Monday, December 19, 2022

The Energy News Digest for December 19, 2022

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

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

President Biden Wants ‘Green’ Economy, But Talks Fail to Revive Key WA State Aluminum Plant (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/dec/16/biden-wants-green-economy-but-talks-fail-to-revive/

Bonneville Power Administration Carves Path to Join Western Resource Adequacy Program (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/2022/20221216-bpa-carves-path-to-join-western-resource-adequacy-program

Arctic Air Will Blast Much of U.S. Just Before Christmas (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/12/18/arctic-air-will-blast-much-of-us-just-before-christmas/

Oregon: Google’s Water Use Is Soaring in the Dalles, Records Show, With Two More Data Centers to Come (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2022/12/googles-water-use-is-soaring-in-the-dalles-records-show-with-two-more-data-centers-to-come.html

California Slashes Payments to New Rooftop-Solar Customers (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/california-slashes-payments-to-new-rooftop-solar-customers

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      President Biden Wants ‘Green’ Economy, But Talks Fail to Revive Key WA State Aluminum Plant

2.      Bonneville Power Administration Carves Path to Join Western Resource Adequacy Program

3.      California & the Midwest Face ‘High Risk’ of Electricity Shortages in Next Five Years

4.      Growing Fears of ‘Dead Pool’ on Colorado River as Drought Threatens Hoover Dam Water

5.      Clark Public Utilities Ranked Highest in Segment for Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power, 15 Years in a Row

6.      U.S. Department of Energy Releases County-by-County Data Detailing Energy Jobs Data

7.      Chart: What’s The Top Source of Electricity in Your State?

8.      Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Common Ground as Power Demand Soars

9.      Opinion: While Some Cities Fantasize About Municipal Internet, Tacoma Has Squandered Click! Network

10.   Editorial: Electric Power System by Mandate, Not Design

11.   California Slashes Payments to New Rooftop-Solar Customers

12.   Idaho Cobalt Mine Could Help Transition U.S. to Green Energy, But at What Cost?

13.   A Rare Nevada Flower Gets ‘Endangered’ Status, Raising Questions for a Proposed Lithium Mine

14.   WA State: Port of Grays Harbor Approves Green Hydrogen Project

15.   Alaska: Unalaska City Eyes Wind Power as Geothermal Project Simmers

16.   Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeship Requirements Bring New Challenges to Large Solar Projects

17.   Biden Administration Moves to Phase Out Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs & Push Market Toward LEDs

18.   NOAA Announces Historic Funding for Fish Habitats Across U.S.

19.   Congress OKs Spending for WA State Green River Dam Fish Passage

20.   WA Gov. Inslee Lays Out 2023-25 WDFW Budget, Salmon Proposals

21.   Something Entirely New: Using Dams to Save Salmon

22.   The Collapse of Insects

23.   Oregon: Google’s Water Use Is Soaring in the Dalles, Records Show, With Two More Data Centers to Come

24.   ‘Everything All at Once, Yesterday:’ Takeaways from a Colorado River Gathering

25.   Owner of WA Natural Gas Power Plant Sues State Over Carbon-Pricing Law

26.   Milwaukie Becomes Second-Largest Oregon City to Ban Natural Gas in New Construction

27.   California Making Progress Decarbonizing Energy Generation but with Mixed Results

28.   WA State: Chelan County PUD Presses for Broadband Grant Funding to Supply Internet to Over 85% of the County

29.   Weight of Electric Vehicles Could Cause ‘Catastrophic’ Damage & ‘Lead to Car Parks Collapsing’

30.   Electric Cars Make Utility Bills Cheaper for Everyone, New Research Finds

31.   Twitter Briefly Banned Links & Username Mentions Relating to Facebook, Instagram & Other Rivals

32.   We the People: Cathy McMorris Rodgers Finally Has Her Dream Job in Congress, Leading Energy & Commerce Committee

33.   Arctic Air Will Blast Much of U.S. Just Before Christmas

34.   Winter Storm Watch: 2-7 Inches of Snow Expected for Seattle, Everett

35.   Lowland Snow is Coming on Tuesday to Washington State

36.   Winter Storm Watch for Much of Western Washington State

37.   Wind Chill Watch for Eastern Washington State

38.   ‘It Could Happen Tomorrow’: Experts Know Disaster Upon Disaster Looms for West Coast

