Monday, September 11, 2023

The Energy News Digest for September 11, 2023

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

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Two Men Plead Guilty to Vandalizing Power Substations in Washington State on Christmas Day (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/07/tacoma-substation-attack/

Extremists Keep Trying to Trigger Mass Blackouts — And That’s Not Even the Scariest Part (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/08/power-grid-attacks-00114563

WA’s Third Quarterly Carbon Auction Brings in More Than $541 Million (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_92b02840-4d12-11ee-8baa-07b6cce710e5.html

World’s Largest Dam Removal Project Begins on Klamath River with Many Questions Left (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/2023/09/10/klamath-river-dams-demolition-project-underway/70796653007/

The U.S. Marks 22 Years Since 9/11 with Tributes & Tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska (Associated Press)

https://news.yahoo.com/united-states-marks-22-years-040427265.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Two Men Plead Guilty to Vandalizing Power Substations in Washington State on Christmas Day

2.      Extremists Keep Trying to Trigger Mass Blackouts — And That’s Not Even the Scariest Part

3.      World’s Largest Dam Removal Project Begins on Klamath River with Many Questions Left

4.      Why & How Should We Modernize U.S. Hydropower Facilities?

5.      Demand for Electricity in Oregon Predicted to Rise

6.      WA State: Chelan County PUD Staff Recommends Opting Out of Federal Ratemaking, Electric Vehicle Program Standards

7.      Alaska: Consensus Among Region’s Utilities – Imports of Liquefied Natural Gas Will Be Needed to Offset Shortfalls

8.      Puget Sound Energy Launches Targeted Electrification Pilot Among 10,000 Natural Gas Customers

9.      Nevada: Power Pole Plant Fire in Silver Springs

10.   Avista Corp. Names New President & Announces Senior Leadership Changes

11.   Hydropower Project in Pasco Gets Federal Funding

12.   Could Irrigation Canals Generate Clean Electricity? Eastern WA Chosen for $1.6 Million Test

13.   Public Comment Open for Potential Offshore Wind Farming Along Oregon Coast

14.   Montana: Northern Cheyenne Plan Utility-Scale Energy Project on Reservation

15.   Why Native American Tribes Struggle to Tap Billions in Clean Energy Incentives

16.   U.S. Solar Installations Expected to Jump 52% to Nearly 32 GW in 2023: SEIA

17.   Smart Plugs Recalled Over Shock Risk

18.   Oxford Study Proves Heat Pumps Triumph Over Fossil Fuels in the Cold

19.   Coho Salmon Fishing Season on Columbia River Should be a Good One

20.   More Wild Atlantic Salmon Found in U.S. Rivers Than Any Time in the Past Decade, Officials Say

21.   Tennis Ball Wasteland? Game Grapples with a Fuzzy Yellow Recycling Problem

22.   The Great Salt Lake Is Shrinking Rapidly, And Utah Has Failed to Stop It, a Lawsuit Contends

23.   ‘Without Water, We Have Nothing’: Native, Indigenous Communities Return to North Portland for Water Ceremony

24.   WA’s Third Quarterly Carbon Auction Brings in More Than $541 Million

25.   Washington State to Hold Second Emergency Carbon Auction on Nov. 8

26.   Microsoft Funding New Approach for Carbon Removal

27.   Video: Is the Cost of Installing Rural Broadband Worth It?

28.   Microsoft Is Using a Hell of a Lot of Water to Flood the World with Artificial Intelligence

29.   Electric Cars Have a Road Trip Problem, Even for the Secretary of Energy

30.   Exclusive: ChatGPT Traffic Slips Again for Third Month in a Row

31.   Amazon to Require Some Authors to Disclose the Use of Artificial Intelligence Material

32.   Finally There Are Five: Gomez Confirmed as FCC Commissioner

33.   The U.S. Marks 22 Years Since 9/11 with Tributes & Tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska

34.   WA State: Law Firm Investigating Gray Fire as Residents Realize Total Reimbursement Unlikely – Electric Utilities Eyed

35.   Major El Nino Developing – The Upcoming Winter May Be an Interesting One for the West Coast

36.   Guest Essay: We Need Some Transparency in Columbia River System Lawsuit

37.   Editorial: Invest in Internet Infrastructure Expansion

WORD OF THE DAY

Orotund /ORE-uh-tund/ Adjective – Describes something—usually a voice—marked by fullness, strength, and clarity of sound. It can also be used disapprovingly to mean “pompous” or “bombastic.”

