Wednesday, March 16, 2022

The Energy News Digest for March 16, 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

California’s Climate Fight May Send Its Power Demand Soaring 90% (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/california-s-climate-fight-may-send-its-power-demand-soaring-90

Lake Powell Water Levels Could Mean Trouble for Southern Utah’s Electricity (KSL Radio, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://kslnewsradio.com/1965483/lake-powell-water-levels-could-mean-trouble-for-southern-utahs-electricity/

WA State Wants to Capture the Natural Gas Leaking from Landfills (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/03/wa-wants-capture-natural-gas-leaking-landfills

Washington State Bill Would Boost Definition of Broadband to 100 Mbps (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/2022/03/14/washington-state-bill-would-boost-definition-of-broadband-to-100-mbps/

In Timely but Unexpected Vote, U.S. Senate Goes for Permanent Daylight Saving Time (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/15/senate-votes-to-keep-permanent-daylight-saving-time/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      California’s Climate Fight May Send Its Power Demand Soaring 90%

2.      Lake Powell Water Levels Could Mean Trouble for Southern Utah’s Electricity

3.      Oroville Dam Evacuees Can’t Sue as a Class, California Appeals Court Rules

4.      WA State: Tumwater Dam Near Leavenworth to Get Repairs in 2023

5.      UW Expert: ‘Nuclear Is Absolutely Essential’ as Feds Fund Next-Gen Nuclear Revitalization

6.      Arizona to Consider Salt River Project Gas Plant Expansion Application

7.      Bill Adding Extra Penalties for Assault on Utility Workers Advances to Idaho House Floor

8.      Guest Essay: Seattle’s Skagit Dams Harm Salmon & Orcas, But WA Dems Focus Only on the Snake. Why?

9.      Commentary: An Examination of Northwest Energy Coalition February 2022 White Paper on Replacing the Lower Snake River Dams

10.   News Release: U.S. Senator Risch (ID), Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA) Lead PNW Delegation in Demanding Answers from Agencies Exploring LSR Dam Breaching

11.   Editorial: Wind & Solar Proponents’ Arithmetic Problem

12.   Guest Essay: The Dangerous War on Natural Gas

13.   WA State Wants to Capture the Natural Gas Leaking from Landfills

14.   California’s Rooftop Solar Decision Remains on Hold

15.   Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Announces Second Wind Project

16.   Oregon: Coos Bay Well Positioned to Host Offshore Wind Farm

17.   Why Do People Dislike Wind Power? What a DOE Lab Found

18.   Washington State Budgets $1.6 Million for Study and Removal of Toxic Lights

19.   Thinking of Installing an Air Conditioning Unit? A Heat Pump Is Better, Says BC Hydro

20.   Here Are the Top 5 Energy Hogs, And What You Can Do About Them

21.   New Data Could Help Scientists Worldwide Studying Fish Passage Through Dams

22.   Anglers Get Rewarded for Catching Northern Pike

23.   Finding: Finfish Aquaculture Has Little Impact on Salmon

24.   Race to the Bottom: How Big Business Took Over Oregon’s First Protected Aquifer

25.   How Cloud Seeding Can ‘Make It Rain’ in Utah Amid Severe Drought

26.   The Big Sneeze: Climate Change to Make Pollen Season Nastier

27.   Portland Planning Bureau Director Departs with $195,000 Severance amid Climate Change Program Problems

28.   Oregon: Tricky Transportation Issues at Center of Lane County’s Emissions Reduction Plan

29.   Washington State Bill Would Boost Definition of Broadband to 100 Mbps

30.   WA State: Mason PUD 3 – Here Goes the ‘Fiberhood!’

31.   Mohave Electric Cooperative Receives National Accolades for Fiber Project

32.   In Texas, an Influx of Crypto Miners May Mean Higher Electricity Bills for Consumers

33.   Bitcoin Is Red Hot. Can It Ever Be Green?

34.   Washington Legislators Again Mandate 100% Electric New Car Sales By 2030

35.   Saharan Dust Storm Covers Spain, Spreads Out Across Europe

36.   How 5G Could Send Weather Forecasting Back to the 1970s

37.   In Timely but Unexpected Vote, U.S. Senate Goes for Permanent Daylight Saving Time

38.   U.S. Sewer Data Warns of a New Bump in Covid Cases After Lull

WORD OF THE DAY

Ascetic \uh-SET-ik\ Adjective – 1: practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline *2: austere in appearance, manner, or attitude.

