Wednesday, January 12, 2022

The Energy News Digest for January 12, 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

Record Number of Orca, Humpback Whales Spotted in Salish Sea (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/record-whale-sightings-2021-1.6311282?cmp=rss

Round 12 – U.S., Canada Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Conclusion (STL News)

https://www.stl.news/columbia-river-treaty-negotiations-conclusion/488560/

Hackers Can Cut the Lights with Rogue Code, Researchers Show (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-11/researchers-show-how-hackers-can-cut-the-lights-with-rogue-code

Criminal Charges Filed in Puyallup River Pollution Case. Dam Operator Faces Jail Time, Fines (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article257199732.html

Plant Owner Says Construction Ban Could Sink Nevada Geothermal Project (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/plant-owner-says-construction-ban-could-sink-nevada-geothermal-project-2022-01-11/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Round 12 – U.S., Canada Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Conclusion

2.      Bill Would Build Power Plant on Montana’s Gibson Reservoir

3.      NW Public Power Association Executive Director Testifies About Hydropower Before U.S. Senate Panel

4.      Hydropower Draws Bipartisan Support as Renewable Energy Source

5.      Chart: U.S. Utilities Are Spending Less on Making Electricity & More on Getting It to Customers

6.      Idaho Confronts Climate Change with Money to Protect Forests

7.      Save the Nukes?

8.      Virginia Advocates Seek Legislation to Push Rural Electric Co-Ops on Transparency

9.      Smart Meters Were Supposed to Free Your Energy Data. Arcadia Wants to Finish the Job

10.   Germany Faces ‘Gigantic’ Task Meeting Energy, Climate Goals

11.   Power Pole’s Incredible Downriver Journey a Sobering Reminder of British Columbia’s Devastating Floods

12.   Editorial: Clamp Down on Fire Risks from Power Lines

13.   Guest Essay: Competitive Advantage in Carbon-Free, Renewable Hydropower – Kirk Hudson, Chelan County PUD General Manager

14.   Guest Essay: Arizona Needs a Truly Regional Power Market to Keep the Lights On - And Affordable

15.   Guest Essay: Unused & Useless - States Must Act to End Flawed Natural Gas Power Plant Buildouts

16.   Plant Owner Says Construction Ban Could Sink Nevada Geothermal Project

17.   Nation’s Largest Wind Energy Project Nears Completion in Western Oklahoma

18.   Gov. Newsom: ‘More Work to Be Done’ on California Net Metering Solar Energy Proposal

19.   Idaho Falls Power Conducting Clean Energy Survey

20.   Bronx Apartment Fire Disaster Shows Why Energy Efficiency Isn’t Just a Climate Issue

21.   WA State: Window & Insulation Rebates Doubled in Clark County

22.   Record Number of Orca, Humpback Whales Spotted in Salish Sea

23.   Criminal Charges Filed in Puyallup River Pollution Case. Dam Operator Faces Jail Time, Fines

24.   Scientists See Silver Lining in Fed’s Latest Efforts to Avoid ‘Dead Pool’ at Lake Powell

25.   Does the Massive Cascade Snowpack Mean We Don’t Have to Worry About Global Warming?

26.   U.S. Had Its Second-Highest Total of Billion-Dollar Climate Disasters in 2021

27.   Hottest Ocean Temperatures in History Recorded Last Year

28.   The City of Cheney & Avista Announce Electric Utility Retail Broadband Pilot

29.   Hackers Can Cut the Lights with Rogue Code, Researchers Show

30.   Five U.S. Senators (Including Cantwell, D-WA) Talk Broadband, STEM, and Women in Tech at CES

31.   ‘Something’s Not Right in Southern Oregon’: Alarm at Rise of Illegal Marijuana Farms

32.   WA State: Chelan PUD Considers Rate Increase for DC Fast-Charging Stations

33.   ‘Emergency Service Is Definitely Going to Be an Issue’ with Early Electric Vehicles

34.   Yakutat Declares Disaster as Hazardous Winter Weather Hits Southeast Alaska

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Loo \loo\ Noun – Bathroom.

Gardex l’eau she cried.

