Monday, February 28, 2022

The Energy News Digest for February 28, 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

Vulnerable U.S. Electric Grid Facing Threats from Russia & Domestic Terrorists (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/america-electric-grid-60-minutes-2022-02-27/

WA State: Armed Standoff at Priest Rapids Dam Ends with Help of K9 Chewbacca (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/armed-standoff-at-priest-rapids-dam-ends-with-help-of-k9-chewbacca/

U.S. Plans to Auction 3 GW Offshore Oregon, Pinpoints Three Areas (Offshore Wind Biz)

https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/02/25/us-plans-to-auction-3-gw-offshore-oregon/

U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Limits to EPA Efforts on Climate Change (Associated Press)

https://ktar.com/story/4918374/high-court-to-weigh-limits-to-epa-efforts-on-climate-change/

‘Atmospheric River’ Fuels Rains, Snow in Pacific Northwest (Associated Press)

https://ktvz.com/news/2022/02/28/atmospheric-river-fuels-rains-snow-in-pacific-northwest/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Vulnerable U.S. Electric Grid Facing Threats from Russia & Domestic Terrorists

2.      WA State: Armed Standoff at Priest Rapids Dam Ends with Help of K9 Chewbacca

3.      Three Plead Guilty to Terrorism Charges in White Supremacist Plot to Disrupt U.S. Power Grid, Start Race War

4.      Klamath River Basin: Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Set to Begin in Northern California

5.      Idaho’s Public Utilities Report an Uptick in Worker Assaults. This Bill Adds Penalties for It.

6.      Pioneer Survey Finds 60% of Co-ops Plan In-person Member Meetings in 2022

7.      News Release: Dams – One Structure, Many Benefits

8.      The Dammed Rivers That Shaped America’s West

9.      Commentary: A Brief History of Rural Broadband

10.   U.S. Plans to Auction 3 GW Offshore Oregon, Pinpoints Three Areas

11.   Company Proposing to Build Idaho’s Largest Solar Farm Near American Falls

12.   California: BLM Denies Permit for Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project

13.   Can a Community Energy Group Help Cut Your Bills?

14.   Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Season Looking Up

15.   Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Harming Industry

16.   Modern Aquaculture Sustains Treaty Rights & Tribal Food Security

17.   U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Limits to EPA Efforts on Climate Change

18.   Water Supply in Columbia River Basin Recovers from Drought Conditions, Still Below Normal for Hydropower Outlook

19.   What New Projections of Sea Level Rise Mean for Puget Sound & the WA Coast

20.   Amid the Gloom of Climate Change There Is Hope, Says UN Report

21.   Department of Commerce’s NTIA Awards $277 Million in Grants to Expand Broadband Infrastructure – Ferry, Jefferson, Kittitas, Okanogan, and Stevens Counties, WA

22.   SpaceX Launches Batch of StarLink Satellites from California

23.   The Digital World’s Real-World Impact on the Environment

24.   Bring Your Dog to Work Policy Boosts Employee Morale at Columbia REA in Walla Walla

25.   ‘Atmospheric River’ Fuels Rains, Snow in Pacific Northwest

26.   Permits Required to Drive Along Waterfall Corridor of Columbia River Highway This Spring

WORD OF THE DAY

Sentient \SEN-shee-unt\ Adjective – 1: responsive to or conscious of sense impressions 2: aware 3: finely sensitive in perception or feeling

Bert was intrigued by his girlfriend’s obsession with cleaning out his refrigerator. “You’ve got some things that have been in here for at least ten years,” her muffled voice exclaimed from the interior of the mossy cold-storage device. “In fact, I think that this carton of cottage cheese has evolved into some sort of sentient being. It just asked me for a date!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Vulnerable U.S. Electric Grid Facing Threats from Russia & Domestic Terrorists (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/america-electric-grid-60-minutes-2022-02-27/

2.      WA State: Armed Standoff at Priest Rapids Dam Ends with Help of K9 Chewbacca (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/armed-standoff-at-priest-rapids-dam-ends-with-help-of-k9-chewbacca/

3.      Three Plead Guilty to Terrorism Charges in White Supremacist Plot to Disrupt U.S. Power Grid, Start Race War (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/25/power-grid-terrorism-race-war/

4.      Klamath River Basin: Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Set to Begin in Northern California (iHeart Radio News)

https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-02-25-largest-dam-removal-in-us-history-set-to-begin-in-northern-california/

5.      Idaho’s Public Utilities Report an Uptick in Worker Assaults. This Bill Adds Penalties for It. (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/idaho-s-public-utilities-report-an-uptick-in-worker-assaults-this-bill-adds-penalties-for/article_f8c03f6b-7325-55bb-b2ef-de2412951b14.html

