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.
ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION
Powerful Lineup for NWPPA’s December 7 Power Supply
Conference (Northwest Public Power Association)
HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
FBI Joins Investigation Into North Carolina Power Outage
Caused by ‘Intentional’ Attacks on Substations (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/us/power-outage-moore-county-investigation-monday/index.html
Officials Fear ‘Complete Doomsday Scenario’ for
Drought-Stricken Colorado River (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/12/01/drought-colorado-river-lake-powell/
Herrings Are Swimming Back to the Salish Sea (Crosscut
Seattle)
https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/12/herrings-are-swimming-back-salish-sea
Rooftop Solar in California Won’t Be the Deal It Once Was
Under New Proposed Rate Structure (Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, CA)
Instagram Is Over – The App’s Original Purpose Has Been Lost
in the Era of ‘Performance’ Media. (Atlantic Magazine)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
FBI Joins Investigation Into North Carolina
Power Outage Caused by ‘Intentional’ Attacks on Substations
2.
FBI Called to Investigate Firearms Attacks on
Duke Energy Substations in North Carolina; 40,000 without Power
3.
North Carolina Power Outages Could Last Days
After Substation Shootings
4.
North Carolina: Latest Update – Attack by
‘Cowards’ Could Leave Moore County without Power for Days
5.
Energy Bills Rise as Some WA Households Struggle
to Keep Warm
6.
Idaho has the Lowest Electricity Rates in the
Country, Washington State is 7th Lowest
7.
Chelan County PUD Considers Joining Resource
Program as Climate Legislation Generates Uncertainty
8.
PacifiCorp Interconnection Plan for Retiring
Power Plants Sparks Anti-Competitive Concerns at FERC
9.
Public Can Weigh in on Boardman to Hemingway
Transmission Lines at Virtual Meeting Dec. 5
10.
Environmentalists Fight Tennessee Valley
Authority’s Long-Term Contracts
11.
Tennessee Valley Authority Recommends Natural
Gas Plant Despite Objections
12.
The U.S. Wants to Slash Carbon Emissions from
Power Plants. Natural Gas Is in the Way
13.
Why Silicon Valley Is So Hot on Nuclear Energy
& What It Means for the Industry
14.
First Nation in Western British Columbia Making
Strides Toward Energy Sovereignty
15.
Washington State Has Low Electricity Prices.
Will It Stay That Way?
16.
Guest Essay: Are the Dams Really Damnable?
17.
Opinion: Big Changes Coming to the Daily Herald
of Everett
18.
Rooftop Solar in California Won’t Be the Deal It
Once Was Under New Proposed Rate Structure
19.
Wind Energy Industry Struggles to Find Qualified
Workers: NREL
20.
Renewables Produced Nearly a Quarter of U.S.
Electricity During First Three-Fourths of 2022
21.
Want to Solve Climate Change? Open More Land to
Solar, Industry Leader Says
22.
U.S. Wind Generation Falls into Regional
Patterns by Season
23.
Okanogan PUD Pumps Savings to WA State
Irrigation District
24.
Are Christmas Lights Jacking Up Your Electric
Bill? Big Displays Could Cost You Hundreds
25.
Column: Winterize Your Home Before It’s Too Late
26.
Herrings Are Swimming Back to the Salish Sea
27.
Bill Monroe: Over the River & Through the
Woods, Salmon Returns Make Merry
28.
WA State: Cascade School District’s Home Link
Classes Take Deep Dive into Local River Issues
29.
In Mexico, Endangered Monarch Butterflies
Inspire Hopes of a Comeback
30.
EPA Proposes Restrictions to Block Proposed
Alaska Mine in Bristol Bay Region
31.
Massive Die-Off Hits Fir Trees Across Pacific
Northwest
32.
Officials Fear ‘Complete Doomsday Scenario’ for
Drought-Stricken Colorado River
33.
EPA Announces Proposal to Protect Tribal
Reserved Rights in Water Quality Standards
34.
WA State Sets Price Limits for New
Carbon-Trading Market
35.
Finding Safe Haven in the Climate Change Future:
The Pacific Northwest
36.
Pawpaws, America’s Latest Fruit Craze, Are Being
Threatened by Climate Change
37.
Montana: State Officials Visit Butte Monday to
Hear High Speed Broadband Suggestions
38.
FCC Broadband Mapping
39.
WA State: New Douglas County Microsoft Data
Center Launches with Party, Tour
40.
