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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
U.S. Senator Murray & WA Gov. Inslee Conclude Breaching
Snake River Dams ‘Not an Option Right Now,’ While Calling Status Quo
Unsustainable for Salmon (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/aug/25/murray-and-inslee-conclude-breaching-snake-river-d/
California: Federal Report Boosts Plan to Remove Four Dams
on Klamath River (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)
Wind Bust: How an Airborne Blade Exposed Broader Problems at
Portland General Electric’s Flagship Wind Farm (Oregonian, Portland)
https://projects.oregonlive.com/wind-farms/
Concern for British Columbia Sockeye Salmon as Fraser River
Return Estimates Drop by Millions (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sockeye-return-concerns-1.6561278
California Moves Toward Banning New Cars Running Only on Gas
by 2035 (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/08/24/california-climate-cars/
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
U.S. Senator Murray & WA Gov. Inslee
Conclude Breaching Snake River Dams ‘Not an Option Right Now,’ While Calling
Status Quo Unsustainable for Salmon
2.
Many Nonprofits Support Final Snake River
Report, Want More Action
3.
Washington Governor, U.S. Senator Praised for
Remarks on Snake River Dam Breaching
4.
U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Responds to Final Dam
Breach Report; Opposes Replacements
5.
Report: Benefits of Dams Must Be Replaced Before
Breaching
6.
Lower Snake River Dams: Benefit Replacement
Report
7.
California: Federal Report Boosts Plan to Remove
Four Dams on Klamath River
8.
WA State: Okanogan PUD Supports Grant Application
to Study Enloe Dam Removal
9.
California: Clashes Brew Over Diablo Canyon
Extension Plan as 40% of Expected Renewables Fail to Come Online
10.
Idaho Power Company to Pay $1.5 Million in Civil
Settlement for Powerline and Lime Hill Fires
11.
Lawsuit: PacifiCorp Electrical Equipment Sparked
Deadly California Fire
12.
Washington UTC Approves Conditional Settlement
Agreement for Cascade Natural Gas
13.
Drought Threatens Coal Plant Operations — And
Electricity — Across the West
14.
Why the Energy Transition Broke the U.S. Interconnection
System
15.
United Nations Agency to Inspect Ukraine Nuclear
Plant in Urgent Mission
16.
2020 Inflation-Adjusted U.S. Energy Expenditures
Lowest Since 2002
17.
Guest Essay: Makes No Sense to Remove Snake
River Dams
18.
Guest Essay: Oregon Workers Need the Snake River
Dams
19.
Opinion: When It Comes to Fish & Dams, Who
Is Gaslighting Who?
20.
Why We Need Hydropower for a Resilient Grid
21.
Wind Bust: How an Airborne Blade Exposed Broader
Problems at Portland General Electric’s Flagship Wind Farm
22.
California ISO’s First Geothermal Plant in 30
Years Comes Online
23.
U.S. Climate Law Could Jump-Start Public Power
Sector’s Clean Energy Investment
24.
Four Questions to Consider Before You Go Solar
25.
The Inflation Reduction Act Offers Subsidies for
Heat Pumps — Will U.S. Homeowners Warm to Them?
26.
WA Dept of Commerce Provides $1.8 Million Grants
for Public Building Energy Efficiency
27.
Concern for British Columbia Sockeye Salmon as
Fraser River Return Estimates Drop by Millions
28.
Alaska: The Salmon Mystery of Bristol Bay –
Alaska’s biggest salmon run is booming despite warming water, and scientists
are trying to understand why
29.
EPA to Designate ‘Forever Chemicals’ as Hazardous
Substances
30.
Supreme Court Climate Ruling Could Impact
Nuclear Waste Case
31.
The Future of the American West Is in Central
Oregon
32.
‘Zombie Ice’ from Greenland Will Raise Sea Level
Ten Inches
33.
Get Ready for a New American West — Like It or
Not
34.
A Drought in Canada Is Making It Impossible to
Find Mustard in France
35.
Fiber Broadband Association: Fiber a Factor in
Move Decisions as More Head for Rural Areas
36.
Fiber Broadband Association Report Shows
Broadband’s Impact on Key Areas
37.
