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ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION
January 25 – 26 - Wildfires: What Utilities Need to Know
(SeaTac, WA)
HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
U.S. Scientists Reach Long-Awaited Nuclear Fusion
Breakthrough, Source Says (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/12/politics/nuclear-fusion-energy-us-scientists-climate/index.html
Attacks On Electrical Substations in Oregon & Washington
Resemble Those in North Carolina & Raise Questions About Grid Security (The
Oregonian, Portland, OR)
Snowpack Status for the Pacific Northwest – It’s Good (Cliff
Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/12/snowpack-status-for-northwest.html
Winter Storm System Brings Heavy Snow & Rain Across U.S.
(Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
Sightings of Mammal-Eating Orcas Increasing in Puget Sound
(Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/sightings-of-mammal-eating-orcas-increasing-in-puget-sound/
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
U.S. Scientists Reach Long-Awaited Nuclear
Fusion Breakthrough, Source Says
2.
Attacks On Electrical Substations in Oregon
& Washington Resemble Those in North Carolina & Raise Questions About
Grid Security
3.
North Carolina Power Grid Attack Exposes
Vulnerabilities, Prompts Scrutiny of Other Recent Attacks
4.
Electricity Transformer Funding: A Wonky But
Necessary Solution to a Critical Resilience Problem
5.
Tribal & Government Leaders Celebrate
Klamath River Dam Removal
6.
Spokane, WA Councilors Delay Vote on Snake River
Dam Removal to Meet with Tribes
7.
Public Power, Cooperative Utilities Face
‘Deteriorating’ Outlook Amid Financial Pressures: Fitch
8.
News Release: U.S. Senators Cantwell (WA),
Murkowski (AK) Bill Would Spur Hydropower Upgrades, Restore Free Flowing Rivers
9.
Columbia Basin Hydropower & Avista Partner
on New Clean Energy Contract
10.
Fitch Affirms Boise Kuna Irrigation District, ID
(Arrowrock Hydroelectric Project) Revs at ‘A-’
11.
Virginia: Girl Power Camp Energizes Females to
Pursue Utility Careers
12.
Opinion: Republicans Deserve Credit for Power
Washington Plan
13.
Wildfire Smoke Can Slash California Solar Power
Output by Nearly a Third
14.
Energy Department Rule Would Cut Government
Building Emissions 90 Percent
15.
Sightings of Mammal-Eating Orcas Increasing in
Puget Sound
16.
WA Gov. Inslee & Whale Advocates Celebrate
Progress Made in Protecting Orcas in Puget Sound
17.
Port Townsend, WA Recognizes Rights of
Endangered Southern Resident Orcas
18.
Ban on Salmon Farming in Wash. Ignites New
Worries in Maine
19.
Tribes Seek U.S. Help to Curb Canadian Mining
Threats to Northwestern States
20.
Snowpack Status for the Pacific Northwest – It’s
Good
21.
Oregon Lawmakers Consider Creating ‘Water Czar’
for High-Level Decisions
22.
Not Rolling on the River: Drought Tests
America’s Main Water Highway
23.
Washington’s Green New Deal: Climate Agenda
Generates Many Unanswered Questions
24.
‘Firmageddon:’ Researchers Find 1.1 Million
Acres of Dead Trees in Oregon
25.
Company That Runs Tacoma’s Click Being Sold to
Global Infrastructure Management Firm
26.
Wash. Dept. Of Commerce Seeks Resident Help to
Preserve Broadband Funding
27.
Electrifying Trucking Would Require a Major
Chunk of the U.S. Power Grid, Transportation Institute Says
28.
In a Future Filled with Electric Cars, AM Radio
Could Be Left Behind
29.
Twitter Blue to Relaunch with Actual Verification
Process, Higher Price for Apple Users
30.
Elon Musk Now Says Twitter’s 280-Character Limit
Will Increase To 4000
31.
Pouring Through a Crisis: How Budweiser Salvaged
Its World Cup
32.
Mason PUD 3 Commissioner Bruce Jorgenson
Announces Retirement
33.
Winter Storm System Brings Heavy Snow & Rain
Across U.S.
34. Inflation Drives Up Cost to Replace Interstate 5 Bridge by Billions, Transportation Officials Say
WORD OF THE DAY – THE HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION
Speleology /spee-lee-OLL-oh-gee/ Noun – The scientific study or exploration of caves.
I am a caveman
Speleology
Spelunker’s passion
ENERGY &
UTILITY ISSUES
1.
U.S. Scientists Reach Long-Awaited Nuclear
Fusion Breakthrough, Source Says (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/12/politics/nuclear-fusion-energy-us-scientists-climate/index.html
2.
Attacks On Electrical Substations in Oregon
& Washington Resemble Those in North Carolina & Raise Questions About
Grid Security (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
3.
North Carolina Power Grid Attack Exposes
Vulnerabilities, Prompts Scrutiny of Other Recent Attacks (Yahoo! News)
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/north-carolina-power-grid-attack-175915471.html
4.
Electricity Transformer Funding: A Wonky But
Necessary Solution to a Critical Resilience Problem (The Hill, Washington, DC)
5.
Tribal & Government Leaders Celebrate Klamath
River Dam Removal (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)
6.
Spokane, WA Councilors Delay Vote on Snake River
Dam Removal to Meet with Tribes (The Center Square)
7.
