The Energy News Digest: December 2023

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

The Energy News Digest for December 27, 2023

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest.

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

High bills are the number one concern or complaint of all utility customers. As a result, when consumers come calling with these concerns, it is the biggest opportunity that the utility has to serve, assist, and educate these customers. It is also one of the biggest challenges. Sign up for the Northwest Public Power Association’s January 11 webinar on handling high bill inquiries.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wyoming: Historic Electric Rate Hike Whittled to 5.5% After Utility Admits Error (Wyofile)

https://wyofile.com/historic-electric-rate-hike-whittled-to-5-5-after-utility-admits-error/

Low Winds, Winter Sun, and Lots of Clouds Mean Little Renewable Energy over the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/12/low-winds-winter-sun-and-lots-of-clouds.html

Oregon Appeals Court Finds the Rules for the State’s Climate Program Are Invalid (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-climate-law-lawsuit-rules-invalid-1d0271c27233c39e89543b4e6d0c3049

Microsoft, OpenAI Hit with Copyright Infringement Lawsuit from the New York Times (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/new-york-times-sues-open-ai-microsoft/507-92912f68-e396-44d6-a561-ca095e364133

Range Anxiety: New Testing Finds Electric Vehicles Fall Short of EPA Range Estimates (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_cbd4f680-9de6-11ee-990e-87cef4d10920.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1. Wyoming: Historic Electric Rate Hike Whittled to 5.5% After Utility Admits Error

2. Oregon: Here’s How Much Portland General Electric, Pacific Power Electric Bills Will Increase Starting January

3. Two California Cities Have Among the Highest Utility Bills in the U.S.

4. Why We’re Using More Electricity These Days – And Paying More for It

5. Idaho Is the Latest to Join in Litigation Over Snake River Salmon, Dams

6. Oregon Gov. Kotek Supports Further Study Before Dam Breach

7. In a Major Shift, Northwest Tribes – Not U.S. Officials – Will Control Salmon Recovery Funds

8. The Pacific Northwest’s Only Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Enters New, 20-Year Operational Phase

9. Bonneville Power Administration Concludes FY 2023 Reserves Distribution Clause Process

10. Following National Search, Mayor Harrell Announces Next Leader for Seattle City Light

11. Low Winds, Winter Sun, and Lots of Clouds Mean Little Renewable Energy Over the Pacific Northwest

12. Washington Council Puts Horse Heaven Turbines on the Chopping Block

13. WA State: Extension Granted for Sunnyside-Area Solar Facility Application

14. Richland Offers Tax Breaks to Woo ‘Revolutionary’ Battery Parts Plant to Horn Rapids

15. New Report Says Clean Energy Projects Cause Tax Shifts in Some Rural Communities

16. After a Brutal 2023, Offshore Wind Looks to Overcome Growing Pains

17. WA State: Richland Streetlights Upgraded to LED Fixtures

18. Corps Refilling Willamette River Reservoirs After Drawdowns Meant to Help Migrating Fish

19. Endangered Species Act’s 50th Anniversary: What Six NW Animals Can Tell Us

20. ‘Killer Whale Madness’ Continues Off Southern California Coast

21. Oregon Appeals Court Finds the Rules for the State’s Climate Program Are Invalid

22. Pigeons Can Be Faster Than the Internet

23. Microsoft, OpenAI Hit with Copyright Infringement Lawsuit from the New York Times

24. Range Anxiety: New Testing Finds Electric Vehicles Fall Short of EPA Range Estimates

25. Why the Battle Over Electric Cars Is Primed to Take Off

26. No One Wants Used Electric Vehicles, Making New Ones a Tougher Sell Too

27. High Surf Warnings Issued for Southern Oregon, Other Parts of West Coast

28. Editorial: Snake River Dam Pact Offers Path to Sustain Salmon, Clean Energy

29. Guest Essay: Washington Agriculture Can Lead the Fight Against Climate Change – And Make a Profit

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Decembuary /dee-SEMM-byoo-air-ee/ Noun – The time between Christmas and New Year’s when nothing gets done. Some definitions place it between December 25 and January 25 where some people are too lazy to take down their Christmas decorations and lights.

