The Energy News Digest for June 29, 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. Newsom Has a Plan to Keep the Lights on in California — Using Fossil Fuels (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-06-28/newsoms-energy-bill

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Seeks More Time to Apply for Nuclear Subsidy Program (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant-operator-seeks-extension-that-could-keep-it-open-2022-06-28/

British Columbia's Endangered Killer Whales Have Been Going Hungry for Years, Study Finds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/southern-resident-orcas-malnourished-ubc-study-1.6503594

Rob Phillips: Columbia Fish Counts Are High, Bolstered by Shad & Sockeye (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/outdoors/rob-phillips-columbia-fish-counts-are-high-bolstered-by-shad-and-sockeye/article_94e659f9-43df-5b06-8558-01bc784579ba.html

Washington Carbon Exchange Lets Many Big Polluters Off the Hook (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-carbon-exchange-lets-many-big-polluters-off-the-hook

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Gov. Newsom Has a Plan to Keep the Lights on in California — Using Fossil Fuels

2.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Seeks More Time to Apply for Nuclear Subsidy Program

3.      Rolling Blackouts Could Come to Parts of Southern Utah This Summer. What About Other Areas?

4.      Relicensing for Idaho Power’s Hells Canyon Project Advancing

5.      Research Report: Lower Snake River Dams Power Supply Replacement Analysis

6.      Avista Deal Would Raise Electricity Rates by 7.7% During Next Two Years

7.      Nevada: Proposed NV Energy Hikes Could Compound Accelerating Regional Cost of Living

8.      Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Changes Course, OKs Healy 2 Shutdown, Healy 1 Upgrade

9.      Co-Owners Sue Georgia Power in $695 Million Vogtle Nuclear Energy Plant Contract Dispute

10.   Oregon State University Part of $8 Million Federal Effort to Improve Electric Grid Operation

11.   Jobs in U.S. Energy Sector Rose In 2021, Work in Low-Carbon Vehicles Leads

12.   Like a Bird on a Wire That Starts a Wildfire

13.   Editorial: We Must Have a Say in Offshore Wind-Energy Plans

14.   WA Pumped Hydropower: Firm Offers Onsite Update on Energy Project

15.   Meet the Siblings Making Hydropower That Protects Rivers & Fish

16.   Portland Environmental Nonprofit Delivers Cooling Units for Those in Need

17.   Energy Trust of Oregon Incentives & Windows, Add Resale Value

18.   City of Bend Proposes Home Energy Score Requirement to Help Buyers Make Purchasing Decisions

19.   BC Hydro Upgrading Nearly 2,700 Streetlights in Prince George

20.   British Columbia's Endangered Killer Whales Have Been Going Hungry for Years, Study Finds

21.   Rob Phillips: Columbia Fish Counts Are High, Bolstered by Shad & Sockeye

22.   Southwest Oregon Tribe, State Forge ‘Model’ Agreement to Co-Manage Fish & Wildlife

23.   Bonneville Power Administration Aids Creating the ‘Bee Better’ Certification for Electric Power Companies

24.   Logging Is Destroying Southern Forests — And Dividing U.S. Environmentalists

25.   Nonprofit Behind Klamath River Dam Removal Offers Plan for Allocating Water to Fight Wildfires in Region

26.   How Utah Data Centers Can Save Money on Water Needs

27.   Washington Carbon Exchange Lets Many Big Polluters Off the Hook

28.   Google’s Cloud Customers Will Learn Their Gmail Carbon Footprint

29.   WA Gov. Inslee Visits Chelan County to Discuss Digital Equity

30.   Latah County, Idaho, Group to Focus on Broadband Expansion

31.   WA State: Electric Vehicle Curbside Charging Is Coming to Seattle Neighborhoods. Here's Why It Matters

32.   2022’s Best & Worst-Run Cities in America

WORD OF THE DAY

Arcanum \ar-KAY-num\ • noun – 1: mysterious or specialized knowledge, language, or information accessible or possessed only by the initiate -- usually used in plural 2: elixir

