The Energy News Digest for October 31, 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. I try to choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, although individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help in accessing some paywall sites.

Please note that media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State Ends All COVID-19 State of Emergency Orders on Halloween (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3690549/washington-ends-all-covid-19-state-of-emergency-orders-on-halloween/

‘It’s Got Nasty’: The Battle to Build the U.S.’s Biggest Solar Power Farm (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/got-nasty-battle-build-us-063519084.html

Oregon PUC Approves 25% Rate Hike for Cascade Natural Gas Residential Customers Due to Soaring Gas Prices (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/central-oregon/2022/10/27/oregon-puc-approves-25-rate-hike-for-cascade-natural-gas-residential-customers-due-to-soaring-gas-prices/

WA State: Quinault Indian Nation to Close ‘Digital Gap’ with New Cable Landing Station (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/quinault-indian-nation-to-close-digital-gap-with-new-cable-landing-station/

California Set a Record for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in 2020, But It Means Nothing (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-10-30/californias-greenhouse-gas-emissions-drop-9-in-2020

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Oregon PUC Approves 25% Rate Hike for Cascade Natural Gas Residential Customers Due to Soaring Gas Prices

2.      NW Natural Customers Will See Rate Increase

3.      Energy Rates to Rise for Some Montana Residents

4.      Utah on the List for a Possible Nuclear Power Plant

5.      Wyoming: Power Deregulation Bill Falters Over Worries About Risk

6.      In 2021 U.S. Natural Gas-Fired Power Generation Declined for the First Time in Four Years

7.      Analysis-Hydro Giant Canada Faces Provincial Divides in Electrification Drive

8.      Europe’s Energy Crisis Raises Firewood Prices, Theft Fears

9.      Our Ailing Power Grid Isn’t Cut Out for Climate Change

10.   California: Man’s Body Found Inside Electrical Vault at Abandoned Carousel Mall in San Bernardino

11.   Commentary: Why Is Hydroelectricity So Green, & Yet Unfashionable? The oldest renewable source of energy deserves a better fate

12.   Guest Essay: Climate Action Is in Our Hands with Tech That Encourages Small Steps

13.   Guest Essay: Can Trains Save Salmon?

14.   Opinion: What Would We Do Without High-Speed Internet? Rural America Knows the Struggle

15.   ‘It’s Got Nasty’: The Battle to Build the U.S.’s Biggest Solar Power Farm

16.   In Nevada, A Tribe & a Toad Halt a Renewable Power Plant

17.   Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Task Force Proposes Community Solar Project

18.   Community Solar: Get Solar Power for Your Home Without Rooftop Panels

19.   Consumers, Not Corporations, Saved the Power Grid. What Else Can We Do?

20.   WA State: Group Raises Concerns on Hatchery Production after Grants Approved for Cowlitz Restoration

21.   New U.S. Plan Could Lead to Federal Action on Colorado River

22.   Drought Snarls Mississippi River Transit in Blow to Farmers

23.   For Drought-Plagued California, Diverting Columbia River Water Is a Pipe Dream -- For Now

24.   Battle of the Alps? Water Woes Loom amid Climate Change

25.   California Set a Record for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in 2020, But It Means Nothing

26.   Has This Iconic Pacific Northwest Tree Reached a Tipping Point?

27.   An Influential Energy Group Sees Reason for Climate Optimism

28.   The Next Hot Job of the Climate Crisis: Fake-Snow Whisperer

29.   WA State: Quinault Indian Nation to Close ‘Digital Gap’ with New Cable Landing Station

30.   Lewis County, ToledoTel Officially Launch Broadband Expansion Project in Winlock

31.   CenturyLink Ordered to Fix Poor Service in Rural Montana

32.   USDA Dishes Out $759 Million to Boost Rural Broadband in 24 States

33.   WA State: Grand Opening Set for Microsoft Data Center Near Pangborn

34.   Something Surprising Can Cause Electric Vehicles to Catch on Fire. Here’s What Experts Want You to Know

35.   Musk Sets Nov. 7 Deadline to Revamp Twitter Verification or Engineers Get Fired, Report Says

36.   NASA Caught the Sun Smiling Down on Us, But the Grin Could Signal a Solar Storm

37.   It’s Alive! High-Voltage Lab Sparks Halloween Frankenstein Fantasies

38.   Swarming Honeybees Can Produce as Much Electricity as a Thunderstorm, New Study Says

39.   Washington State Ends All COVID-19 State of Emergency Orders on Halloween

40.   2022 Fire Season Burns Fewer Acres Than Recent Years, Washington Fire Officials Say

