Monday, June 6, 2022

The Energy News Digest for June 6, 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

Texas Power Use to Hit Record as Temperatures Soar (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-power-use-hit-record-high-economic-growth-hot-weather-2022-06-06/

A Summer of Blackouts? Wheezing Power Grid Leaves States at Risk. (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/06/02/blackout-states-summer-heat/

Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Expands Again (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2022/06/spring-chinook-salmon-fishing-on-columbia-river-expands-again.html

WA State: Thurston County PUD Decides Against Entering Internet Business After Year-Long Study (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article262144827.html

Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere Are Highest in History (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/carbon-dioxide-levels-in-the-atmosphere-are-highest-in-history/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Texas Power Use to Hit Record as Temperatures Soar

2.      A Summer of Blackouts? Wheezing Power Grid Leaves States at Risk.

3.      How California’s Drought Could Cost Oregon

4.      The Power Grid Explained — Plus Demand Response, Virtual Power Plants & More

5.      Annual Energy Outlook 2022: Alternative Weather Assumptions

6.      U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Hosts Congressional Dam Tour

7.      Americans Split on Nuclear Energy as Safety Worries Linger – Reuters/Ipsos Poll

8.      NuScale After One Month Public: ‘We Like Where We Stand’

9.      California: Orange County’s Clean Energy Agency Is in Turmoil

10.   Coal Pile Slide Buries, Kills 2 at Colorado Power Plant

11.   Guest Essay: Sen. Mark Schoesler: Efforts to Breach Dams, Limit Natural Gas Will Hurt Energy Consumers

12.   Guest Essay: Don’t Fall for TV Ads’ Climate Case for Snake Dams

13.   Audio: Northwest RiverPartners – A Public Power Conversation

14.   Commentary: Proposal to Require All-Electric Home Construction Based on Outdated & Inaccurate Information

15.   President Biden to Waive Tariffs for 24 Months on Solar Panels Hit by Probe

16.   Duke Energy Starts Building 120-MW Solar Plant in Idaho

17.   Hit Hard by High Energy Costs, Hawaii Looks to the Sun

18.   Oregon: Port of Newport Sends a Message on Offshore Windmills

19.   Giant Deep Ocean Turbine Trial Offers Hope of Endless Green Power

20.   Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Expands Again

21.   WA State: Causeway Removal at Indian Island Meant Big Jump in Juvenile Salmon

22.   WA State: Researchers Look at Salmon Habitat Above Enloe Dam

23.   Orca Sightings Along the Oregon Coast Are Up

24.   Oregon: Klamath County Trucks in Water as Drought Leaves Residential Wells Dry

25.   What’s In Store for Eastern WA as Water Becomes More Scarce Throughout the West?

26.   Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere Are Highest in History

27.   Sacramento Municipal Utility District Forges Path to Zero-Carbon Goal

28.   Climate Change Could Spell the End for Midwestern Corn, Study Finds

29.   Ketchup at Risk from Climate Change

30.   WA State: Thurston County PUD Decides Against Entering Internet Business After Year-Long Study

31.   Musk’s Megarocket Will Deploy Starlink Satellites Like a Pez Dispenser

32.   Bitcoin Mining Company Announces Plans for 50-Megawatt Data Center in Polson – Powered by Salish-Kootenai & Pend d'Orielle Dam

33.   Americans Have Lost $1 Billion to Crypto Scams Since Last Year, Feds Say

34.   Pacific Power Offering $1,000 Rebates for Installing Electric Vehicle Chargers

35.   Lower Yakima Valley Dirt to Hitch a Ride to Space This Week

36.   Asteroid Samples Brought to Earth Contain Key Molecules for Life

WORD OF THE DAY

Puckish \PUCK-ish\ Adjective – Impish, whimsical

It was an ironic twist; the former hockey player had retired from the game to become a commentator for the Montreal Canadiens. It was there that he became well known for his “puckish” sense of humor.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Texas Power Use to Hit Record as Temperatures Soar (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-power-use-hit-record-high-economic-growth-hot-weather-2022-06-06/

2.      A Summer of Blackouts? Wheezing Power Grid Leaves States at Risk. (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/06/02/blackout-states-summer-heat/

3.      How California’s Drought Could Cost Oregon (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisor)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2022/06/02/california-drought-northwest-power-prices.html

4.      The Power Grid Explained — Plus Demand Response, Virtual Power Plants & More (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/guides-and-how-tos/the-power-grid-explained-plus-demand-response-virtual-power-plants-and-more

5.      Annual Energy Outlook 2022: Alternative Weather Assumptions (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/IIF_weather/

6.      U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Hosts Congressional Dam Tour (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/jun/02/newhouse-hosts-congressional-dam-tour/

7.      Americans Split on Nuclear Energy as Safety Worries Linger – Reuters/Ipsos Poll (Reuters)

https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2022/06/06/americans-split-on-nuclear/

8.      NuScale After One Month Public: ‘We Like Where We Stand’ (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisor)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/inno/stories/news/2022/06/03/nuscale-june-2022-business-update.html

9.      California: Orange County’s Clean Energy Agency Is in Turmoil (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/newsletter/2022-06-03/timesoc-latest-news-in-orange-county-calif-timesoc

10.   Coal Pile Slide Buries, Kills 2 at Colorado Power Plant (Associated Press)

https://mynorthwest.com/3502616/colorado-coal-pile-slide-buries-2-workers-search-underway/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