The fanboys laughed with derision at the new member of the Tolkien fan club. “How did you get past the screening process without having read ‘The Silmarillion’,” giggled the hulking, bearded, president of the mysterious club. “I’ll even bet that your favorite character is Gollum,” he bellowed as his fellow club members howled with laughter at the red-faced plebe’s limited knowledge of JRR Tolkien arcanum.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Gov. Newsom Has a Plan to Keep the Lights on in California — Using Fossil Fuels (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-06-28/newsoms-energy-bill

2.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Seeks More Time to Apply for Nuclear Subsidy Program (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant-operator-seeks-extension-that-could-keep-it-open-2022-06-28/

3.      Rolling Blackouts Could Come to Parts of Southern Utah This Summer. What About Other Areas? (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/06/28/rolling-blackouts-could/

4.      Relicensing for Idaho Power’s Hells Canyon Project Advancing (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-oregon-canyons-idaho-dams-133d7c9fe0113678ed7a40c7ecf87bf5

5.      Research Report: Lower Snake River Dams Power Supply Replacement Analysis (Northwest RiverPartners – Links to PDF File)

https://nwriverpartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/EGPSC_LSRD-Power-Cost-Replacement-Study_6_29_2022_Final_1223.pdf

6.      Avista Deal Would Raise Electricity Rates by 7.7% During Next Two Years (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jun/29/avista-deal-would-raise-electricity-rates-by-77-du/

7.      Nevada: Proposed NV Energy Hikes Could Compound Accelerating Regional Cost of Living (KUNR Radio, Reno, NV)

https://www.kunr.org/energy-and-environment/2022-06-27/nv-energy-hikes-accelerating-regional-cost-of-living

8.      Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Changes Course, OKs Healy 2 Shutdown, Healy 1 Upgrade (KUAC Radio, Fairbanks, AK)

https://fm.kuac.org/2022-06-28/gvea-changes-course-oks-healy-2-shutdown-healy-1-upgrade

9.      Co-Owners Sue Georgia Power in $695 Million Vogtle Nuclear Energy Plant Contract Dispute (Raleigh News Observer, NC)

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article262734562.html

10.   Oregon State University Part of $8 Million Federal Effort to Improve Electric Grid Operation (Oregon State University)

https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/oregon-state-university-part-8m-federal-effort-improve-electric-grid-operation

11.   Jobs in U.S. Energy Sector Rose In 2021, Work in Low-Carbon Vehicles Leads (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/jobs-us-energy-sector-rose-2021-work-low-carbon-vehicles-leads-2022-06-28/

12.   Like a Bird on a Wire That Starts a Wildfire (NY Times – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/29/science/birds-power-lines-wildfires.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   Editorial: We Must Have a Say in Offshore Wind-Energy Plans (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

https://www.chinookobserver.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-we-must-have-a-say-in-offshore-wind-energy-plans/article_6155e3ca-f651-11ec-b048-db5646bbdff1.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   WA Pumped Hydropower: Firm Offers Onsite Update on Energy Project (Goldendale Sentinel, WA)

https://www.goldendalesentinel.com/news/firm-offers-onsite-update-on-energy-project/article_2eed0408-f7ce-11ec-bd16-bf68c6c3b6b5.html

15.   Meet the Siblings Making Hydropower That Protects Rivers & Fish (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/meet-siblings-making-hydropower-actually-143857316.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

16.   Portland Environmental Nonprofit Delivers Cooling Units for Those in Need (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/28/portland-heat-response-program-ac-cooling-units/

17.   Energy Trust of Oregon Incentives & Windows, Add Resale Value (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt-adv-insiders/550193-440416-energy-trust-of-oregon-incentives-and-windows-add-resale-value

18.   City of Bend Proposes Home Energy Score Requirement to Help Buyers Make Purchasing Decisions (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/2022/06/28/city-of-bend-considering-ordinance-that-would-require-home-sellers-to-provide-a-home-energy-score/