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Lycanthropy /lie-KANN-thruh-pee/ Noun – 1: a delusion that one has become a wolf 2: the assumption of the form & characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic.

Dental dilemma

Bob’s canines grow at full moon

Lycanthropy, Yes!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Oregon PUC Approves 25% Rate Hike for Cascade Natural Gas Residential Customers Due to Soaring Gas Prices (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/central-oregon/2022/10/27/oregon-puc-approves-25-rate-hike-for-cascade-natural-gas-residential-customers-due-to-soaring-gas-prices/

2.      NW Natural Customers Will See Rate Increase (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/oregon-utility-commission-approves-increase-rates-nw-natural/283-c3e6d850-deef-460b-96a7-0a7de9c6c382

3.      Energy Rates to Rise for Some Montana Residents (NBC Montana)

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/energy-rates-to-rise-for-some-montana-residents

4.      Utah on the List for a Possible Nuclear Power Plant (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/renewable-energy/2022/10/27/is-nuclear-power-step-closer/

5.      Wyoming: Power Deregulation Bill Falters Over Worries About Risk (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/power-deregulation-bill-falters-over-worries-about-risk/article_52b5af60-5710-11ed-8af7-b30a63247768.html

6.      In 2021 U.S. Natural Gas-Fired Power Generation Declined for the First Time in Four Years (U.S. Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=54459

7.      Analysis-Hydro Giant Canada Faces Provincial Divides in Electrification Drive (International Business Times, Canada)

https://www.ibtimes.com/analysis-hydro-giant-canada-faces-provincial-divides-electrification-drive-3628906

8.      Europe’s Energy Crisis Raises Firewood Prices, Theft Fears (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-germany-weather-923a058f06c8a679f982824b5a337108

9.      Our Ailing Power Grid Isn’t Cut Out for Climate Change (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/our-ailing-power-grid-isnt-cut-out-for-climate-change/?ftag=CAD1acfa04

10.   California: Man’s Body Found Inside Electrical Vault at Abandoned Carousel Mall in San Bernardino (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/mans-body-found-inside-electrical-vault-at-abandoned-carousel-mall-in-san-bernardino/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

11.   Commentary: Why Is Hydroelectricity So Green, & Yet Unfashionable? The oldest renewable source of energy deserves a better fate (IEEE Spectrum)

https://spectrum.ieee.org/hydroelectric-power

12.   Guest Essay: Climate Action Is in Our Hands with Tech That Encourages Small Steps (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/climate-action-is-in-our-hands-with-tech-that-encourages-small-steps/

13.   Guest Essay: Can Trains Save Salmon? (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/oct/29/bill-moyer-can-trains-save-salmon/

14.   Opinion: What Would We Do Without High-Speed Internet? Rural America Knows the Struggle (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2022/10/28/23426535/opinion-rural-america-high-speed-internet-access

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   ‘It’s Got Nasty’: The Battle to Build the U.S.’s Biggest Solar Power Farm (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/got-nasty-battle-build-us-063519084.html

16.   In Nevada, A Tribe & a Toad Halt a Renewable Power Plant (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/10/31/nevada-toad-geothermal-paiute/

17.   Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Task Force Proposes Community Solar Project (Fairbanks News-Miner, AK)

https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-task-force-proposes-community-solar-project/article_a3dc63c4-5702-11ed-82be-ef7164562b4f.html

18.   Community Solar: Get Solar Power for Your Home Without Rooftop Panels (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/community-solar-get-solar-power-for-your-home-without-rooftop-panels/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Consumers, Not Corporations, Saved the Power Grid. What Else Can We Do? (Vox)