The orotund tones of Walter Winchell’s voice boomed out at 6:45 each night, “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. North and South America and all the ships at sea ... let’s go to press!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Two Men Plead Guilty to Vandalizing Power Substations in Washington State on Christmas Day (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/07/tacoma-substation-attack/

2.      Extremists Keep Trying to Trigger Mass Blackouts — And That’s Not Even the Scariest Part (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/08/power-grid-attacks-00114563

3.      World’s Largest Dam Removal Project Begins on Klamath River with Many Questions Left (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/2023/09/10/klamath-river-dams-demolition-project-underway/70796653007/

4.      Why & How Should We Modernize U.S. Hydropower Facilities? (U.S. Dept of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/why-and-how-should-we-modernize-us-hydropower-facilities

5.      Demand for Electricity in Oregon Predicted to Rise (KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://www.kezi.com/news/demand-for-electricity-in-oregon-predicted-to-rise/article_4a74264c-4cfb-11ee-aced-df9e6b8c82ea.html

6.      WA State: Chelan County PUD Staff Recommends Opting Out of Federal Ratemaking, Electric Vehicle Program Standards (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/chelan-county-pud-staff-recommends-opting-out-of-federal-ratemaking-ev-program-standards/article_d06249dc-4c51-11ee-975a-d714af7cc9da.html

7.      Alaska: Consensus Among Region’s Utilities – Imports of Liquefied Natural Gas Will Be Needed to Offset Shortfalls (Anchorage Press, AK)

https://www.anchoragepress.com/news/consensus-among-region-s-utilities-imports-of-liquefied-natural-gas-will-be-needed-to-offset/article_c4face3e-4dd7-11ee-8e7c-4349bb9f49a2.html

8.      Puget Sound Energy Launches Targeted Electrification Pilot Among 10,000 Natural Gas Customers (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/41066-puget-sound-energy-launches-targeted-electrification-pilot-among-10000-natural-gas-customers/

9.      Nevada: Power Pole Plant Fire in Silver Springs (KOLO-TV, Reno, NV)

https://www.kolotv.com/2023/09/10/power-pole-plant-fire-silver-springs/

10.   Avista Corp. Names New President & Announces Senior Leadership Changes (Avista News Release)

https://investor.avistacorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/avista-corp-names-new-president-and-announces-senior-leadership

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   Hydropower Project in Pasco Gets Federal Funding (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/hydropower-project-in-pasco-gets-federal-funding/article_a9cd7226-4cf4-11ee-86f7-0f02939d9c9f.html

12.   Could Irrigation Canals Generate Clean Electricity? Eastern WA Chosen for $1.6 Million Test (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/washington/article278998334.html

13.   Public Comment Open for Potential Offshore Wind Farming Along Oregon Coast (KOBI-TV, Medford, OR)

https://kobi5.com/news/public-comment-offshore-wind-farming-oregon-coast-curry-coos-county-senator-wyden-merkley-214475/

14.   Montana: Northern Cheyenne Plan Utility-Scale Energy Project on Reservation (Montana Standard)

https://mtstandard.com/news/native-americans-inflation-reduction-act-tax-credits-renewable-energy/article_3ed4cb51-bc56-51a9-b05c-c342df61a2d6.html

15.   Why Native American Tribes Struggle to Tap Billions in Clean Energy Incentives (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/why-us-tribes-struggle-tap-billions-clean-energy-incentives-2023-09-08/

16.   U.S. Solar Installations Expected to Jump 52% to Nearly 32 GW in 2023: SEIA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-rebound-installations-seia-record-year/693027/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   Smart Plugs Recalled Over Shock Risk (KSAZ-TV, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/smart-plug-emporia-recall-shock-hazard

18.   Oxford Study Proves Heat Pumps Triumph Over Fossil Fuels in the Cold (National Observer, Canada)

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/09/11/news/oxford-study-proves-heat-pumps-triumph-over-fossil-fuels-cold

FISH & WILDLIFE

19.   Coho Salmon Fishing Season on Columbia River Should be a Good One (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/sep/09/coho-salmon-fishing-season-on-columbia-river-should-be-a-good-one/