“Too late” groused the soused old man.

Chamber pot emptied

From Oxford Living Dictionary and Kottkey: When people flung their potty waste out of the window, they would shout “Gardez l’eau” [gar-day low]. That’s French for “watch out for the water”. We probably get the word “loo” from this expression. Some people think it comes from “Room 100” which is what European people used to call the bathroom. A third theory refers to the trade name ‘Waterloo’, which appeared prominently displayed on the iron cisterns in many British outhouses during the early 20th century.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Round 12 – U.S., Canada Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Conclusion (STL News)

https://www.stl.news/columbia-river-treaty-negotiations-conclusion/488560/

2.      Bill Would Build Power Plant on Montana’s Gibson Reservoir (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/bill-would-build-power-plant-on-montanas-gibson-reservoir/article_e9697ac3-56d2-54ce-b01a-7b6449435a0f.html

3.      NW Public Power Association Executive Director Testifies About Hydropower Before U.S. Senate Panel (Northwest Public Power Association)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2022/01/nw-public-power-association-executive.html

4.      Hydropower Draws Bipartisan Support as Renewable Energy Source (Bloomberg News)

https://about.bgov.com/news/hydropower-draws-bipartisan-support-as-renewable-energy-source/

5.      Chart: U.S. Utilities Are Spending Less on Making Electricity & More on Getting It to Customers (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/utilities/chart-us-utilities-are-spending-less-on-making-electricity-and-more-on-getting-it-to-customers

6.      Idaho Confronts Climate Change with Money to Protect Forests (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-forests-6a0cc69087a3ba705d07ac9699acc212

7.      Save the Nukes? (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/climate-energy/nuclear-rally-environmentalists-try-to-save-diablo-canyon-power-plant/

8.      Virginia Advocates Seek Legislation to Push Rural Electric Co-Ops on Transparency (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2022/01/11/virginia-advocates-seek-legislation-to-push-rural-electric-co-ops-on-transparency/

9.      Smart Meters Were Supposed to Free Your Energy Data. Arcadia Wants to Finish the Job (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/grid-edge/smart-meters-were-supposed-to-free-your-energy-data-arcadia-wants-to-finish-the-job

10.   Germany Faces ‘Gigantic’ Task Meeting Energy, Climate Goals (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2022-01-11/germany-faces-gigantic-task-meeting-energy-climate-goals

11.   Power Pole’s Incredible Downriver Journey a Sobering Reminder of British Columbia’s Devastating Floods (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/power-pole-s-incredible-journey-a-sobering-reminder-of-b-c-s-devastating-floods-1.6311084

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Editorial: Clamp Down on Fire Risks from Power Lines (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/clamp-down-on-fire-risks-from-power-lines/

13.   Guest Essay: Competitive Advantage in Carbon-Free, Renewable Hydropower – Kirk Hudson, Chelan County PUD General Manager (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/wvbusiness/kirk-hudson-chelan-county-pud-general-manager-competitive-advantage-in-carbon-free-renewable-hydropower/article_31ee3792-614e-11ec-9796-439e715bdd9a.html

14.   Guest Essay: Arizona Needs a Truly Regional Power Market to Keep the Lights On - And Affordable (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2022/01/12/arizona-needs-truly-regional-electricity-power-market/9160437002/

15.   Guest Essay: Unused & Useless - States Must Act to End Flawed Natural Gas Power Plant Buildouts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/unused-and-useless-states-must-act-to-end-flawed-natural-gas-power-plant-b/616899/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16.   Plant Owner Says Construction Ban Could Sink Nevada Geothermal Project (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/plant-owner-says-construction-ban-could-sink-nevada-geothermal-project-2022-01-11/

17.   Nation’s Largest Wind Energy Project Nears Completion in Western Oklahoma (KGOU Radio, Norman, OK)

https://www.kgou.org/energy/2022-01-12/nations-largest-wind-energy-project-nears-completion-in-western-oklahoma

18.   Gov. Newsom: ‘More Work to Be Done’ on California Net Metering Solar Energy Proposal (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2022-01-11/newsom-more-work-to-be-done-on-california-net-metering-solar-proposal

