Wednesday, December 21, 2022

The Energy News Digest for December 21, 2022

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

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ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

Winter solstice 2022 brings the longest night of the year to Northern Hemisphere

https://www.space.com/winter-solstice-longest-night-northern-hemisphere--dec-21-2022

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

‘Life-Threatening’ Cold, Bomb Cyclone Blizzard to Sweep U.S. This Week (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2022/12/20/blizzard-cold-weather-forecast-bomb-cyclone

Communities Still without Power After California Earthquake (Associated Press)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/communities-still-without-power-after-california-earthquake/article_3a871beb-5ec6-5312-a756-03e6f8a8edad.html

Utilities Sound Alarm Over Distribution Transformer Shortage as Procurement Times Surpass 1 Year & Costs Triple (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/distribution-transformer-shortage-appa-casten/639059/

Douglas County PUD Selects Contractor for $18.2 Million Hydrogen Plant (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/douglas-county-pud-selects-contractor-for-18-2-million-hydrogen-plant/

Over 140,000 Northern Pikeminnow Removed from Columbia and Snake Rivers in 2022, Earning Anglers More Than $1.3 Million (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/news/over-140-000-northern-pikeminnow-removed-from-columbia-and-snake-rivers-in-2022-earning-anglers/article_efb8dcae-7fd0-11ed-a2c4-13f4e537bac9.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Communities Still without Power After California Earthquake

2.      Utilities Sound Alarm Over Distribution Transformer Shortage as Procurement Times Surpass 1 Year & Costs Triple

3.      What’s Next for WA Aluminum Manufacturing? The Fight Goes On

4.      Wyoming: Kemmerer Hopes Nuclear Delay Will Help, Not Hurt, Its Future

5.      Alaska: Owner Charged After Lineman Attacked By 5 Pit Bulls at Work, Sheriff’s Office Says

6.      Flathead Electric Co-op Urges Members to Prepare for Historic Cold Weather

7.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Wildfire & Catastrophe Proposal May Trigger Higher Monthly Bills

8.      Bonneville Power Administration Crew Clears Thousands of Trees After Bolt Creek Fire

9.      DC Circuit Throws Out 50-Year License for Maryland Dam

10.   West Virginia: Raleigh County Power Outage Caused by Electrocution after Attempted Copper Theft

11.   American Public Power Association ‘Beyond Disappointed’ Transformer Production Funding Not Included in Bill

12.   Guest Essay: To Lead on Climate, Lean on Nuclear

13.   Guest Essay: Clean Energy Policies Hamper Industrial Development

14.   Douglas County PUD Selects Contractor for $18.2 Million Hydrogen Plant

15.   These Rules Could Improve Views of an Eastern WA Wind, Solar Project. What Are Your Thoughts?

16.   This Little-Known Bottleneck Is Blocking Clean Energy for Millions

17.   Lots of Whales Spotted Around Offshore Wind Farm Zones Along West Coast

18.   ‘Proceed with Caution’: Key Takeaways from California’s First Offshore Wind Energy Auction

19.   Space Heating Accounted for Nearly One-Third of U.S. Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings in 2018

20.   Energy Efficiency Benefits Are Now Available to These Washington Residents

21.   Over 140,000 Northern Pikeminnow Removed from Columbia and Snake Rivers in 2022, Earning Anglers More Than $1.3 Million

22.   Report Raises Question of Hunting Seals to Save Washington Salmon

23.   Chelan County PUD to Acquire Peshastin Water District Water System

24.   FCC Has Received ‘Thousands’ of Consumer Challenges to Broadband Map

25.   Montana Reaches for Next Pot of Federal Broadband Money

26.   Beacon Broadband, Electric Cooperative Broadband Subsidiary, Begins Oregon Port Build

27.   REC Silicon Targeted by Ransomware Attack

28.   Oregon, Washington State Panels Approve Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles

29.   Nevada: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ordinance Could Mandate Charging Capabilities in Most New Developments

30.   Chevy Recalls 111,000 Bolt EVs Over Fire Risks

31.   In The Southeast, Power Company Money Flows to News Sites That Attack Their Critics

32.   She Was an ABC News Producer. She Also Was a Corporate Operative

33.   How to Use ChatGPT and Still Be a Good Person

34.   Four Things We Can Learn from Artificial Storytelling

35.   NASA Robot Sends One of the Saddest Tweets I Have Ever Seen

36.   What Congress’s Spending Bill Includes for Energy, Sustainability

37.   $300 Million in Fisheries Disaster Relief Makes It into Federal Spending Bill

38.   WA State: Pend Oreille PUD Announces Resignation of Colin Willenbrock as General Manager

39.   WA State: Mason PUD 3 Commission Appoints Jeff McHargue to Fill Vacancy Left by Commissioner Bruce Jorgenson

40.   ‘Life-Threatening’ Cold, Bomb Cyclone Blizzard to Sweep U.S. This Week

41.   Pacific Northwest Braces for Freezing Temperatures

42.   Spokane Braces for Lowest Temps in 14 Years as ‘Life-Threatening Cold’ Sets In

43.   Portland’s First Day of Winter Dawns Cold, Sunny; Snow, Freezing Rain Strike Later Thursday

WORD OF THE DAY

Symposium • \sim-POSE-ee-um\ • Noun – 1a: a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music & conversation b: a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas 2a: a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics b: a collection of opinions on a subject; especially: one published by a periodical.

