Monday, March 21, 2022

The Energy News Digest for March 21, 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

Inside the International Push to Turn a Bankrupt Rural Washington Newsprint Mill into a Crypto Capital (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/seattle_times/inside-the-international-push-to-turn-a-bankrupt-rural-washington-newsprint-mill-into-a-crypto/article_4465fad3-bd90-523d-9583-652c5b34aeef.html

Drought-Stricken California Imposes New Round of Water Cuts (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/storms-california-droughts-sacramento-gavin-newsom-3a13defa8b54323bd9b557c7f812894d

Oregon: Industrial Landowners File Suit Against Pacific Power (KQEN Radio, Roseburg, OR)

https://kqennewsradio.com/2022/03/18/industrial-landowners-file-suit-against-pacific-power/

WA State: Douglas County PUD To Acquire 409 Acres for Hydrogen Facility, Wells Dam Project (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/douglas-county-pud-to-acquire-409-acres-for-hydrogen-facility-wells-dam-project/article_52758e1a-a4c5-11ec-a0ac-2bb37e04224b.html

WA State: Rural Jefferson County Is Building Its Own Broadband Network (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/news/2022/03/rural-jefferson-county-building-its-own-broadband-network

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Inside the International Push to Turn a Bankrupt Rural Washington Newsprint Mill into a Crypto Capital (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

2.      California Grid Operator Approves Reliability, Renewables Plan

3.      Oregon: Industrial Landowners File Suit Against Pacific Power

4.      Hydropower Eyes Bigger Energy Role, Less Environmental Harm

5.      U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) Submits Request to Prevent Dam Breaching, Urges Congress to Prioritize Columbia River Treaty

6.      Oregon: Tillamook PUD Moving Forward with Construction, Easements for Oceanside-Netarts Transmission Line, New Substation

7.      Arizona: Salt River Project Proposes High-Voltage Line for Facebook Center

8.      Western Area Power Administration Names New Transmission Infrastructure Program Senior Vice President

9.      Bonneville Power Administration Overhauls Its Radio Communication System

10.   Why Electric Bills Keep Rising

11.   WA State: Material Shortages Impact Klickitat PUD

12.   Yosemite Trailer Park Residents Forced to Leave Because of Aging Power Lines, A Fire Hazard

13.   Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Can’t Make Sweetheart Deal to Restart Intalco Plant at Expense of Public Utilities

14.   Guest Essay: Removing Lower Snake River Dams Will Hurt the Most Vulnerable Among Us

15.   WA State: Douglas County PUD To Acquire 409 Acres for Hydrogen Facility, Wells Dam Project

16.   Clean Energy Superstar or Smokescreen for Fossil Fuel Use? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hydrogen.

17.   Target Looks to Massive Solar Panels in a California Parking Lot as a Green Model to Power Its Stores

18.   Sacramento Municipal Utility District Becomes First Utility to Achieve J.D. Power Sustainability Certification

19.   Energy Information Administration Projects That Renewable Generation Will Supply 44% Of U.S. Electricity by 2050

20.   For Decades, Dams Have Kept Salmon Out of the Spokane River. Now, Tribes Are Studying How to Bring the Fish Back

21.   Contaminated Island at Bonneville Dam Added to Superfund Cleanup List

22.   Drought-Stricken California Imposes New Round of Water Cuts

23.   Pacific Northwest Reservoirs and Summer Water Supply Are in Good Shape

24.   Lack of Snowpack Causing Anxiety East of Cascades

25.   Portland Executive, Denied $12 Million Clean Energy Contract in Wake of Oregonian Investigation, Sues City

26.   Energy Information Administration Projects U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions to Fall in the Near Term, Then Rise

27.   Communities in Washington & Oregon Selected for Department of Energy Initiative to Reduce Energy Insecurity Nationwide

