Wednesday, December 6, 2023

The Energy News Digest for December 6, 2023

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ITEMS OF NOTE FROM THE NORTHWEST PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

$299 Million: Oregon Wildfire Victims Settle Lawsuit Against PacifiCorp (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/12/299-million-oregon-wildfire-victims-settle-lawsuit-against-pacificorp.html

WA State: Relicensing of Rock Island Dam for Chelan PUD Starts This Month (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/relicensing-of-rock-island-dam-for-chelan-pud-starts-this-month/

Lower Snake River Dams: Congressional Subcommittee Hearing Announced (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/1144/p/lower-snake-river-dams-congressional-subcommittee-hearing-announced/

Burns Paiute Tribe Calls on Feds to Require Idaho Power to Return Salmon, Steelhead to Snake River, Tributaries Above Three Dams in Hells Canyon (Baker City Herald, OR)

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/burns-paiute-tribe-calls-on-feds-to-require-idaho-power-to-return-salmon-steelhead-to/article_7fc28fe4-9398-11ee-a63b-9fc0b95a7c99.html

WA State Nearing Decision on Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm Proposal (KAPP-TV, Yakima, WA)

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/state-nearing-decision-on-horse-heaven-hills-wind-farm-proposal/article_d3387fe4-92da-11ee-953d-c744dca8ce7c.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      $299 Million: Oregon Wildfire Victims Settle Lawsuit Against PacifiCorp

2.      WA State: Relicensing of Rock Island Dam for Chelan PUD Starts This Month

3.      Lower Snake River Dams: Congressional Subcommittee Hearing Announced

4.      Ag Stakeholders: Secret Plan Threatens Ag 'In a Way We've Never Seen Before'

5.      Ag Groups: Snake River Dam Deal 'Leaves Farmers Behind'

6.      BPA to Adopt Three-Year Rate Period for FY 2026-2028

7.      WA State: Tacoma Power Selects Company to Refurbish Hydro Turbine and Generator Units

8.      Africa's Hydropower Plants Set for Upgrades to Boost Generation

9.      Federal Infrastructure Dollars to Upgrade Fragile Indian Country Power Grid

10.   Bureau of Land Management to Analyze Potential Changes to West-Wide Energy Corridors to Speed Transmission Deployment

11.   Where More Transmission Is Needed

12.   WA State Nearing Decision on Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm Proposal

13.   WA State Agency: Horse Heaven Windmills Would Imperil Hawks, Other Birds

14.   California Weighs Ending Climate Credits for Cow Poop

15.   Despite Setbacks, States Are Still Counting on Offshore Wind

16.   European Alternative Energy Companies Weigh Pacific NW Expansions, Says Portland Booster on Trade Mission

17.   Oregon’s Climate Benefit for Low-Income Residents Is Shrinking

18.   Most Americans Want to Electrify Their Homes — If They Can Keep Their Gas Stoves

19.   Burns Paiute Tribe Calls on Feds to Require Idaho Power to Return Salmon, Steelhead to Snake River, Tributaries Above Three Dams in Hells Canyon

20.   Shooting Barred Owls to Save Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest

21.   Top Angler Earns Over $100K Protecting Juvenile Salmon from Northern Pikeminnow

22.   Subtropical Warmth, Heavy Rain, & Filling Reservoirs

23.   Initiative Poses Extra Hurdle for Merging of Washington, California Carbon Markets

24.   2023 to Be Hottest Year on Record, European Union Scientists Say

25.   Pacific Gas & Electric Fleet of Drones Inspect & Help Replace Power Lines

26.   Discussion Renewed Over Direct Electric Vehicle Sales in Washington

27.   Oregon: Portland Is a National Electric Vehicle Hot Spot

28.   Thousands of Fake Facebook Accounts Shut Down by Meta Were Primed to Polarize Voters Ahead of 2024

29.   WA Gov's Office Downplays Former State Economist's Claim of Pressure to Lie About Gas Prices

30.   Analyst – Political Maps for Montana’s Public Service Commission Tied to Energy Control

31.   Atmospheric River Pounds U.S. Pacific Northwest: Two Deaths Reported

32.   Massive ‘Pineapple Express’ Hitting Pacific NW Captured in Satellite Images

33.   Guest Essay: Columbia River Settlement Threatens Montana’s Economic Stability

34.   Guest Essay:  WA Gov. Inslee – Washington’s Salmon Recovery Plan Is Stronger Than Ever, Despite What Some May Say

WORD OF THE DAY

Plangent \PLAN-junt\ Adjective - 1: having a loud reverberating sound 2: having an expressive & especially plaintive quality.

