Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Energy News Digest for August 17, 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.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

California Interior Swelters; Electricity Conservation Urged (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2022-08-16/california-interior-to-experience-high-heat

U.S. Spares Western States from Colorado River Water Cuts - For Now (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-western-states-deadlocked-cutting-colorado-river-use-2022-08-16/

President Biden Signs $740 Billion Tax, Climate & Health Care Bill into Law (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/biden-reconciliation-inflation-reduction-act

Will Federal Climate Legislation Help Reopen Ferndale Aluminum Plant? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/will-federal-climate-legislation-help-reopen-ferndale-aluminum-plant/

Wind Energy Boom & Golden Eagles Collide in the U.S. West (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-wyoming-eagles-climate-and-environment-294161a39e84ac1e102d22a4c342b298

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      California Interior Swelters; Electricity Conservation Urged

2.      The West’s Historic Drought Is Threatening Hydropower at Hoover Dam

3.      How the Western Drought Is Pushing the Power Grid to the Brink

4.      Surging Gas-Fired Power Demand Propels Southern California Spot Gas Prices to Fresh Highs

5.      Will Federal Climate Legislation Help Reopen Ferndale Aluminum Plant?

6.      Pend Oreille PUD Agrees to Contract with Cascade Digital Mining, LLC

7.      Conclusion of Round 13 of Columbia River Treaty Negotiations

8.      Utility Leaders Hail Clean Energy Tax Incentives as House Sends Historic Climate Bill to Biden’s Desk

9.      Electric Utilities Around the U.S. are Running Out of Transformers

10.   Nuclear Energy Company Co-Founded by Bill Gates Raises $750 Million, One of the Largest Rounds in Seattle Tech History

11.   Germany Mulls Postponing Nuclear Exit

12.   Podcast Pronouncement: FERC Chair Richard Glick! Featured in Part 4 of Our Electric Market Enthusiasm Series

13.   Wind Energy Boom & Golden Eagles Collide in the U.S. West

14.   Idaho: Minidoka Commissioners Go on Record Opposing the Lava Ridge Wind Project

15.   Wind Power Gets a Boost from Government. But It Faces Challenges from Landowners

16.   Construction of Alaska’s Largest Solar Project Gets Underway in Houston

17.   DOE Outlines Challenges for Wind. Will the Inflation Reduction Act Help?

18.   EIA Expects Renewables to Account for 22% of U.S. Electricity Generation in 2022

19.   Can Renewables & Energy Justice Coexist? What DOE Found.

20.   How a Camping Trip Led to One of Central Oregon’s Biggest Companies

21.   California: Fishing & Conservation Groups Sue FERC Over ‘Fish-Killing’ Potter Valley Project

22.   River Chief Imprisoned for Fishing Fights Over Sacred Rights

23.   U.S. Spares Western States from Colorado River Water Cuts - For Now

24.   WA State: What the Nooksack River’s Climate Tailspin Means for People & Fish

25.   Alaska Bill Establishes New State Broadband Office

26.   Blaine County Among 4 Idaho Counties Receiving Funds for Better Internet Access

27.   Washington State University Expanding Broadband Access & Equity Across State

28.   Senators Want to Tap U.S. Electric Grid for Broadband Rollouts

29.   Leveraging Smart Grid Upgrades for Broadband Buildout

30.   Frustration for Electric Car Drivers: Finding a Charger That Works

31.   The Electric Vehicle Charger That Drops from the Sky

32.   President Biden Signs $740 Billion Tax, Climate & Health Care Bill into Law

33.   The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – Summary of Energy & Climate Provisions

34.   Third La NiƱa Winter Might Be Headed for Seattle

WORD OF THE DAY

Posthaste \POHST-HAYST\ Adverb – With all possible speed.

“I want those orders for Barry Manilow CDs placed posthaste,” shouted the floor manager, glowering at his under-twenty crowd of warehouse employees. “Golly,” squeaked one, “I thought that was a euphemism for a marshmallow and berry flavored treat, nor music!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      California Interior Swelters; Electricity Conservation Urged (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2022-08-16/california-interior-to-experience-high-heat

2.      The West’s Historic Drought Is Threatening Hydropower at Hoover Dam (Cable News Network)

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/16/us/hoover-dam-hydropower-drought-climate/index.html?utm_medium=email

3.      How the Western Drought Is Pushing the Power Grid to the Brink (Vox)

https://www.vox.com/23292669/drought-2022-power-energy-grid-lake-mead-climate-heat-hoover-dam

4.      Surging Gas-Fired Power Demand Propels Southern California Spot Gas Prices to Fresh Highs (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/natural-gas/081522-surging-gas-fired-power-demand-propels-southern-california-spot-gas-prices-to-fresh-highs

5.      Will Federal Climate Legislation Help Reopen Ferndale Aluminum Plant? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/will-federal-climate-legislation-help-reopen-ferndale-aluminum-plant/

6.      Pend Oreille PUD Agrees to Contract with Cascade Digital Mining, LLC (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/pend-oreille-pud-agrees-to-contract-with-cascade-digital-mining-llc/

7.      Conclusion of Round 13 of Columbia River Treaty Negotiations (U.S. Department of State)

https://www.state.gov/conclusion-of-round-13-of-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations/

8.      Utility Leaders Hail Clean Energy Tax Incentives as House Sends Historic Climate Bill to Biden’s Desk (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/Congress-clean-energy-tax-climate-inflation-reduction-act/629643/

