Wednesday, October 25, 2023

The Energy News Digest for October 25, 2023

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ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Power Supply Conference – December 5, 2023, in Portland, OR

Conference Overview: The NWPPA Power Supply Conference provides the expertise and insight to inform power supply decisions.

Who Should Attend: Power supply professionals; policymakers; general managers and CEOs; and finance, rate, and risk department managers.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Struggling Salmon Fishermen Getting Federal Help in Oregon & Along West Coast – It May Be Too Late (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/23/struggling-salmon-fishermen-federal-relief-oregon-west-coast-but-too-late/

Dwindling Chinook Salmon in Oregon River Fires Up Calls for Endangered Species Act Designation (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/25/chinook-salmon-endagered-species-designation-requests/

Meta Sued By 42 Attorneys General Alleging Facebook, Instagram Features Are Addictive & Target Kids (CNBC News)

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/24/bipartisan-group-of-ags-sue-meta-for-addictive-features.html

Wash. Still Facing Drought Despite Season Change, Expected Snowfall (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3936352/washington-still-facing-drought-despite-season-change-expected-snowfall/

Northwest RiverPartners Names Heather Stebbings as Interim Executive Director (Northwest RiverPartners)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2023/10/northwest-riverpartners-names-heather.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Montana Public Service Commission to Take Up NorthWestern Rate Hike

2.      ‘Wyoming Is Watching’ as Historic Rocky Mountain Power Electric Rate Hike Hearing Begins This Week

3.      Many Families to Get a Break on Winter Heating Costs, But Uncertainties Persist

4.      News Release: U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA) Bill to Unleash Hydropower Inches Closer to Becoming Law

5.      Mapping a Modern Hydropower Vision

6.      Idaho, Utilities Receive Federal Funds for Electric Grid Resilience

7.      BLM Shares Public Feedback & Revised Process in Idaho Renewable Energy Strategy

8.      Idaho Power Customers Urge Utilities Commission to Reject Proposal to Change Solar Credit System

9.      ‘It Does Not Smell’: Wash. Program to Use Sewage to Keep Businesses Warm

10.   White House Points to Nationwide Clean Energy Jobs Growth as IRA Success Story

11.   Video: Idaho Power Debunks Phantom Load

12.   What’s the Best Thermostat Setting to Stay Warm & Save Money in Idaho This Fall & Winter?

13.   South Tahoe PUD Gives Winterizing Tips

14.   Struggling Salmon Fishermen Getting Federal Help in Oregon & Along West Coast – It May Be Too Late

15.   Dwindling Chinook Salmon in Oregon River Fires Up Calls for Endangered Species Act Designation

16.   Court Ruling: Coyote Valley Dam in California

17.   Why This Government Proclamation Actually Matters to the Columbia River

18.   Wash. Still Facing Drought Despite Season Change, Expected Snowfall

19.   Ecology Looks to Make Washington Reserve Carbon Auction Reforms Permanent

20.   WA State: Climate Solutions Collide at Ocean Shores Scotch Broom Site

21.   U.S. Sen. Capito (WV) Wants Action on Poles, Easy Info on Satellite Apps, MobileX in Walmart

22.   President Biden Announces Technology Hubs for 32 States, Including Oregon & Washington

23.   Biden-Harris Administration Designates 31 Tech Hubs Across America

24.   Data Centers to Northern Nevada: No Signs of Slowing

25.   British Columbia Accelerates Electric Vehicle Target, with 100-Per-Cent Goal by 2035

26.   Focus: The Battery Test Race to Work Out What Used Electric Vehicles Are Really Worth

27.   The Real Reason You Should Get an E-bike

28.   Meta Sued By 42 Attorneys General Alleging Facebook, Instagram Features Are Addictive & Target Kids

29.   Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Social Media (Municipal Research & Services

30.   Northwest RiverPartners Names Heather Stebbings as Interim Executive Director

31.   Washington State’s Clark Public Utilities Details Promising Workforce Recruitment Tool

32.   First Major Storm of the Season Drops Up to a Foot of Snow in Montana

33.   WA State: Lowland Showers & Mountain Snow Wrap Up Wednesday

34.   Off-Duty Pilot Who Tried to Cut Plane’s Engines Said He’d Taken Magic Mushrooms 48 Hours Earlier

35.   Guest Essay: Lava Ridge Wind Project Proposal Out-Of-Touch with Idahoans

WORD OF THE DAY

Cicerone \siss-uh-ROE-nee\ Noun – 1: a guide who conducts sightseers *2: mentor, tutor.

