Wednesday, October 12, 2022

The Energy News Digest for October 12, 2022

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

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

WA State: Double-Digit Energy Bill Hikes Coming to Puget Sound Energy Customers in 2023 (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/10/09/puget-sound-energy-customers-double-digit-bill-hikes-washington-state/8188747001/

Montana: Power Bills Grow This Month – PSC Commissioner Wants Any ‘Brownouts’ Directed at Missoula (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2022/10/11/electricity-bills-increasing-across-montana-after-rates-approved/69556464007/

Fishing Crews Stunned as Two Crab Seasons Called-Off (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://nwnewsradio.com/northwest-news/fishing-crews-stunned-as-two-seasons-called-off/

WA State: Solar Moratorium Remains as Yakima County Works on Siting Rules for Farms (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/solar-moratorium-remains-as-yakima-county-works-on-siting-rules-for-farms/article_1c1d01d8-4437-11ed-9544-732ca7f28ace.html

Weathercatch: It’s Warm Now, But Here’s What the ‘Triple Dip’ La Nina Could Mean for the Pacific Northwest (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/oct/06/weathercatch-what-the-triple-dip-la-nina-could-mea/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      WA State: Double-Digit Energy Bill Hikes Coming to Puget Sound Energy Customers in 2023

2.      Montana: Power Bills Grow This Month – PSC Commissioner Wants Any ‘Brownouts’ Directed at Missoula

3.      Natural Gas Prices Are Rising. That’s Worse News for Ratepayers Than Utilities

4.      Energy Information Administration Expects Most U.S. Households to Pay More for Heating This Winter

5.      U.S. Natural Gas Production Set a New Record in 2021

6.      Dodging Blackouts, California Faces New Questions on Its Power Supply

7.      High Energy Rankings Unsurprising for Pacific Northwest

8.      Conclusion of Round 14 of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime

9.      Alaska: Kootznoowoo, Forest Service Partner to Develop Hydroelectric Project

10.   California: Hyatt Powerplant Not Expected to Go Offline This Year

11.   Tree Trimmer Dies After Being Pulled into Chipper in California

12.   United Kingdom: Liz Truss Refuses to Rule Out Power Cuts Hitting Homes This Winter – UK Warned It Could Face Three-Hour Daily Blackouts

13.   Guest Essay: Lessons from California on Preventing Power Failures During Heat Waves

14.   Opinion: Washington Needs ‘All-of-the-Above’ Approach to Energy Future

15.   Commentary: From Salmon, to Climate, to Clean Fuel Standards - Don’t Hold It Against Us: How Disclaimers Undermine the Value of Government Reports

16.   Guest Essay: Firewood Is New European Gold

17.   WA State: Solar Moratorium Remains as Yakima County Works on Siting Rules for Farms

18.   California: Kern County Wins Solar Lawsuit Over Ag Easements

19.   Oregon Companies Are Recycling Aged-Out Wind Turbines

20.   U.S. Wind, Solar Tripled Over the Past Decade: Analysis

21.   What a Supreme Court Case on Pigs Means for Renewable Energy

22.   State’s Climate Decision: Abandon Gas Furnaces & Embrace Heat Pumps?

23.   Fishing Crews Stunned as Two Crab Seasons Called-Off

24.   Mixed Results for Idaho Sockeye Salmon Return This Year

25.   Puget Sound Salmon Habitat Restored with Tribes Leading the Way

26.   Back from the Brink. Once Threatened Pelicans Are Thriving on a WA Island Near Tri-Cities

27.   The Federal Government Can’t Dispose of Some Nuclear Waste. It Could Lead to a Disaster.

28.   Study: Warming Winters Will Thaw Frozen Manure, Further Polluting U.S. Waters

29.   California’s Opening Bid Won’t Solve the Colorado River Crisis Alone

30.   Washington State to Launch Carbon Cap-And-Trade Program in January, with Tie to California Program Possible

31.   Greta Thunberg Says Ditching Nuclear Power While Keeping Coal Is ‘A Mistake’

32.   Analyzing Extreme Weather Events in Energy Planning

33.   New Zealand Proposes Cow-Burp Tax to Fight Climate Change

34.   WA State: Internet Lacking in Parts of North Kitsap County

35.   What Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle at Home – Will the Grid Handle It?

36.   WA State:  Jefferson County Electric Vehicle Expo Showcases Models, Financing & Current Owners

37.   Weathercatch: It’s Warm Now, But Here’s What the ‘Triple Dip’ La Nina Could Mean for the Pacific Northwest

38.   Hurricane Ian Is 15th Billion-Dollar Disaster in U.S. This Year

39.   Columbus Day Storm: 60 Years Ago, A Look Back at the Pacific Northwest Storm All Others Are Measured Against

WORD OF THE DAY – Horrible Haiku Edition

Devoid \dih-VOYD\ Adjective - Being without a usual, typical, or expected attribute or accompaniment.