19.   BC Hydro Upgrading Nearly 2,700 Streetlights in Prince George (Prince George Citizen, BC)

https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/bc-hydro-upgrading-nearly-2700-streetlights-in-prince-george-5527187

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   British Columbia's Endangered Killer Whales Have Been Going Hungry for Years, Study Finds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/southern-resident-orcas-malnourished-ubc-study-1.6503594

21.   Rob Phillips: Columbia Fish Counts Are High, Bolstered by Shad & Sockeye (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/outdoors/rob-phillips-columbia-fish-counts-are-high-bolstered-by-shad-and-sockeye/article_94e659f9-43df-5b06-8558-01bc784579ba.html

22.   Southwest Oregon Tribe, State Forge ‘Model’ Agreement to Co-Manage Fish & Wildlife (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/28/southwest-oregon-tribe-state-forge-model-agreement-co-manage-fish-and-wildlife/

23.   Bonneville Power Administration Aids Creating the ‘Bee Better’ Certification for Electric Power Companies (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20220624-bpa-aids-creating-the-bee-better-certification-for-electric-power-compan

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

24.   Logging Is Destroying Southern Forests — And Dividing U.S. Environmentalists (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/energy/logging-biomass-nature-conservancy/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

25.   Nonprofit Behind Klamath River Dam Removal Offers Plan for Allocating Water to Fight Wildfires in Region (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/29/nonprofit-behind-klamath-river-dam-removal-offers-plan-for-allocating-water-to-fight-wildfires-in-region/

26.   How Utah Data Centers Can Save Money on Water Needs (KSL Radio, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.ksl.com/article/50425118/how-utah-data-centers-can-save-money-on-water-needs

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

27.   Washington Carbon Exchange Lets Many Big Polluters Off the Hook (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-carbon-exchange-lets-many-big-polluters-off-the-hook

28.   Google’s Cloud Customers Will Learn Their Gmail Carbon Footprint (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-28/google-s-cloud-customers-will-learn-their-carbon-footprint-for-gmail-workspace

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   WA Gov. Inslee Visits Chelan County to Discuss Digital Equity (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/gov-inslee-visits-chelan-county-to-discuss-digital-equity/

30.   Latah County, Idaho, Group to Focus on Broadband Expansion (Government Technology)

https://www.govtech.com/network/latah-county-idaho-group-to-focus-on-broadband-expansion

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   WA State: Electric Vehicle Curbside Charging Is Coming to Seattle Neighborhoods. Here's Why It Matters (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/curbside-charging-coming-seattle-neighborhoods-why-it-matters/281-b90aa259-b284-4b7c-9ba9-244105b23919

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

32.   2022’s Best & Worst-Run Cities in America (WalletHub)

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

NASA Needs Your Help Finding Clouds on Mars

https://gizmodo.com/nasa-enlists-publics-help-with-cloudspotting-on-mars-1849123060

The Dust Devils of Mars

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2022/06/photos-dust-devils-mars/661430/?utm_source=feed

‘Where There’s Bodies, There’s Treasure’: A Hunt as Lake Mead Shrinks

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/06/27/lake-mead-reservoir-drought/

Bruce's Beach Returned to Family Nearly a Century after Seizure

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61981785

SONG OF THE DAY

Max Steiner - Treasure of the Sierra Madre – Soundtrack Suite

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

The Energy News Digest for June 27, 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

Oregon Utilities Crunch Big Data, Tap Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Wildfire Risks (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2022/06/oregon-utilities-crunch-big-data-tap-artificial-intelligence-to-reduce-wildfire-risks.html

Dam Politics: Why Public Power Utilities Are Pouring Cash into the Campaign to Support Lower Snake River Dams (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/public-power-utilities-pour-cash-into-campaign-to-boost-support-for-lower-snake-river-dams/

Fierce Local Battles Over Power Lines Are a Bottleneck for Clean Energy (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/26/why-the-us-has-a-massive-power-line-problem.html

Biden Administration Tosses Trump Definition of ‘Habitat’ for Endangered Species (NY Times – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/climate/biden-endangered-species-habitat.html