Dagwood, Liberian’s new online college institute linguist was excited about attending a conference in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico on the plural use of symposium. “Which session? Symposium, symposiums, or symposia,” he mused. “Or the blockbuster presentation on Elvis, Elvises, or Elvi?”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Communities Still without Power After California Earthquake (Associated Press)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/communities-still-without-power-after-california-earthquake/article_3a871beb-5ec6-5312-a756-03e6f8a8edad.html

2.      Utilities Sound Alarm Over Distribution Transformer Shortage as Procurement Times Surpass 1 Year & Costs Triple (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/distribution-transformer-shortage-appa-casten/639059/

3.      What’s Next for WA Aluminum Manufacturing? The Fight Goes On (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/whats-next-for-wa-aluminum-manufacturing-the-fight-goes-on/

4.      Wyoming: Kemmerer Hopes Nuclear Delay Will Help, Not Hurt, Its Future (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/kemmerer-hopes-nuclear-delay-will-help-not-hurt-its-future/article_ab4782bc-7da2-11ed-8398-3f1634a8d80c.html

5.      Alaska: Owner Charged After Lineman Attacked By 5 Pit Bulls at Work, Sheriff’s Office Says (KTUU-TV, Anchorage, AK)

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/12/19/owner-charged-after-lineman-attacked-by-5-pit-bulls-work-sheriffs-office-says/

6.      Flathead Electric Co-op Urges Members to Prepare for Historic Cold Weather (Western News, Libby MT)

https://thewesternnews.com/news/2022/dec/20/flathead-electric-co-op-urges-members-prepare-hist/

7.      California: Pacific Gas & Electric Wildfire & Catastrophe Proposal May Trigger Higher Monthly Bills (Bay Area News Group, CA)

https://www.siliconvalley.com/2022/12/19/pge-wildfire-catastrophe-proposal-higher-monthly-bill-electric-gas/

8.      Bonneville Power Administration Crew Clears Thousands of Trees After Bolt Creek Fire (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20221215-bpa-crew-clears-thousands-of-trees-after-bolt-creek-fire

9.      DC Circuit Throws Out 50-Year License for Maryland Dam (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/dc-circuit-throws-out-50-year-license-for-maryland-dam/

10.   West Virginia: Raleigh County Power Outage Caused by Electrocution after Attempted Copper Theft (WNVS-TV, Lewisburg, WV)

https://www.wvnstv.com/top-stories/raleigh-county-power-outage-caused-by-electrocution-after-attempted-copper-theft/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

11.   American Public Power Association ‘Beyond Disappointed’ Transformer Production Funding Not Included in Bill (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-beyond-disappointed-transformer-production-funding-not-included-bill

12.   Guest Essay: To Lead on Climate, Lean on Nuclear (Tri Cities Business News, WA)

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

13.   Guest Essay: Clean Energy Policies Hamper Industrial Development (Tri Cities Business News, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2022/12/energu-dunn-col-dec22/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   Douglas County PUD Selects Contractor for $18.2 Million Hydrogen Plant (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/douglas-county-pud-selects-contractor-for-18-2-million-hydrogen-plant/

15.   These Rules Could Improve Views of an Eastern WA Wind, Solar Project. What Are Your Thoughts? (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article270182932.html

16.   This Little-Known Bottleneck Is Blocking Clean Energy for Millions (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/12/20/clean-energy-bottleneck-transmission-lines/

17.   Lots of Whales Spotted Around Offshore Wind Farm Zones Along West Coast (Northwest News Network)

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/2022-12-19/lots-of-whales-spotted-around-offshore-wind-farm-zones-along-west-coast

18.   ‘Proceed with Caution’: Key Takeaways from California’s First Offshore Wind Energy Auction (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/proceed-with-caution-key-takeaways-from-californias-first-offshore-wind/638780/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Space Heating Accounted for Nearly One-Third of U.S. Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings in 2018 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/pressroom/releases/press523.php

20.   Energy Efficiency Benefits Are Now Available to These Washington Residents (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/article270123432.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Over 140,000 Northern Pikeminnow Removed from Columbia and Snake Rivers in 2022, Earning Anglers More Than $1.3 Million (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/news/over-140-000-northern-pikeminnow-removed-from-columbia-and-snake-rivers-in-2022-earning-anglers/article_efb8dcae-7fd0-11ed-a2c4-13f4e537bac9.html

22.   Report Raises Question of Hunting Seals to Save Washington Salmon (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/report-raises-question-of-hunting-seals-to-save-washington-salmon/article_cb8c0748-8016-11ed-84e3-8f1b3a706bae.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   Chelan County PUD to Acquire Peshastin Water District Water System (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/chelan-county-pud-to-acquire-peshastin-water-district-water-system/article_60e5b1a0-7fdf-11ed-910f-d3c94d9f288c.html

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24.   FCC Has Received ‘Thousands’ of Consumer Challenges to Broadband Map (Light Reading)

https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/fcc-has-received-thousands-of-consumer-challenges-to-broadband-map/d/d-id/782462?