Fall’s cold grip, summer’s gone

Devoid of mercy, snow comes

Snows blanket the hills

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      WA State: Double-Digit Energy Bill Hikes Coming to Puget Sound Energy Customers in 2023 (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/10/09/puget-sound-energy-customers-double-digit-bill-hikes-washington-state/8188747001/

2.      Montana: Power Bills Grow This Month – PSC Commissioner Wants Any ‘Brownouts’ Directed at Missoula (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2022/10/11/electricity-bills-increasing-across-montana-after-rates-approved/69556464007/

3.      Natural Gas Prices Are Rising. That’s Worse News for Ratepayers Than Utilities (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2022/10/12/natural-gas-prices-are-rising-thats-worse-news-for-ratepayers-than-utilities/

4.      Energy Information Administration Expects Most U.S. Households to Pay More for Heating This Winter (U.S. Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/pressroom/releases/press519.php

5.      U.S. Natural Gas Production Set a New Record in 2021 (U.S. Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=54200

6.      Dodging Blackouts, California Faces New Questions on Its Power Supply (New York Times, NY – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/25/business/energy-environment/california-energy-grid-heat.html

7.      High Energy Rankings Unsurprising for Pacific Northwest (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/2022/20221005-high-energy-rankings-unsurprising-for-northwest

8.      Conclusion of Round 14 of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime (U.S. Department of State)

https://www.state.gov/conclusion-of-round-14-of-negotiations-to-modernize-the-columbia-river-treaty-regime/

9.      Alaska: Kootznoowoo, Forest Service Partner to Develop Hydroelectric Project (KINY Radio, Juneau, AK)

https://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/kootznoowoo-forest-service-partner-to-develop-hydroelectric-project/

10.   California: Hyatt Powerplant Not Expected to Go Offline This Year (Chico Enterprise-Record, CA)

https://www.chicoer.com/2022/10/11/hyatt-powerplant-not-expected-to-go-offline-this-year/

11.   Tree Trimmer Dies After Being Pulled into Chipper in California (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tree-trimmer-dies-pulled-chipper-california-rcna51802

12.   United Kingdom: Liz Truss Refuses to Rule Out Power Cuts Hitting Homes This Winter – UK Warned It Could Face Three-Hour Daily Blackouts (The Telegraph, UK)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/06/uk-warned-could-face-three-hour-daily-blackouts-winter/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   Guest Essay: Lessons from California on Preventing Power Failures During Heat Waves (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/lessons-from-california-on-preventing-power-failures-during-heat-waves/

14.   Opinion: Washington Needs ‘All-of-the-Above’ Approach to Energy Future (South Sound Business)

https://www.southsoundbiz.com/opinion/opinion-washington-needs-all-of-the-above-approach-to-energy-future/article_f4d47a00-4410-11ed-bcc3-dfdbecbd616e.html

15.   Commentary: From Salmon, to Climate, to Clean Fuel Standards - Don’t Hold It Against Us: How Disclaimers Undermine the Value of Government Reports (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/dont-hold-it-against-us-how-disclaimers-undermine-the-value-of-government-reports

16.   Guest Essay: Firewood Is New European Gold (Cheney Free Press, WA)

https://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2022/10/06/opinion/firewood-is-new-european-gold/30047.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

17.   WA State: Solar Moratorium Remains as Yakima County Works on Siting Rules for Farms (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/solar-moratorium-remains-as-yakima-county-works-on-siting-rules-for-farms/article_1c1d01d8-4437-11ed-9544-732ca7f28ace.html

18.   California: Kern County Wins Solar Lawsuit Over Ag Easements (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/county-wins-solar-lawsuit-over-ag-easements/article_4223043e-45d3-11ed-9aa9-cbb8f0bc3bcc.html

19.   Oregon Companies Are Recycling Aged-Out Wind Turbines (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/oregon-companies-are-recycling-aged-out-wind-turbines/

20.   U.S. Wind, Solar Tripled Over the Past Decade: Analysis (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3675708-us-wind-solar-tripled-over-the-past-decade-analysis/