28.   WA State: Rural Jefferson County Is Building Its Own Broadband Network

29.   WA State: Okanogan County Electric Co-Op, Methownet Teaming Up for Broadband Service Study

30.   Why Utility Pole Owners Are Fighting for the Status Quo

31.   An Appalachian Town Was Told a Bitcoin Mine Would Bring an Economic Boom. It Got Noise Pollution & an Eyesore.

32.   Dean of the U.S. House Don Young (R-AK) Dead at 88

33.   Steelworkers Poised to Strike at Chevron California Refinery

WORD OF THE DAY

Polyandry • \POLLY-and-ree\ • noun – The state or practice of having more than one husband or male mate at one time

The lack of eligible women in the remote Mongolian village historically led to the practice of polyandry. After several generations, the shortage was revealed as a hoax, as a village one valley over was the seething hotbed for polygamy. The two leaders decided to end their respective practices during a summit session last week. Said one leader “my agreement to your terms is big of me.” “No,” replied his adversary, “what we were practicing was bigamy!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Inside The International Push to Turn a Bankrupt Rural Washington Newsprint Mill Into a Crypto Capital (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/seattle_times/inside-the-international-push-to-turn-a-bankrupt-rural-washington-newsprint-mill-into-a-crypto/article_4465fad3-bd90-523d-9583-652c5b34aeef.html

2.      California Grid Operator Approves Reliability, Renewables Plan (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-grid-operator-approves-reliability-renewables-plan-2022-03-18/

3.      Oregon: Industrial Landowners File Suit Against Pacific Power (KQEN Radio, Roseburg, OR)

https://kqennewsradio.com/2022/03/18/industrial-landowners-file-suit-against-pacific-power/

4.      Hydropower Eyes Bigger Energy Role, Less Environmental Harm (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/19/hydropower-eyes-bigger-energy-role-less-environmental-harm/

5.      U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) Submits Request to Prevent Dam Breaching, Urges Congress to Prioritize Columbia River Treaty (News Release, U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, WA)

https://mcmorris.house.gov/posts/mcmorris-rodgers-submits-request-to-prevent-dam-breaching-urges-congress-to-prioritize-columbia-river-treaty

6.      Oregon: Tillamook PUD Moving Forward with Construction, Easements for Oceanside-Netarts Transmission Line, New Substation (Tillamook County Pioneer, OR)

https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/tillamook-pud-moving-forward-with-construction-easements-for-oceanside-netarts-transmission-line-new-substation/

7.      Arizona: Salt River Project Proposes High-Voltage Line for Facebook Center (Mesa Tribune, AZ)

https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/srp-proposes-high-voltage-line-for-facebook-center/article_1ef49fb2-a8a9-11ec-a0da-2f442e348c3e.html

8.      Western Area Power Administration Names New Transmission Infrastructure Program Senior Vice President (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsReleases/2022/Pages/transmission-infrastructure-program-manager.aspx

9.      Bonneville Power Administration Overhauls Its Radio Communication System (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20220317-bpa-overhauls-its-radio-communication-system

10.   Why Electric Bills Keep Rising (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-us-electric-bills-keep-rising-113414648.html

11.   WA State: Material Shortages Impact Klickitat PUD (Goldendale Sentinel, WA)

https://www.goldendalesentinel.com/news/material-shortages-impact-kpud/article_aeb310c4-a558-11ec-b36c-7bb59430c3ae.html

12.   Yosemite Trailer Park Residents Forced to Leave Because of Aging Power Lines, A Fire Hazard (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-18/yosemite-trailer-park-residents-forced-to-leave-over-aging-power-lines

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Can’t Make Sweetheart Deal to Restart Intalco Plant at Expense of Public Utilities (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/bpa-cant-make-sweetheart-deal-to-restart-intalco-plant-at-expense-of-public-utilities/

14.   Guest Essay: Removing Lower Snake River Dams Will Hurt the Most Vulnerable Among Us (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/opinion/2022/03/18/removing-dams-will-hurt-the-most-vulnerable-among-us/65345363007/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   WA State: Douglas County PUD To Acquire 409 Acres for Hydrogen Facility, Wells Dam Project (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/douglas-county-pud-to-acquire-409-acres-for-hydrogen-facility-wells-dam-project/article_52758e1a-a4c5-11ec-a0ac-2bb37e04224b.html

