Wednesday, May 11, 2022

The Energy News Digest for May 11, 2022

Programming Note: The Energy News Digest will be on hiatus next week, seeking its first sunburn of the season. It will return May 23 with its wholesome goodness. 

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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

AP Investigation Finds Washington State Has 50 Dams in ‘Poor’ Condition That Need Repairs (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/09/washington-state-has-50-dams-in-poor-condition-that-need-repairs-ap-finds/

Montana: Colstrip Operator Talen Energy Files for Bankruptcy (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/colstrip-operator-talen-energy-files-for-bankruptcy/article_3668164c-d090-11ec-ae50-37606817002e.html

The Largest Water Reservoirs in California Are Rapidly Receding (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/the-largest-water-reservoirs-in-california-are-rapidly-1848906209

Klamath Tribes Sue Feds Over Endangered Sucker Fish (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/klamath-tribes-sue-feds-over-endangered-sucker-fish/

This California Desert Could Hold the Key to Powering All of America’s Electric Cars (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/business/salton-sea-lithium-extraction/index.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      AP Investigation Finds Washington State Has 50 Dams in ‘Poor’ Condition That Need Repairs

2.      Montana: Colstrip Operator Talen Energy Files for Bankruptcy

3.      California: The Fight for Clean Energy Pits San Francisco Against the River Rafting Industry

4.      Bonneville Power Announces Second Quarter Revenues

5.      Pacific Power Warns of Possible Safety-Related Outages During Wildfire Season

6.      Western Utilities Urge Customers to Build Outage Kits, Keep Informed as Part of National Wildfire Awareness Month

7.      Idaho: May Storm Dumps Snow on Treasure Valley, Knocks Out Power

8.      Nesting Birds to Blame for Days of Power Outages Impacting Thousands of British Columbians

9.      BC Hydro’s Peace River Dam Project Provides Clean, Reliable, & Affordable Electricity for British Columbia

10.   $1 Billion Hydropower Project’s Fate Rests with Maine Supreme Court

11.   A New York Power Line Divided Environmentalists. Here’s What It Says About the Larger Climate Fight.

12.   Guest Essay: To Save Salmon, We Have to Slow Climate Change

13.   News Release: Washington State’s Manufacturing Unions Urge Bonneville Power Administration Power Deal for Intalco

14.   Solar Projects Are on Hold as U.S. Investigates Whether China Is Skirting Trade Rules

15.   California Heads Back to the Drawing Board on Solar Net-Metering Policy

16.   California Is Betting Big on Offshore Wind Power

17.   REC Silicon Announces Stock Sale

18.   Clark County Looking at Renewable Energy Options with Electrify Nevada Event

19.   TV Binges, Heated Toilets Targeted in Tokyo’s Energy Saving Push

20.   Klamath Tribes Sue Feds Over Endangered Sucker Fish

21.   A New Oregon Mining Boom Could Be a Bust for Sage Grouse

22.   5 Years Ago, Unusual Catch Led to Concern for Idaho Lake. Officials Just Reeled in Another

23.   Environmental Group, Timber Firm Weyerhaeuser to Settle Over Pollution Claims at Longview Timber Mill

24.   Latest Sustainability Highlights Presents Bonneville Power Administration’s FY 21 Environmental Performance, Awards

25.   The Largest Water Reservoirs in California Are Rapidly Receding

26.   In Drought-Ravaged California, Water Use Is Up Dramatically

27.   Will Cloud Seeding Help Central Oregon Irrigators?

28.   Washington State Senator ‘Very Frustrated’ Over How Natural Gas Ban Came About

29.   Earth Given 50-50 Chance of Hitting Key Warming Mark by 2026

30.   Gila River Indian Community Receives $4.4 Million Grant to Expand Broadband Connections

31.   The Solar-Powered Plane That May Never Need to Land

32.   This California Desert Could Hold the Key to Powering All of America’s Electric Cars

33.   Oregon DOT Commits $100 Million to Strengthen Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network

34.   Grow-Lamp-Loving, Water-Sucking Marijuana Plants Aren’t So Green

35.   Fertilizer Shortages Finally Give Dung a Chance

36.   ‘No Good Place to Stop It’: More People Flee New Mexico Wildfire

37.   Planned Burns Are Happening Again in Washington to Help Fight Intensifying Wildfire Seasons

38.   Thousands of Forest Acres in Washington State Were Destroyed by Heat, Insects, & Disease Last Year, DNR Says

39.   Bird Flu Outbreak Nears Worst Ever in U.S. With 37 Million Poultry Dead

40.   WA State: Duwamish Tribe Files New Lawsuit in Bid for Federal Recognition

WORD OF THE DAY

Arcadia \ar-KAY-dee-uh\ Noun – A region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet.