$18.9 Million Grant Awarded to Expand Internet
Access to Carson Area, Nevada Tribal Communities
38.
Texas Crypto-Mining Rush May Need as Much Power
as Entire State of New York
39.
California Moves Toward Banning New Cars Running
Only on Gas by 2035
40.
Washington State Will No Longer Sell New Gas-Powered
Cars by 2035, Inslee Says – Oregon Pondering Rules
41.
Electric Vehicle Interest Is Rising: How Can
Utility Companies Educate Buyers & Manage the Grid?
42. NASA Scrubs Launch of Its New Moon Rocket on a No-Crew Test Flight Because of Fuel Leaks
WORD OF THE DAY – THE HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION
Götterdämmerung \gher-ter-DEM-uh-roong\ Noun – collapse (as of a society or regime) marked by catastrophic violence & disorder; broadly: downfall.
Götterdämmerung
Bad music. Unlike Wagner
It’s more like Spike Jones
ENERGY &
UTILITY ISSUES
1.
U.S. Senator Murray & WA Gov. Inslee Conclude
Breaching Snake River Dams ‘Not an Option Right Now,’ While Calling Status Quo
Unsustainable for Salmon (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/aug/25/murray-and-inslee-conclude-breaching-snake-river-d/
2.
Many Nonprofits Support Final Snake River Report,
Want More Action (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima & Tri-Cities, WA)
3.
Washington Governor, U.S. Senator Praised for
Remarks on Snake River Dam Breaching (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)
4.
U.S. Rep. Newhouse (WA) Responds to Final Dam
Breach Report; Opposes Replacements (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima & Tri-Cities, WA)
5.
Report: Benefits of Dams Must Be Replaced Before
Breaching (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/washington-jay-inslee-dams-spokane-9e7a7320fc5f17653f69d9bfc9733ff6
6.
Lower Snake River Dams: Benefit Replacement
Report (Governor Jay Inslee, WA – PDF File)
7.
California: Federal Report Boosts Plan to Remove
Four Dams on Klamath River (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)
8.
WA State: Okanogan PUD Supports Grant
Application to Study Enloe Dam Removal (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)
https://methowvalleynews.com/2022/08/24/pud-supports-grant-application-to-study-enloe-dam-removal/
9.
California: Clashes Brew Over Diablo Canyon Extension
Plan as 40% of Expected Renewables Fail to Come Online (Utility Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/diablo-canyon-nuclear-newsom-legislature/630661/
10.
Idaho Power Company to Pay $1.5 Million in Civil
Settlement for Powerline and Lime Hill Fires (U.S. Dept. of Justice)
11.
Lawsuit: PacifiCorp Electrical Equipment Sparked
Deadly California Fire (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-fires-lawsuits-utilities-99b2bc5d5e4299cb62a4333ae1c711ed
12.
Washington UTC Approves Conditional Settlement
Agreement for Cascade Natural Gas (Daily Energy Insider)
13.
Drought Threatens Coal Plant Operations — And
Electricity — Across the West (National Public Radio)
14.
Why the Energy Transition Broke the U.S.
Interconnection System (Utility Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-transition-interconnection-reform-ferc-qcells/628822/
15.
United Nations Agency to Inspect Ukraine Nuclear
Plant in Urgent Mission (Associated Press)
16.
2020 Inflation-Adjusted U.S. Energy Expenditures
Lowest Since 2002 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=53620
SOAPBOX SERENADE
– VOX POPULI
17.
Guest Essay: Makes No Sense to Remove Snake
River Dams (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)
https://www.bainbridgereview.com/opinion/makes-no-sense-to-remove-snake-river-dams/
18.
Guest Essay: Oregon Workers Need the Snake River
Dams (Eugene Register-Guard, OR – Paywall Advisory)
19.
Opinion: When It Comes to Fish & Dams, Who
Is Gaslighting Who? (Lewiston Tribune, ID)
20.
Why We Need Hydropower for a Resilient Grid (Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory)
https://www.newswise.com/doescience/why-we-need-hydropower-for-a-resilient-grid/?article_id=764722
RENEWABLE ENERGY
& SELF STORAGE
21.