Holidays, bowl games

Make us all couch potatoes

Decembuary

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1. Wyoming: Historic Electric Rate Hike Whittled to 5.5% After Utility Admits Error (Wyofile)

https://wyofile.com/historic-electric-rate-hike-whittled-to-5-5-after-utility-admits-error/

2. Oregon: Here’s How Much Portland General Electric, Pacific Power Electric Bills Will Increase Starting January (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/12/heres-how-much-pge-pacific-power-electric-bills-will-increase-starting-january.html

3. Two California Cities Have Among the Highest Utility Bills in the U.S. (KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://fox40.com/news/2-california-cities-have-among-the-highest-utility-bills-in-the-u-s/

4. Why We’re Using More Electricity These Days – And Paying More for It (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/why-were-using-more-electricity-these-days-and-paying-more-for-it/

5. Idaho Is the Latest to Join in Litigation Over Snake River Salmon, Dams (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/idaho/article_3b1d535e-9f98-11ee-9a0f-3b77da260416.html

6. Oregon Gov. Kotek Supports Further Study Before Dam Breach (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/oregon-gov-kotek-supports-further-study-before-dam-breach/article_0f906b72-a41b-11ee-83e4-67921318c95e.html

7. In a Major Shift, Northwest Tribes – Not U.S. Officials – Will Control Salmon Recovery Funds (ProPublica)

https://www.propublica.org/article/northwest-tribes-not-us-officials-will-control-salmon-recovery-funds

8. The Pacific Northwest’s Only Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Enters New, 20-Year Operational Phase (Tacoma News-Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/washington/article283350348.html

9. Bonneville Power Administration Concludes FY 2023 Reserves Distribution Clause Process (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20231211-bpa-concludes-fy2023-reserves-distribution-clause-process

10. Following National Search, Mayor Harrell Announces Next Leader for Seattle City Light (City of Seattle, WA)

https://harrell.seattle.gov/2023/12/21/following-national-search-mayor-harrell-announces-next-leader-for-seattle-city-light/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11. Low Winds, Winter Sun, and Lots of Clouds Mean Little Renewable Energy over the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/12/low-winds-winter-sun-and-lots-of-clouds.html

12. Washington Council Puts Horse Heaven Turbines on the Chopping Block (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/rurallife/washington-council-puts-horse-heaven-turbines-on-the-chopping-block/article_c9dd07a6-a024-11ee-9891-f7657484732c.html

13. WA State: Extension Granted for Sunnyside-Area Solar Facility Application (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/business/extension-granted-for-sunnyside-area-solar-facility-application/article_8bff599e-9fa1-11ee-9051-67cbbb2c635a.html

14. Richland Offers Tax Breaks to Woo ‘Revolutionary’ Battery Parts Plant to Horn Rapids (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/dec/27/richland-offers-tax-breaks-to-woo-revolutionary-battery-parts-plant-to-horn-rapids/

15. New Report Says Clean Energy Projects Cause Tax Shifts in Some Rural Communities (Spokane Public Radio, WA)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2023-12-22/new-report-says-clean-energy-projects-cause-tax-shifts-in-some-rural-communities

16. After a Brutal 2023, Offshore Wind Looks to Overcome Growing Pains (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/after-a-brutal-2023-offshore-wind-looks-to-overcome-growing-pains

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17. WA State: Richland Streetlights Upgraded to LED Fixtures (KNDO/KNDU – Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/richland-streetlights-upgraded-to-led-fixtures/article_1a8fbe5e-a10c-11ee-869f-4f9e153a00c0.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