Halfway through the news conference, Abercrombie leaned back in his chair, sighed deeply, and escaped to his “happy place.” Voracious journalists continued to pepper him with pointed questions, but all he heard was the buzzing of big, fluffy bumblebees, flitting from flower to flower in his Arcadian retreat. Five hours later he snapped out of his reverie, in an empty, darkened conference room.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      AP Investigation Finds Washington State Has 50 Dams in ‘Poor’ Condition That Need Repairs (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/09/washington-state-has-50-dams-in-poor-condition-that-need-repairs-ap-finds/

2.      Montana: Colstrip Operator Talen Energy Files for Bankruptcy (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/colstrip-operator-talen-energy-files-for-bankruptcy/article_3668164c-d090-11ec-ae50-37606817002e.html

3.      California: The Fight for Clean Energy Pits San Francisco Against the River Rafting Industry (San Francisco Examiner, CA)

https://www.sfexaminer.com/findings/the-fight-for-clean-energy-pits-san-francisco-against-the-river-rafting-industry/

4.      Bonneville Power Announces Second Quarter Revenues (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/may/11/bonneville-power-announces-2nd-quarter-revenues/

5.      Pacific Power Warns of Possible Safety-Related Outages During Wildfire Season (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2022/05/09/pacific-power-warns-of-possible-safety-related-outages-during-wildfire-season/

6.      Western Utilities Urge Customers to Build Outage Kits, Keep Informed as Part of National Wildfire Awareness Month (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/34965-western-utilities-urge-customers-to-build-outage-kits-keep-informed-as-part-of-national-wildfire-awareness-month/

7.      Idaho: May Storm Dumps Snow on Treasure Valley, Knocks Out Power (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/weather/may-storm-snow-trees-idaho-boise/277-dedf84ba-8a52-46f8-8751-1a6e0f3d87b7

8.      Nesting Birds to Blame for Days of Power Outages Impacting Thousands of British Columbians (CTV News)

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/nesting-birds-to-blame-for-days-of-power-outages-impacting-thousands-of-british-columbians-1.5897135

9.      BC Hydro’s Peace River Dam Project Provides Clean, Reliable, & Affordable Electricity for British Columbia (Issuu)

https://issuu.com/delcomminc/docs/rcn_mag_2022_web/s/14685568

10.   $1 Billion Hydropower Project’s Fate Rests with Maine Supreme Court (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-maine-utilities-2c0b8afde67c4452dae538a27d5fbd19

11.   A New York Power Line Divided Environmentalists. Here’s What It Says About the Larger Climate Fight. (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/energy/a-new-york-power-line-divided-environmentalists-heres-what-it-says-about-the-larger-climate-fight/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Guest Essay: To Save Salmon, We Have to Slow Climate Change (Sequim Gazette, WA)

https://www.sequimgazette.com/opinion/guest-opinion-to-save-salmon-we-have-to-slow-climate-change/

13.   News Release: Washington State’s Manufacturing Unions Urge Bonneville Power Administration Power Deal for Intalco (The Stand)

https://www.thestand.org/2022/05/states-manufacturing-unions-urge-bpa-power-deal-for-intalco/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   Solar Projects Are on Hold as U.S. Investigates Whether China Is Skirting Trade Rules (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/11/1097644931/solar-panels-solar-power-u-s-investigates-china-trade-rules

15.   California Heads Back to the Drawing Board on Solar Net-Metering Policy (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/california-heads-back-to-drawing-board-on-solar-net-metering-policy

16.   California Is Betting Big on Offshore Wind Power (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/california-offshore-wind-power-1848906462

17.   REC Silicon Announces Stock Sale (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/may/11/rec-silicon-announces-stock-sale/

18.   Clark County Looking at Renewable Energy Options with Electrify Nevada Event (KSNV, Las Vegas, NV)

https://news3lv.com/news/local/clark-county-looking-at-renewable-energy-options-with-electrify-nevada-event

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   TV Binges, Heated Toilets Targeted in Tokyo’s Energy Saving Push (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-10/tvs-to-heated-toilets-a-target-in-tokyo-energy-saving-campaign

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Klamath Tribes Sue Feds Over Endangered Sucker Fish (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/klamath-tribes-sue-feds-over-endangered-sucker-fish/