“…a stairway…..to hea-ven…” as the last plangent note faded away, Brianna knew she had found the perfect recording studio for her Led Zeppelin ukulele cover album. All she needed now was a way to keep people from using the tile-walled bathroom for at least seven minutes per session.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      $299 Million: Oregon Wildfire Victims Settle Lawsuit Against PacifiCorp (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/12/299-million-oregon-wildfire-victims-settle-lawsuit-against-pacificorp.html

2.      WA State: Relicensing of Rock Island Dam for Chelan PUD Starts This Month (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/relicensing-of-rock-island-dam-for-chelan-pud-starts-this-month/

3.      Lower Snake River Dams: Congressional Subcommittee Hearing Announced (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/1144/p/lower-snake-river-dams-congressional-subcommittee-hearing-announced/

4.      Ag Stakeholders: Secret Plan Threatens Ag 'In a Way We've Never Seen Before' (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/ag-stakeholders-secret-plan-threatens-ag-in-a-way-weve-never-seen-before/article_945cfa62-8ee2-11ee-94c9-bf0d3280ac31.html

5.      Ag Groups: Snake River Dam Deal 'Leaves Farmers Behind' (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/ag-groups-snake-river-dam-deal-leaves-farmers-behind/article_6aaef664-92e0-11ee-86d7-2780df3aa992.html

6.      BPA to Adopt Three-Year Rate Period for FY 2026-2028 (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20231205-bpa-to-adopt-three-year-rate-period-for-fy-2026-2028

7.      WA State: Tacoma Power Selects Company to Refurbish Hydro Turbine and Generator Units (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/tacoma-power-selects-company-refurbish-hydro-turbine-and-generator-units

8.      Africa's Hydropower Plants Set for Upgrades to Boost Generation (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africas-hydropower-plants-set-upgrades-boost-generation-2023-12-04/

9.      Federal Infrastructure Dollars to Upgrade Fragile Indian Country Power Grid (Capital and Main)

https://capitalandmain.com/federal-infrastructure-dollars-to-upgrade-fragile-indian-country-power-grid

10.   Bureau of Land Management to Analyze Potential Changes to West-Wide Energy Corridors to Speed Transmission Deployment (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/blm-analyze-potential-changes-west-wide-energy-corridors-speed-transmission-deployment

11.   Where More Transmission Is Needed (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/where-more-transmission-needed

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   WA State Nearing Decision on Horse Heaven Hills Wind Farm Proposal (KAPP-TV, Yakima, WA)

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/state-nearing-decision-on-horse-heaven-hills-wind-farm-proposal/article_d3387fe4-92da-11ee-953d-c744dca8ce7c.html

13.   WA State Agency: Horse Heaven Windmills Would Imperil Hawks, Other Birds (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/wdfw-horse-heaven-windmills-would-imperil-hawks-other-birds/article_0da5eb42-8fd6-11ee-83fd-4fdbd97b3406.html

14.   California Weighs Ending Climate Credits for Cow Poop (The Business Journal)

https://thebusinessjournal.com/california-weighs-ending-climate-credits-for-cow-poop/

15.   Despite Setbacks, States Are Still Counting on Offshore Wind (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/dec/04/despite-setbacks-states-are-still-counting-on-offshore-wind/

16.   European Alternative Energy Companies Weigh Pacific NW Expansions, Says Portland Booster on Trade Mission (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2023/12/european-alternative-energy-companies-weigh-nw-expansions-says-portland-booster-on-trade-mission.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   Oregon’s Climate Benefit for Low-Income Residents Is Shrinking (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/05/oregon-climate-benefit-air-conditioner-heater-health-authority-extreme-heat-cold/