18. Corps Refilling Willamette River Reservoirs After Drawdowns Meant to Help Migrating Fish (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/dec/26/corps-refilling-willamette-river-reservoirs-after-drawdowns-meant-to-help-migrating-fish/

19. Endangered Species Act’s 50th Anniversary: What Six NW Animals Can Tell Us (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/endangered-species-acts-50th-anniversary-what-6-nw-animals-can-tell-us/

20. ‘Killer Whale Madness’ Continues Off Southern California Coast (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/killer-whale-madness-continues-off-032129886.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

21. Oregon Appeals Court Finds the Rules for the State’s Climate Program Are Invalid (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-climate-law-lawsuit-rules-invalid-1d0271c27233c39e89543b4e6d0c3049

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

22. Pigeons Can Be Faster Than the Internet (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2023/12/27/pigeons-can-be-faster-than-the-internet/

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

23. Microsoft, OpenAI Hit with Copyright Infringement Lawsuit from the New York Times (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/new-york-times-sues-open-ai-microsoft/507-92912f68-e396-44d6-a561-ca095e364133

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

24. Range Anxiety: New Testing Finds Electric Vehicles Fall Short of EPA Range Estimates (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_cbd4f680-9de6-11ee-990e-87cef4d10920.html

25. Why the Battle Over Electric Cars Is Primed to Take Off (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/22/electric-vehicle-boom-demise-00133064

26. No One Wants Used Electric Vehicles, Making New Ones a Tougher Sell Too (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/no-one-wants-used-evs-050011036.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

27. High Surf Warnings Issued for Southern Oregon, Other Parts of West Coast (Associated Press)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/27/high-surf-warnings-issued-for-most-of-west-coast-and-parts-of-hawaii-dangerous-waves-expected/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

28. Editorial: Snake River Dam Pact Offers Path to Sustain Salmon, Clean Energy (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-pact-offers-path-to-sustain-salmon-clean-energy/

29. Guest Essay: Washington Agriculture Can Lead the Fight Against Climate Change – And Make a Profit (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article283210123.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Comedian Tom Smothers, One-Half of the Smothers Brothers, Dies at 86

https://news.yahoo.com/comedian-tom-smothers-one-half-171553399.html

Texas Man Runs Marathon in Football Uniform to Break World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/21/Guinness-World-Records-Dallas-Marathon-football-uniform/4561703193623/

World's Largest Rubik's Cube Built in Dubai

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/26/uae-Guinness-World-Records-largest-Rubiks-cube/4871703605926/

Maury Povich Announces Orangutan Paternity Results for Denver Zoo

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/21/Maury-Povich-Denver-Zoo-orangutan-paternity/8531703177431/

SONG OF THE DAY

Paul Anka – Having My Baby

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

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

Although I choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help access some paywall sites.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

The Energy News Digest for December 20, 2023

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest.

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

PacifiCorp Will Pay $250 Million to Companies Who Lost Timber in Southern Oregon Fire (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/12/pacificorp-will-pay-250-million-to-companies-who-lost-timber-in-southern-oregon-fire.html

Report Cites Climate Change for Collapse of Western Alaska Salmon Runs (Wrangell Sentinel, AK)

https://www.wrangellsentinel.com/story/2023/12/20/news/report-cites-climate-change-for-collapse-of-western-alaska-salmon-runs/12686.html

Energy Droughts. in Wind and Solar Can Last Nearly a Week, Research Shows (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/energy-droughts-wind-and-solar-can-last-nearly-week-research-shows

Tesla Blamed Drivers for Failures of Parts It Long Knew Were Defective (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/tesla-musk-steering-suspension/

Xfinity Notifies Its Customers of Data Breach Linked to Software Vulnerability (Associated Press)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/dec/19/xfinity-notifies-its-customers-of-data-breach-linked-to-software-vulnerability/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1. PacifiCorp Will Pay $250 Million to Companies Who Lost Timber in Southern Oregon Fire