WA State: Electric Vehicles Spur Big Forecast
Jump for Snohomish PUD Demand
41.
Airlines’ Next Struggle? Where to Plug in Their
Planes
42.
Instagram Is Over – The App’s Original Purpose
Has Been Lost in the Era of ‘Performance’ Media.
43.
Viva Magenta – Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year
Revealed — And It’s Unexpectedly Bright
44.
Seven Common Grammar Gaffes, With Brenda Dunn
45.
Two Minerals, Never-Before-Seen on Earth, Found
in One of Planet’s Largest Known Meteorites
46.
Many States Fail to Adequately Budget for
Wildfire Costs, Study Says
47. Starting in 2023, Most Employers Must List Salary Details in Job Ads in Washington State
WORD OF THE DAY
Jejune /jeh-JOON/Adjective – 1: devoid of significance or interest: dull 2: juvenile, puerile 3: lacking nutritive value.
“A child wizard?” smirked the bespectacled publisher. “Who would find such a jejune story interesting in the least.” So began the first of 12 manuscript rejections before Bloomsbury Publishing decided to roll the dice on the diminutive Harry Potter.
ENERGY &
UTILITY ISSUES
1.
FBI Joins Investigation Into North Carolina Power
Outage Caused by ‘Intentional’ Attacks on Substations (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/us/power-outage-moore-county-investigation-monday/index.html
2.
FBI Called to Investigate Firearms Attacks on
Duke Energy Substations in North Carolina; 40,000 without Power (Utility Dive)
3.
North Carolina Power Outages Could Last Days
After Substation Shootings (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/crime-north-carolina-052f618466c84b841b467b55c222717a
4.
North Carolina: Latest Update – Attack by ‘Cowards’
Could Leave Moore County without Power For Days (Raleigh News & Observer,
NC)
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article269579392.html
5.
Energy Bills Rise as Some WA Households Struggle
to Keep Warm (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
6.
Idaho has the Lowest Electricity Rates in the
Country, Washington State is 7th Lowest (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)
7.
Chelan County PUD Considers Joining Resource
Program as Climate Legislation Generates Uncertainty (Wenatchee World, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
8.
PacifiCorp Interconnection Plan for Retiring
Power Plants Sparks Anti-Competitive Concerns at FERC (Utility Dive)
9.
Public Can Weigh in on Boardman to Hemingway
Transmission Lines at Virtual Meeting Dec. 5 (LaGrande Observer, OR)
10.
Environmentalists Fight Tennessee Valley
Authority’s Long-Term Contracts (Associated Press)
11.
Tennessee Valley Authority Recommends Natural
Gas Plant Despite Objections (Associated Press)
12.
The U.S. Wants to Slash Carbon Emissions from Power
Plants. Natural Gas Is in the Way (National Public Radio)
13.
Why Silicon Valley Is So Hot on Nuclear Energy &
What It Means for the Industry (CNBC News)
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/02/why-silicon-valley-is-so-hot-on-nuclear-energy.html
14.
First Nation in Western British Columbia Making
Strides Toward Energy Sovereignty (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/heilstuk-nation-energy-sovereignty-1.6672940
SOAPBOX SERENADE
– VOX POPULI
15.
Washington State Has Low Electricity Prices.
Will It Stay That Way? (The Center Square)
16.
Guest Essay: Are the Dams Really Damnable?
(Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)
17.
Opinion: Big Changes Coming to the Daily Herald
of Everett (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/big-changes-coming-to-the-everett-herald/
RENEWABLE ENERGY
& SELF STORAGE
18.
Rooftop Solar in California Won’t Be the Deal It
Once Was Under New Proposed Rate Structure (Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, CA)
19.
Wind Energy Industry Struggles to Find Qualified
Workers: NREL (Utility Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/wind-energy-workforce-experience-paradox-struggle-jobs-nrel/637690/
20.
Renewables Produced Nearly a Quarter of U.S.
Electricity During First Three-Fourths of 2022 (EcoWatch)
https://www.ecowatch.com/renewables-produced-quarter-of-u-s-electricity.html
21.
Want to Solve Climate Change? Open More Land to
Solar, Industry Leader Says (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)
22.
U.S. Wind Generation Falls into Regional
Patterns by Season (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=54819
CONSERVATION
& EFFICIENCY
23.
Okanogan PUD Pumps Savings to WA State Irrigation
District (Bonneville Power Administration)
24.