“If you look to your left, you’ll see an actual copy of the replica of a Halloween costume of Elvis’ jumpsuit from the later stage of his career,” droned the ponderous cicerone who was leading a rag-tag group of tourists at the low-budget Elvis impersonator museum in Las Vegas. “This is the worst fifty bucks I’ve ever spent on something,” muttered Ambrose to his impeccably coifed companion.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Montana Public Service Commission to Take Up NorthWestern Rate Hike (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/briefs/montana-public-service-commission-to-take-up-northwestern-rate-hike/

2.      ‘Wyoming Is Watching’ as Historic Rocky Mountain Power Electric Rate Hike Hearing Begins This Week (Wyofile)

https://wyofile.com/wyoming-is-watching-as-historic-electric-rate-hike-hearing-begins-this-week/

3.      Many Families to Get a Break on Winter Heating Costs, But Uncertainties Persist (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/winter-energy-heating-assistance-798586435290886cb502586fdec33061

4.      News Release: U.S. Rep. McMorris Rodgers (WA) Bill to Unleash Hydropower Inches Closer to Becoming Law (U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, WA)

https://mcmorris.house.gov/posts/mcmorris-rodgers-bill-to-unleash-hydropower-inches-closer-to-becoming-law

5.      Mapping a Modern Hydropower Vision (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/mapping-modern-hydropower-vision

6.      Idaho, Utilities Receive Federal Funds for Electric Grid Resilience (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2023-10-24/idaho-electric-grid-resilience?utm_medium=email

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

7.      BLM Shares Public Feedback & Revised Process in Idaho Renewable Energy Strategy (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://localnews8.com/news/idaho/2023/10/24/blm-shares-public-feedback-and-revised-process-in-idaho-renewable-energy-strategy/

8.      Idaho Power Customers Urge Utilities Commission to Reject Proposal to Change Solar Credit System (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/10/24/idaho-power-customers-urge-utilities-commission-to-reject-proposal-to-change-solar-credit-system/

9.      ‘It Does Not Smell’: Wash. Program to Use Sewage to Keep Businesses Warm (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3936274/king-county-pilot-program-will-use-sewage-to-keep-businesses-warm/

10.   White House Points to Nationwide Clean Energy Jobs Growth as IRA Success Story (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/west-virginia-energy-jobs-nationwide-increase-2022/697569/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

11.   Video: Idaho Power Debunks Phantom Load (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

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

12.   What’s the Best Thermostat Setting to Stay Warm & Save Money in Idaho This Fall & Winter? (AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/best-thermostat-setting-stay-warm-132814175.html

13.   South Tahoe PUD Gives Winterizing Tips (The Tahoe Daily Tribune, South Lake Tahoe, CA)

https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/south-tahoe-pud-gives-winterizing-tips/

FISH & WILDLIFE

14.   Struggling Salmon Fishermen Getting Federal Help in Oregon & Along West Coast – It May Be Too Late (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/23/struggling-salmon-fishermen-federal-relief-oregon-west-coast-but-too-late/

15.   Dwindling Chinook Salmon in Oregon River Fires Up Calls for Endangered Species Act Designation (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/10/25/chinook-salmon-endagered-species-designation-requests/

16.   Court Ruling: Coyote Valley Dam in California (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/coyote-valley-dam/

17.   Why This Government Proclamation Actually Matters to the Columbia River (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/why-this-government-proclamation-actually-matters-to-the-columbia-river/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

18.   Wash. Still Facing Drought Despite Season Change, Expected Snowfall (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3936352/washington-still-facing-drought-despite-season-change-expected-snowfall/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

19.   Ecology Looks to Make Washington Reserve Carbon Auction Reforms Permanent (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_65e8c976-72af-11ee-aed1-f776f85f931d.html

