The Energy News Digest for July 31, 2024

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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Montana: NorthWestern Energy Announces Deal to Become Colstrip’s Largest Shareholder (KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT)

https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/northwestern-energy-announces-deal-to-become-colstrips-largest-shareholder

California Wildfires Dim Solar Generation During Power Demand Peak (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/california-wildfires-dim-solar-generation-during-power-demand-peak-2024-07-31/

$200 Credit for WA Households Struggling to Pay Energy Bill with Climate Commitment Act’s Future in Doubt (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3971441/200-credit-wa-households-struggling-pay-energy-bill-climate-commitment-act-future-doubt/

Price of Carbon Allowances in California’s Cap-and-Trade Program Fell in Latest Auction (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=62644

Low-Income Homes Drop Internet Service After Congress Kills Discount Program (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/07/low-income-homes-drop-internet-service-after-congress-kills-discount-program/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Announces Deal to Become Colstrip’s Largest Shareholder

2.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy to Buy Energy West Montana in $39 Million Deal

3.      Washington Is Offering $200 to Some Residents to Help Pay Electric Bills

4.      $200 Credit for WA Households Struggling to Pay Energy Bill with Climate Commitment Act’s Future in Doubt

5.      Report: Grant County Faces Energy Crisis as Data Centers Strain Hydropower Resources

6.      Oregonians Should Be Aware of Power Companies’ Potential Safety Measures

7.      Idaho Commission Accepting Comments for Rocky Mountain Power’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan

8.      BC Hydro to Invest $6 Billion in Capital Projects, Including Dam & Hydro Upgrades

9.      Navajo Nation Plans to Test Limit of Tribal Law Preventing Transportation of Uranium on Its Land

10.   55 Miles of High-Voltage Transmission Lines Added in 2023 as U.S. Buildout Slows

