Monday, February 6, 2023

The Energy News Digest for February 6, 2023

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

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ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

The deadline to nominate an exceptional Public Power employee for NWPPA’s 2023 Annual Awards has been extended to Friday, Feb. 10. Honor a colleague by submitting a nomination today at www.nwppa.org/members/awards-nominations/,

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

By 2050, Washington Might Need to Buy Energy from Other States (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/02/2050-washington-might-need-buy-energy-other-states

Maryland: Suspects Arrested in Plot to Attack Power Stations, Destroy Baltimore: Prosecutors (ABC News)

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/suspects-arrested-plot-attack-power-161809772.html

Alaska: Judge to Decide Orca/Chinook Suit (Ketchikan Daily News, AK)

https://www.ketchikandailynews.com/news/local/judge-to-decide-orca-chinook-suit/article_0aa54fee-9f47-11ed-8043-7bf5da704ee4.html

Amazon Fuel Cells Would Use Natural Gas to Power Oregon Data Centers, Increasing Carbon Footprint (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2023/02/amazon-fuel-cells-would-use-natural-gas-to-power-oregon-data-centers-increasing-carbon-footprint.html

‘Too Close, Too Big.’ Strong Opposition for Huge Tri-Cities Wind Farm, Despite Jobs (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://news.yahoo.com/too-close-too-big-strong-205845648.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      By 2050, Washington Might Need to Buy Energy from Other States

2.      Maryland: Suspects Arrested in Plot to Attack Power Stations, Destroy Baltimore: Prosecutors

3.      Neo-Nazi Leader, Maryland Woman Charged with Conspiracy to Destroy Energy Facilities

4.      Terror Suspect Charged for Damaging Power Plant Outside Las Vegas Found Incompetent

5.      Registered Entities: Expect a Significant Increase in NERC’s Focus on Physical Security

6.      Avista Files for New Electric, Natural Gas Rate Plan in Idaho to Recover Investment, Operating Costs

7.      California Regulators Deliver Climate Credits Early to Offer Relief from High Utility Bills

8.      Angry About Your Gas Bill? Spikes Follow Big Raises for California Utility Executives

9.      Oregon Electrical Co-op Workers Volunteer to Electrify Village in Guatemala

10.   WA State: Chelan County PUD Customers to Receive New Meters Soon

11.   Columbia River Treaty Renewal Won’t Just Go with the Flow: Salmon, Environment, First Nation Interests on the Table

12.   Western Energy Imbalance Market Tops $3B in Benefits

13.   Poor Rural Connectivity Costs Lives

14.   ‘Too Close, Too Big.’ Strong Opposition for Huge Tri-Cities Wind Farm, Despite Jobs

15.   Can Bighorn Sheep, a Bullet Train & a Huge Solar Farm Coexist in the Mojave Desert?

16.   How Art Lovers Helped Defeat America’s Largest Solar Farm

17.   Oregon: First U.S. Grid-Connected Wave Energy Test Site Reaches Key Construction Milestones

18.   Massive Green Energy Company Reports Nearly $1 Billion in Losses, Calls For ‘Further Governmental Action’

19.   Um… How Much Can You Save by Using a Space Heater? We Do the Math

20.   Counterpoint: Space Heaters May Be the Number One Culprit of High Energy Bills in Mason County

21.   Alaska: Judge to Decide Orca/Chinook Suit

22.   With Runs Rising, State Questions How to Manage Smelt in the Columbia, Cowlitz Rivers

23.   California: Two Bald Eagles Nested in a Pine for Years. A Utility Company Tried to Chop It Down

24.   California Threatens to Blow Up a Deal to Save the Colorado River

25.   As Climate Change & Overuse Shrink Lake Powell, The Emergent Landscape Is Coming Back to Life – And Posing New Challenges