20.   WA State: Climate Solutions Collide at Ocean Shores Scotch Broom Site (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/climate-solutions-collide-at-shores-scotch-broom-site/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

21.   U.S. Sen. Capito (WV) Wants Action on Poles, Easy Info on Satellite Apps, MobileX in Walmart (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2023/10/capito-wants-action-on-poles-easy-info-on-satellite-apps-mobilex-in-walmart/

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

22.   President Biden Announces Technology Hubs for 32 States, Including Oregon & Washington (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/technology/biden-technology-hubs-oregon-washington/283-b7f79b1e-94ea-49ee-9e88-5d230d31b280

23.   Biden-Harris Administration Designates 31 Tech Hubs Across America (U.S. Economic Development Administration)

https://www.eda.gov/news/press-release/2023/10/23/biden-harris-administration-designates-31-tech-hubs-across-america

24.   Data Centers to Northern Nevada: No Signs of Slowing (The Nevada Appeal, Carson City, NV)

https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2023/oct/24/data-centers-to-northern-nevada-no-signs-of-slowing/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

25.   British Columbia Accelerates Electric Vehicle Target, with 100-Per-Cent Goal by 2035 (CTV News)

https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-accelerates-electric-vehicle-target-with-100-per-cent-goal-by-2035-1.6616335

26.   Focus: The Battery Test Race to Work Out What Used Electric Vehicles Are Really Worth (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/battery-test-race-work-out-what-used-evs-are-really-worth-2023-10-23/

27.   The Real Reason You Should Get an E-bike (Atlantic Magazine)

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/10/reasons-to-get-e-bike-emissions-climate-change-benefits/675716/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

28.   Meta Sued By 42 Attorneys General Alleging Facebook, Instagram Features Are Addictive & Target Kids (CNBC News)

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/24/bipartisan-group-of-ags-sue-meta-for-addictive-features.html

29.   Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Social Media (Municipal Research & Services Center of Washington)

https://mrsc.org/stay-informed/mrsc-insight/october-2023/navigating-the-shifting-landscape-of-social-media

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

30.   Northwest RiverPartners Names Heather Stebbings as Interim Executive Director (Northwest RiverPartners)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2023/10/northwest-riverpartners-names-heather.html

31.   Washington State’s Clark Public Utilities Details Promising Workforce Recruitment Tool (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/washington-states-clark-public-utilities-details-promising-workforce-recruitment-tool

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

32.   First Major Storm of the Season Drops Up to a Foot of Snow in Montana (Associated Press)

https://news.yahoo.com/snow-hits-northern-cascades-rockies-051904645.html

33.   WA State: Lowland Showers & Mountain Snow Wrap Up Wednesday (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/weather-blog/cascades-winter-storm-watch/281-b4a58e0a-e14c-4807-a577-351788a27a85

34.   Off-Duty Pilot Who Tried to Cut Plane’s Engines Said He’d Taken Magic Mushrooms 48 Hours Earlier (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/alaska-airlines-pilot-arrest-joseph-emerson-psychedelic-mushrooms/283-5d9c6df6-09c1-4f99-899b-825c3d072312

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

35.   Guest Essay: Lava Ridge Wind Project Proposal Out-Of-Touch with Idahoans (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/columns/commentary-lava-ridge-wind-project-proposal-out-of-touch-with-idahoans/article_81c752e2-71cf-11ee-82f1-1f8f6536c40d.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Richard Roundtree, Star of the Original ‘Shaft,’ Dies at 81

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/richard-roundtree-star-original-shaft-dies-81-rcna122042

‘Determined’ Snails Eating Villagers’ Mail

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqq71y6399eo

Legend Of New York City Sewer Alligators Gets Memorialized in New Manhattan Sculpture (yes, this is the genesis of this section’s title)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/10/23/alligator-sculpture-manhattan-union-square-park/71290042007/

Theft of 2 Million Dimes (Worth $200K) from Truckload of Coins from U.S. Mint Leaves Four Facing Federal Charges

https://news.yahoo.com/theft-2-million-dimes-truckload-181814412.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Isaac Hayes – theme From Shaft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTU_9T5ufzY

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.