Where Colorado River No Longer Meets the Sea, a Pulse of Water Brings New Life (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/where-river-no-longer-meets-120055347.html?soc_src=yahooapp

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Oregon Utilities Crunch Big Data, Tap Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Wildfire Risks

2.      WA State: Wildfires Impact Chelan County PUD Insurance Plan

3.      Dam Politics: Why Public Power Utilities Are Pouring Cash into the Campaign to Support Lower Snake River Dams

4.      Several Hundred Take to Willamette River, Willamette Park to Protest Four Snake River Dams

5.      Idaho: First Lineworker Class Graduates at NIC Parker Center

6.      WA State: Another Look at Mossyrock Dam

7.      CAISO’s Proposed ‘Emergency’ Interconnection Process Could Hurt Pending Projects: Vistra

8.      Guest Essay: Tell These Politicians About the Value of Hydropower

9.      Free Money Everywhere: The Pretense on Which Washington State’s Energy Policy Is Based

10.   Fierce Local Battles Over Power Lines Are a Bottleneck for Clean Energy

11.   Solar Powered Umbrellas Sold at Costco Have Been Recalled Because They Can Burst into Flames

12.   House Bills Would Require Demand Response-Enabled Water Heaters, Strengthen Weatherization Program

13.   British Columbia: BC Hydro Offers Tips on How to Save Money During Summer Heat

14.   Biden Administration Tosses Trump Definition of ‘Habitat’ for Endangered Species

15.   To Unravel Some of the Ocean’s Mysteries, Pacific Northwest Scientists Head to Sea

16.   Where Colorado River No Longer Meets the Sea, a Pulse of Water Brings New Life

17.   California: As Tule Lake Vanishes, So Do Lives & Livelihoods

18.   Washington Ranks 10th Most Green State, But These Measures Still Need Improvement

19.   WA State: Biden Administration Awards More Than $1 Million to Suquamish Tribe for Community High-Speed Internet

20.   What WA’s Cold, Wet Spring Means for Summer Wildfires

21.   California's Largest Private Landowner Closes All Forestlands to Public Indefinitely Due to Wildfire, Drought Danger

WORD OF THE DAY

Pariah \PUH-RYE-uh\ Noun –1: one that is despised or rejected 2: a member of a low caste of southern India.

Bobo the clown was crushed. He thought his grease-painted friends would love his new shoes. Instead, he was banished from the clown car for two weeks because the shoes were “way too small” according to the clown prince. “A pariah over shoe size,” Bobo grumbled. “Next thing you know, they’ll be regulating clown nose colors!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Oregon Utilities Crunch Big Data, Tap Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Wildfire Risks (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2022/06/oregon-utilities-crunch-big-data-tap-artificial-intelligence-to-reduce-wildfire-risks.html

2.      WA State: Wildfires Impact Chelan County PUD Insurance Plan (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/wildfires-impact-chelan-county-pud-insurance-plan/article_0c662a5a-f1ba-11ec-80d2-1f6d1845abc9.html

3.      Dam Politics: Why Public Power Utilities Are Pouring Cash into the Campaign to Support Lower Snake River Dams (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/public-power-utilities-pour-cash-into-campaign-to-boost-support-for-lower-snake-river-dams/

4.      Several Hundred Take to Willamette River, Willamette Park to Protest Four Snake River Dams (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2022/06/several-hundred-take-to-willamette-river-willamette-park-to-protest-4-snake-river-dams.html

5.      Idaho: First Lineworker Class Graduates at NIC Parker Center (Bonner County Daily Bee, ID)

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2022/jun/25/first-lineworker-class-graduates-nic-parker-center/

6.      WA State: Another Look at Mossyrock Dam (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/another-look-at-mossyrock-dam,295853

7.      CAISO’s Proposed ‘Emergency’ Interconnection Process Could Hurt Pending Projects: Vistra (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/caiso-emergency-interconnection-process-vistra-ferc/626095/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