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/23340991/power-demand-response-blackout-consumer-climate-change-california-texas-cop27

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   WA State: Group Raises Concerns on Hatchery Production after Grants Approved for Cowlitz Restoration (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/group-raises-concerns-on-hatchery-production-after-grants-approved-for-cowlitz-restoration,302612

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   New U.S. Plan Could Lead to Federal Action on Colorado River (Associated Press)

https://news.yahoo.com/us-plan-could-lead-federal-180033730.html

22.   Drought Snarls Mississippi River Transit in Blow to Farmers (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-business-droughts-mississippi-river-22db8e44d7f1f96b7e0ed32c9c77f621

23.   For Drought-Plagued California, Diverting Columbia River Water Is a Pipe Dream -- For Now (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/for-drought-plagued-california-diverting-columbia-river-water-is-a-pipe-dream---/article_8396f9b2-5905-11ed-8530-a7b3550a4323.html

24.   Battle of the Alps? Water Woes Loom amid Climate Change (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-business-france-switzerland-19067a12f1ba6e5c5c965be0cf15f5ff

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   California Set a Record for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in 2020, But It Means Nothing (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-10-30/californias-greenhouse-gas-emissions-drop-9-in-2020

26.   Has This Iconic Pacific Northwest Tree Reached a Tipping Point? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/has-this-iconic-northwest-tree-reached-a-tipping-point/

27.   An Influential Energy Group Sees Reason for Climate Optimism (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/27/1132003727/an-influential-energy-group-sees-reason-for-climate-optimism

28.   The Next Hot Job of the Climate Crisis: Fake-Snow Whisperer (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-29/fake-snow-is-saving-the-us-ski-season

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   WA State: Quinault Indian Nation to Close ‘Digital Gap’ with New Cable Landing Station (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/quinault-indian-nation-to-close-digital-gap-with-new-cable-landing-station/

30.   Lewis County, ToledoTel Officially Launch Broadband Expansion Project in Winlock (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/lewis-county-toledotel-officially-launch-broadband-expansion-project-in-winlock,302539

31.   CenturyLink Ordered to Fix Poor Service in Rural Montana (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/centurylink-ordered-to-fix-poor-service-in-rural-montana/article_b28c4466-5590-11ed-870a-0f41840aafd3.html

32.   USDA Dishes Out $759 Million to Boost Rural Broadband in 24 States (Fierce Telecom)

https://www.fiercetelecom.com/broadband/usda-dishes-out-759-million-boost-rural-broadband-24-states

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

33.   WA State: Grand Opening Set for Microsoft Data Center Near Pangborn (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/grand-opening-set-for-microsoft-data-center-near-pangborn/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

34.   Something Surprising Can Cause Electric Vehicles to Catch on Fire. Here’s What Experts Want You to Know (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/10/26/electric-vehicle-fires-florida-flooding-what-happened/10553207002/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

35.   Musk Sets Nov. 7 Deadline to Revamp Twitter Verification or Engineers Get Fired, Report Says (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/twitter-blue-verification-monthly-cost-report/507-0d862960-3742-49d1-9616-4d4cd95162b8

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

36.   NASA Caught the Sun Smiling Down on Us, But the Grin Could Signal a Solar Storm (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/29/nasa-smiling-sun-image-could-signal-solar-storm/

37.   It’s Alive! High-Voltage Lab Sparks Halloween Frankenstein Fantasies (Bonneville Power Administration

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/2022/20221027-its-alive-high-voltage-lab-sparks-halloween-frankenstein-fantasies

38.   Swarming Honeybees Can Produce as Much Electricity as a Thunderstorm, New Study Says (Cable News Network)

https://www.kcra.com/article/swarming-honeybees-can-produce-as-much-electricity-as-a-thunderstorm-new-study-says/41779773

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

39.   Washington State Ends All COVID-19 State of Emergency Orders on Halloween (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3690549/washington-ends-all-covid-19-state-of-emergency-orders-on-halloween/

