto Rico
Amid Blackout
14.
Ukraine Nuclear Power Operator Says All Russian
Forces Have Left Chernobyl
15.
Bonneville Power Administration Launches New
Customer Portal Website
16.
News Release: Tapping Hydropower’s Potential:
New Hydropower Prize Challenges Innovators to Improve Grid Reliability &
Resiliency
17.
Guest Essay: Three Key Initiatives in Oregon’s
Fight Against Climate Change
18.
Editorial: Override Inslee’s Snub of
Bipartisanship & Rural WA State
19.
Earmarks – A New Source of Broadband Funding?
20.
California: Coastal Commission Votes to Move
Forward with Humboldt Offshore Wind Exploration
21.
Seattle Developer Pushes for WA’s First Floating
Offshore Wind Farm Off Olympic Peninsula
22.
Special Report: U.S. Solar Expansion Stalled by
Rural Land-Use Protests
23.
Alaska: Assembly Considers Tax Exemption for
Power Producers
24.
ORPC Partnering with Matanuska-Susitna Borough
to Trial RivGen® Power System in Upper Cook Inlet
25.
WA State: Here’s How Affordable Housing &
Affordable Solar Power Are Coming Together in Olympia
26.
Report By NERC & WECC Says Reduction of
Solar Resources Could Cause Reliability Risks
27.
WA State: Snohomish PUD to Install High-Tech New
Power Meters in 2023
28.
California Injects $40 Million Into Heat Pump
Water Heater Effort Amid Broader Push to Decarbonize Buildings
29.
How Much Can You Really Save on Electricity by
Unplugging Appliances?
30.
An Epic Forecast for Bristol Bay Salmon Has
Industry Leaders Worried It Will Be Too Much to Handle
31.
$3 Million Will Help Tribes Study Salmon
Reintroduction in the Upper Columbia Basin
32.
Fearing a Threat to Shellfish Industry,
Washington Legislature Provides Funds for Kelp, Eelgrass Protection
33.
Latest UN Climate Change Report Shines New Light
on Well-Documented Urban Mitigation Strategies
34.
Video: Crypto Industry Helps Write & Pass
Its Own Agenda in State Capitols
35.
Microsoft’s CEO Warns of the Impact of All Those
Late-Night Emails
36.
Elon Musk Isn’t Joining Twitter’s Board of
Directors After All
37.
Snow Falls on Much of the Region, Creating
School Closures & Delays, Traffic Accidents & Power Outages
38.
Workers Are Suing Their Bosses to Get Their
Work-From-Home Costs Reimbursed
39. Oregon’s Senators, Jeff Merkley & Ron Wyden, Score Federal Funding for 149 Home-State Projects, More Than All But 1 Other Senator
WORD OF THE DAY
Spelunking \spuh-LUNK-king\ Noun – The hobby or practice of exploring caves.
Howdy folks! Let’s go spelunking in Cave Junction Oregon!
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Idaho Power Faces $1 Million Fine After
Reporting Violations (Associated Press)
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2022/04/idaho-power-faces-1-million-fine-after-reporting-violations/
2.
Montana: Colstrip Operator Talen Energy Reportedly
Preparing for Bankruptcy (Billings Gazette, MT)
3.
Arizona: A Power Plant’s Expansion Plan Galls
Environmentalists — And Sows Dread in a Black Enclave Next Door (NBC News)
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/arizona-power-plant-expansion-rcna23520
4.
Utah: Logan City Considers Outsourcing Coal to
Meet Power Demands (Utah Public Radio)
https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2022-04-08/logan-city-considers-outsourcing-coal-to-meet-power-demands
5.
Portland General Electric Moves to Condemn
Property at Willamette Falls, Intensifying Tribal Dispute (Oregon Public
Broadcasting)
6.
WA State Funds Research on Enloe Dam Removal (Methow
Valley News, Twisp, WA)
https://methowvalleynews.com/2022/04/06/state-funds-research-on-enloe-dam-removal/
7.
WA State: Chelan PUD Plans for Growth in Wenatchee,
Chelan, Leavenworth (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)
8.
Oregon: La Pine Man Delivering Concrete Blocks
Electrocuted When Boom Hits Power Lines (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)
9.
U.S. Residential Electricity Expenditures
Increased by $5 Per Month in 2021 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51958
10.
These Charts Show Where Electricity Costs Are
Rising the Most (NASDAQ)
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/these-charts-show-where-electricity-costs-are-rising-the-most
11.
U.S. Nuclear Electricity Generation Continues to
Decline as More Reactors Retire (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51978
12.
Here Is Joe Biden’s Plan to Build a 21st-Century
Power Grid (Energy Monitor)
13.