20.   More Wild Atlantic Salmon Found in U.S. Rivers Than Any Time in the Past Decade, Officials Say (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/salmon-rivers-maine-recovering-endangered-fishing-174eb09c19652bcd54d4d9ee9dec2dae

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

21.   Tennis Ball Wasteland? Game Grapples with a Fuzzy Yellow Recycling Problem (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/tennis-recycling-sustainability-environment-us-open-climate-573d1c356560defaaa8a1f997e12e8a1

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   The Great Salt Lake Is Shrinking Rapidly, And Utah Has Failed to Stop It, a Lawsuit Contends (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/06/utah-great-salt-lake-lawsuit-shrink-00114397

23.   ‘Without Water, We Have Nothing’: Native, Indigenous Communities Return to North Portland for Water Ceremony (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2023/09/without-water-we-have-nothing-native-indigenous-communities-return-to-north-portland-for-water-ceremony.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   WA’s Third Quarterly Carbon Auction Brings in More Than $541 Million (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_92b02840-4d12-11ee-8baa-07b6cce710e5.html

25.   Washington State to Hold Second Emergency Carbon Auction on Nov. 8 (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_a9dbb2a2-4dce-11ee-bafd-0fa7bdb1d273.html

26.   Microsoft Funding New Approach for Carbon Removal (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/business/4193168-microsoft-funding-new-approach-for-carbon-removal/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   Video: Is the Cost of Installing Rural Broadband Worth It? (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/video/series/tech-news-briefing/is-the-cost-of-installing-rural-broadband-worth-it/2F89513F-70B7-4F67-A62F-6722D1EC4016

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

28.   Microsoft Is Using a Hell of a Lot of Water to Flood the World with Artificial Intelligence (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/microsoft-water-usage-ai-iowa-data-center-1850826419

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

29.   Electric Cars Have a Road Trip Problem, Even for the Secretary of Energy (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/10/1187224861/electric-vehicles-evs-cars-chargers-charging-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

30.   Exclusive: ChatGPT Traffic Slips Again for Third Month in a Row (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/chatgpt-traffic-slips-again-third-month-row-2023-09-07/

31.   Amazon to Require Some Authors to Disclose the Use of Artificial Intelligence Material (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3929119/amazon-require-authors-disclose-use-ai/

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

32.   Finally There Are Five: Gomez Confirmed as FCC Commissioner (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/finally-there-are-five-gomez-confirmed-as-fcc-commissioner/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

33.   The U.S. Marks 22 Years Since 9/11 with Tributes & Tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska (Associated Press)

https://news.yahoo.com/united-states-marks-22-years-040427265.html

34.   WA State: Law Firm Investigating Gray Fire as Residents Realize Total Reimbursement Unlikely – Electric Utilities Eyed (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/sep/08/law-firm-investigating-gray-fire-as-residents-real/

35.   Major El Nino Developing – The Upcoming Winter May Be an Interesting One for the West Coast (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/09/major-el-nino-developing.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

36.   Guest Essay: We Need Some Transparency in Columbia River System Lawsuit (Lewiston Morning Tribune, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lmtribune.com/opinion/opinion-we-need-some-transparency-in-river-systems-lawsuit/article_cc62697b-f20d-54e0-9d2d-dff9c2847af2.html

37.   Editorial: Invest in Internet Infrastructure Expansion (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/sep/07/in-our-view-invest-in-internet-infrastructure-expansion/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Comet Nishimura Will Pass Earth for First Time in Over 400 Years: How to Find & Watch It

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/comet-nishimura-pass-earth-first-232135529.html

A Norwegian Man Needed a Hobby. His New Metal Detector Found a Showy 1,500-Year-Old Gold Necklace

https://apnews.com/article/norway-archaeological-find-gold-21128442b7638f3e1203c2728d494ec7

Dad Gets 667 Tattoos of Daughter’s Name, Reclaims World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/09/11/Guinness-World-Records-Lucy-tattoos/3681694454606/

Long-Lost X-Wing Model from ‘Star Wars’ 1977 Up for Auction

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/09/11/Heritage-Auctions-Star-Wars-X-wing-long-lost/8531694450713/

SONG OF THE DAY

Hello Leitmotif: John Williams – Scherzo for X-Wings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJzuanMUuS4

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.

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