6.      Pioneer Survey Finds 60% of Co-ops Plan In-person Member Meetings in 2022 (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/2022meetingplans/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

7.      News Release: Dams – One Structure, Many Benefits (Benton REA, Prosser, WA)

https://bentonrea.org/dams-one-structure-many-benefits/

8.      The Dammed Rivers That Shaped America’s West (Governing)

https://www.governing.com/context/the-dammed-rivers-that-shaped-americas-west

9.      Commentary: A Brief History of Rural Broadband (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2022/02/25/a-brief-history-of-rural-broadband/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

10.   U.S. Plans to Auction 3 GW Offshore Oregon, Pinpoints Three Areas (Offshore Wind Biz)

https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/02/25/us-plans-to-auction-3-gw-offshore-oregon/

11.   Company Proposing to Build Idaho’s Largest Solar Farm Near American Falls (East Idaho Business Journal)

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/business_journal/agriculture/company-proposing-to-build-idahos-largest-solar-farm-in-power-county/article_001e8211-19fd-5a87-b244-f9288872977c.html

12.   California: BLM Denies Permit for Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project (Lake County News, Lakeport, CA)

https://www.lakeconews.com/news/71836-blm-denies-permit-for-walker-ridge-wind-energy-project

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

13.   Can a Community Energy Group Help Cut Your Bills? (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60323668

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Season Looking Up (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/feb/25/columbia-river-spring-chinook-salmon-fishing-seaso/

15.   Warming Rivers in U.S. West Killing Fish, Harming Industry (Associated Press)

https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/warming-rivers-in-us-west-killing-fish-harming-industry/

16.   Modern Aquaculture Sustains Treaty Rights & Tribal Food Security (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/modern-aquaculture-sustains-treaty-rights-and-tribal-food-security/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

17.   U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Limits to EPA Efforts on Climate Change (Associated Press)

https://ktar.com/story/4918374/high-court-to-weigh-limits-to-epa-efforts-on-climate-change/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

18.   Water Supply in Columbia River Basin Recovers from Drought Conditions, Still Below Normal for Hydropower Outlook (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/33996-water-supply-in-columbia-river-basin-recovers-from-drought-conditions-still-below-normal-for-hydropower-outlook/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

19.   What New Projections of Sea Level Rise Mean for Puget Sound & the WA Coast (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/what-new-projections-of-sea-level-rise-mean-for-puget-sound-and-the-wa-coast/

20.   Amid the Gloom of Climate Change There Is Hope, Says UN Report (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2022/0228/Amid-the-gloom-of-climate-change-there-is-hope-says-UN-report?icid=rss

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

21.   Department of Commerce’s NTIA Awards $277 Million in Grants to Expand Broadband Infrastructure – Ferry, Jefferson, Kittitas, Okanogan, and Stevens Counties, WA (U.S. Dept. of Commerce)

https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2022/02/department-commerces-ntia-awards-277m-grants-expand-broadband

22.   SpaceX Launches Batch of StarLink Satellites from California (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/spacex-launches-batch-of-starlink-satellites-from-california/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

23.   The Digital World’s Real-World Impact on the Environment (High Country News)

https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.3/infographic-technology-the-digital-worlds-real-world-impact-on-the-environment

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

24.   Bring Your Dog to Work Policy Boosts Employee Morale at Columbia REA in Walla Walla (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/lifestyles/bring-your-dog-to-work-policy-boosts-employee-morale-at-columbia-rea-in-walla-walla/article_a5de8fe0-8556-11ec-9912-0fa76c62d0b1.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

25.   ‘Atmospheric River’ Fuels Rains, Snow in Pacific Northwest (Associated Press)

https://ktvz.com/news/2022/02/28/atmospheric-river-fuels-rains-snow-in-pacific-northwest/

26.   Permits Required to Drive Along Waterfall Corridor of Columbia River Highway This Spring (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/02/28/historic-columbia-river-highway-permit-waterfall-corridor/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Avocado Supply Faces ‘Big Concern’ as Inflation, Scarcity Send Prices on a Tear

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/avocado-market-faces-big-concern-as-inflation-scarcity-send-prices-on-a-tear-195347946.html

Woman Finds Decades-Old Love Letters Hidden in Virginia Home

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/25/Henrico-County-Virginia-secret-room-love-letters/2551645823393/

Canadian Teen Solves 211 Rubik’s Cubes While on a Pogo Stick

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/25/canada-Guinness-World-Records-pogo-stick-Rubiks-cube/4851645811953/

Rare Pokemon Card Featuring Pikachu Sells for Record $900,000

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/02/24/Pokemon-card-auction-Goldin-new-record-Pikachu/7421645734518/

SONG OF THE DAY

Bonnie Raitt - Love Letter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_cFTcqdtI8