WORD OF THE DAY

Ascetic • \uh-SET-ik\ • adjective – 1: practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline *2: austere in appearance, manner, or attitude

Agnes decided that when announcing the increase in her occult-based financial security program that it would be best to take an ascetic approach. Instead of the bangles, bells and gold-embroidered costumes that marked her channeling of “Bogart, the Billion Dollar Spirit Advisor,” she wore a plain, black shroud that looked as if it had fallen off the back of a truck in rural Thurston County.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      President Biden Wants ‘Green’ Economy, But Talks Fail to Revive Key WA State Aluminum Plant (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/dec/16/biden-wants-green-economy-but-talks-fail-to-revive/

2.      Bonneville Power Administration Carves Path to Join Western Resource Adequacy Program (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/2022/20221216-bpa-carves-path-to-join-western-resource-adequacy-program

3.      California & the Midwest Face ‘High Risk’ of Electricity Shortages in Next Five Years (CNBC News)

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/15/california-midwest-at-high-risk-of-electricity-shortages-nerc.html

4.      Growing Fears of ‘Dead Pool’ on Colorado River as Drought Threatens Hoover Dam Water (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/growing-fears-dead-pool-colorado-130053263.html

5.      Clark Public Utilities Ranked Highest in Segment for Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power, 15 Years in a Row (Washington PUD Association, Olympia, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2022/12/clark-public-utilities-ranked-highest.html

6.      U.S. Department of Energy Releases County-by-County Data Detailing Energy Jobs Data (U.S. Dept of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/articles/us-department-energy-releases-county-county-data-detailing-energy-jobs-data

7.      Chart: What’s The Top Source of Electricity in Your State? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/chart-whats-the-top-source-of-electricity-in-your-state

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

8.      Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Common Ground as Power Demand Soars (Tri-Cities Business News, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2022/12/energy-hairston-col-dec22/

9.      Opinion: While Some Cities Fantasize About Municipal Internet, Tacoma Has Squandered Click! Network (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/article270126722.html

10.   Editorial: Electric Power System by Mandate, Not Design (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-electric-power-system-by-mandate-not-design/article_50b7a2da-7a57-11ed-a5cc-ff975cfd5bbd.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   California Slashes Payments to New Rooftop-Solar Customers (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/california-slashes-payments-to-new-rooftop-solar-customers

12.   Idaho Cobalt Mine Could Help Transition U.S. to Green Energy, But at What Cost? (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article270107742.html

13.   A Rare Nevada Flower Gets ‘Endangered’ Status, Raising Questions for a Proposed Lithium Mine (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/regulation/tiehms-buckwheat-endangered-species-rhyolite-ridge-lithium-mine/

14.   WA State: Port of Grays Harbor Approves Green Hydrogen Project (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/port-approves-green-hydrogen-project/

15.   Alaska: Unalaska City Eyes Wind Power as Geothermal Project Simmers (Alaska Public Radio)

https://alaskapublic.org/2022/12/15/unalaska-city-eyes-wind-power-as-geothermal-project-lingers/

16.   Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeship Requirements Bring New Challenges to Large Solar Projects (Solar Power World)

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/12/prevailing-wage-apprenticeship-requirements-new-challenges/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   Biden Administration Moves to Phase Out Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs & Push Market Toward LEDs (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/19/politics/led-cfl-light-bulb-rule-biden-climate/index.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

18.   NOAA Announces Historic Funding for Fish Habitats Across U.S. (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)

https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-announces-historic-funding-for-fish-habitats-across-us

19.   Congress OKs Spending for WA State Green River Dam Fish Passage (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/congress-oks-fish-passage-at-green-river-dam/

20.   WA Gov. Inslee Lays Out 2023-25 WDFW Budget, Salmon Proposals (NW Sportsman Magazine)

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/inslee-lays-out-2023-25-wdfw-budget-salmon-proposals/

21.   Something Entirely New: Using Dams to Save Salmon (Columbian Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/something-entirely-new-using-dams-to-save-salmon/