2. Pacific Northwest Battle Over Salmon & Dams Intensifies as Biden Administration Moves Toward Breaching

3. Suddenly, U.S. Electricity Demand Is Spiking. Can the Grid Keep Up?

4. ‘Latest Battleground’ – How Politics Seized the Electric Grid

5. California ISO Board Conditionally Advances Development of Transmission Pathway

6. Gas Pipeline Expansion Could Fuel Pacific Northwest Climate Emergencies

7. The Best Electric Utilities Across America, According to Customers

8. Energy Droughts. in Wind and Solar Can Last Nearly a Week, Research Shows

9. The Clean Energy Backlog Barely Budged This Year. What’s The Way Forward?

10. California Solar Duck Curve Gets Bigger

11. Idaho Power Addresses Solar Panel Scammers

12. Biden-Harris Admin Announces $530 Million for Building Energy Efficiency & Resilience to Cut Consumer Costs

13. Report Cites Climate Change for Collapse of Western Alaska Salmon Runs

14. Analysis of Northwest, Other Salmon Hatcheries Finds Nearly All Hurt Wild Salmon Populations

15. Biden Administration Moves to Protect Old-Growth Forests as Climate Change Brings Fires, Pests

16. WA State Sets Aside 2,000 Acres of Forestland

17. Chelan PUD Looking to Buy 5,000 Acres in Foothills Above Malaga

18. Why Are Alaska’s Rivers Turning Orange?

19. New Look at Old Study Could Correct Colorado River Compact Flaw

20. Flooding Drives Millions to Move as Climate Migration Patterns Emerge

21. Washington’s Fourth Quarter Carbon Auction Brings in $371 Million for $2 Billion in 2023

22. Wyoming Issues First Carbon Sequestration Permits. National Leaders Take Note

23. Seattle & Other Cities Mull Creative Workarounds to Ditch Gas

24. Congress: Republican Lawmakers Slam Broadband Discounts for Poor People, Threaten to Kill Program

25. Xfinity Notifies Its Customers of Data Breach Linked to Software Vulnerability

26. Google to Pay $700 Million to U.S. States, Consumers in App Store Settlement

27. Washington State Lawmakers, Attorney General Eye Artificial Intelligence Task Force

28. Tesla Blamed Drivers for Failures of Parts It Long Knew Were Defective

29. The Demand Charge Dilemma at Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

30. Flightless Bird: E-Scooter Company Bird Declares Bankruptcy

31. Video: ‘Twas the Night of the Outage

32. Taters the Cat Stars in NASA’s First Video Streamed from Deep Space

33. Anti-Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Efforts Apparently Hurting Environmental Sector

34. Northeastern U.S. Mops Up Ahead of Holidays After Deadly Storm Slams the Region, Killing at Least Five People

35. Washington Remains Among States with Highest Gas Prices in the Country

36. Four Things to Know About the Apple Watch Fiasco

37. Editorial: We’re Working to Find the Causes of Yukon Salmon Declines

38. Guest Essay: We Can Balance Hydropower & Salmon by Removing Obsolete Dams

39. Guest Essay: Energy Alternatives Will Protect Americans from Blackouts in 2024

40. Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Making Progress on Increasing Power to Tri-Cities Area

41. Guest Essay: Why States Should Prohibit Utility Political Contributions

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Ergo • \AIR-go\ • Adverb - Therefore, hence

The order was void

The cargo was escargot

Ergo it was yuck

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1. PacifiCorp Will Pay $250 Million to Companies Who Lost Timber in Southern Oregon Fire (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/12/pacificorp-will-pay-250-million-to-companies-who-lost-timber-in-southern-oregon-fire.html

2. Pacific Northwest Battle Over Salmon & Dams Intensifies as Biden Administration Moves Toward Breaching (Idaho Dispatch)

https://idahodispatch.com/pnw-battle-over-salmon-and-dams-intensifies-as-biden-administration-moves-toward-breaching/

