Monday, July 3, 2023

The Energy News Digest for July 3, 2023

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

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Pacific Northwest Bracing for Extreme Fire Risk This Year (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/pnw-extreme-fire-risk-this-year/281-325a1017-3feb-4341-9923-43a94587dd29

Wyoming Lawmakers Ponder Tax on Electricity to Make Up for Lost Coal Revenue (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/06/29/wyoming-lawmakers-ponder-tax-on-electricity-to-make-up-for-lost-coal-revenue/

Insight: President Biden’s Green Hydrogen Plan Hits Climate Obstacle: Water Shortage (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/bidens-green-hydrogen-plan-hits-climate-obstacle-water-shortage-2023-07-03/

Oregon’s Popular Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Is Out of Money & Remains Suspended (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/02/electric-vehicle-rebate-oregon/

Twitter Puts ‘Temporary Limits’ On Number of Posts That Users Can Read (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/twitter-temporary-limit-accounts_n_64a08c1fe4b065a315b959aa

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Wyoming Lawmakers Ponder Tax on Electricity to Make Up for Lost Coal Revenue

2.      Two-Thirds of the U.S. Is at Risk of Power Outages This Summer—But It’s Not Stopping Americans from Electrifying Everything in Their Homes

3.      Avista Utilities Set to Raise Washington Electricity Rates

4.      Copper Thieves Ordered to Pay Wyoming Co-op More Than $100K

5.      WA State: Grant PUD Warning Community of New Utility Scam

6.      NW RiverPartners: Hydropower Advocate Crosses Swords with Anti-Dam Activists

7.      Insight: President Biden’s Green Hydrogen Plan Hits Climate Obstacle: Water Shortage

8.      Mule Deer & Solar Farms May Be on a Collision Course

9.      California Approves $8.9 Billion in Energy-Conservation Programs

10.   Summer Chinook Salmon Fishing to Close on Columbia River

11.   WDFW Issues Emergency Rule for Boaters to Protect Vulnerable Southern Resident Killer Whales

12.   Whale of a Report: 2 New Orca Calves Spotted in L-Pod

13.   Puget Sound’s Biggest Bat Colony Could Be Big Loser of Dam-Removal Project

14.   Ten States Plan to Sue the EPA Over Standards for Residential Wood-Burning Stoves

15.   Is the West’s Water Crisis Spreading? Drought Blankets Midwest, America’s Breadbasket

16.   The Heat Is Making Squirrels ‘Sploot’ — A Goofy Act That Signals Something Serious

17.   Rising Gas Prices in Washington Fuel Debate Over Who Pays to Combat Climate Change

18.   Chip Startup Ampere Pitches Climate-Friendly Data Centers

19.   Oregon’s Popular Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Is Out of Money & Remains Suspended

20.   Twitter Puts ‘Temporary Limits’ On Number of Posts That Users Can Read

21.   Pacific Northwest Bracing for Extreme Fire Risk This Year

22.   The Northwest Fire Location Map

23.   Canadian Smoke Coming to the Pacific Northwest

24.   Haze, Heat & Storms Are Bringing Danger & Discomfort to Many Parts of the U.S.

25.   Self-Serve Gas Will Be Legal in Oregon When Governor Signs Bill

26.   My Congressional Testimony: There Is No Silver Bullet Solution for Salmon on the Snake River

27.   Alternative Energy: Opposition Is Heresy, Resistance Is Futile

WORD OF THE DAY

Shunpike • \SHUN-pyke\ • noun – A side road used to avoid the toll on or the speed and traffic of a superhighway

“Well, sonny,” the wizened gas station attendant began. “If y’all wanna bypass Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle, you can take the scenic shunpike down 97 and cut over on 14 to I-5.” After shifting his quid of tobacco from one cheek to another, and expertly hitting a nearby cricket with spittle, he added, “of course, that’ll add about a half day’s drivin’, at least, to yer trip.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Wyoming Lawmakers Ponder Tax on Electricity to Make Up for Lost Coal Revenue (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/06/29/wyoming-lawmakers-ponder-tax-on-electricity-to-make-up-for-lost-coal-revenue/

2.      Two-Thirds of the U.S. Is at Risk of Power Outages This Summer—But It’s Not Stopping Americans from Electrifying Everything in Their Homes (Fortune Magazine)

https://fortune.com/2023/07/03/two-thirds-usa-risk-of-power-outages-this-summerbut-americans-electrifying-everything-energy-environment/

3.      Avista Utilities Set to Raise Washington Electricity Rates (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jun/30/avista-utilities-set-to-raise-washington-electrici/

4.      Copper Thieves Ordered to Pay Wyoming Co-op More Than $100K (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/Copper-Thieves-Ordered-to-Pay-Wyoming-Co-op-More-Than-100K.aspx

5.      WA State: Grant PUD Warning Community of New Utility Scam (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/grant-county-pud-warning-community-utility-scam-going-around/GCUKB3KJUNCHPEA7LP2IMXX4SA/