8.      Guest Essay: Tell These Politicians About the Value of Hydropower (Issaquah Reporter, WA)

https://www.issaquahreporter.com/opinion/tell-these-politicians-about-the-value-of-hydropower-brunell/

9.      Free Money Everywhere: The Pretense on Which Washington State’s Energy Policy Is Based (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/free-money-everywhere-the-pretense-on-which-washington-states-energy-policy-is-based

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   Fierce Local Battles Over Power Lines Are a Bottleneck for Clean Energy (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/26/why-the-us-has-a-massive-power-line-problem.html

11.   Solar Powered Umbrellas Sold at Costco Have Been Recalled Because They Can Burst into Flames (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/costco-sunvilla-s-solar-led-market-umbrella-recalled-1849112378

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

12.   House Bills Would Require Demand Response-Enabled Water Heaters, Strengthen Weatherization Program (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/house-bills-demand-response-water-heaters-weatherization/625937/

13.   British Columbia: BC Hydro Offers Tips on How to Save Money During Summer Heat (CTV News)

https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/bc-hydro-offers-tips-on-how-to-save-money-during-summer-heat-1.5961030

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Biden Administration Tosses Trump Definition of ‘Habitat’ for Endangered Species (NY Times – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/climate/biden-endangered-species-habitat.html

15.   To Unravel Some of the Ocean’s Mysteries, Pacific Northwest Scientists Head to Sea (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/27/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration-washington-coast-oregon-ocean-pacific-northwest-scientists/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

16.   Where Colorado River No Longer Meets the Sea, a Pulse of Water Brings New Life (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/where-river-no-longer-meets-120055347.html?soc_src=yahooapp

17.   California: As Tule Lake Vanishes, So Do Lives & Livelihoods (Redding Record-Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/in-depth/news/local/drought/2022/06/23/tule-lake-dries-up-in-drought-threatening-farms-bird-species/7695041001/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

18.   Washington Ranks 10th Most Green State, But These Measures Still Need Improvement (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/washington/article262856033.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19.   WA State: Biden Administration Awards More Than $1 Million to Suquamish Tribe for Community High-Speed Internet (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3529805/biden-administration-awards-1m-suquamish-tribe-community-high-speed-internet/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

20.   What WA’s Cold, Wet Spring Means for Summer Wildfires (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/06/what-was-cold-wet-spring-means-summer-wildfires

21.   California's Largest Private Landowner Closes All Forestlands to Public Indefinitely Due to Wildfire, Drought Danger (San Francisco Chronicle, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/California-largest-private-landowner-closes-forest-17266493.php

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Rick Astley Revisits His Career-Making Song With ‘Gratitude’

https://apnews.com/article/technology-entertainment-music-rick-astley-72dc7faf85f3e2b907df74a9a227bf52

David Spade Donates Thousands to Burger King Employee Who Received Goodie Bag for 27 Years of Service

https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/david-spade-donates-thousands-to-burger-king-employee-20220624

NASA: Give Us Back Our Moon Dust & Cockroaches

https://apnews.com/article/oddities-technology-science-moon-3e717afffedf62ddbbe827f4ad0d05ec

'She's Perfect & She's Beautiful': Frozen Baby Woolly Mammoth Discovered in Yukon Gold Fields

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/frozen-whole-baby-woolly-mammoth-yukon-gold-fields-1.6501128

SONG OF THE DAY

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

The Energy News Digest for June 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

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Wyden, Rep. DeFazio Urge Feds to Move Offshore Wind ‘Call Areas’ to Protect Oregon Fisheries (KMTR-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://nbc16.com/news/local/wyden-defazio-urge-feds-to-move-offshore-wind-call-areas-to-protect-oregon-fishing

Washington State Governor Warns Climate Change Will Bring a Summer of ‘Blackouts, Destruction, & Death’ (The Daily Wire)

https://www.dailywire.com/news/washington-state-governor-warns-climate-change-will-bring-a-summer-of-blackouts-destruction-and-death

