Monday, June 13, 2022

The Energy News Digest for June 13, 2022

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

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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

Replacing Benefits of Snake River Dams Would Cost Billions (Associated Press)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/replacing-benefits-of-snake-river-dams-would-cost-billions/2022/06/09/c8973e1e-e821-11ec-a422-11bbb91db30b_story.html

Texas Breaks Record for Electricity Demand Amid Dangerous Heat (KENS-TV, San Antonio. TX)

https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas-breaks-record-electricity-demand-amid-dangerous-heat/273-30b54b8f-ffea-4b9c-84fc-063a9dfbbe9f

Opposition to Idaho Wind Farms Fierce & Growing (KLIX Radio, Twin Falls, ID)

https://newsradio1310.com/opposition-to-idaho-wind-farms-fierce-and-growing/

Columbia River Tops Flood Stage in Vancouver, Washington (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/13/forecasters-issue-flood-watch-for-columbia-river/

Grim Fall Coastal Chinook Salmon Forecasts Likely Will Mean Severe Restrictions for Oregon Anglers (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2022/06/bill-monroe-grim-fall-chinook-salmon-forecasts-likely-will-mean-severe-restrictions-for-oregon-anglers.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Texas Breaks Record for Electricity Demand Amid Dangerous Heat

2.      California’s Energy Officials Want $5 Billion for Strategic Reserves

3.      Wyoming Wants to Export Its Natural Gas. The West Coast Won’t Let It.

4.      U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA) Demands Biden Administration Answer on ‘Life-Threatening’ Blackouts

5.      California: Oceanside to Join Clean Energy Alliance

6.      A Push for Public Power Stalled in New York, But Activists Say They’re Just Getting Started

7.      Replacing Benefits of Snake River Dams Would Cost Billions

8.      Inslee-Murray Report on Cost of Breaching Snake River Dams Could Signify a Shift in Decades of Debate

9.      Removing Lower Snake River Dams Offers Best Chance for Salmon Recovery — At Steep Price, Report Says

10.   Republicans Reject Lower Snake River Dam-Breaching Plan

11.   U.S. Sen. Murray, WA Gov. Inslee Announce Opportunity for Public to Comment on Independent Lower Snake River Dams Draft Report

12.   U.S. Rep McMorris Rodgers (WA) Secures Wins to Protect Lower Snake River Dams, Advance Columbia River Treaty Negotiations

13.   U.S. Rep. Newhouse Introduces Bill to Protect Four Lower Snake River Dams, Clean Energy, Jobs, and Transportation in the Pacific Northwest

14.   Reaxn: Murray-Inslee Report Falls Short, Fails to Recognize Significant Climate Impacts

15.   Large Uncertainties & Statistical Tricks Throughout Report on Snake River Dams

16.   Guest Essay: As Smolt-to-Adult Returns Continue to Dwindle, Salmon Can Teach Us a Lesson at Idaho’s Sunbeam Dam

17.   Opinion: Montana Crypto Proposal Needs More ‘Due Diligence’

18.   Columnist: Pumped Hydropower – A Green-Energy Win in Klamath County

19.   Guest Essay: Broadband Is Continuing to Explode: Here’s What It Means for Rural Communities

20.   Opposition to Idaho Wind Farms Fierce & Growing

21.   Facebook, Google Oppose Buffett-Backed Iowa Wind Farm Project

22.   Oregon Trail Electric Coop to Build Solar Farm in La Grande

23.   WA State: Tri-Cities Union Trades Agree to Work on Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project

24.   First Quarter Saw Solar U.S. Deployments Slump 52%, But Tariff Investigation May Not Be Sole Cause

25.   How a Battery Shortage Is Hampering the U.S. Switch to Wind, Solar Power

26.   Grim Fall Coastal Chinook Salmon Forecasts Likely Will Mean Severe Restrictions for Oregon Anglers

27.   Russian River, CA: The Last-Ditch Effort to Save Wild Salmon

28.   Climate Change & Human Exploitation to Blame for Historic Decline in Atlantic Salmon

29.   Whale Sightings Spike in Washington’s Waters

30.   Oregon County Declares Emergency Over Water Contamination

31.   Oregon: Rogue River Basin Nearly Full for First Time in Three Years

32.   Finally. U.S. Drought Monitor Drops Severe Drought for Washington State

33.   WA State: At Least One-Third of Cowlitz County Residents Eligible for Free Internet

34.   Chelan PUD, Microsoft a Step Closer to Finalizing Data Center Agreement

35.   Electric Vehicles in High Demand as Idaho Gas Prices Reach $5

36.   Can Congress Save Local News? Two Bills Backed by Northwest Lawmakers May Help

37.   Columbia River Tops Flood Stage in Vancouver, Washington

38.   Columbia River Dams Storing Water to Help Ease River Flooding in Wake of Heavy Pacific NW Rains

39.   EIA Expects High Refinery Margins to Contribute to Increasing Fuel Production This Summer

WORD OF THE DAY

Circumlocution \ser-kum-loke-YOO-shun\ Noun – 1: the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea 2: evasion in speech.