Power Restored to 1.3 Million in Puerto Rico Amid
Blackout (The Hill, Washington, DC)
14.
Ukraine Nuclear Power Operator Says All Russian
Forces Have Left Chernobyl (Radio Free Europe)
https://www.rferl.org/a/chernobyl-russian-forces-leave/31780044.html
15.
Bonneville Power Administration Launches New Customer
Portal Website (Bonneville Power Administration)
https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20220410-bpa-launches-new-customer-website
16.
News Release: Tapping Hydropower’s Potential:
New Hydropower Prize Challenges Innovators to Improve Grid Reliability &
Resiliency (National Renewable Energy Lab)
https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2022/hydropower-operations-optimization-prize.html
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
17.
Guest Essay: Three Key Initiatives in Oregon’s Fight
Against Climate Change (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
18.
Editorial: Override Inslee’s Snub of
Bipartisanship & Rural WA State (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
19.
Earmarks – A New Source of Broadband Funding?
(Pots & Pans)
https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2022/04/07/earmarks-a-new-source-of-broadband-funding/
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
20.
California: Coastal Commission Votes to Move
Forward with Humboldt Offshore Wind Exploration (North Coast Journal, Eureka,
CA)
Offshore Wind Farm Off Olympic Peninsula (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/envirooff-olympic-peninsula/
22.
Special Report: U.S. Solar Expansion Stalled by
Rural Land-Use Protests (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-solar-expansion-stalled-by-rural-land-use-protests-2022-04-07/
23.
Alaska: Assembly Considers Tax Exemption for
Power Producers (KDLL Radio, Kenai, AK)
https://www.kdll.org/local-news/2022-04-08/assembly-floats-tax-exemption-for-power-producers
24.
ORPC Partnering with Matanuska-Susitna Borough
to Trial RivGen® Power System in Upper Cook Inlet (Ocean Renewable Power
Company)
25.
WA State: Here’s How Affordable Housing & Affordable
Solar Power Are Coming Together in Olympia (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article260150895.html
26.
Report By NERC & WECC Says Reduction of Solar
Resources Could Cause Reliability Risks (Daily Energy Insider)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
27.
WA State: Snohomish PUD to Install High-Tech New
Power Meters in 2023 (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.heraldnet.com/life/snohomish-pud-to-install-high-tech-new-power-meters-in-2023/
28.
California Injects $40 Million Into Heat Pump
Water Heater Effort Amid Broader Push to Decarbonize Buildings (Utility Dive)
29.
How Much Can You Really Save on Electricity by
Unplugging Appliances? (C|Net)
FISH & WILDLIFE
30.
An Epic Forecast for Bristol Bay Salmon Has
Industry Leaders Worried It Will Be Too Much to Handle (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
31.
$3 Million Will Help Tribes Study Salmon
Reintroduction in the Upper Columbia Basin (Northwest News Network)
32.
Fearing a Threat to Shellfish Industry, Washington
Legislature Provides Funds for Kelp, Eelgrass Protection (Spokesman-Review, Spokane,
WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/apr/11/fearing-a-threat-to-shellfish-industry-washington-/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
33.
Latest UN Climate Change Report Shines New Light
on Well-Documented Urban Mitigation Strategies (Utility Dive)
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
34.
Video: Crypto Industry Helps Write & Pass
Its Own Agenda in State Capitols (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo-k-3P4Tlc
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
35.
Microsoft’s CEO Warns of the Impact of All Those
Late-Night Emails (Bloomberg News)
36.
Elon Musk Isn’t Joining Twitter’s Board of
Directors After All (Mashable)
https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-board-directors-join
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY
37.
Snow Falls on Much of the Region, Creating
School Closures & Delays, Traffic Accidents & Power Outages (Oregon
Public Broadcasting)
38.
Workers Are Suing Their Bosses to Get Their
Work-From-Home Costs Reimbursed (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)
39.
Oregon’s Senators, Jeff Merkley & Ron Wyden,
Score Federal Funding for 149 Home-State Projects, More Than All But 1 Other
Senator (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Comic Helvetic, an Unholy Combo of Comic Sans &
Helvetica
https://kottke.org/22/04/comic-helvetic-comic-sans-and-helvetica
Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride Is Back This Summer
Grays Harbor Designated as a ‘Sasquatch Protection &
Refuge Area’
https://www.kxro.com/grays-harbor-designated-as-a-sasquatch-protection-and-refuge-area/
National Pet Day Started in 2006 to Celebrate Animals,
Encourage Adoption
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/04/11/National-Pet-Day-started-2006/3851649692750/
SONG OF THE DAY
Cat Stevens – Wild World