11.   Guest Essay: Sen. Mark Schoesler: Efforts to Breach Dams, Limit Natural Gas Will Hurt Energy Consumers (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jun/04/sen-mark-schoesler-efforts-to-breach-dams-limit-na/

12.   Guest Essay: Don’t Fall for TV Ads’ Climate Case for Snake Dams (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-dont-fall-for-tv-ads-climate-case-for-snake-dams/

13.   Audio: Northwest RiverPartners – A Public Power Conversation (Ruralite Magazine)

https://www.ruralite.com/a-public-power-conversation-4/

14.   Commentary: Proposal to Require All-Electric Home Construction Based on Outdated & Inaccurate Information (Washington Policy Center)

http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/proposal-to-require-all-electric-home-construction-based-on-outdated-and-inaccurate-information

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   President Biden to Waive Tariffs for 24 Months on Solar Panels Hit by Probe (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-biden-use-executive-action-spark-stalled-solar-projects-amid-tariff-2022-06-06/

16.   Duke Energy Starts Building 120-MW Solar Plant in Idaho (Zack’s)

https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/1935109/duke-energy-duk-starts-building-120-mw-solar-plant-in-idaho

17.   Hit Hard by High Energy Costs, Hawaii Looks to the Sun (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/hit-hard-by-high-energy-costs-hawaii-looks-to-the-sun/

18.   Oregon: Port of Newport Sends a Message on Offshore Windmills (News Lincoln County, Newport, OR)

https://www.newslincolncounty.com/archives/286378

19.   Giant Deep Ocean Turbine Trial Offers Hope of Endless Green Power (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-05-30/japan-s-deep-ocean-turbine-trial-offers-hope-of-phasing-out-fossil-fuels

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Expands Again (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2022/06/spring-chinook-salmon-fishing-on-columbia-river-expands-again.html

21.   WA State: Causeway Removal at Indian Island Meant Big Jump in Juvenile Salmon (Associated Press)

https://komonews.com/news/local/causeway-removal-meant-big-jump-in-juvenile-salmon

22.   WA State: Researchers Look at Salmon Habitat Above Enloe Dam (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

https://methowvalleynews.com/2022/06/01/researchers-look-at-salmon-habitat-above-enloe-dam/

23.   Orca Sightings Along the Oregon Coast Are Up (Klamath Falls Mail Tribune, OR)

https://www.mailtribune.com/oregon-outdoors/2022/06/05/orca-sightings-along-the-oregon-coast-are-up/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   Oregon: Klamath County Trucks in Water as Drought Leaves Residential Wells Dry (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/06/klamath-county-oregon-drought-residential-wells-water-emergency/

25.   What’s In Store for Eastern WA as Water Becomes More Scarce Throughout the West? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/whats-in-store-for-eastern-wa-as-water-becomes-more-scarce-throughout-the-west/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere Are Highest in History (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/carbon-dioxide-levels-in-the-atmosphere-are-highest-in-history/

27.   Sacramento Municipal Utility District Forges Path to Zero-Carbon Goal (Sacramento Business Journal, Ca – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/inno/stories/news/2022/06/03/smud-2030-zero-carbon-goal.html

28.   Climate Change Could Spell the End for Midwestern Corn, Study Finds (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/climate-change-could-spell-the-end-form-midwestern-corn-study-finds-211743464.html

29.   Ketchup at Risk from Climate Change (The Telegraph, UK)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/06/06/ketchup-risk-climate-change/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

30.   WA State: Thurston County PUD Decides Against Entering Internet Business After Year-Long Study (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article262144827.html

31.   Musk’s Megarocket Will Deploy Starlink Satellites Like a Pez Dispenser (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/spacex-starship-deploy-starlink-satellites-1849023098

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

32.   Bitcoin Mining Company Announces Plans for 50-Megawatt Data Center in Polson – Powered by Salish-Kootenai & Pend d'Orielle Dam (The Missoulian, MT)

https://missoulian.com/news/local/bitcoin-mining-company-announces-plans-for-50-megawatt-data-center-in-polson/article_8da1ad15-ebf1-5cba-9158-35406e649073.html

33.   Americans Have Lost $1 Billion to Crypto Scams Since Last Year, Feds Say (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/crypto-scams-1-billion-ftc-bitcoin-ether-tether-1849014424

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

34.   Pacific Power Offering $1,000 Rebates for Installing Electric Vehicle Chargers (KOHD-TV, Bend, OR)

https://centraloregondaily.com/pacific-power-electric-vehicle-charger-rebates/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

35.   Lower Yakima Valley Dirt to Hitch a Ride to Space This Week (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/06/lower-yakima-valley-dirt-space-experiment/

36.   Asteroid Samples Brought to Earth Contain Key Molecules for Life (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/asteroid-samples-brought-to-earth-contain-key-molecules-1849022970

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Photos from D-Day Give Glimpse into Historic World War II Invasion 78 Years Ago

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/06/06/d-day-photos-1944-normandy-invasion/7502281001/

Iditarod Dog Found Months After Disappearing from Checkpoint

https://www.alaskapublic.org/2022/06/06/iditarod-dog-found-months-after-disappearing-from-checkpoint/

FBI Records on Search for Fabled Civil War Gold Raise More Questions

https://apnews.com/article/civil-war-gold-fbi-pennsylvania-1352e0c3682bc88650a74136dc3c6c74

Can I Talk to a Human? Spain Presents Customer Service Law

https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-trending-news-a79e87eda69c0fcd00b3ce03f85817f9

SONG OF THE DAY

Maurice Jarre – The Longest Day (Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ7hYEJt2UY