Wind Bust: How an Airborne Blade Exposed Broader
Problems at Portland General Electric’s Flagship Wind Farm (Oregonian,
Portland)
https://projects.oregonlive.com/wind-farms/
22.
California ISO’s First Geothermal Plant in 30
Years Comes Online (Power Magazine)
https://www.powermag.com/caisos-first-geothermal-plant-in-30-years-comes-online/
23.
U.S. Climate Law Could Jump-Start Public Power
Sector’s Clean Energy Investment (S&P Global)
24.
Four Questions to Consider Before You Go Solar (Everett
Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.heraldnet.com/life/four-questions-to-consider-before-you-go-solar/
CONSERVATION
& EFFICIENCY
25.
The Inflation Reduction Act Offers Subsidies for
Heat Pumps — Will U.S. Homeowners Warm to Them? (Yahoo! News)
26.
WA Dept of Commerce Provides $1.8 Million Grants
for Public Building Energy Efficiency (South Sound Business)
FISH &
WILDLIFE
27.
Concern for British Columbia Sockeye Salmon as Fraser
River Return Estimates Drop by Millions (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sockeye-return-concerns-1.6561278
28.
Alaska: The Salmon Mystery of Bristol Bay – Alaska’s
biggest salmon run is booming despite warming water, and scientists are trying
to understand why (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2022/08/28/the-salmon-mystery-of-bristol-bay/
ENVIRONMENTAL
AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
29.
EPA to Designate ‘Forever Chemicals’ as
Hazardous Substances (Associated Press)
30.
Supreme Court Climate Ruling Could Impact
Nuclear Waste Case (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/texas-pollution-air-ken-paxton-f82c63a42fce1c778a89fb66989ae5bb
WATER, WATER,
ANYWHERE?
31.
The Future of the American West Is in Central
Oregon (Bloomberg News)
CLIMATE CHANGE
SEQUESTRATION VAULT
32.
‘Zombie Ice’ from Greenland Will Raise Sea Level
Ten Inches (Associated Press)
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/zombie-ice-greenland-raise-sea-level-10-inches-89003077
33.
Get Ready for a New American West — Like It or Not
(Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)
34.
A Drought in Canada Is Making It Impossible to Find
Mustard in France (National Public Radio)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
35.
Fiber Broadband Association: Fiber a Factor in Move
Decisions as More Head for Rural Areas (Fierce Telecom)
https://www.fiercetelecom.com/broadband/fba-fiber-factor-move-decisions-more-head-rural-areas
36.
Fiber Broadband Association Report Shows
Broadband’s Impact on Key Areas (Pioneer Utility Resources)
https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/fbareport2022/
37.
$18.9 Million Grant Awarded to Expand Internet Access
to Carson Area, Nevada Tribal Communities (Carson News, NV)
THE WIZARDING
WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY
38.
Texas Crypto-Mining Rush May Need as Much Power
as Entire State of New York (Bloomberg News)
I SING THE CAR
ELECTRIC
39.
California Moves Toward Banning New Cars Running
Only on Gas by 2035 (Washington Post – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/08/24/california-climate-cars/
40.
Washington State Will No Longer Sell New Gas-Powered
Cars by 2035, Inslee Says – Oregon Pondering Rules (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)
41.
Electric Vehicle Interest Is Rising: How Can
Utility Companies Educate Buyers & Manage the Grid? (Daily Energy Insider)
BARREL O’ GREEN
POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
42.
NASA Scrubs Launch of Its New Moon Rocket on a No-Crew
Test Flight Because of Fuel Leaks (Associated Press)
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/nasa-scrubs-launch-moon-rocket-crew-test-flight-88996294
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Nearly Flawless 1952 Mickey Mantle Card Sells for $12.6
Million, Shattering Records
Goats Climb on Alabama Deputy’s Patrol Car, Eat Paperwork
Man Paddles 38 Miles Down the Missouri River in a Hollowed-Out
Pumpkin
Company Offering Dog Owners $150 to Get a Canine Tattoo
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/08/26/BARK-get-paid-for-dog-tattoo/6261661543300/
SONG OF THE DAY
Old Man River – Showboat Movie Soundtrack