Fish Passage ‘Likely’ as Seattle City Light Aims to Re-License Skagit River Dams (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/fish-passage-likely-as-seattle-city-light-aims-to-re-license-skagit-river-dams/

Lake Mead Nears Dead Pool Status as Water Levels Hit Another Historic Low (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/lake-mead-nears-dead-pool-status-water-levels-hit-another-historic-low-rcna34733

Elon Musk Says Tesla’s Factories in Texas & Germany Are ‘Money Furnaces’ (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-tesla-gigafactory-money-furnaces-austin-1849098684

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Washington State Governor Warns Climate Change Will Bring a Summer of ‘Blackouts, Destruction, & Death’

2.      Oregon Utilities Crunch Big Data, Tap Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Wildfire Risks

3.      The Last Nuclear Plant in California – And the Unexpected Quest to Save It

4.      Nuclear Industry Hopes to Expand Output with New Reactors

5.      Indigenous-Led Ecosystem Studies a Key Element of Columbia River Treaty Talks

6.      Downtown Las Vegas Tenants Experience Power Outage as Electricians Uncover Copper Theft

7.      WA Stater: Grays Harbor PUD Issues Warning Concerning Safety Amid Growing Wire Thefts

8.      WA State: Clallam County PUD New-Service Increase Is Likely

9.      Oregon: Grant to Help Pay for Past-Due Rent, Mortgage, Utilities

10.   Alaska: Salmon Creek Dam to Gain Engineering Landmark Status

11.   Alaska: Hydroelectric Project Takes Small Step Forward Amid Pushback from Moose Pass

12.   Commentary: Addressing the Challenges Presented by a Retiring Utility Workforce

13.   Column: Green Hydrogen May Be Energy’s Future, But It’s Complicated

14.   Oregon’s U.S. Senator Wyden, Rep. DeFazio Urge Feds to Move Offshore Wind ‘Call Areas’ to Protect Oregon Fisheries

15.   Farms in Central Washington Boost Their Yield with Solar Energy

16.   House Bills Would Require Demand Response-Enabled Water Heaters, Strengthen Weatherization Program

17.   Fish Passage ‘Likely’ as Seattle City Light Aims to Re-License Skagit River Dams

18.   Jury Awards $595,000 To Lummi Tribe for Salmon Pen Collapse

19.   From ‘Carp’ to ‘Copi’: Unpopular Fish Getting a Makeover

20.   Lake Mead Nears Dead Pool Status as Water Levels Hit Another Historic Low

21.   A Major California Reservoir Has Hit Its Peak for the Year at Just Over Half Full

22.   Charges Dropped Against Tumwater Water Treatment Company & Owner, Lawyer Says

23.   Leaf Blowers, Lawn Mowers & Fertilizer: How Lawns Contribute to Climate Change

24.   Climate Change: How New Zealand’s Broadband Infrastructure Can Help Secure a Greener Future

25.   Chelan PUD Agrees to Power Line Connection with Microsoft

26.   Japan: City Contractor Goes Out for Drinks After Work, Loses Memory Stick Containing Personal Data on Nearly Half a Million Residents

27.   Elon Musk Says Tesla’s Factories in Texas & Germany Are ‘Money Furnaces’

28.   Almost Half of Canadians Are Ready to Buy an Electric Vehicle, Says Poll

29.   WA State: Students Shine at Solar Camp

30.   WA State: Zip & Zap Confirmed as Official Snohomish PUD Mascots

31.   NASA Selects 3 Companies to Design a Nuclear Power Plant for the Moon

32.   Dark Spot on Sun Might Destroy the Internet But Boffs Say It’s ‘Nothing to Worry About’

33.   A Rare Lightning Barrage Jarred California with 66,000 Strikes

34.   Oregon Wastewater Data Shows Far More People Have COVID Than Is Apparent Through Testing

35.   A Very Pleasant Heat Wave Ahead

WORD OF THE DAY

Hippodrome \HIPP-uh-drome\ Noun - 1: an oval stadium for horse & chariot races in ancient Greece 2: an arena for equestrian performances.