21.   A New Oregon Mining Boom Could Be a Bust for Sage Grouse (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/11/lithium-mine-oregon-sage-grouse/

22.   5 Years Ago, Unusual Catch Led to Concern for Idaho Lake. Officials Just Reeled in Another (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/5-years-ago-unusual-catch-235625244.html

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

23.   Environmental Group, Timber Firm Weyerhaeuser to Settle Over Pollution Claims at Longview Timber Mill (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/10/weyerhaeuser-timber-producers-longview-washington-columbia-riverkeeper-environmental-group/

24.   Latest Sustainability Highlights Presents Bonneville Power Administration’s FY 21 Environmental Performance, Awards (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20220510-sustainability-fy21-highlights

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

25.   The Largest Water Reservoirs in California Are Rapidly Receding (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/the-largest-water-reservoirs-in-california-are-rapidly-1848906209

26.   In Drought-Ravaged California, Water Use Is Up Dramatically (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-california-los-angeles-eric-garcetti-66601e9026021c606109594235214f78

27.   Will Cloud Seeding Help Central Oregon Irrigators? (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

https://pamplinmedia.com/ceo/164-features/545129-435934-will-cloud-seeding-help-central-oregon-irrigators

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

28.   Washington State Senator ‘Very Frustrated’ Over How Natural Gas Ban Came About (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/olympia/senator-questions-natural-gas-ban/281-edcb93a9-9bee-4900-856d-cabcd69ea115

29.   Earth Given 50-50 Chance of Hitting Key Warming Mark by 2026 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-environment-8bc309e4610879e029b2d26d1ffb45e8

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

30.   Gila River Indian Community Receives $4.4 Million Grant to Expand Broadband Connections (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/05/11/gila-river-tribe-expand-broadband-connections-federal-money/9717503002/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   The Solar-Powered Plane That May Never Need to Land (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/video/solar-powered-plane-skydweller

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

32.   This California Desert Could Hold the Key to Powering All of America’s Electric Cars (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/business/salton-sea-lithium-extraction/index.html

33.   Oregon DOT Commits $100 Million to Strengthen Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network (Transportation Today)

https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/26564-oregon-dot-commits-100m-to-strengthen-public-ev-charging-network/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

34.   Grow-Lamp-Loving, Water-Sucking Marijuana Plants Aren’t So Green (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-05-09/marijuana-industry-seeks-to-lessen-its-environmental-impact

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

35.   Fertilizer Shortages Finally Give Dung a Chance (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/fertilizer-shortages-finally-give-dung-a-chance/2022/05/11/ce5710c4-d11d-11ec-886b-df76183d233f_story.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

36.   ‘No Good Place to Stop It’: More People Flee New Mexico Wildfire (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/no-good-place-stop-it-more-people-flee-new-mexico-wildfire-2022-05-10/

37.   Planned Burns Are Happening Again in Washington to Help Fight Intensifying Wildfire Seasons (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/local/planned-burns-are-happening-again-in-washington-to-help-fight-intensifying-wildfire-seasons/article_0ef34820-cd61-11ec-85d7-cbb541c9f642.html

38.   Thousands of Forest Acres in Washington State Were Destroyed by Heat, Insects, & Disease Last Year, DNR Says (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/washington/article261308572.html

39.   Bird Flu Outbreak Nears Worst Ever in U.S. With 37 Million Poultry Dead (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/bird-flu-outbreak-nears-worst-ever-in-u-s-with-37m-dead/

40.   WA State: Duwamish Tribe Files New Lawsuit in Bid for Federal Recognition (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/duwamish-tribe-files-new-lawsuit-in-bid-for-federal-recognition/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘No Idea How to Fly the Airplane’: Passenger Forced to Land Plane After Pilot Becomes Sick

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/11/passenger-lands-plane-palm-beach/9728396002/

Aliens Will Land Again in Downtown McMinnville, OR as UFO Festival returns

https://www.oregonlive.com/events/2022/05/aliens-will-land-again-in-downtown-mcminnville-as-ufo-festival-returns.html

Dog Rescued from Cage Thrown into River Finds New Home: ‘He Still Loves People’

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dog-adopted-rescue-cage-river_n_6276ada7e4b00fbab62f0f2a

Andy Warhol’s Iconic Portrait of Marilyn Monroe Breaks American Auction Record

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3482529-warhols-iconic-portrait-of-marilyn-monroe-breaks-american-auction-record/

SONG OF THE DAY

Carpenters – Calling of Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTXUnGa3-mY