40.   2022 Fire Season Burns Fewer Acres Than Recent Years, Washington Fire Officials Say (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news-brief-newsletter/2022-fire-season-burns-fewer-acres-than-recent-years-dnr-washington-fire-officials-nakia-creek-public-lands-fighters-department-natural-resources

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

A Woman Was Caught Whacking a Golf Ball into the Grand Canyon – The Feds Aren’t Happy

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-caught-whacking-golf-balls-230905926.html

Toulouse-Lautrec Work Hit with Fake Blood at Berlin Museum

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/toulouse-lautrec-work-hit-fake-blood-berlin-museum-92417646

Lost Rubens Painting, Rediscovered after Two Centuries, Could Sell for $35 Million

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lost-rubens-painting-found-after-hundreds-of-years-could-get-35-million-in-auction-180981036/

Explorer’s Camera From the 1930s Found on Glacier in Yukon Territory

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/explorers-camera-1930s-found-glacier-yukon-territory/story?id=92074734

SONG OF THE DAY

Dave Loggins – ‘Augusta’ – The Masters Theme Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlpwHBn6ikg

The Energy News Digest for October 26, 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. I try to choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, although individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help in accessing some paywall sites.

Please note that media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Storm Train to Slam Pacific Northwest with Heavy Rain, Mountain Snow into November (Accuweather)

https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/storm-train-to-slam-northwest-with-heavy-rain-mountain-snow-into-november/1267576

The World’s Biggest Source of Clean Energy Is Evaporating Fast (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/now/worlds-biggest-source-clean-energy-000111658.html

U.S. Aid Program to Keep People Online Was Riddled with Deception, Fraud (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/10/25/broadband-subsidies-coronavirus-aid/

Why Are Pacific Northwest States Vying for Green Hydrogen Dominance? (Hydrogen Fuel News)

https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/northwestern-state-green-hydrogen/8554381/

United Nations Weather Agency: Greenhouse Gases Reach New Record in 2021 (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/un-weather-agency-greenhouse-gases-reach-new-record-in-2021/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      The World’s Biggest Source of Clean Energy Is Evaporating Fast

2.      Regulators Propose $155 Million Fine for Pacific Gas & Electric for Role in Deadly 2020 Wildfire

3.      NorthWestern Pitches Montana Utility Regulators on ‘Reliability Rider’ to Pay for Gas-Fired Power Plants

4.      Dam Turbine Leaks Hundreds of Gallons of Oil into Snake River in Eastern WA

5.      Idaho Nuclear Lab Gets $150 Million to Upgrade Infrastructure

6.      Secretly Recorded Phone Call Raises Troubling Allegations in Electrocution Death of British Columbia Woman

7.      Alaska: Ketchikan City Council OKs Plan to Link Power Grid with Metlakatla’s

8.      Public Power Conversations: Pacific Northwest Hydropower – Tacoma Power & Douglas PUD

9.      Southwest Power Pool Names New Board Members, Chair

10.   Guest Essay:  Joy Ditto – America’s Electric Utilities Facing Transformer Shortage Crisis

11.   Electrification Will Define the Energy Transition & Not the Current Crisis

12.   The Energy System Is ‘Inherently Racist,’ Advocates Say. How Are Utilities Responding to Calls for Greater Equity?

13.   Why Are Pacific Northwest States Vying for Green Hydrogen Dominance?

14.   Portland General Electric Procures 311 Megawatts from New Clearwater Wind Project in Montana

15.   Cool Tomatoes? Agrivoltaics Could Help California Crop, If the Economics Pan Out

16.   You Don’t Need Solar Panels for Solar Power. Community Solar Sites Can Power Your WA Home

17.   Oregon: Deschutes County Launches Commercial Property Clean Energy Finance Program

18.   Seattle’s Forterra Fires Executive After Tribe, Investors, Ex-Staff Speak Out

19.   Recycling Plastic Is Practically Impossible – And the Problem Is Getting Worse

20.   United Nations Weather Agency: Greenhouse Gases Reach New Record in 2021

21.   Oregon: Portland’s Climate Justice Program Could See New Beginning

22.   U.S. Aid Program to Keep People Online Was Riddled with Deception, Fraud

23.   Vice President Kamala Harris, in Seattle, Touts Electric School Buses, Infrastructure Bill

24.   Renters Face Charging Dilemma as U.S. Cities Move Toward Electric Vehicles

25.   Five Charts That Shed New Light on How People Charge Electric Vehicles at Home

26.   Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rollout Hampered by Outdated State, City Regulations: Report