“Harry the Horse” was fed up with the waltz. “I want to headline at the hippodrome, featuring the cha-cha,” he whinnied. The Hendersons just laughed.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Washington State Governor Warns Climate Change Will Bring a Summer of ‘Blackouts, Destruction, & Death’ (The Daily Wire)

https://www.dailywire.com/news/washington-state-governor-warns-climate-change-will-bring-a-summer-of-blackouts-destruction-and-death

2.      Oregon Utilities Crunch Big Data, Tap Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Wildfire Risks (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2022/06/oregon-utilities-crunch-big-data-tap-artificial-intelligence-to-reduce-wildfire-risks.html

3.      The Last Nuclear Plant in California – And the Unexpected Quest to Save It (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/23/california-last-nuclear-power-plant-save

4.      Nuclear Industry Hopes to Expand Output with New Reactors (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/nuclear-industry-hopes-to-expand-output-with-new-reactors/2022/06/21/dbcbcf74-f120-11ec-ac16-8fbf7194cd78_story.html

5.      Indigenous-Led Ecosystem Studies a Key Element of Columbia River Treaty Talks (Boundary Creek Times, BC)

https://www.boundarycreektimes.com/news/indigenous-led-ecosystem-studies-a-key-element-of-columbia-river-treaty-talks/

6.      Downtown Las Vegas Tenants Experience Power Outage as Electricians Uncover Copper Theft (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2022/06/21/downtown-las-vegas-tenants-experience-power-outage-as-electricians-uncover-copper-theft/

7.      WA Stater: Grays Harbor PUD Issues Warning Concerning Safety Amid Growing Wire Thefts (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/grays-harbor-pud-issues-warning-concerning-safety-amid-growing-wire-thefts/YK57BKP34JATZGJIPUHTVNM3AI/

8.      WA State: Clallam County PUD New-Service Increase Is Likely (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/clallam-county-pud-new-service-increase-is-likely/

9.      Oregon: Grant to Help Pay for Past-Due Rent, Mortgage, Utilities (The Bandon Western World, OR)

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/grant-to-hep-pay-for-past-due-rent-mortgage-utilities/article_7590a5a4-f1ac-11ec-9713-53e8dc4f1bdf.html

10.   Alaska: Salmon Creek Dam to Gain Engineering Landmark Status (Juneau Empire, AK)

https://www.juneauempire.com/news/salmon-creek-dam-to-gain-engineering-landmark-status/

11.   Alaska: Hydroelectric Project Takes Small Step Forward Amid Pushback from Moose Pass (KDLL Radio, Kenai, AK)

https://www.kdll.org/local-news/2022-06-21/hydroelectric-project-takes-small-step-forward-amid-pushback-from-moose-pass

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Commentary: Addressing the Challenges Presented by a Retiring Utility Workforce (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/addressing-the-challenges-presented-by-a-retiring-utility-workforce/

13.   Column: Green Hydrogen May Be Energy’s Future, But It’s Complicated (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/green-hydrogen-may-be-energys-future-its-complicated-2022-06-23/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   Oregon’s U.S. Senator Wyden, Rep. DeFazio Urge Feds to Move Offshore Wind ‘Call Areas’ to Protect Oregon Fisheries (KMTR-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://nbc16.com/news/local/wyden-defazio-urge-feds-to-move-offshore-wind-call-areas-to-protect-oregon-fishing

15.   Farms in Central Washington Boost Their Yield with Solar Energy (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/06/farms-central-washington-boost-their-yield-solar-energy

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

16.   House Bills Would Require Demand Response-Enabled Water Heaters, Strengthen Weatherization Program (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/house-bills-demand-response-water-heaters-weatherization/625937/

FISH & WILDLIFE

17.   Fish Passage ‘Likely’ as Seattle City Light Aims to Re-License Skagit River Dams (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/fish-passage-likely-as-seattle-city-light-aims-to-re-license-skagit-river-dams/

18.   Jury Awards $595,000 To Lummi Tribe for Salmon Pen Collapse (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article262786633.html

