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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Record Snowfall in Northern California May Help the State’s
Electric Grid in 2022 (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
When Utilities Spark Wildfires in Washington State, They Can
‘Burn Down Your House & Get Away with It’ (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
WA State: REC Silicon Leaders Waiting to Reopen in Moses
Lake (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/dec/31/rec-silicon-leaders-waiting-reopen-moses-lake/
Lawsuit Seeks to Block Two Geothermal Power Plants in Nevada
(Associated Press)
Washington State to Require Internet Service Disclosure When
Selling House in New Year (C|Net News)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Record Snowfall in Northern California May Help
the State’s Electric Grid in 2022
2.
When Utilities Spark Wildfires in Washington
State, They Can ‘Burn Down Your House & Get Away with It’
3.
Montana: What Is NorthWestern Energy’s Liability
for River & Wildfire Damages?
4.
Chelan PUD to Sell Surplus Hydropower to
Dominant Utility in Eastern Washington
5.
‘Worst That I’ve Seen’: Pacific Gas &
Electric Exec Says ‘Clearly’ Weren’t Enough Crews Positioned for Sierra Storm
6.
California: Electricity & Gas Bills from
Pacific Gas & Electric Are Slated to Jump 9% in Early 2022
7.
Homeowners Face Higher Utility Bills Due to
COVID-19 & Climate Change
8.
Idaho Power Goes to Court to Gain Access to
Properties for Boardman to Hemingway Surveys
9.
X-Energy Swoons at Opportunity to Bring Next-Gen
Nuclear to Tri-Cities
10.
Chart: U.S. Coal Power Generation Rose in 2021,
Bucking a 6-Year Trend
11.
European Union Plans to Label Gas & Nuclear
Energy ‘Green’ Prompt Row
12.
Telecom Monopolies Are Exploiting Crappy U.S.
Broadband Maps to Block Community Broadband Grant Requests
13.
WA State: REC Silicon Leaders Waiting to Reopen
in Moses Lake
14.
Lawsuit Seeks to Block Two Geothermal Power
Plants in Nevada
15.
Meaghan Vibbert, Douglas County PUD Public
Information Officer – Hydrogen & Rehab Projects
16.
Tesla Asks Employees to Fight Policy Proposal
That Would Make California Rooftop Solar More Expensive
17.
Tennessee Valley Authority Fights Proposed Solar
Cooperative in West Tennessee
18.
British Columbians Understand the Urgency to
Improve Energy Efficiency in Their Homes
19.
Tribes Push for a Bigger Role in Managing the Shrinking
Colorado River’s Water
20.
Washington State to Require Internet Service
Disclosure When Selling House in New Year
21.
Internet Access for Nevada Tribes Remains
Struggle Despite New Resources
22.
AT&T, Verizon CEOs Reject U.S. Request for
5G Deployment Delay Over Aviation Concerns
23.
Why Your Company Should Have a Volunteer Program
24.
How Body Farms & Human Composting Can Help
Communities
25.
Latest Winter Storm Knocks Down Power Lines,
Causes Road Closures Across Western Washington
26.
Thousands without Power as Heavy Rain Hits
Western Oregon
27.
Snow, Whiteout Conditions Close I-84 Through
Columbia River Gorge
28.
Pacific Northwest: Urban Flooding Possible as
Rain Returns, Thaw Underway
29. Clark County Commuters, Many Now Telecommuters, Are Paying Less in Oregon Income Tax
WORD OF THE DAY
Ichthyomania \ick-thee-oh-MANE-ee-yah\ An excessive fascination with fish.
Bradford was in heaven. As a rabid ichtyomaniac, working in a fish processing plant let him play with his semi-frozen charges as if they were ventriloquist dummies. “Hi Folks!” He would exclaim – in a high, piping voice – while working the little fish mouths at lunch.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Record Snowfall in Northern California May Help the
State’s Electric Grid in 2022 (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
2.
When Utilities Spark Wildfires in Washington
State, They Can ‘Burn Down Your House & Get Away with It’ (The Chronicle,
Centralia, WA)
3.
Montana: What Is NorthWestern Energy’s Liability
for River & Wildfire Damages? (Montana Free Press)
https://montanafreepress.org/2021/12/13/northwestern-energy-dam-fire-liability/
4.