3. Suddenly, U.S. Electricity Demand Is Spiking. Can the Grid Keep Up? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/transmission/suddenly-us-electricity-demand-is-spiking-can-the-grid-keep-up

4. ‘Latest Battleground’ – How Politics Seized the Electric Grid (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/latest-battleground-how-politics-seized-the-electric-grid/

5. California ISO Board Conditionally Advances Development of Transmission Pathway (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/california-iso-board-conditionally-advances-development-transmission-pathway

6. Gas Pipeline Expansion Could Fuel Pacific Northwest Climate Emergencies (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/19/gas-pipeline-expansion-climate-emergency-california-washington-oregon

7. The Best Electric Utilities Across America, According to Customers (Money Talks News)

https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/the-best-electric-utilities-per-jdpower/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

8. Energy Droughts. in Wind and Solar Can Last Nearly a Week, Research Shows (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/energy-droughts-wind-and-solar-can-last-nearly-week-research-shows

9. The Clean Energy Backlog Barely Budged This Year. What’s The Way Forward? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/transmission/the-clean-energy-backlog-barely-budged-this-year-whats-the-way-forward

10. California Solar Duck Curve Gets Bigger (Clean Technica)

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/12/19/california-solar-duck-curve-gets-bigger/

11. Idaho Power Addresses Solar Panel Scammers (KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)

https://www.kmvt.com/2023/12/19/idaho-power-addresses-solar-panel-scammers/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

12. Biden-Harris Admin Announces $530 Million for Building Energy Efficiency & Resilience to Cut Consumer Costs (Clean Technica)

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/12/19/biden-harris-admin-announces-530-million-for-building-energy-efficiency-resilience-to-cut-consumer-costs/

FISH & WILDLIFE

13. Report Cites Climate Change for Collapse of Western Alaska Salmon Runs (Wrangell Sentinel, AK)

https://www.wrangellsentinel.com/story/2023/12/20/news/report-cites-climate-change-for-collapse-of-western-alaska-salmon-runs/12686.html

14. Analysis of Northwest, Other Salmon Hatcheries Finds Nearly All Hurt Wild Salmon Populations (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/dec/18/analysis-of-northwest-other-salmon-hatcheries-finds-nearly-all-hurt-wild-salmon-populations/

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

15. Biden Administration Moves to Protect Old-Growth Forests as Climate Change Brings Fires, Pests (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/old-growth-forests-biden-climate-change-ba19bef045817ce294c3bda714b59361

16. WA State Sets Aside 2,000 Acres of Forestland (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/state-sets-aside-2000-acres-of-forestland/

17. Chelan PUD Looking to Buy 5,000 Acres in Foothills Above Malaga (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/land-purchase-chelan-county/

18. Why Are Alaska’s Rivers Turning Orange? (Scientific American)

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-alaskas-rivers-turning-orange/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

19. New Look at Old Study Could Correct Colorado River Compact Flaw (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/reassessed-studies-could-correct-colorado-river-compact-flaws/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

20. Flooding Drives Millions to Move as Climate Migration Patterns Emerge (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-flooding-insurance-migration-rain-a43c10d60d5c4f0b9fe30e0a7fe024c4

21. Washington’s Fourth Quarter Carbon Auction Brings in $371 Million for $2 Billion in 2023 (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_2f04598e-9e01-11ee-a29b-d36e7f369ea1.html

22. Wyoming Issues First Carbon Sequestration Permits. National Leaders Take Note (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/news/state-regional/business/carbon-storage-sequestration-permits-energy/article_fceb40a6-9b9f-11ee-b6f1-5be731987e16.html

23. Seattle & Other Cities Mull Creative Workarounds to Ditch Gas (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/fossil-fuels/seattle-and-other-cities-mull-creative-workarounds-to-ditch-gas

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

24. Congress: Republican Lawmakers Slam Broadband Discounts for Poor People, Threaten to Kill Program (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/12/republicans-slam-broadband-discounts-for-poor-people-threaten-to-kill-program/