27.   Republican National Committee Sues Google Over Spam Filter, Complains Gmail Is ‘Modern Western Union’

28.   Arkansas Co-ops Debut Virtual Broadcast Studio as ‘Next Step in Communications’

29.   Storm Train to Slam Pacific Northwest with Heavy Rain, Mountain Snow into November

30.   Here’s a Timeline of the Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds Coming to Western Washington

31.   The Number of Americans without a Bank Account Drops to Lowest Level in More Than a Decade

WORD OF THE DAY

Salad Days \SAL-ud-DAYZ\ Noun – A time of youthful inexperience or indiscretion; also: an early flourishing period: heyday.

“The sad thing is,” shouted the aging circus animal keeper to his companion, “that these are our salad days.” “Why don’t you leave to find a better job then?” the younger man called back, flipping another shovel of elephant dung into the nearby wheelbarrow. “What,” said the grizzled veteran, “and give up show business?” (Sorry, I know this joke is as ancient as fossilized dinosaur dung, but I couldn’t resist)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      The World’s Biggest Source of Clean Energy Is Evaporating Fast (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/now/worlds-biggest-source-clean-energy-000111658.html

2.      Regulators Propose $155 Million Fine for Pacific Gas & Electric for Role in Deadly 2020 Wildfire (Marketwatch)

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/regulators-propose-155-million-fine-for-pg-e-for-role-in-deadly-2020-wildfire-01666742977

3.      NorthWestern Pitches Montana Utility Regulators on ‘Reliability Rider’ to Pay for Gas-Fired Power Plants (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2022/10/25/northwestern-seeks-new-cost-recovery-tool/

4.      Dam Turbine Leaks Hundreds of Gallons of Oil into Snake River in Eastern WA (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article267863602.html

5.      Idaho Nuclear Lab Gets $150 Million to Upgrade Infrastructure (Associated Press)

https://ktvz.com/news/ap-idaho/2022/10/25/idaho-nuclear-lab-gets-150m-to-upgrade-infrastructure/

6.      Secretly Recorded Phone Call Raises Troubling Allegations in Electrocution Death of British Columbia Woman (CTV News, Canada)

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/secretly-recorded-phone-call-raises-troubling-allegations-in-electrocution-death-of-b-c-woman-1.6124912

7.      Alaska: Ketchikan City Council OKs Plan to Link Power Grid with Metlakatla’s (Alaska Public Radio)

https://alaskapublic.org/2022/10/24/ketchikan-city-council-oks-plan-to-link-power-grid-with-metlakatlas/

8.      Public Power Conversations: Pacific Northwest Hydropower – Tacoma Power & Douglas PUD (American Public Power Association)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nIbX6vSNdQ

9.      Southwest Power Pool Names New Board Members, Chair (Talk Business)

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/southwest-power-pool-names-new-board-members-chair/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

10.   Guest Essay:  Joy Ditto – America’s Electric Utilities Facing Transformer Shortage Crisis (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/3701944-americas-electric-utilities-facing-transformer-shortage-crisis/

11.   Electrification Will Define the Energy Transition & Not the Current Crisis (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sverrealvik/2022/10/21/electrification-will-define-the-energy-transition-and-not-the-current-crisis/

12.   The Energy System Is ‘Inherently Racist,’ Advocates Say. How Are Utilities Responding to Calls for Greater Equity? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-system-inherently-racist-utilities-responding-equity-ej-justice40/634203/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   Why Are Pacific Northwest States Vying for Green Hydrogen Dominance? (Hydrogen Fuel News)

https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/northwestern-state-green-hydrogen/8554381/