Public Power, Cooperative Utilities Face ‘Deteriorating’
Outlook Amid Financial Pressures: Fitch (Utility Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/public-power-cooperative-utilities-financial-fitch-ratings/638133/
8.
News Release: U.S. Senators Cantwell (WA),
Murkowski (AK) Bill Would Spur Hydropower Upgrades, Restore Free Flowing Rivers
(U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, AK)
9.
Columbia Basin Hydropower & Avista Partner on
New Clean Energy Contract (GuruFocus)
10.
Fitch Affirms Boise Kuna Irrigation District, ID
(Arrowrock Hydroelectric Project) Revs at ‘A-’ (Fitch Ratings)
11.
Virginia: Girl Power Camp Energizes Females to
Pursue Utility Careers (Culpepper Star Exponent, VA)
SOAPBOX SERENADE
– VOX POPULI
12.
Opinion: Republicans Deserve Credit for Power
Washington Plan (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)
RENEWABLE ENERGY
& SELF STORAGE
13.
Wildfire Smoke Can Slash California Solar Power
Output by Nearly a Third (San Jose Mercury News, CA – Paywall Advisory)
CONSERVATION
& EFFICIENCY
14.
Energy Department Rule Would Cut Government
Building Emissions 90 Percent (The Hill, Washington, DC)
FISH &
WILDLIFE
15.
Sightings of Mammal-Eating Orcas Increasing in Puget
Sound (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/sightings-of-mammal-eating-orcas-increasing-in-puget-sound/
16.
WA Gov. Inslee & Whale Advocates Celebrate
Progress Made in Protecting Orcas in Puget Sound (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)
17.
Port Townsend, WA Recognizes Rights of
Endangered Southern Resident Orcas (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
18.
Ban on Salmon Farming in Wash. Ignites New
Worries in Maine (CNBC News)
ENVIRONMENTAL
AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
19.
Tribes Seek U.S. Help to Curb Canadian Mining
Threats to Northwestern States (The Daily Montanan)
WATER, WATER,
ANYWHERE?
20.
Snowpack Status for the Pacific Northwest – It’s
Good (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/12/snowpack-status-for-northwest.html
21.
Oregon Lawmakers Consider Creating ‘Water Czar’ for
High-Level Decisions (Capital Press)
22.
Not Rolling on the River: Drought Tests America’s
Main Water Highway (Christian Science Monitor)
CLIMATE CHANGE
SEQUESTRATION VAULT
23.
Washington’s Green New Deal: Climate Agenda
Generates Many Unanswered Questions (Capital Press)
24.
‘Firmageddon:’ Researchers Find 1.1 Million
Acres of Dead Trees in Oregon (NBC News)
https://news.yahoo.com/firmageddon-researchers-1-1-million-150000577.html
LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS
25.
Company That Runs Tacoma’s Click Being Sold to
Global Infrastructure Management Firm (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Paywall
Advisory)
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article269692431.html
26.
Wash. Dept. Of Commerce Seeks Resident Help to
Preserve Broadband Funding (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/dec/08/wash-dept-commerce-seeks-resident-help-preserve-br/
I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC
27.
Electrifying Trucking Would Require a Major
Chunk of the U.S. Power Grid, Transportation Institute Says (Utility Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ATRI-BEV-infrastructure-energy-requirements-report/638408/
28.
In a Future Filled with Electric Cars, AM Radio
Could Be Left Behind (KVIA-TV, El Paso, TX)
PUBLIC RELATIONS,
MARKETING & MEDIA
29.
Twitter Blue to Relaunch with Actual
Verification Process, Higher Price for Apple Users (TechCrunch)
30.
Elon Musk Now Says Twitter’s 280-Character Limit
Will Increase To 4000 (Mashable)
https://mashable.com/article/twitter-character-limit-4000-elon-musk
31.
Pouring Through a Crisis: How Budweiser Salvaged
Its World Cup (Yahoo! News)
https://news.yahoo.com/pouring-crisis-budweiser-salvaged-world-124703466.html
GOVERNMENT &
GOVERNANCE
32.
Mason PUD 3 Commissioner Bruce Jorgenson
Announces Retirement (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
https://masonwebtv.com/archives/50693
OTHER THINGS TO
KNOW ABOUT TODAY
33.
Winter Storm System Brings Heavy Snow & Rain
Across U.S. (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
34.
Inflation Drives Up Cost to Replace Interstate 5
Bridge by Billions, Transportation Officials Say (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2022/12/09/interstate-5-bridge-replacement-inflation-adds-billions-cost/
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Cringe Quiz: Are You Fluent in Gen-Z Office Speak?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2022/gen-z-work-slang-quiz/
Jeans Pulled from 1857 ‘Ship of Gold’ Shipwreck Sell for $114,000
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pants-1857-ship-of-gold-shipwreck-sell-for-114000-ss-central-america/
The Year’s ‘Most Dependable’ Meteor Shower Peaks This Week. Here’s
How & When to Watch
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/2022-geminids-1.6679409?cmp=rss
Sunken Ship Carrying British Columbia Gold to Be Salvaged
Nearly 150 Years Later
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-shipwreck-set-to-be-salvaged-1.6681923?cmp=rss
SONG OF THE DAY
Steely Dan – Hey Nineteen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ11Vq6N7rk
LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY
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