Wednesday, June 1, 2022

The Energy News Digest for June 1, 2022

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

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

California Drought Could Reduce Hydroelectric Generation to Half of Normal Levels (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=52578

Former Executive Gets Prison for $1 Billion Solar Energy Fraud (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/politics-california-san-francisco-money-laundering-56d5f73f85538d16247f229831cbbb50

Unprecedented Water Restrictions Hit Southern California Today: What They Mean to You (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-01/southern-california-new-drought-rules-june-2022

Return of Salmon Part of Columbia River Treaty Negotiations: First Nations (Yahoo! News)

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/return-salmon-part-columbia-river-080739865.html

U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Texas Law on Social Media Censorship (Associated Press)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-social-media-texas_n_6296936ce4b090b53b7e81b0

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      California Drought Could Reduce Hydroelectric Generation to Half of Normal Levels

2.      Hoover Dam Power Production Down 33%, Official Says

3.      Why Are Blackouts Looming? Blame Extreme Weather, Not Wind & Solar

4.      PacifiCorp Gets Nod to Build 416-Mile Power Line Across the West

5.      Alaska Utilities Plan $200M Investment in Grid to Boost Renewable Power, Increase Reliability

6.      ‘More, More, More’: President Biden’s Clean Grid Hinges on Power Lines

7.      WA State: Crypto Mine in Usk Gets Conditional Use Permit from Pend Oreille County; Opponents Appeal

8.      Avista Not Planning Utility Shut Offs for This Year’s Wildfire Season

9.      Alaska Legislature Passes Bill to Expand Rural Power Subsidy Program

10.   Tribe Files Motion to Join PGE Case Over Willamette Falls Property

11.   Small Nuclear Power Projects May Have Big Waste Problems – Study

12.   U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Brings GOP Congress Members to Tri-Cities to Learn About NW Issues Firsthand

13.   Canada: Price of Natural Gas Could Climb Higher Still After Cresting Multi-Year Highs

14.   Editorial: Finish the Job of Protecting Alaska’s Salmon-Rich Bristol Bay

15.   Audio: Along Those Lines – ‘Super-Power,’ The Impact of Hydroelectric Dams

16.   Former Executive Gets Prison for $1 Billion Solar Energy Fraud

17.   As Push for Offshore Wind Accelerates, Oregon Fishing Industry Pushes Back

18.   Miracle Fuel Hydrogen Can Actually Make Climate Change Worse

19.   How Do Heat Pumps Stack Up Against Gas Furnaces, Swamp Coolers & Air Conditioners?

20.   Return of Salmon Part of Columbia River Treaty Negotiations: First Nations

21.   WA State: Fish Passing Through Tumwater Dam Near Leavenworth Help Hydro Projects

22.   Chinook Helicopter to Help Coho Salmon

23.   It’s a Girl! Southern Resident J Pod Orca Calf Born Earlier This Year is Female

24.   Bison Gores Tourist, Tosses Her Ten Feet at Yellowstone National Park, Rangers Say

25.   Air Quality Impacts of Northwest Wildfires Reach as Far as New York

26.   Unprecedented Water Restrictions Hit Southern California Today: What They Mean to You

27.   Cold Spring Means Above-Average Snow in Cascade Mountains

28.   Scientists Warn Future Temperatures Will Test Humans’ Ability to Survive

29.   States Are Tackling Climate, Using Federal Cash as Congress Lags

30.   States Look to Electric Utilities for Broadband Connections

31.   Electric Highway Improvements Celebrated in Oregon

32.   U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Texas Law on Social Media Censorship

33.   U.S. Forest Service Says It Caused New Mexico’s Largest Wildfire

34.   Nearly 1,000 Drivers Refused to Stop for WSP Troopers

WORD OF THE DAY

Malaise \muh-LAYZ\ Noun – 1: an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness *2: a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being

“MMMMMM, yummy mayonnaise on my ham and cheese sandwich,” gushed Danforth at his high school reunion picnic. In what was to become known as the “Riverdale Moldy Mayonnaise Malaise” Danny and his classmates would soon fight for position at the single port-a-potty the overwhelmed organizers had rented for the occasion.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      California Drought Could Reduce Hydroelectric Generation to Half of Normal Levels (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=52578

2.      Hoover Dam Power Production Down 33%, Official Says (Your Central Valley, Fresno, CA)

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/hoover-dam-power-production-down-33-official-says/

3.      Why Are Blackouts Looming? Blame Extreme Weather, Not Wind & Solar (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/utilities/why-are-blackouts-looming-blame-extreme-weather-not-wind-and-solar

4.      PacifiCorp Gets Nod to Build 416-Mile Power Line Across the West (Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/pacificorp-gets-nod-to-build-416-mile-power-line-across-the-west/article_b4edba9b-6075-5335-96df-67258910ba70.html

5.      Alaska Utilities Plan $200M Investment in Grid to Boost Renewable Power, Increase Reliability (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/alaska-utilities-plan-200m-investment-134800764.html

6.      ‘More, More, More’: President Biden’s Clean Grid Hinges on Power Lines (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/more-more-more-bidens-clean-grid-hinges-on-power-lines/

7.      WA State: Crypto Mine in Usk Gets Conditional Use Permit from Pend Oreille County; Opponents Appeal (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jun/01/crypto-mine-in-usk-gets-conditional-use-permit-fro/

8.      Avista Not Planning Utility Shut Offs for This Year’s Wildfire Season (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/may/29/avista-not-planning-utility-shut-offs-for-this-yea/