Agnes decided that when announcing the increase in her occult-based financial security program that it would be best to take an ascetic approach. Instead of the bangles, bells and gold-embroidered costumes that marked her channeling of “Bogart, the Billion Dollar Spirit Advisor,” she wore a plain, black shroud that looked as if it had fallen off the back of a truck in rural Thurston County.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      California’s Climate Fight May Send Its Power Demand Soaring 90% (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/california-s-climate-fight-may-send-its-power-demand-soaring-90

2.      Lake Powell Water Levels Could Mean Trouble for Southern Utah’s Electricity (KSL Radio, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://kslnewsradio.com/1965483/lake-powell-water-levels-could-mean-trouble-for-southern-utahs-electricity/

3.      Oroville Dam Evacuees Can’t Sue as a Class, California Appeals Court Rules (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/oroville-dam-evacuees-cant-sue-as-a-class-california-appeals-court-rules/

4.      WA State: Tumwater Dam Near Leavenworth to Get Repairs in 2023 (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/tumwater-dam-near-leavenworth-to-get-repairs-in-2023/article_4b4bd166-a3c2-11ec-a60f-1fce95d670c5.html

5.      UW Expert: ‘Nuclear Is Absolutely Essential’ as Feds Fund Next-Gen Nuclear Revitalization (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3393503/uw-expert-scott-montgomery-nuclear-absolutely-essential/

6.      Arizona to Consider Salt River Project Gas Plant Expansion Application (KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.abc15.com/news/state/acc-to-consider-srp-gas-plant-expansion-application

7.      Bill Adding Extra Penalties for Assault on Utility Workers Advances to Idaho House Floor (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2022/03/15/bill-adding-extra-penalties-for-assault-on-utility-workers-advances-to-idaho-house-floor/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

8.      Guest Essay: Seattle’s Skagit Dams Harm Salmon & Orcas, But WA Dems Focus Only on the Snake. Why? (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/article259270484.html

9.      Commentary: An Examination of Northwest Energy Coalition February 2022 White Paper on Replacing the Lower Snake River Dams (Northwest RiverPartners, Vancouver, WA)

https://nwriverpartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-March-NWRP-Critique-of-NWEC-LSRD-White-Paper_Final.pdf

10.   News Release: U.S. Senator Risch (ID), Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA) Lead PNW Delegation in Demanding Answers from Agencies Exploring LSR Dam Breaching (U.S. Senator James Risch, ID)

https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=019016BF-202F-4A70-86E9-A968281088E1

11.   Editorial: Wind & Solar Proponents’ Arithmetic Problem (National Review)

https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/03/wind-and-solar-proponents-arithmetic-problem/

12.   Guest Essay: The Dangerous War on Natural Gas (Washington Examiner)

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/the-dangerous-war-on-natural-gas

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   WA State Wants to Capture the Natural Gas Leaking from Landfills (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/03/wa-wants-capture-natural-gas-leaking-landfills

14.   California’s Rooftop Solar Decision Remains on Hold (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2022-03-15/rooftop-solar-decision-remains-on-hold

15.   Idaho: Magic Valley Energy Announces Second Wind Project (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

https://magicvalley.com/news/local/magic-valley-energy-announces-2nd-wind-project/article_03d81ad4-0aa1-5c1c-8c31-c63fa9b33cf0.html

16.   Oregon: Coos Bay Well Positioned to Host Offshore Wind Farm (The Bandon Western World, OR)

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/study-coos-bay-well-positioned-to-host-offshore-wind-farm/article_de88aefc-9feb-11ec-8677-2f288675e1a2.html

17.   Why Do People Dislike Wind Power? What a DOE Lab Found (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/why-do-people-dislike-wind-power-what-a-doe-lab-found/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

18.   Washington State Budgets $1.6 Million for Study and Removal of Toxic Lights (ProPublica)

https://www.propublica.org/article/washington-state-budgets-1-6-million-for-study-and-removal-of-toxic-lights

19.   Thinking of Installing an Air Conditioning Unit? A Heat Pump Is Better, Says BC Hydro (Alaska Highway News, BC)

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/highlights/thinking-of-installing-an-ac-unit-a-heat-pump-is-better-says-bc-hydro-5147981