16.   Clean Energy Superstar or Smokescreen for Fossil Fuel Use? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hydrogen. (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/03/17/hydrogen-clean-energy-climate-change/

17.   Target Looks to Massive Solar Panels in a California Parking Lot as a Green Model to Power Its Stores (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/17/targets-solar-panel-carports-at-california-store-may-be-a-green-model.html

18.   Sacramento Municipal Utility District Becomes First Utility to Achieve J.D. Power Sustainability Certification (Transmission & Distribution World)

https://www.tdworld.com/renewables/article/21236307/smud-becomes-first-utility-to-achieve-jd-power-sustainability-certification

19.   Energy Information Administration Projects That Renewable Generation Will Supply 44% Of U.S. Electricity by 2050 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51698

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   For Decades, Dams Have Kept Salmon Out of the Spokane River. Now, Tribes Are Studying How to Bring the Fish Back (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/17/for-decades-dams-have-kept-salmon-out-of-the-spoka/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

21.   Contaminated Island at Bonneville Dam Added to Superfund Cleanup List (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2022/03/contaminated-island-at-bonneville-dam-added-to-superfund-cleanup-list.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Drought-Stricken California Imposes New Round of Water Cuts (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/storms-california-droughts-sacramento-gavin-newsom-3a13defa8b54323bd9b557c7f812894d

23.   Pacific Northwest Reservoirs and Summer Water Supply Are in Good Shape (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/03/northwest-reservoirs-and-summer-water.html

24.   Lack of Snowpack Causing Anxiety East of Cascades (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/lack-of-snowpack-lack-causing-anxiety-east-of-cascades/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Portland Executive, Denied $12 Million Clean Energy Contract in Wake of Oregonian Investigation, Sues City (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/03/portland-executive-denied-12m-clean-energy-contract-after-oregonianoregonlive-investigation-sues-city.html

26.   Energy Information Administration Projects U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions to Fall in the Near Term, Then Rise (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51718

27.   Communities in Washington & Oregon Selected for Department of Energy Initiative to Reduce Energy Insecurity Nationwide (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/communities-in-washington-and-oregon-selected-for-department-of-energy-initiative-to-reduce-energy-insecurity/article_63c6f89a-a89c-11ec-b35b-832f1e32da11.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   WA State: Rural Jefferson County Is Building Its Own Broadband Network (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/news/2022/03/rural-jefferson-county-building-its-own-broadband-network

29.   WA State: Okanogan County Electric Co-Op, Methownet Teaming Up for Broadband Service Study (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

https://methowvalleynews.com/2022/03/16/electric-co-op-methownet-teaming-up-for-broadband-service-study/

30.   Why Utility Pole Owners Are Fighting for the Status Quo (NCTA)

https://www.ncta.com/whats-new/why-utility-pole-owners-are-fighting-for-the-status-quo

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   An Appalachian Town Was Told a Bitcoin Mine Would Bring an Economic Boom. It Got Noise Pollution & an Eyesore. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, PA)

https://www.inquirer.com/business/technology/crypto-mining-data-loud-sound-bitcoin-20220321.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

32.   Dean of the U.S. House Don Young (R-AK) Dead at 88 (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/dean-of-the-house-don-young-dead-at-88/

33.   Steelworkers Poised to Strike at Chevron California Refinery (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-california-san-francisco-strikes-chevron-corp-74bab70fa0cf710de2b38fb7e9cbf330

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Fridge-Sized Asteroid Hit Earth Two Hours After It Was First Spotted, NASA Says

https://news.yahoo.com/fridge-sized-asteroid-hit-earth-212843551.html

Why Brighter Orange Basketballs Are Being Used in the NCAA Tournament

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/why-brighter-orange-basketballs-are-being-used-in-the-ncaa-tournament/

Poodles Pop in Popularity, But Labs Still No. 1 U.S. Dog Breed

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/03/15/poodles-pop-in-popularity-but-labs-still-no-1-us-dog-breed/

Message in a Bottle Travels from Bahamas to England in 21 Years

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/03/18/message-bottle-Castle-Beach-Falmouth-England/6801647635927/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Police - Message in a Bottle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObL3L6MRvN4