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

25. Xfinity Notifies Its Customers of Data Breach Linked to Software Vulnerability (Associated Press)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/dec/19/xfinity-notifies-its-customers-of-data-breach-linked-to-software-vulnerability/

26. Google to Pay $700 Million to U.S. States, Consumers in App Store Settlement (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/google-android-play-store-apps-antitrust-settlement-e4e2f422baa846c66deac90c7866c5fd

27. Washington State Lawmakers, Attorney General Eye Artificial Intelligence Task Force (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_86a0f5bc-9ebf-11ee-8a4f-1f81d0346da8.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

28. Tesla Blamed Drivers for Failures of Parts It Long Knew Were Defective (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/tesla-musk-steering-suspension/

29. The Demand Charge Dilemma at Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/the-demand-charge-dilemma-at-ev-charging-stations/

30. Flightless Bird: E-Scooter Company Bird Declares Bankruptcy (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/flightless-bird-e-scooter-company-bird-declares-bankru-1851114346?utm_source=vip

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

31. Video: ‘Twas the Night of the Outage (Coos- Curry Electric Cooperative, OR)

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

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

32. Taters the Cat Stars in NASA’s First Video Streamed from Deep Space (The Guardian, UK)

https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2023/dec/19/nasa-cat-video-space

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

33. Anti-Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Efforts Apparently Hurting Environmental Sector (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2023/12/14/diversity-equity-inclusion-environmental-groups-united-states

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

34. Northeastern U.S. Mops Up Ahead of Holidays After Deadly Storm Slams the Region, Killing at Least Five People (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-flood-northeast-montpelier-98a233cc7cff7a9d1c2cd9d465ef45d6

35. Washington Remains Among States with Highest Gas Prices in the Country (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-gas-prices-us-drop-statewide-average-higher-than-country-aaa-holiday-travel-average-cost-gallon-seattle-tacoma-everett-olympia-bellevue-king-skagit-whatcom-county

36. Four Things to Know About the Apple Watch Fiasco (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/19/tech/apple-watch-fiasco/index.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

37. Editorial: We’re Working to Find the Causes of Yukon Salmon Declines (Anchorage Daily News – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2023/12/19/opinion-were-working-to-find-the-causes-of-yukon-salmon-declines/

38. Guest Essay: We Can Balance Hydropower & Salmon by Removing Obsolete Dams (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

https://flatheadbeacon.com/2023/12/16/we-can-balance-hydropower-and-salmon-by-removing-obsolete-dams/

39. Guest Essay: Energy Alternatives Will Protect Americans from Blackouts in 2024 (Billings Gazette, MT – Paywall Advisory)

https://billingsgazette.com/opinion/column/michael-flanagan-and-mark-reynolds-energy-alternatives-will-protect-americans-from-blackouts-in-2024/article_8b0aad02-9aa8-11ee-a17c-1fd408779226.html

40. Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Making Progress on Increasing Power to Tri-Cities Area (Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/4796-bpa-hairston-2023

41. Guest Essay: Why States Should Prohibit Utility Political Contributions (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/why-states-should-prohibit-utility-political-contributions/702835/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Meet the Shop Cats of Olympia, WA

https://www.thurstontalk.com/2023/02/16/meet-the-shop-cats-of-olympia/

Brazilian ‘Geese Agents’ Honk in Case of Prison Break

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazilian-geese-agents-honk-case-prison-break-2023-12-20/

Lost Dog Found After 6 1/2 Years Living on Her Own in the Woods

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/19/britiain-lost-dog-woods-Crawley-Down-England/5171703024408/

Book Checked Out in 1934 Finally Returned to Massachusetts Library

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/20/Watertown-Free-Public-Library-overdue-book-90-years/5361703098393/

SONG OF THE DAY

Vince Guaraldi - Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Z9XREKfqA