Programming Note: The Energy News Digest will be getting sand in its shoes, car, and everywhere else this Wednesday. It will return, gritless, May 2.
Visit the online version of The Energy News Digest for the digital experience.
The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.
Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.
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
Utility Shutoffs Loom as Energy Prices Soar &
Moratoriums End. Help Is Available. (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/24/politics/us-gas-electric-moratoriums-end-liheap/index.html
Washington Council Significantly Restricts Use of Natural
Gas Heating in New Commercial Buildings (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/apr/22/washington-council-significantly-restricts-use-of-/
Lots of Broadband Money, But U.S. Expansion Finds Speed Bumps
(Associated Press)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/apr/13/lots-of-broadband-money-but-us-expansion-finds-spe/
Canada: Conservation Groups Allege B.C. Hydro Is Not
Allocating Enough Funding to Habitat Restoration at Its Dams (Victoria
Times-Colonist, BC)
Olympic Peninsula Glaciers Expected to Disappear in 50 Years
(Associated Press)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Utility Shutoffs Loom as Energy Prices Soar
& Moratoriums End. Help Is Available.
2.
Washington Council Significantly Restricts Use
of Natural Gas Heating in New Commercial Buildings
3.
WA State: Future Power Demand Looks ‘Insanely
Large’ for Grant County
4.
Pacific Power Announces Cost Increase for
Washington State Customers
5.
Portland General Electric Offers Price Cuts
After Oregon Approves First Income-Qualified Utility Discount
6.
Idaho: Green Light for Project Pele, Defense
Department’s Mobile Nuclear Microreactor Demonstration
7.
Snake River Dam Breaching Debate Divides the Pacific
Northwest
8.
PacifiCorp Files with FERC to Study Three Pumped
Storage Projects
9.
Transmission Line Approved to Bring Canadian
Hydropower to New York City
10.
The United States Ended the Winter with the
Least Natural Gas in Storage in Three Years
11.
Editorial: Connect Rural Washingtonians Who Lack
Broadband Access
12.
News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Urges
President Biden to Prioritize Hydropower, Lower Snake River Dams in Effort to
Keep Utility Costs & Greenhouse Gases Low
13.
Commentary: Replacing Snake River Dams’ Power
Will Take Smart Planning
14.
Editorial: Another Voice on Lower Snake Dams
15.
With Yakima Valley’s Abundant Sunshine, More
Homeowners Turning to Solar Energy
16.
Wind Power’s ‘Colossal Market Failure’ Threatens
Climate Fight
17.
California: Commercial Fishers Talk Offshore
Wind Concerns
18.
British Columbia Company Looks to Mountains
North of Lillooet for Future Wind Farms
19.
New Microgrid in Seattle’s Capitol Hill
Neighborhood to Power Community Center During Outages
20.
San Jose, California Mayor Again Pushes for
Energy Independence with Support of Google Microgrid
21.
New Grid Storage Launchpad Coming to Richland
Can Create New Energy Sources from WA to the World
22.
Your Spring Home Maintenance Should Include an
Energy Audit
23.
Canada: Conservation Groups Allege B.C. Hydro Is
Not Allocating Enough Funding to Habitat Restoration at Its Dams
24.
British Columbia Conservation Group Moves
Thousands of Salmon — By Hand — So Fish Can Produce Millions of Eggs
25.
New Fish Passage Measures in the Works at Ice
Harbor Dam
26.
California Salmon Are at Risk of Extinction. A
Plan to Save Them Stirs Hope & Controversy
27.
Puget Sound Orca Whales Struggle with Inbreeding
as Scientists Search for Answers
28.
April Precipitation Boosted Snowpack, But
Southwest Washington Fire Season Unclear
29.
Olympic Peninsula Glaciers Expected to Disappear
in 50 Years
30.
Lots of Broadband Money, But U.S. Expansion
Finds Speed Bumps
31.
Douglas County, Oregon Creates $28 Million
Economic Impact with Fiber Each Year
32.
WA State: Hood Canal Communications Awarded
$10.1 Million to Work with Mason PUD 1 to Expand Internet Access in Jefferson
County
33.
A Quarter of All the Electricity in This County
Is Powering Bitcoin Mining
34.
Microsoft Intends to Buy Central Washington Land
in Malaga
35.
Washington, Oregon Among Best States in U.S. For
Owning an Electric Vehicle: Survey
36.
Hubble Telescope Finds Largest Comet Ever
Discovered — It’s Bigger Than Rhode Island
37. Wisconsin Couple Electrocuted While Using Dangerous Art Method Popular on Social Media
WORD OF THE DAY – A Supergirl Story
Microcosm \MY-kru-cozz-um\ Noun - 1: a little world; especially: the human race or human nature seen as an epitome of the world or the universe 2: a community or other unity that is an epitome of a larger unity
“What’s your favorite microcosm Kal-El?” Chirped Kara Zel-El. “Well, that would have to be Argo City,” Kal-El answered absently, while flipping through an old comic book.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Utility Shutoffs Loom as Energy Prices Soar &
Moratoriums End. Help Is Available. (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/24/politics/us-gas-electric-moratoriums-end-liheap/index.html
2.
Washington Council Significantly Restricts Use of
Natural Gas Heating in New Commercial Buildings (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/apr/22/washington-council-significantly-restricts-use-of-/
3.
WA State: Future Power Demand Looks ‘Insanely Large’
for Grant County (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/apr/21/future-power-demand-looks-insanely-large-grant-co/
4.