9.      Alaska Legislature Passes Bill to Expand Rural Power Subsidy Program (KTUU-TV, Anchorage, AK)

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/06/01/alaska-legislature-passes-bill-expand-rural-power-subsidy-program/

10.   Tribe Files Motion to Join PGE Case Over Willamette Falls Property (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2022/05/27/grand-ronde-pge-willamette-falls.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search

11.   Small Nuclear Power Projects May Have Big Waste Problems – Study (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/small-nuclear-power-projects-may-have-big-waste-problems-study-2022-05-31/

12.   U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Brings GOP Congress Members to Tri-Cities to Learn About NW Issues Firsthand (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/politics-government/article262006220.html

13.   Canada: Price of Natural Gas Could Climb Higher Still After Cresting Multi-Year Highs (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/natural-gas-prices-could-climb-higher-1.6468716?cmp=rss

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

14.   Editorial: Finish the Job of Protecting Alaska’s Salmon-Rich Bristol Bay (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/finish-the-job-of-protecting-salmon-rich-bristol-bay/

15.   Audio: Along Those Lines – ‘Super-Power,’ The Impact of Hydroelectric Dams (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-impact-of-hydroelectric-dams

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16.   Former Executive Gets Prison for $1 Billion Solar Energy Fraud (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/politics-california-san-francisco-money-laundering-56d5f73f85538d16247f229831cbbb50

17.   As Push for Offshore Wind Accelerates, Oregon Fishing Industry Pushes Back (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2022/06/01/offshore-wind-oregon-conflict.html

18.   Miracle Fuel Hydrogen Can Actually Make Climate Change Worse (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-05-31/hydrogen-fuel-investments-could-risk-making-global-warming-worse

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   How Do Heat Pumps Stack Up Against Gas Furnaces, Swamp Coolers & Air Conditioners? (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/renewable-energy/2022/05/27/so-how-do-heat-pumps/

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Return of Salmon Part of Columbia River Treaty Negotiations: First Nations (Yahoo! News)

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/return-salmon-part-columbia-river-080739865.html

21.   WA State: Fish Passing Through Tumwater Dam Near Leavenworth Help Hydro Projects (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/fish-passing-through-tumwater-dam-near-leavenworth-help-hydro-projects/article_0e6f6c16-de01-11ec-8c65-2b33cfc38ef9.html

22.   Chinook Helicopter to Help Coho Salmon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/25/oregon-coast-coho-salmon-endangered-species-chinook-helicopter/

23.   It’s a Girl! Southern Resident J Pod Orca Calf Born Earlier This Year is Female (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/orcas/j59-southern-resident-orca-calf-female/281-362b7ddf-31b4-4487-823e-0e61fe57cb44

24.   Bison Gores Tourist, Tosses Her Ten Feet at Yellowstone National Park, Rangers Say (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/bison-gores-tourist-tosses-her-124233912.html

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

25.   Air Quality Impacts of Northwest Wildfires Reach as Far as New York (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/now/air-quality-impacts-northwest-wildfires-140018633.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

26.   Unprecedented Water Restrictions Hit Southern California Today: What They Mean to You (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-01/southern-california-new-drought-rules-june-2022

27.   Cold Spring Means Above-Average Snow in Cascade Mountains (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/06/01/above-average-snow-cascade-mountains/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

28.   Scientists Warn Future Temperatures Will Test Humans’ Ability to Survive (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/human-body-survive-heat-adaptation-1.6467410?cmp=rss

29.   States Are Tackling Climate, Using Federal Cash as Congress Lags (Bloomberg News)

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/states-are-tackling-climate-using-federal-cash-as-congress-lags

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

30.   States Look to Electric Utilities for Broadband Connections (GCN)

https://www.gcn.com/cloud-infrastructure/2022/05/states-look-electric-utilities-broadband-connections/367580/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   Electric Highway Improvements Celebrated in Oregon (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/tech/west-coast-electric-highway-ev-improvements-oregon/283-1fdf6559-6871-4d02-97ad-e6e0fa0f9b1f

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

32.   U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Texas Law on Social Media Censorship (Associated Press)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-social-media-texas_n_6296936ce4b090b53b7e81b0

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

33.   U.S. Forest Service Says It Caused New Mexico’s Largest Wildfire (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2022/05/28/forest-service-caused-new-mexico-largest-wildfire

34.   Nearly 1,000 Drivers Refused to Stop for WSP Troopers (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/nearly-1000-drivers-refused-stop-wsp-troopers/GFH5BNEYM5EMLBDYB2ZHLCEN7U/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Licensing Company Tells Las Vegas Chapels: No More Elvis-Themed Weddings

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/las-vegas-chapels-elvis-weddings_n_6296a63ce4b07aa93893193f

The Mona Lisa Was Attacked with a Pastry by a Man Disguised as an Elderly Woman in a Wheelchair

https://www.insider.com/mona-lisa-pastry-cream-man-in-disguise-louvre-2022-5

Archaeologists Uncover Trove of Ancient Egyptian Mummies

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/archaeologists-uncover-trove-ancient-egyptian-mummies-2022-05-30/

Doppelganger Deception – Couple Mourn Beloved Cat & Bury Remains in Garden - Only for Pet to Turn Up Next Day

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/couple-mourn-beloved-cat-bury-27037659

SONG OF THE DAY

Elvis Presley – Don’t Be Cruel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Lv6cHgnjo