Abner’s presence at any public hearing made the small hairs on the back of the clerk’s neck stand up. His famed circumlocution was the stuff of legend, creating crippling injuries in the writing hands of news reporters, clerks of boards, and more. The most amazing thing was that Abner had mastered the art of diaphragmatic breathing…so it appeared that during his hours long, droning testimony it appeared that he never had to stop for breath.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Texas Breaks Record for Electricity Demand Amid Dangerous Heat (KENS-TV, San Antonio. TX)

https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas-breaks-record-electricity-demand-amid-dangerous-heat/273-30b54b8f-ffea-4b9c-84fc-063a9dfbbe9f

2.      California’s Energy Officials Want $5 Billion for Strategic Reserves (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/californias-energy-officials-want-5-billion-for-strategic-reserves/

3.      Wyoming Wants to Export Its Natural Gas. The West Coast Won’t Let It. (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/wyoming-wants-to-export-its-natural-gas-the-west-coast-wont-let-it/article_c76a824e-e817-11ec-a5d6-c336e08f72c4.html

4.      U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA) Demands Biden Administration Answer on ‘Life-Threatening’ Blackouts (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/idaho/mcmorris-rodgers-demands-biden-administration-answer-on-life-threatening-blackouts/article_1ad03320-5168-514a-a1d1-d857ee6c7c30.html

5.      California: Oceanside to Join Clean Energy Alliance (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/oceanside/story/2022-06-12/oceanside-to-join-clean-energy-alliance

6.      A Push for Public Power Stalled in New York, But Activists Say They’re Just Getting Started (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/politics/a-push-for-public-power-stalled-in-new-york-but-activists-say-theyre-just-getting-started/

SNAKE RIVER THEATER – THE KABUKI EDITION

7.      Replacing Benefits of Snake River Dams Would Cost Billions (Associated Press)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/replacing-benefits-of-snake-river-dams-would-cost-billions/2022/06/09/c8973e1e-e821-11ec-a422-11bbb91db30b_story.html

8.      Inslee-Murray Report on Cost of Breaching Snake River Dams Could Signify a Shift in Decades of Debate (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jun/10/inslee-murray-report-on-cost-of-breaching-snake-ri/

9.      Removing Lower Snake River Dams Offers Best Chance for Salmon Recovery — At Steep Price, Report Says (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/new-state-federal-report-puts-10-27-billion-price-tag-on-lower-snake-river-dam-removal/?amp=1

10.   Republicans Reject Lower Snake River Dam-Breaching Plan (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/republicans-reject-lower-snake-river-dam-breaching-plan/

11.   U.S. Sen. Murray, WA Gov. Inslee Announce Opportunity for Public to Comment on Independent Lower Snake River Dams Draft Report (WA Governor Jay Inslee)

https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/murray-inslee-announce-opportunity-public-comment-independent-lower-snake-river-dams

12.   U.S. Rep McMorris Rodgers (WA) Secures Wins to Protect Lower Snake River Dams, Advance Columbia River Treaty Negotiations (U.S. Rep McMorris Rodgers, WA)

https://mcmorris.house.gov/posts/mcmorris-rodgers-secures-wins-to-protect-lower-snake-river-dams-advance-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations

13.   U.S. Rep. Newhouse Introduces Bill to Protect Four Lower Snake River Dams, Clean Energy, Jobs, and Transportation in the Pacific Northwest (U.S. Rep Dan Newhouse, WA)

https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-bill-protect-four-lower-snake-river-dams-clean

14.   Reaxn: Murray-Inslee Report Falls Short, Fails to Recognize Significant Climate Impacts (Northwest RiverPartners)

https://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2022/06/reaxn-murray-inslee-report-falls-short.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

15.   Large Uncertainties & Statistical Tricks Throughout Report on Snake River Dams (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/large-uncertainties-and-statistical-tricks-throughout-report-on-snake-river-dams

16.   Guest Essay: As Smolt-to-Adult Returns Continue to Dwindle, Salmon Can Teach Us a Lesson at Idaho’s Sunbeam Dam (Idaho Capital-Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2022/06/10/as-smolt-to-adult-returns-continue-to-dwindle-salmon-can-teach-us-lesson-at-idahos-sunbeam-dam/

17.   Opinion: Montana Crypto Proposal Needs More ‘Due Diligence’ (The Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2022/jun/12/crypto-proposal-needs-more-due-diligence/

18.   Columnist: Pumped Hydropower – A Green-Energy Win in Klamath County (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2022/06/a-green-energy-win-in-klamath-county-steve-duin-column.html

19.   Guest Essay: Broadband Is Continuing to Explode: Here’s What It Means for Rural Communities (Newsweek Magazine)

https://www.newsweek.com/broadband-continuing-explode-heres-what-it-means-rural-communities-1714061