21.   What a Supreme Court Case on Pigs Means for Renewable Energy (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/what-a-supreme-court-case-on-pigs-means-for-renewable-energy/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

22.   State’s Climate Decision: Abandon Gas Furnaces & Embrace Heat Pumps? (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://nwnewsradio.com/northwest-news/states-climate-decision-abandon-gas-furnaces-and-embrace-heat-pumps/

FISH & WILDLIFE

23.   Fishing Crews Stunned as Two Crab Seasons Called-Off (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://nwnewsradio.com/northwest-news/fishing-crews-stunned-as-two-seasons-called-off/

24.   Mixed Results for Idaho Sockeye Salmon Return This Year (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-lakes-fish-pacific-ocean-oceans-bdfda825b1d14d92998d1d75e35ad87e

25.   Puget Sound Salmon Habitat Restored with Tribes Leading the Way (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/puget-sound-salmon-habitat-restored-with-tribes-leading-the-way/

26.   Back from the Brink. Once Threatened Pelicans Are Thriving on a WA Island Near Tri-Cities (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/outdoors/article266961791.html

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

27.   The Federal Government Can’t Dispose of Some Nuclear Waste. It Could Lead to a Disaster. (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/nuclear-waste-disposal/507-ae770aa1-41a2-41f6-9bc9-7f4da32d3fd7

28.   Study: Warming Winters Will Thaw Frozen Manure, Further Polluting U.S. Waters (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/article/study-warming-winters-will-thaw-frozen-manure-further-polluting-u-s-waters/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

29.   California’s Opening Bid Won’t Solve the Colorado River Crisis Alone (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/californias-opening-bid-wont-solve-134430775.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

30.   Washington State to Launch Carbon Cap-And-Trade Program in January, with Tie to California Program Possible (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-to-launch-carbon-cap-and-trade-program-in-january-with-tie-to-c/633537/

31.   Greta Thunberg Says Ditching Nuclear Power While Keeping Coal Is ‘A Mistake’ (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/greta-thunberg-nuclear_n_6345ac28e4b028164539bd84

32.   Analyzing Extreme Weather Events in Energy Planning (NW Power & Conservation Council)

https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/2022/09/27/analyzing-extreme-weather-events-in-energy-planning/

33.   New Zealand Proposes Cow-Burp Tax to Fight Climate Change (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/new-zealand-proposes-cow-burp-tax-to-fight-climate-change-185050480.html

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

34.   WA State: Internet Lacking in Parts of North Kitsap County (Kitsap Daily News, Bainbridge Island, WA)

https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/internet-lacking-in-parts-of-n-kitsap/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

35.   What Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle at Home – Will the Grid Handle It? (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/2022/09/30/what-does-it-cost-to-charge-an-ev-at-home-and-will-the-grid-handle-it/

36.   WA State:  Jefferson County Electric Vehicle Expo Showcases Models, Financing & Current Owners (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/electric-vehicle-expo-showcases-models-financing-and-current-owners/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

37.   Weathercatch: It’s Warm Now, But Here’s What the ‘Triple Dip’ La Nina Could Mean for the Pacific Northwest (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/oct/06/weathercatch-what-the-triple-dip-la-nina-could-mea/

38.   Hurricane Ian Is 15th Billion-Dollar Disaster in U.S. This Year (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3683287-hurricane-ian-is-15th-billion-dollar-disaster-in-u-s-this-year/

39.   Columbus Day Storm: 60 Years Ago, A Look Back at the Pacific Northwest Storm All Others Are Measured Against (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/columbus-day-storm-the-storm-that-all-other-pacific-nw-wind-storms-are-measured-against

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Angela Lansbury, Celebrated Star of ‘Murder, She Wrote’, ‘Beauty & the Beast,’ Dies at 96

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/angela-lansbury-murder-she-wrote-beauty-and-the-beast-obituary-204636300.html

Cowlitz Indian Tribe Featured in New Netflix Animated Children’s Show (Includes a shout-out to my nephew and fellow Cowlitz member Joseph Clift)

https://www.cbc.ca/arts/why-i-m-excited-my-kids-can-finally-see-playful-indigenous-representation-in-netflix-s-spirit-rangers-1.6613724

Fat Bear Week Winner Crowned After Cheating Scandal

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63218790

Man Charged with Smuggling Pythons in His Pants at U.S. Border

https://apnews.com/article/oddities-new-york-city-albany-queens-79ed703a16f495175f585ebea1c0f5ac

SONG OF THE DAY

Angela Lansbury – Beauty and the Beast (Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b2R6yzIzE