25.   Montana Reaches for Next Pot of Federal Broadband Money (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/montana-reaches-for-next-pot-of-federal-broadband-money/article_fd8ba9c9-113c-5970-b7db-f41e75da4e99.html

26.   Beacon Broadband, Electric Cooperative Broadband Subsidiary, Begins Oregon Port Build (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/electric-cooperative-broadband-subsidiary-begins-oregon-port-build/

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

27.   REC Silicon Targeted by Ransomware Attack (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/rec-silicon-targeted-ransomware-attack-045900880.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

28.   Oregon, Washington State Panels Approve Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3782081-oregon-washington-state-panels-approve-transition-to-zero-emission-vehicles/

29.   Nevada: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ordinance Could Mandate Charging Capabilities in Most New Developments (KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV)

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/ev-infrastructure-ordinance-could-mandate-charging-capabilities-in-most-new-developments/

30.   Chevy Recalls 111,000 Bolt EVs Over Fire Risks (C|NET News)

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/chevrolet-bolt-ev-seat-belt-pretensioner-recall/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31.   In The Southeast, Power Company Money Flows to News Sites That Attack Their Critics (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/19/1143753129/power-companies-florida-alabama-media-investigation-consulting-firm

32.   She Was an ABC News Producer. She Also Was a Corporate Operative (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/1142575872/abc-news-producer-corporate-operative-investigation

33.   How to Use ChatGPT and Still Be a Good Person (NY Times – Paywall Advisory)

https://dnyuz.com/2022/12/21/how-to-use-chatgpt-and-still-be-a-good-person/

34.   Four Things We Can Learn from Artificial Storytelling (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/aistorytelling/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

35.   NASA Robot Sends One of the Saddest Tweets I Have Ever Seen (Kotaku)

https://kotaku.com/nasa-insight-rover-mars-sad-tweet-rip-goodbye-esa-1849913028

GOVERNMENT & GOVERNANCE

36.   What Congress’s Spending Bill Includes for Energy, Sustainability (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/homenews/3782633-what-congresss-spending-bill-includes-for-energy-sustainability/

37.   $300 Million in Fisheries Disaster Relief Makes It into Federal Spending Bill (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/300m-in-disaster-relief-for-crab-salmon-fisheries-makes-it-into-federal-spending-bill/

38.   WA State: Pend Oreille PUD Announces Resignation of Colin Willenbrock as General Manager (Pend Oreille PUD, Newport, WA – Links to PDF File)

https://www.popud.org/assets/PDFs/Press-Releases/26893bef70/2022_12_20-Press-Release_PUD-Announces-Resignation-of-Colin-Willenbrock-as-GM.pdf

39.   WA State: Mason PUD 3 Commission Appoints Jeff McHargue to Fill Vacancy Left by Commissioner Bruce Jorgenson (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

https://www.pud3.org/blog/articles--blog/post/commission-appoints-jeff-mchargue-to-fill-vacancy-left-by-commissioner-bruce-jorgenson

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

40.   ‘Life-Threatening’ Cold, Bomb Cyclone Blizzard to Sweep U.S. This Week (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2022/12/20/blizzard-cold-weather-forecast-bomb-cyclone

41.   Pacific Northwest Braces for Freezing Temperatures (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2022-12-21/pacific-northwest-braces-for-freezing-temperatures

42.   Spokane Braces for Lowest Temps in 14 Years as ‘Life-Threatening Cold’ Sets In (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/dec/21/spokane-braces-for-lowest-temps-in-14-years-as-lif/

43.   Portland’s First Day of Winter Dawns Cold, Sunny; Snow, Freezing Rain Strike Later Thursday (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2022/12/portlands-1st-day-of-winter-dawns-cold-sunny-snow-freezing-rain-strike-later-thursday.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Posing Coach Shares Tips on What to Do with Your Hands in Photos: ‘Me Always Saving These’

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/posing-coach-shares-tips-hands-211509955.html

Wanapum Dam – Bald Eagle Snatches Canada Goose in Talons Before Feasting in Surreal Photo

https://www.newsweek.com/bald-eagle-snatches-canada-goose-talons-surreal-photo-washington-1768315

Art Collector Cliff Schorer Locates Stolen $10 Million Painting with the Help of a $18 Throw Pillow

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/collector-cliff-schorer-stolen-hendrick-avercamp-painting-worcester-museum-1234651043/

Airline Mix-Up Sends Couple’s Dog to Saudi Arabia Instead of Nashville

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dog-flight-tennessee-saudi-arabia_n_639de408e4b0f4895adbe637

SONG OF THE DAY

Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvI_FNrczzQ

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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