20.   Here Are the Top 5 Energy Hogs, And What You Can Do About Them (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/life/here-are-the-top-5-energy-hogs-and-what-you-can-do-about-them/

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   New Data Could Help Scientists Worldwide Studying Fish Passage Through Dams (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/15/data-fish-tracking-salmon-dams/

22.   Anglers Get Rewarded for Catching Northern Pike (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, Oroville, WA)

https://www.gazette-tribune.com/sports/anglers-get-rewarded-for-catching-northern-pike/82466/

23.   Finding: Finfish Aquaculture Has Little Impact on Salmon (Cascadia Daily News)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/news/2022/mar/09/finfish-aquaculture-has-little-impact-on-salmon/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   Race to the Bottom: How Big Business Took Over Oregon’s First Protected Aquifer (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/16/race-to-the-bottom-how-big-business-took-over-oregons-first-protected-aquifer/

25.   How Cloud Seeding Can ‘Make It Rain’ in Utah Amid Severe Drought (KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/how-cloud-seeding-can-make-it-rain-in-utah-amid-severe-drought/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   The Big Sneeze: Climate Change to Make Pollen Season Nastier (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/The-Big-Sneeze-Climate-change-to-make-pollen-17003569.php

27.   Portland Planning Bureau Director Departs with $195,000 Severance amid Climate Change Program Problems (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/03/portland-planning-bureau-director-departs-with-195k-severance-amid-climate-change-program-problems.html

28.   Oregon: Tricky Transportation Issues at Center of Lane County’s Emissions Reduction Plan (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/environment/2022/03/15/oregon-lane-county-goal-reduce-carbon-emissions-plan-transportation/65344193007/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   Washington State Bill Would Boost Definition of Broadband to 100 Mbps (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/2022/03/14/washington-state-bill-would-boost-definition-of-broadband-to-100-mbps/

30.   WA State: Mason PUD 3 – Here Goes the ‘Fiberhood!’ (NoaNet)

https://www.noanet.net/insights/here-goes-the-fiberhood/

31.   Mohave Electric Cooperative Receives National Accolades for Fiber Project (The Bee, Kingman, AZ)

https://www.thebee.news/mohave-electric-cooperative-receives-national-accolades-for-fiber-project/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

32.   In Texas, an Influx of Crypto Miners May Mean Higher Electricity Bills for Consumers (The Street)

https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/news/in-texas-the-influx-of-crypto-miners-may-mean-higher-electricity-bills

33.   Bitcoin Is Red Hot. Can It Ever Be Green? (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/bitcoin-is-red-hot-can-it-ever-be-green/2022/03/16/52510202-a4de-11ec-8628-3da4fa8f8714_story.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

34.   Washington Legislators Again Mandate 100% Electric New Car Sales By 2030 (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-legislators-again-mandate-100-electric-new-car-sales-by-2030/620303/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

35.   Saharan Dust Storm Covers Spain, Spreads Out Across Europe (Associated Press)

https://www.courthousenews.com/saharan-dust-storm-covers-spain-spreads-out-across-europe/

36.   How 5G Could Send Weather Forecasting Back to the 1970s (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/extreme-weather/how-5g-wireless-networks-could-send-weather-forecasting-back-50-years/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

37.   In Timely but Unexpected Vote, U.S. Senate Goes for Permanent Daylight Saving Time (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/15/senate-votes-to-keep-permanent-daylight-saving-time/

38.   U.S. Sewer Data Warns of a New Bump in Covid Cases After Lull (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-14/are-covid-cases-going-back-up-sewer-data-has-potential-warning

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Swarms of Genetically Modified Mosquitos Are About to Be Released in the U.S.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/2-billion-genetically-modified-mosquitos-205200126.html

A costumed Kiss fan in NY blasted music to clear snow from his street. Gene Simmons noticed

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/03/16/kiss-inspired-new-york-drummer-removes-snow-gene-simmons-costume/7060600001/

A Diamond Ring Made from Ranch Dressing Is for Sale on eBay

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/14/1086395558/a-diamond-ring-made-from-ranch-dressing-is-for-sale-on-ebay

Kawasaki’s Rideable Robotic Goat Is the Electric Car for Wandering Cowpokes

https://gizmodo.com/kawasaki-debuts-a-deranged-rideable-goat-robot-1848648443

SONG OF THE DAY

Toby Keith - Should’ve Been a Cowboy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9lBrMmzW-c