6.      NW RiverPartners: Hydropower Advocate Crosses Swords with Anti-Dam Activists (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/hydropower-advocate-crosses-swords-with-anti-dam-activists/article_a2b7ce86-1537-11ee-961c-ef2ec1600b0c.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

7.      Insight: President Biden’s Green Hydrogen Plan Hits Climate Obstacle: Water Shortage (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/bidens-green-hydrogen-plan-hits-climate-obstacle-water-shortage-2023-07-03/

8.      Mule Deer & Solar Farms May Be on a Collision Course (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/mule-deer-and-solar-farms-may-be-on-a-collision-course/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

9.      California Approves $8.9 Billion in Energy-Conservation Programs (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/california-approves-8-9-billion-in-energy-conservation-programs-1.1939809

FISH & WILDLIFE

10.   Summer Chinook Salmon Fishing to Close on Columbia River (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/summer-chinook-salmon-fishing-to-close-on-columbia-river,321541

11.   WDFW Issues Emergency Rule for Boaters to Protect Vulnerable Southern Resident Killer Whales (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/orcas/wdfw-emergency-rule-boaters-protect-vulnerable-southern-resident-killer-whales/281-69053e46-5bb4-43c1-8337-da2acbe6aa70

12.   Whale of a Report: 2 New Orca Calves Spotted in L-Pod (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3904919/2-new-orca-whale-calves-spotted-in-l-pod/

13.   Puget Sound’s Biggest Bat Colony Could Be Big Loser of Dam-Removal Project (KUOW News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/puget-sound-s-biggest-bat-colony-could-be-big-loser-of-dam-removal-project

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

14.   Ten States Plan to Sue the EPA Over Standards for Residential Wood-Burning Stoves (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/epa-wood-stove-lawsuit-threat-8c058fda6cda684ed29adf0f69dd42ba

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

15.   Is the West’s Water Crisis Spreading? Drought Blankets Midwest, America’s Breadbasket (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/wests-water-crisis-spreading-drought-090508583.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

16.   The Heat Is Making Squirrels ‘Sploot’ — A Goofy Act That Signals Something Serious (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1185092056/squirrels-splooting-heat-wave-climate-change

17.   Rising Gas Prices in Washington Fuel Debate Over Who Pays to Combat Climate Change (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/06/28/rising-gas-prices-in-wa-fuel-debate-over-who-pays-to-combat-climate-change/?utm_medium=email

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

18.   Chip Startup Ampere Pitches Climate-Friendly Data Centers (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2023/06/chip-startup-ampere-pitches-climate-friendly-data-centers.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

19.   Oregon’s Popular Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Is Out of Money & Remains Suspended (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/02/electric-vehicle-rebate-oregon/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

20.   Twitter Puts ‘Temporary Limits’ On Number of Posts That Users Can Read (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/twitter-temporary-limit-accounts_n_64a08c1fe4b065a315b959aa

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

21.   Pacific Northwest Bracing for Extreme Fire Risk This Year (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/pnw-extreme-fire-risk-this-year/281-325a1017-3feb-4341-9923-43a94587dd29

22.   The Northwest Fire Location Map (Northwest Interagency Coordination Center)

https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/firemap.php

23.   Canadian Smoke Coming to the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/07/canadian-smoke-coming-to-northwest.html

24.   Haze, Heat & Storms Are Bringing Danger & Discomfort to Many Parts of the U.S. (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3904542/haze-heat-and-storms-are-affecting-summer-festivities-in-many-parts-of-the-u-s/

25.   Self-Serve Gas Will Be Legal in Oregon When Governor Signs Bill (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/06/30/oregon-self-serve-gas-pump-law-governor-tina-kotek/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

26.   My Congressional Testimony: There Is No Silver Bullet Solution for Salmon on the Snake River (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/my-congressional-testimony-there-is-no-silver-bullet-solution-for-salmon-on-the-snake-river

27.   Alternative Energy: Opposition Is Heresy, Resistance Is Futile (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-opposition-is-heresy-resistance-is-futile/article_f5599702-1206-11ee-a332-676469b7b893.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Follow Up File: Brit Vandal Who Scrawled on Walls of 2,000-Year-Old Roman Colosseum Begs for Forgiveness

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/brit-vandal-who-scrawled-walls-30366575.amp

Book Returned to Massachusetts Library After Nearly 120 Years

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/06/30/library-overdue-West-Virginia-University-New-Bedford-Massachusetts/8001688154986/

Idaho Man Takes on Party Popper World Record for Fourth of July

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/07/03/Guinness-World-Records-party-poppers/5861688396618/

Corpse Flower in Bloom at Washington State University

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/06/30/Washington-State-University-corpse-flower-Vancouver/1991688156523/

SONG OF THE DAY

Miklós Rózsa – Ben Hur Soundtrack Suite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmoWJ4R8c-E

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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