19.   From ‘Carp’ to ‘Copi’: Unpopular Fish Getting a Makeover (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/news/articles/2022-06-22/from-carp-to-copi-unpopular-fish-getting-a-makeover

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

20.   Lake Mead Nears Dead Pool Status as Water Levels Hit Another Historic Low (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/lake-mead-nears-dead-pool-status-water-levels-hit-another-historic-low-rcna34733

21.   A Major California Reservoir Has Hit Its Peak for the Year at Just Over Half Full (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-20/lake-oroville-water-levels-reach-yearly-peak-at-half-capacity

22.   Charges Dropped Against Tumwater Water Treatment Company & Owner, Lawyer Says (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article262723047.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Leaf Blowers, Lawn Mowers & Fertilizer: How Lawns Contribute to Climate Change (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/leaf-blowers-lawn-mowers-and-fertilizer-how-lawns-contribute-to-climate-change-190726545.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24.   Climate Change: How New Zealand’s Broadband Infrastructure Can Help Secure a Greener Future (Newshub, New Zealand)

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/technology/2022/06/climate-change-how-new-zealand-s-broadband-infrastructure-can-help-secure-a-greener-future.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

25.   Chelan PUD Agrees to Power Line Connection with Microsoft (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/chelan-pud-agrees-to-power-line-connection-with-planned-microsoft-data-center/

26.   Japan: City Contractor Goes Out for Drinks After Work, Loses Memory Stick Containing Personal Data on Nearly Half a Million Residents (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amagasaki-japan-lost-usb-data-460000-residents/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

27.   Elon Musk Says Tesla’s Factories in Texas & Germany Are ‘Money Furnaces’ (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-tesla-gigafactory-money-furnaces-austin-1849098684

28.   Almost Half of Canadians Are Ready to Buy an Electric Vehicle, Says Poll (Alaska Highway News)

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/highlights/almost-half-of-canadians-are-ready-to-buy-an-electric-vehicle-says-poll-5508025

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

29.   WA State: Students Shine at Solar Camp (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/students-shine-at-solar-camp/article_79a7a17a-f26e-11ec-83b8-dbe9bbc7c035.html

30.   WA State: Zip & Zap Confirmed as Official Snohomish PUD Mascots (My Everett News, WA)

https://myeverettnews.com/2022/06/23/zip-and-zap-confirmed-as-official-snohomish-pud-mascots/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

31.   NASA Selects 3 Companies to Design a Nuclear Power Plant for the Moon (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/nasa-nuclear-power-moon-artemis-1849093591

32.   Dark Spot on Sun Might Destroy the Internet But Boffs Say It’s ‘Nothing to Worry About’ (The Daily Star, UK)

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/news/scientists-swear-theres-nothing-worry-27299316

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

33.   A Rare Lightning Barrage Jarred California with 66,000 Strikes (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/06/23/lightning-california-strikes-thunderstorm/

34.   Oregon Wastewater Data Shows Far More People Have COVID Than Is Apparent Through Testing (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/23/oregon-covid-19-cases-wastewater-data-infections-positive-tests/

35.   A Very Pleasant Heat Wave Ahead (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/06/a-very-pleasant-heat-wave.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Cold Fries, Wrong Nuggets Lead to Fight at Wendy’s Drive-Thru, Arizona Police Say

https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article262695197.html

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Is Changing Its Name

https://tdn.com/news/national/kraft-macaroni-and-cheese-is-changing-its-name/article_126118bf-4c31-56b1-b8f9-69a1ecc6ca2d.html

Fin-Tastic! Growing ‘Mermaiding’ Subculture Makes a Splash

https://apnews.com/article/canada-sydney-621e29ea1810b66da54684aa6a1da4b7

Spokane Valley Man Wins $10,000 with Hole-in-One on Coeur d’Alene’s Floating Green

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jun/22/spokane-valley-man-wins-10k-with-hole-in-one-on-co/

SONG OF THE DAY

Leo Sayer – Long Tall Glasses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emFc9anke7w