Chelan PUD to Sell Surplus Hydropower to
Dominant Utility in Eastern Washington (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
https://www.kpq.com/chelan-pud-to-sell-surplus-hydropower-to-dominant-utility-in-eastern-washington/
5.
‘Worst That I’ve Seen’: Pacific Gas &
Electric Exec Says ‘Clearly’ Weren’t Enough Crews Positioned for Sierra Storm (KCRA-TV,
Sacramento, CA)
6.
California: Electricity & Gas Bills from Pacific
Gas & Electric Are Slated to Jump 9% in Early 2022 (San Joes Mercury News,
CA – Paywall Advisory)
7.
Homeowners Face Higher Utility Bills Due to COVID-19
& Climate Change (Realty Biz News)
8.
Idaho Power Goes to Court to Gain Access to Properties
for Boardman to Hemingway Surveys (Baker City Herald, OR)
9.
X-Energy Swoons at Opportunity to Bring Next-Gen
Nuclear to Tri-Cities (Tri-Cities Business News, WA)
https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2021/12/x-energy/
10.
Chart: U.S. Coal Power Generation Rose in 2021,
Bucking a 6-Year Trend (Canary Media)
11.
European Union Plans to Label Gas & Nuclear
Energy ‘Green’ Prompt Row (British Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59850093
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
12.
Telecom Monopolies Are Exploiting Crappy U.S.
Broadband Maps to Block Community Broadband Grant Requests (Techdirt)
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
13.
WA State: REC Silicon Leaders Waiting to Reopen in
Moses Lake (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/dec/31/rec-silicon-leaders-waiting-reopen-moses-lake/
14.
Lawsuit Seeks to Block Two Geothermal Power
Plants in Nevada (Associated Press)
15.
Meaghan Vibbert, Douglas County PUD Public
Information Officer – Hydrogen & Rehab Projects (Wenatchee World, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
16.
Tesla Asks Employees to Fight Policy Proposal
That Would Make California Rooftop Solar More Expensive (CNBC)
17.
Tennessee Valley Authority Fights Proposed Solar
Cooperative in West Tennessee (Associated Press)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
18.
British Columbians Understand the Urgency to
Improve Energy Efficiency in Their Homes (CISION)
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
19.
Tribes Push for a Bigger Role in Managing the Shrinking
Colorado River’s Water (National Public Radio)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
20.
Washington State to Require Internet Service
Disclosure When Selling House in New Year (C|Net News)
21.
Internet Access for Nevada Tribes Remains
Struggle Despite New Resources (Las Vegas Sun, NV)
https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2021/dec/30/improving-internet-access-nevada-tribes-struggle/
22.
AT&T, Verizon CEOs Reject U.S. Request for 5G
Deployment Delay Over Aviation Concerns (Reuters)
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
23.
Why Your Company Should Have a Volunteer Program
(Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
24.
How Body Farms & Human Composting Can Help
Communities (WIRED Magazine)
https://www.wired.com/story/body-farms-human-composting-climate-change/
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY
25.
Latest Winter Storm Knocks Down Power Lines,
Causes Road Closures Across Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)
26.
Thousands without Power as Heavy Rain Hits
Western Oregon (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)
https://katu.com/news/local/thousands-without-power-as-heavy-rain-hits-the-portland-area
27.
Snow, Whiteout Conditions Close I-84 Through Columbia
River Gorge (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
28.
Pacific Northwest: Urban Flooding Possible as
Rain Returns, Thaw Underway (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
29.
Clark County Commuters, Many Now Telecommuters,
Are Paying Less in Oregon Income Tax (Oregonian, Portland, OR)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Disabled Canine Rescued from Dog Meat Trade Donates His Free
Time to Help Others as Therapy Dog
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/disabled-canine-rescued-dog-meat-220705276.html?.tsrc=1013
It Rained Fish Over a Texas Town This Week in a Bizarre
Weather Event
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/01/us/texas-raining-fish-scn-cec/index.html
New Hi-Tech Photo Brings Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch’ up Close
Seattle Kraken Fan Called a Hero After Noticing Canucks Staffer’s
Cancerous Mole During Game
SONG OF THE DAY
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Tell Me Something Good