26.   Partnership Between Spokane Public Schools, Gonzaga Pushes Climate Science for Elementary Students

27.   Climate Denial Campaign Goes Retro with New Textbook

28.   Idaho Broadband Advisory Board Announces Funding Awards

29.   Amazon Fuel Cells Would Use Natural Gas to Power Oregon Data Centers, Increasing Carbon Footprint

30.   Facebook Now Has 2 Billion Users

31.   ‘Eyesore.’ First Vote on WA Bill to Stop Wind Turbine Lights from Blinking All Night

32.   Bill Looks to Encourage Nuclear Tech in WA State Energy Goals

WORD OF THE DAY

Auteur • \AWT-ur\ • Noun - 1: a film director whose practice accords with the auteur theory; broadly: director 2: an artist (as a musician or writer) whose style and practice are distinctive

Used in a literal sense, “Tiny Tim” was a ukulele auteur. As an artist, perhaps not.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      By 2050, Washington Might Need to Buy Energy from Other States (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/02/2050-washington-might-need-buy-energy-other-states

2.      Maryland: Suspects Arrested in Plot to Attack Power Stations, Destroy Baltimore: Prosecutors (ABC News)

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/suspects-arrested-plot-attack-power-161809772.html

3.      Neo-Nazi Leader, Maryland Woman Charged with Conspiracy to Destroy Energy Facilities (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/neo-nazi-leader-maryland-woman-charged-with-conspiracy-to-destroy-energy-facilities/

4.      Terror Suspect Charged for Damaging Power Plant Outside Las Vegas Found Incompetent (Associated Press)

https://ktla.com/news/terror-suspect-charged-for-damaging-power-plant-outside-las-vegas-found-incompetent/

5.      Registered Entities: Expect a Significant Increase in NERC’s Focus on Physical Security (JD Supra)

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/registered-entities-expect-a-3442803/

6.      Avista Files for New Electric, Natural Gas Rate Plan in Idaho to Recover Investment, Operating Costs (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/38427-avista-files-for-new-electric-natural-gas-rate-plan-in-idaho-to-recover-investment-operating-costs/

7.      California Regulators Deliver Climate Credits Early to Offer Relief from High Utility Bills (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/economy/2023/02/02/california-regulators-deliver-climate-credits-early-to-offer-relief-from-high-utility-bills

8.      Angry About Your Gas Bill? Spikes Follow Big Raises for California Utility Executives (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-03/angry-about-your-gas-bill-wait-until-you-hear-about-the-big-raises-for-utility-company-executives

9.      Oregon Electrical Co-op Workers Volunteer to Electrify Village in Guatemala (KTVL-TV, Medford, OR)

https://ktvl.com/newsletter-daily/oregon-electrical-workers-volunteer-to-electrify-village-in-guatemala

10.   WA State: Chelan County PUD Customers to Receive New Meters Soon (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/chelan-county-pud-customers-to-receive-new-meters-soon/

11.   Columbia River Treaty Renewal Won’t Just Go with the Flow: Salmon, Environment, First Nation Interests on the Table (Vancouver Sun, BC)

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/columbia-river-treaty-renewal-wont-just-go-with-the-flow-salmon-environment-first-nation-interests-on-the-table/ar-AA174pDY

12.   Western Energy Imbalance Market Tops $3B in Benefits (T&D World)

https://www.tdworld.com/utility-business/article/21259347/western-energy-imbalance-market-tops-3b-in-benefits

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   Poor Rural Connectivity Costs Lives (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2023/02/06/poor-rural-connectivity-costs-lives/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   ‘Too Close, Too Big.’ Strong Opposition for Huge Tri-Cities Wind Farm, Despite Jobs (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://news.yahoo.com/too-close-too-big-strong-205845648.html

15.   Can Bighorn Sheep, a Bullet Train & a Huge Solar Farm Coexist in the Mojave Desert? (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-02-06/mojave-desert-solar-energy-project-angers-conservationists

16.   How Art Lovers Helped Defeat America’s Largest Solar Farm (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-02-02/how-art-lovers-helped-defeat-americas-largest-solar-farm-boiling-point

17.   Oregon: First U.S. Grid-Connected Wave Energy Test Site Reaches Key Construction Milestones (Offshore Energy)

https://www.offshore-energy.biz/first-us-grid-connected-wave-energy-test-site-reaches-key-construction-milestones/