18.   Most Americans Want to Electrify Their Homes — If They Can Keep Their Gas Stoves (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/energy/most-americans-want-to-electrify-their-homes-if-they-can-keep-their-gas-stoves/

FISH & WILDLIFE

19.   Burns Paiute Tribe Calls on Feds to Require Idaho Power to Return Salmon, Steelhead to Snake River, Tributaries Above Three Dams in Hells Canyon (Baker City Herald, OR)

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/burns-paiute-tribe-calls-on-feds-to-require-idaho-power-to-return-salmon-steelhead-to/article_7fc28fe4-9398-11ee-a63b-9fc0b95a7c99.html

20.   Shooting Barred Owls to Save Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/06/shooting-barred-owls-to-save-spotted-owls-in-the-northwest/

21.   Top Angler Earns Over $100K Protecting Juvenile Salmon from Northern Pikeminnow (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20231206-top-angler-earns-over-100k-protecting-juvenile-salmon-from-northern-pike

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Subtropical Warmth, Heavy Rain, & Filling Reservoirs (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/12/subtropical-warmth-heavy-rain-and.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Initiative Poses Extra Hurdle for Merging of Washington, California Carbon Markets (Spokane Public Radio)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2023-12-05/initiative-poses-extra-hurdle-for-merging-of-washington-california-carbon-markets

24.   2023 to Be Hottest Year on Record, European Union Scientists Say (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/climate-change-2023-will-be-warmest-year-record-eus-copernicus-2023-12-06/

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

25.   Pacific Gas & Electric Fleet of Drones Inspect & Help Replace Power Lines (KTVU-TV, Oakland, CA)

https://www.ktvu.com/news/pges-drone-system-may-be-the-worlds-best

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

26.   Discussion Renewed Over Direct Electric Vehicle Sales in Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/money/business/discussion-renewed-ev-sales-washington/281-2a426235-4c79-4564-98a8-7f3973cb11d7

27.   Oregon: Portland Is a National Electric Vehicle Hot Spot (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/12/04/electric-vehicle-use-statistics

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

28.   Thousands of Fake Facebook Accounts Shut Down by Meta Were Primed to Polarize Voters Ahead of 2024 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-2024-election-misinformation-china-956019723463918043e060ac577270f7

MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE

29.   WA Gov's Office Downplays Former State Economist's Claim of Pressure to Lie About Gas Prices (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_f8e058fe-92fb-11ee-a42d-bbe6e46bf55b.html

30.   Analyst – Political Maps for Montana’s Public Service Commission Tied to Energy Control (Montana Standard)

https://mtstandard.com/analyst-political-maps-tied-to-energy-control/article_2d64ccf4-aee6-5269-9aa9-225603407329.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

31.   Atmospheric River Pounds U.S. Pacific Northwest: Two Deaths Reported (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/atmospheric-river-pounds-us-northwest-two-deaths-reported-2023-12-06/

32.   Massive ‘Pineapple Express’ Hitting Pacific NW Captured in Satellite Images (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2023/12/massive-pineapple-express-hitting-nw-captured-in-satellite-images.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

33.   Guest Essay: Columbia River Settlement Threatens Montana’s Economic Stability (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

https://flatheadbeacon.com/2023/12/05/columbia-river-settlement-threatens-montanas-economic-stability/

34.   Guest Essay:  WA Gov. Inslee – Washington’s Salmon Recovery Plan Is Stronger Than Ever, Despite What Some May Say (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article282511883.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Taylor Swift Makes History as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Here’s How

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-makes-history-person-125356747.html

Traffic Stinks: I-5 Backed Up After Truck Dumps Load of Manure

https://news.yahoo.com/traffic-stinks-5-backed-truck-170312682.html

Texas Woman Finds Opossum Lounging in Her Christmas Tree

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/opossum-Christmas-tree-Texas/9731701797819/

Man Folds & Throws a Paper Plane in 6.15 Seconds to Break World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/06/Guinness-World-Records-David-Rush-paper-plane/2311701879541/

SONG OF THE DAY

Steve Miller Band – Jet Airliner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPbWPxE2mDA

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.