22.   The Collapse of Insects (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-ENVIRONMENT/INSECT-APOCALYPSE/egpbykdxjvq/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   Oregon: Google’s Water Use Is Soaring in the Dalles, Records Show, With Two More Data Centers to Come (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2022/12/googles-water-use-is-soaring-in-the-dalles-records-show-with-two-more-data-centers-to-come.html

24.   ‘Everything All at Once, Yesterday:’ Takeaways from a Colorado River Gathering (Nevada Independent)

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/everything-all-at-once-yesterday-takeaways-from-a-colorado-river-water-gathering

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Owner of WA Natural Gas Power Plant Sues State Over Carbon-Pricing Law (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/owner-of-wa-natural-gas-power-plant-sues-state-over-of-carbon-pricing-law/

26.   Milwaukie Becomes Second-Largest Oregon City to Ban Natural Gas in New Construction (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/tech/science/climate-change/milwaukie-to-ban-natural-gas-new-construction/283-c46fa9c6-6aaa-427f-901f-ba2f56ce7c4e

27.   California Making Progress Decarbonizing Energy Generation but with Mixed Results (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2022/12/19/california-progress-decarbonizing-energy-generation-mixed-results

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   WA State: Chelan County PUD Presses for Broadband Grant Funding to Supply Internet to Over 85% of the County (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/chelan-county-pud-presses-for-broadband-grant-funding-to-supply-internet-to-over-85-of/article_16a06f76-7bf3-11ed-b34b-232fab342599.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Weight of Electric Vehicles Could Cause ‘Catastrophic’ Damage & ‘Lead to Car Parks Collapsing’ (The Daily Mail, UK)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11550269/Weight-electric-vehicles-cause-catastrophic-damage-lead-car-parks-collapsing.html

30.   Electric Cars Make Utility Bills Cheaper for Everyone, New Research Finds (Business Insider)

https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-cars-grid-utility-bills-electricity-rates-cheaper-for-everyone-2022-12

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   Twitter Briefly Banned Links & Username Mentions Relating to Facebook, Instagram & Other Rivals (Engadget)

https://www.engadget.com/twitter-bans-free-promotion-of-competing-platforms-182712974.html

GOVERNMENT & GOVERNANCE

32.   We the People: Cathy McMorris Rodgers Finally Has Her Dream Job in Congress, Leading Energy & Commerce Committee (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/dec/18/we-the-people-cathy-mcmorris-rodgers-finally-has-h/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

33.   Arctic Air Will Blast Much of U.S. Just Before Christmas (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/12/18/arctic-air-will-blast-much-of-us-just-before-christmas/

34.   Winter Storm Watch: 2-7 Inches of Snow Expected for Seattle, Everett (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/widespread-lowland-snow-accumulations-washington/281-7b4954ae-63a0-427b-a923-f29fc08e6343

35.   Lowland Snow is Coming on Tuesday to Washington State (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2022/12/serious-lowland-snow-is-coming-on.html

36.   Winter Storm Watch for Much of Western Washington State

https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=SEW&wwa=winter%20storm%20watch

37.   Wind Chill Watch for Eastern Washington State

https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=WAZ036&warncounty=WAC063&firewxzone=WAZ708&local_place1=Spokane%20WA&product1=Wind+Chill+Watch&lat=47.66&lon=-117.41#.Y6C2zHbMLIU

38.   ‘It Could Happen Tomorrow’: Experts Know Disaster Upon Disaster Looms for West Coast (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/could-happen-tomorrow-experts-know-230027986.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Argentina Beats France on Penalty Kicks, Winning World Cup for Third Time

https://sports.yahoo.com/argentina-beats-france-on-penalty-kicks-winning-world-cup-for-third-time-175611473.html

British Couple Circle the Globe on a Tandem Bike in 180 Days

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/12/16/Guinness-World-Records-fastest-time-to-cicrumnavigate-tandem-bike/5541671217952/

Iranian Man Named World's Shortest at 2 Feet, 1.6 Inches

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/12/15/iran-Guinness-World-Records-shortest-man-living/5901671118650/

Albino Porcupine Rescued by British Columbia Sanctuary

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2022/12/15/canada-albino-porcupine-rescued-British-Columbia/3551671141271/

SONG OF THE DAY

Star Wars Soundtrack – Hoth, the Frozen Wastes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iLl_uusujo

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.

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