19.   Idaho Falls Power Conducting Clean Energy Survey (Idaho Falls Magazine, ID)

https://www.idahofallsmagazine.com/2022/01/idaho-falls-power-conducting-clean

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

20.   Bronx Apartment Fire Disaster Shows Why Energy Efficiency Isn’t Just a Climate Issue (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/bronx-apartment-fire-disaster-shows-why-energy-efficien-1848332122

21.   WA State: Window & Insulation Rebates Doubled in Clark County (The Battleground Reflector, WA)

https://www.thereflector.com/stories/window-and-insulation-rebates-doubled-in-clark-county,282319

FISH & WILDLIFE

22.   Record Number of Orca, Humpback Whales Spotted in Salish Sea (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/record-whale-sightings-2021-1.6311282?cmp=rss

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

23.   Criminal Charges Filed in Puyallup River Pollution Case. Dam Operator Faces Jail Time, Fines (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article257199732.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   Scientists See Silver Lining in Fed’s Latest Efforts to Avoid ‘Dead Pool’ at Lake Powell (St. George Spectrum & Daily News, UT)

https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2022/01/07/drought-causes-feds-reduce-releases-through-glen-canyon-dam-which-may-fit-more-natural-colorado-rive/9132210002/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Does the Massive Cascade Snowpack Mean We Don’t Have to Worry About Global Warming? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/01/does-massive-cascade-snowpack-mean-we.html

26.   U.S. Had Its Second-Highest Total of Billion-Dollar Climate Disasters in 2021 (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/us-billion-dollar-disasters-fourth-warmest-year-506dc2bb-64c8-419c-a5a3-81273eef269b.html

27.   Hottest Ocean Temperatures in History Recorded Last Year (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/11/oceans-hottest-temperatures-research-climate-crisis

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   The City of Cheney & Avista Announce Electric Utility Retail Broadband Pilot (Market Screener)

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/AVISTA-CORPORATION-11716/news/Avista-The-City-of-Cheney-and-Avista-Edge-Inc-announce-electric-utility-retail-broadband-pilot-N-37510862/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

29.   Hackers Can Cut the Lights with Rogue Code, Researchers Show (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-11/researchers-show-how-hackers-can-cut-the-lights-with-rogue-code

30.   Five U.S. Senators (Including Cantwell, D-WA) Talk Broadband, STEM, and Women in Tech at CES (Dealer Scope)

https://dealerscope.com/2022/01/five-women-senators-talk-broadband-stem-tech-policy-ces-2022/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

31.   ‘Something’s Not Right in Southern Oregon’: Alarm at Rise of Illegal Marijuana Farms (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/something-not-southern-oregon-alarm-110045802.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

32.   WA State: Chelan PUD Considers Rate Increase for DC Fast-Charging Stations (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/business/chelan-pud-considers-rate-increase-for-dc-fast-charging-stations/article_ce40dc4e-7283-11ec-82b3-bb33d0686520.html

33.   ‘Emergency Service Is Definitely Going to Be an Issue’ with Early Electric Vehicles (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3306715/electric-vehicle-emergency-stranded-gilbert/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

34.   Yakutat Declares Disaster as Hazardous Winter Weather Hits Southeast Alaska (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/yakutat-declares-disaster-hazardous-winter-144700356.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

United Kingdom: Ancient Roman Statues Discovered During HS2 High-Speed Railway Dig

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2295326-ancient-roman-statues-discovered-during-hs2-high-speed-railway-dig/

British Utility Apologizes After Telling Customers to Cuddle Pets to Keep Warm (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/international/589208-british-utility-apologizes-after-telling-customers-to-cuddle-pets-to

U.S. Man Recovering After ‘Breakthrough’ Pig-Heart Transplant

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-man-recovering-after-breakthrough-pig-heart-transplant-2022-01-10/

Judge Pokes Holes in Swiss Cheesemakers’ Legal Arguments

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/swiss-cheese-gruyere-cheese-legal-squabble_l_61dcb023e4b061afe3b69b50

SONG OF THE DAY

Ella Fitzgerald - I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckAXZwZ7LYE