9.      Electric Utilities Around the U.S. are Running Out of Transformers (Route Fifty)

https://www.route-fifty.com/infrastructure/2022/08/electric-utilities-around-us-are-running-out-transformers/375934/

10.   Nuclear Energy Company Co-Founded by Bill Gates Raises $750 Million, One of the Largest Rounds in Seattle Tech History (Geekwire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2022/nuclear-energy-company-co-founded-by-bill-gates-raises-750m-one-of-the-largest-rounds-in-seattle-tech-history/

11.   Germany Mulls Postponing Nuclear Exit (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/germany-is-mulling-a-postponed-nuclear-exit/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

12.   Podcast Pronouncement: FERC Chair Richard Glick! Featured in Part 4 of Our Electric Market Enthusiasm Series (Public Power Underground)

https://publicpowerunderground.substack.com/p/ferc-chair-richard-glick-featured?

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   Wind Energy Boom & Golden Eagles Collide in the U.S. West (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-wyoming-eagles-climate-and-environment-294161a39e84ac1e102d22a4c342b298

14.   Idaho: Minidoka Commissioners Go on Record Opposing the Lava Ridge Wind Project (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

https://magicvalley.com/news/local/minidoka-commissioners-go-on-record-opposing-the-lava-ridge-wind-project/article_b1aa3a14-1cea-11ed-8481-b3645bfa4239.html

15.   Wind Power Gets a Boost from Government. But It Faces Challenges from Landowners (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/15/1117607516/wind-power-challenges-landowners-fed

16.   Construction of Alaska’s Largest Solar Project Gets Underway in Houston (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/mat-su/2022/08/16/construction-of-alaskas-largest-solar-project-gets-underway-in-houston/

17.   DOE Outlines Challenges for Wind. Will the Inflation Reduction Act Help? (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/doe-outlines-challenges-for-wind-will-the-ira-help/

18.   EIA Expects Renewables to Account for 22% of U.S. Electricity Generation in 2022 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=53459

19.   Can Renewables & Energy Justice Coexist? What DOE Found. (Politico Pro – Subscription)

https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2022/08/16/researchers-ask-what-wind-and-solar-siting-patterns-mean-for-energy-justice-00049342

20.   How a Camping Trip Led to One of Central Oregon’s Biggest Companies (Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/how-a-camping-trip-led-to-one-of-central-oregon-s-biggest-companies/article_e6f5d912-19cf-11ed-8eb7-aff2b536bed0.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   California: Fishing & Conservation Groups Sue FERC Over ‘Fish-Killing’ Potter Valley Project (Mendocino Voice, CA)

https://mendovoice.com/2022/08/fishing-and-conservation-groups-sue-ferc-over-fish-killing-potter-valley-project/

22.   River Chief Imprisoned for Fishing Fights Over Sacred Rights (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/nation-world/national/article264550921.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   U.S. Spares Western States from Colorado River Water Cuts - For Now (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-western-states-deadlocked-cutting-colorado-river-use-2022-08-16/

24.   WA State: What the Nooksack River’s Climate Tailspin Means for People & Fish (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/08/what-nooksack-rivers-climate-tailspin-means-people-and-fish

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

25.   Alaska Bill Establishes New State Broadband Office (Government Technology)

https://www.govtech.com/network/alaska-bill-establishes-new-state-broadband-office

26.   Blaine County Among 4 Idaho Counties Receiving Funds for Better Internet Access (KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)

https://www.kmvt.com/2022/08/15/blaine-county-among-4-idaho-counties-receiving-funds-better-internet-access/

27.   Washington State University Expanding Broadband Access & Equity Across State (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima & Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/wsu-expanding-broadband-access-and-equity-across-state/article_75899ccc-1ca5-11ed-9196-2391c342f81e.html

28.   Senators Want to Tap U.S. Electric Grid for Broadband Rollouts (Fierce Telecom)

https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/senators-want-tap-us-electric-grid-broadband-rollouts

29.   Leveraging Smart Grid Upgrades for Broadband Buildout (GCN)

https://gcn.com/cloud-infrastructure/2022/08/leveraging-smart-grid-upgrades-broadband-buildout/375915/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

30.   Frustration for Electric Car Drivers: Finding a Charger That Works (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/frustration-for-electric-car-drivers-finding-a-charger-that-works/

31.   The Electric Vehicle Charger That Drops from the Sky (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/the-ev-charger-that-drops-from-the-sky/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

32.   President Biden Signs $740 Billion Tax, Climate & Health Care Bill into Law (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/biden-reconciliation-inflation-reduction-act

33.   The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – Summary of Energy & Climate Provisions (JD Supra)

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022-1496322/

34.   Third La NiƱa Winter Might Be Headed for Seattle (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/is-a-colder-than-average-third-la-nina-winter-in-store-for-seattle/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Couple Celebrates $360 Win in Washington Lottery — But They Missed a Few Zeroes

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/washington/article264566496.html

Why One Oregonian Is Traveling from Eugene to San Francisco by Skateboard

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/08/16/why-one-oregonian-is-traveling-from-eugene-to-san-francisco-by-skateboard/

Northern Lights May Be Visible in Western Washington Thru Thursday Night

https://mynorthwest.com/3598815/northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-western-washington-thru-thursday-night/

Man Finds Rare Purple Pearl in His Clam at Delaware Restaurant

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/08/17/pearl-clam-Salt-Air-Rehoboth-Beach-Delaware/1291660767300/

SONG OF THE DAY

Journey – Lights

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