14.   Portland General Electric Procures 311 Megawatts from New Clearwater Wind Project in Montana (Electric Energy Online)

https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/wind/141/986615/portland-general-electric-procures-311-megawatts-from-new-clearwater-wind-project-in-montana.html

15.   Cool Tomatoes? Agrivoltaics Could Help California Crop, If the Economics Pan Out (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2022/10/25/cool-tomatoes-agrivoltaics-could-help-california-crop-if-the-economics-pan-out/

16.   You Don’t Need Solar Panels for Solar Power. Community Solar Sites Can Power Your WA Home (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/washington/article267693437.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   Oregon: Deschutes County Launches Commercial Property Clean Energy Finance Program (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/deschutes-county/2022/10/24/deschutes-county-launches-commercial-property-clean-energy-finance-program/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

18.   Seattle’s Forterra Fires Executive After Tribe, Investors, Ex-Staff Speak Out (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattles-forterra-fires-executive-after-tribe-investors-ex-staff-speak-out/

19.   Recycling Plastic Is Practically Impossible – And the Problem Is Getting Worse (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/24/recycling-plastic-practically-impossible-report/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

20.   United Nations Weather Agency: Greenhouse Gases Reach New Record in 2021 (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/un-weather-agency-greenhouse-gases-reach-new-record-in-2021/

21.   Oregon: Portland’s Climate Justice Program Could See New Beginning (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/25/portland-climate-justice-program-overhaul/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

22.   U.S. Aid Program to Keep People Online Was Riddled with Deception, Fraud (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/10/25/broadband-subsidies-coronavirus-aid/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

23.   Vice President Kamala Harris, in Seattle, Touts Electric School Buses, Infrastructure Bill (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/vice-president-kamala-harris-in-seattle-touts-electric-school-buses-infrastructure-bill/

24.   Renters Face Charging Dilemma as U.S. Cities Move Toward Electric Vehicles (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-portland-electric-vehicles-57b2895bcb0478b7f74cf7f81f7bc8a2

25.   Five Charts That Shed New Light on How People Charge Electric Vehicles at Home (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/ev-charging/5-charts-that-shed-new-light-on-how-people-charge-evs-at-home

26.   Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rollout Hampered by Outdated State, City Regulations: Report (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ev-charging-stations-hampered-outdated-state-city-policies-regulations-permits/634990/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

27.   Republican National Committee Sues Google Over Spam Filter, Complains Gmail Is ‘Modern Western Union’ (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/10/republicans-sue-google-to-stop-gmail-from-marking-campaign-messages-as-spam/

28.   Arkansas Co-ops Debut Virtual Broadcast Studio as ‘Next Step in Communications’ (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/arkansas-co-ops-debut-virtual-broadcast-studio-as-next-step-in-communications.aspx

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

29.   Storm Train to Slam Pacific Northwest with Heavy Rain, Mountain Snow into November (Accuweather)

https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/storm-train-to-slam-northwest-with-heavy-rain-mountain-snow-into-november/1267576

30.   Here’s a Timeline of the Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds Coming to Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/timeline-atmospheric-river-heavy-rain-gusty-winds/281-886ccb74-0b5e-4186-a600-e7f71faac5dd

31.   The Number of Americans without a Bank Account Drops to Lowest Level in More Than a Decade (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/10/25/unbanked-record-low-america-fdic/10595677002/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Turkeys Will Cost More Because 6 Million Died During Bird Flu Outbreak

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/10/26/avian-flu-turkey-prices-holidays/

Egypt Calls for Return of Rosetta Stone 200 Years After It Was Deciphered

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/egypt-calls-return-rosetta-stone-200-years-after-it-was-deciphered-2022-10-05/

Your Cat Knows When You’re Using Your ‘Cat Talk’ Voice

https://gizmodo.com/your-cat-knows-when-youre-using-your-cat-talk-voice-1849695518

Rescued Beaver Builds a Doorway Dam in Viral Video

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/10/26/rescued-beaver-builds-dam/6911666813757/

SONG OF THE DAY

Dan Fogelberg - The Language of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvviV7VfPhA