18.   Massive Green Energy Company Reports Nearly $1 Billion in Losses, Calls For ‘Further Governmental Action’ (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/massive-green-energy-company-reports-161012872.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Um… How Much Can You Save by Using a Space Heater? We Do the Math (C|Net)

https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/does-using-a-space-heater-save-money/

20.   Counterpoint: Space Heaters May Be the Number One Culprit of High Energy Bills in Mason County (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

https://www.pud3.org/service/energy-efficiency-education/portable-electric-space-heaters

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Alaska: Judge to Decide Orca/Chinook Suit (Ketchikan Daily News, AK)

https://www.ketchikandailynews.com/news/local/judge-to-decide-orca-chinook-suit/article_0aa54fee-9f47-11ed-8043-7bf5da704ee4.html

22.   With Runs Rising, State Questions How to Manage Smelt in the Columbia, Cowlitz Rivers (Longview Daily News, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://tdn.com/outdoors/with-runs-rising-state-questions-how-to-manage-smelt-in-the-columbia-cowlitz-rivers/article_8a1c4db0-a189-11ed-8317-5b60a6acc472.html

23.   California: Two Bald Eagles Nested in a Pine for Years. A Utility Company Tried to Chop It Down (The Guardian, UK)

https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/04/california-bald-eagles-nest-tribal-communities-activists-pacific-gas-electric

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   California Threatens to Blow Up a Deal to Save the Colorado River (Gizmodo)

https://news.yahoo.com/california-threatens-blow-deal-save-153300465.html

25.   As Climate Change & Overuse Shrink Lake Powell, The Emergent Landscape Is Coming Back to Life – And Posing New Challenges (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/climate-change-overuse-shrink-lake-132756173.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   Partnership Between Spokane Public Schools, Gonzaga Pushes Climate Science for Elementary Students (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/feb/02/classroom-energy-partnership-between-spokane-publi/

27.   Climate Denial Campaign Goes Retro with New Textbook (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/science/climate-denial-campaign-goes-retro-with-new-textbook/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Idaho Broadband Advisory Board Announces Funding Awards (Newswires)

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/614859293/idaho-broadband-advisory-board-announces-funding-awardsfeb01

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

29.   Amazon Fuel Cells Would Use Natural Gas to Power Oregon Data Centers, Increasing Carbon Footprint (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2023/02/amazon-fuel-cells-would-use-natural-gas-to-power-oregon-data-centers-increasing-carbon-footprint.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Facebook Now Has 2 Billion Users (Engadget)

https://www.engadget.com/facebook-2-billion-meta-q4-2022-earnings-223814979.html

GOVERNMENT & GOVERNANCE

31.   ‘Eyesore.’ First Vote on WA Bill to Stop Wind Turbine Lights from Blinking All Night (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article272079042.html

32.   Bill Looks to Encourage Nuclear Tech in WA State Energy Goals (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2023/feb/03/bill-looks-encourage-nuclear-tech-state-energy-goa/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

San Antonio Zoo Will Let You Name a Cockroach After an Ex & Feed It to an Animal

https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/san-antonio-zoo-will-let-you-name-a-cockroach-after-an-ex-and-feed-it-to-an-animal-1.6251206

How to Make a Mummy: Ancient Egyptian Workshop Has New Clues

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/how-to-make-a-mummy-ancient-egyptian-workshop-17756670.php

Police Arrest Man They Say Left Dead Fish at Astoria’s ‘Goonies’ House, Stole Yacht & Prompted Harrowing Coast Guard Rescue

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2023/02/police-arrest-man-they-say-left-dead-fish-at-astorias-goonies-house-stole-yacht-and-prompted-harrowing-coast-guard-rescue.html

Beyoncé Emerges as Grammys Queen; Styles Wins Album Honor

https://apnews.com/article/2023-grammys-show-0a4bad7a27caf90868621973a504f40d

SONG OF THE DAY

The Pretenders – Thin Line Between Love and Hate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k17CU1SAGVk

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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