Are Christmas Lights Jacking Up Your Electric
Bill? Big Displays Could Cost You Hundreds (USA Today)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/12/05/christmas-lights-electric-bill/10803220002/
25.
Column: Winterize Your Home Before It’s Too Late
(Tahlequah Daily Press, OK)
FISH &
WILDLIFE
26.
Herrings Are Swimming Back to the Salish Sea
(Crosscut Seattle)
https://crosscut.com/environment/2022/12/herrings-are-swimming-back-salish-sea
27.
Bill Monroe: Over the River & Through the
Woods, Salmon Returns Make Merry (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
28.
WA State: Cascade School District’s Home Link
Classes Take Deep Dive into Local River Issues (Leavenworth Echo, WA)
29.
In Mexico, Endangered Monarch Butterflies
Inspire Hopes of a Comeback (Reuters)
ENVIRONMENTAL
AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
30.
EPA Proposes Restrictions to Block Proposed
Alaska Mine in Bristol Bay Region (Associated Press)
31.
Massive Die-Off Hits Fir Trees Across Pacific
Northwest (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/dec/04/massive-die-off-hits-fir-trees-across-pacific-northwest/
WATER, WATER,
ANYWHERE?
32.
Officials Fear ‘Complete Doomsday Scenario’ for
Drought-Stricken Colorado River (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/12/01/drought-colorado-river-lake-powell/
33.
EPA Announces Proposal to Protect Tribal
Reserved Rights in Water Quality Standards (Water & Waste Digest)
CLIMATE CHANGE
SEQUESTRATION VAULT
34.
WA State Sets Price Limits for New
Carbon-Trading Market (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
35.
Finding Safe Haven in the Climate Change Future:
The Pacific Northwest (Yahoo! News)
36.
Pawpaws, America’s Latest Fruit Craze, Are Being
Threatened by Climate Change (Grist Online)
LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS
37.
Montana: State Officials Visit Butte Monday to Hear
High Speed Broadband Suggestions (KTVM-TV, Butte, MT)
38.
FCC Broadband Mapping (WA State Department of
Commerce)
https://www.commerce.wa.gov/fcc-broadband-mapping/
BEAM ME UP,
SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY
39.
WA State: New Douglas County Microsoft Data
Center Launches with Party, Tour (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)
I SING THE CAR
ELECTRIC
40.
WA State: Electric Vehicles Spur Big Forecast
Jump for Snohomish PUD Demand (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/electric-vehicles-spur-big-forecast-jump-for-pud-demand/
41.
Airlines’ Next Struggle? Where to Plug in Their
Planes (Axios)
https://www.axios.com/2022/12/01/united-airlines-batteries
PUBLIC RELATIONS,
MARKETING & MEDIA
42.
Instagram Is Over – The App’s Original Purpose
Has Been Lost in the Era of ‘Performance’ Media. (Atlantic Magazine)
43.
Viva Magenta – Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year
Revealed — And It’s Unexpectedly Bright (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/pantone-color-of-the-year-2023-viva-magenta/index.html
44.
Seven Common Grammar Gaffes, With Brenda Dunn
(Pioneer Utility Resources)
https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/episode/grammar/
BARREL O’ GREEN
POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
45.
Two Minerals, Never-Before-Seen on Earth, Found
in One of Planet’s Largest Known Meteorites (Yahoo! News)
https://news.yahoo.com/two-minerals-never-seen-earth-224912672.html
OTHER THINGS TO
KNOW ABOUT TODAY
46.
Many States Fail to Adequately Budget for
Wildfire Costs, Study Says (Northwest News Network)
47.
Starting in 2023, Most Employers Must List
Salary Details in Job Ads in Washington State (Tacoma News Tribune, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
https://www.thenewstribune.com/jobs/article269527742.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Die-Hard Fan Buys ‘Goonies’ House in Astoria, Oregon
https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/die-hard-fan-buys-goonies-house-in-oregon/
Couple Face Huge Energy Bill as Christmas Tree Planted
44-Years Ago Reaches 50ft – And Becomes Festive Icon
Dog With Missing Ear Named Van Gogh Gets Adopted after
Shelter Hosts Art Auction of His Paintings
‘Goblin Mode’ Is Oxford’s Word of the Year
https://mashable.com/article/goblin-mode-oxford-word-of-year
SONG OF THE DAY
The Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFWe2aVrIbo
LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY
Links in The Energy News Digest lead to current stories. I try to choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, although individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help in accessing some paywall sites.
Please note that media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.