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

20.   Opposition to Idaho Wind Farms Fierce & Growing (KLIX Radio, Twin Falls, ID)

https://newsradio1310.com/opposition-to-idaho-wind-farms-fierce-and-growing/

21.   Facebook, Google Oppose Buffett-Backed Iowa Wind Farm Project (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2022-06-11/facebook-google-oppose-buffett-backed-wind-farm-project

22.   Oregon Trail Electric Coop to Build Solar Farm in La Grande (Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/electric-co-op-to-build-solar-farm-in-la-grande/article_a461e8fa-e777-11ec-acc4-8f4e110a4114.html

23.   WA State: Tri-Cities Union Trades Agree to Work on Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project (KFFX-TV, Kennewick, WA)

https://www.fox41yakima.com/tri-cities-union-trades-agree-to-work-on-horse-heaven-wind-farm-project/

24.   First Quarter Saw Solar U.S. Deployments Slump 52%, But Tariff Investigation May Not Be Sole Cause (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/first-quarter-saw-solar-us-deployments-slump-52-but-tariff-investigation/625256/

25.   How a Battery Shortage Is Hampering the U.S. Switch to Wind, Solar Power (Reuters)

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/09/a-battery-shortage-is-hampering-the-us-switch-to-wind-solar-power.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

26.   Grim Fall Coastal Chinook Salmon Forecasts Likely Will Mean Severe Restrictions for Oregon Anglers (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2022/06/bill-monroe-grim-fall-chinook-salmon-forecasts-likely-will-mean-severe-restrictions-for-oregon-anglers.html

27.   Russian River, CA: The Last-Ditch Effort to Save Wild Salmon (Wired Magazine)

https://www.wired.com/story/the-last-ditch-effort-to-save-wild-salmon/

28.   Climate Change & Human Exploitation to Blame for Historic Decline in Atlantic Salmon (The Verve)

https://vervetimes.com/climate-change-and-human-exploitation-to-blame-for-historic-decline-in-atlantic-salmon/

29.   Whale Sightings Spike in Washington’s Waters (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/orcas/whale-sightings-spike-puget-sound-washington/281-1f992c89-1eab-4ed4-b321-b8efb5ccdff5

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

30.   Oregon County Declares Emergency Over Water Contamination (Associated Press)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/eastern-oregon/morrow-county-emergency-water-contamination/283-2e0adba9-b073-42c7-acbb-52081560b55f

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

31.   Oregon: Rogue River Basin Nearly Full for First Time in Three Years (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/southern-oregon/rogue-river-basin-nearly-full/283-888583f8-c871-4b85-a5de-9be6250af179

32.   Finally. U.S. Drought Monitor Drops Severe Drought for Washington State (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/06/finally-us-drought-monitor-drops-severe.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

33.   WA State: At Least One-Third of Cowlitz County Residents Eligible for Free Internet (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/local/at-least-one-third-of-cowlitz-county-residents-eligible-for-free-internet/article_e76e0b8e-e6ae-11ec-8d71-17c7b0da2e6f.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

34.   Chelan PUD, Microsoft a Step Closer to Finalizing Data Center Agreement (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/chelan-pud-microsoft-a-step-closer-to-finalizing-data-center/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

35.   Electric Vehicles in High Demand as Idaho Gas Prices Reach $5 (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/traffic/gas-prices/electric-vehicles-in-high-demand-as-idaho-gas-prices-rise/277-0f9a64ba-4bbd-4e96-a491-e0f53e3e502b

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

36.   Can Congress Save Local News? Two Bills Backed by Northwest Lawmakers May Help (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jun/12/can-congress-save-local-news-two-bills-backed-by-n/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

37.   Columbia River Tops Flood Stage in Vancouver, Washington (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/13/forecasters-issue-flood-watch-for-columbia-river/

38.   Columbia River Dams Storing Water to Help Ease River Flooding in Wake of Heavy Pacific NW Rains (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/12/heavy-rain-spurs-portland-esplanade-riverfront-closure-landslide-warnings-oregon/

39.   EIA Expects High Refinery Margins to Contribute to Increasing Fuel Production This Summer (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=52718

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘Perennial Pooper’ Dumps Hundreds of Bags of Human Waste Along East Multnomah County Roads

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/09/bags-human-waste-dumped-multnomah-county-roads/

Man Balances Chainsaw on His Forehead for 31 Minutes, 25 Seconds

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/06/13/Guinness-World-Records-David-Rush-chainsaw-forehead/3721655135428/

British Man Throws Tortilla More Than 90 Feet for Guinness World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/06/10/Guinness-World-Records-farthest-tortilla-throw/8231654876839/

Chefs Assemble Over 600-Pound Hamburger in Mexico

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/06/09/mexico-giant-hamburger-breaks-national-record-mexico/4211654809594/

SONG OF THE DAY

Jimmy Buffet – Cheeseburger in Paradise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYo4m-BmUVw