Pacific Power Announces Cost Increase for Washington
State Customers (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima & Tri-Cities, WA)
5.
Portland General Electric Offers Price Cuts
After Oregon Approves First Income-Qualified Utility Discount (KOIN-TV, Portland,
OR)
6.
Idaho: Green Light for Project Pele, Defense
Department’s Mobile Nuclear Microreactor Demonstration (Power Magazine)
7.
Snake River Dam Breaching Debate Divides the
Pacific Northwest (Agri-Pulse)
8.
PacifiCorp Files with FERC to Study Three Pumped
Storage Projects (Hydro Review)
9.
Transmission Line Approved to Bring Canadian Hydropower
to New York City (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)
10.
The United States Ended the Winter with the Least
Natural Gas in Storage in Three Years (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=52058&utm_medium=email
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
11.
Editorial: Connect Rural Washingtonians Who Lack
Broadband Access (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/connect-washingtonians-who-lack-broadband-access/
12.
News Release: Northwest RiverPartners Urges
President Biden to Prioritize Hydropower, Lower Snake River Dams in Effort to
Keep Utility Costs & Greenhouse Gases Low (Northwest RiverPartners)
https://nwriverpartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-NWRP-Biden-Visit-PressStatement.pdf
13.
Commentary: Replacing Snake River Dams’ Power
Will Take Smart Planning (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)
14.
Editorial: Another Voice on Lower Snake Dams (Baker
City Herald, OR)
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
15.
With Yakima Valley’s Abundant Sunshine, More
Homeowners Turning to Solar Energy (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)
16.
Wind Power’s ‘Colossal Market Failure’ Threatens
Climate Fight (Bloomberg News)
17.
California: Commercial Fishers Talk Offshore
Wind Concerns (The News-Times, San Luis Obispo, CA)
18.
British Columbia Company Looks to Mountains
North of Lillooet for Future Wind Farms (Info.CA)
19.
New Microgrid in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood
to Power Community Center During Outages (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)
20.
San Jose, California Mayor Again Pushes for
Energy Independence with Support of Google Microgrid (Microgrid Knowledge)
https://microgridknowledge.com/googel-microgrid-san-jose/
21.
New Grid Storage Launchpad Coming to Richland Can
Create New Energy Sources from WA to the World (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima & Tri-Cities,
WA)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
22.
Your Spring Home Maintenance Should Include an
Energy Audit (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)
FISH & WILDLIFE
23.
Canada: Conservation Groups Allege B.C. Hydro Is
Not Allocating Enough Funding to Habitat Restoration at Its Dams (Victoria
Times-Colonist, BC)
24.
British Columbia Conservation Group Moves
Thousands of Salmon — By Hand — So Fish Can Produce Millions of Eggs (Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-conservation-group-moves-salmon-by-hand-1.6424714
25.
New Fish Passage Measures in the Works at Ice
Harbor Dam (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
https://keprtv.com/news/local/new-fish-passage-measures-in-the-works-at-ice-harbor-dam
26.
California Salmon Are at Risk of Extinction. A Plan
to Save Them Stirs Hope & Controversy (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall
Advisory)
https://www.latimes.com/projects/can-endangered-california-chinook-salmon-be-saved-from-extinction/
27.
Puget Sound Orca Whales Struggle with Inbreeding
as Scientists Search for Answers (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
https://mynorthwest.com/3445136/puget-sound-orca-whales-inbreeding-scientists-search-answers/
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
28.
April Precipitation Boosted Snowpack, But Southwest
Washington Fire Season Unclear (Longview Daily News, WA)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
29.
Olympic Peninsula Glaciers Expected to Disappear
in 50 Years (Associated Press)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
30.
Lots of Broadband Money, But U.S. Expansion
Finds Speed Bumps (Associated Press)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/apr/13/lots-of-broadband-money-but-us-expansion-finds-spe/
31.
Douglas County, Oregon Creates $28 Million
Economic Impact with Fiber Each Year (Fiber Broadband Association)
32.
WA State: Hood Canal Communications Awarded
$10.1 Million to Work with Mason PUD 1 to Expand Internet Access in Jefferson
County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
https://masonwebtv.com/archives/48018
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
33.
A Quarter of All the Electricity in This County
Is Powering Bitcoin Mining (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)
34.
Microsoft Intends to Buy Central Washington Land
in Malaga (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
35.
Washington, Oregon Among Best States in U.S. For
Owning an Electric Vehicle: Survey (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
36.
Hubble Telescope Finds Largest Comet Ever
Discovered — It’s Bigger Than Rhode Island (CBS News)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/comet-largest-hubble-space-telescope-nasa/
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY
37.
Wisconsin Couple Electrocuted While Using
Dangerous Art Method Popular on Social Media (CBS News)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
First ‘Plane Swap’ Stunt Unsuccessful as Plane Spirals Out of
Control in Arizona; FAA Investigating
Woman Rescued After Falling into Olympic National Forest Toilet
Trying to Get Phone
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/woman-rescued-falling-toilet-trying-get-phone-rcna25769
Dumpster Find Leads to Rediscovery of Artist Francis Hines
Brains & Brawn Helped Crows & Ravens Take Over the World
https://phys.org/news/2022-04-brains-brawn-crows-ravens-world.html
SONG OF THE DAY
Tom Petty – Free Fallin’