11.   Sky High Electric Bill? Here’s How Much Summer Heat Is Costing Americans

12.   California Wildfires Dim Solar Generation During Power Demand Peak

13.   Idaho: Ada Co. Rejects Solar Farm, Cites Preservation of Idaho ‘Way of Life’

14.   California Plan Eyes 20 GW of Solar in Fresno County

15.   Southeast & Southcentral Alaska Awarded $38 Million to Launch Heat Pump Incentive Program

16.   British Columbia First Nations Claim Fish Farm Licenses Infringe Upon Aboriginal Fishing Rights

17.   A Tribe Once Declared ‘Extinct’ Helps Reintroduce Salmon to the Columbia River

18.   Special Place in Hell Edition: Man Intentionally Runs Over Flock of Seagulls, Killing 25 in Southwest Washington

19.   Podcast: The Dangers of Low-Head Dams in the Willamette River

20.   Water Bills Are Contentious in This Pierce County City. Why Do They Seem So High?

21.   Price of Carbon Allowances in California’s Cap-and-Trade Program Fell in Latest Auction

22.   Can That Gas Be Remoooved? The Quest for Climate-Friendly Cows.

23.   Low-Income Homes Drop Internet Service After Congress Kills Discount Program

24.   FCC Says New Pole Attachment Rules Are in Effect

25.   U.S. Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Package of Bills Aimed at Protecting Kids & Teens Online

26.   Tesla Recalls 1.8 Million Cars Over Hood Issue

27.   California City Unveils Nation’s First All-Electric Vehicle Police Fleet

28.   Podcast: Why Are People in Idaho Hesitant to Buy Electric Vehicles?

29.   Google Wins the Gold Medal for Worst Olympic Ad

30.   What’s the Cost If WA Voters Erase Capital Gains Tax, End Cap-and-Trade?

31.   WA Gov. Inslee Defends Energy Credit Program Against Claims of Influencing Voters

32.   Western Wildfires Latest: 1 Dead in New Colorado Blaze as Containment Expanded on Huge California Fire

33.   More Than 1 Million Acres Burned Across Oregon, Firefighters Making Some Progress

34.   Firefighters Battle to Protect Communities as Washington Wildfires Spread

35.   Here’s the Latest on Idaho Wildfires, Oregon’s Smoke-Producing Blazes Affecting Boise

36.   Montana: Existing Wildfires Maintain Containment; Authorities Respond to New Fires Sparked

37.   Guest Essay: George & Simms – Repurposing Willamette Dams Would Save Money, Aid Salmon

38.   Guest Essay: Goldendale Energy Project Comes at the Expense of Tribes, Nature

39.   Guest Essay: A Strong America Requires Reliable, Plentiful, & Affordable Energy

40.   Deeply Unserious 5th Circuit Declares $8 Billion Rural FCC Broadband Subsidy Program ‘Unconstitutional’

Word of the Day

Parley \PARR-lee \ Verb – To speak with another: confer; specifically: to discuss terms with an enemy.

“ARRRRRRRR,” growled the lady pirate to her opponents. “I won’t let ye onto me ship for a parley unless ye all wear dresses before ye come aboard.” Her quaking opponents, facing the grinning guns of the pirate ship, were only too happy to don hoop skirts for their trip to discuss terms of surrender.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Announces Deal to Become Colstrip’s Largest Shareholder (KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT)

https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/northwestern-energy-announces-deal-to-become-colstrips-largest-shareholder

2.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy to Buy Energy West Montana in $39 Million Deal (KFBB-TV, Great Falls, MT)

https://www.montanarightnow.com/great-falls/northwestern-energy-to-buy-great-falls-energy-west-montana-in-39-million-deal/article_5ea49df8-4ec7-11ef-9dbc-3b3febadd932.html

3.      Washington Is Offering $200 to Some Residents to Help Pay Electric Bills (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-is-offering-200-to-help-pay-electric-bills

4.      $200 Credit for WA Households Struggling to Pay Energy Bill with Climate Commitment Act’s Future in Doubt (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3971441/200-credit-wa-households-struggling-pay-energy-bill-climate-commitment-act-future-doubt/

5.      Report: Grant County Faces Energy Crisis as Data Centers Strain Hydropower Resources (Source One News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/report-grant-county-faces-energy-crisis-as-data-centers-strain-hydropower-resources/article_3c07ab82-4dd7-11ef-a6a4-3b3229dbec5d.html

6.      Oregonians Should Be Aware of Power Companies’ Potential Safety Measures (KLCC-Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/disasters-accidents/2024-07-15/oregonians-should-be-aware-of-power-companies-potential-safety-measures

7.      Idaho Commission Accepting Comments for Rocky Mountain Power’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/idaho-commission-accepting-comments-for-rocky-mountain-powers-wildfire-mitigation-plan/

8.      BC Hydro to Invest $6 Billion in Capital Projects, Including Dam & Hydro Upgrades (Hydro Review)

https://www.hydroreview.com/business-finance/finance/bc-hydro-to-invest-6-billion-in-capital-projects-including-dam-and-hydro-upgrades/

9.      Navajo Nation Plans to Test Limit of Tribal Law Preventing Transportation of Uranium on Its Land (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/uranium-navajo-transport-arizona-mine-energy-nygren-d697115b7aed897e366f7f0ef4ee1f14

10.   55 Miles of High-Voltage Transmission Lines Added in 2023 as U.S. Buildout Slows (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/high-voltage-transmission-buildout-aceg-grid-strategies-report/722725/

11.   Sky High Electric Bill? Here’s How Much Summer Heat Is Costing Americans (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/07/31/summer-heat-wave-electricity-bills-impact/74221050007/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12.   California Wildfires Dim Solar Generation During Power Demand Peak (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/california-wildfires-dim-solar-generation-during-power-demand-peak-2024-07-31/

13.   Idaho: Ada Co. Rejects Solar Farm, Cites Preservation of Idaho ‘Way of Life’ (BoiseDev)

https://boisedev.com/news/2024/07/30/savion-melba-rejected/

14.   California Plan Eyes 20 GW of Solar in Fresno County (Solar Industry Magazine)

https://solarindustrymag.com/california-plan-eyes-20-gw-of-solar

Conservation & Efficiency

15.   Southeast & Southcentral Alaska Awarded $38 Million to Launch Heat Pump Incentive Program (KTOO Radio, Juneau, AK)

https://www.ktoo.org/2024/07/29/southeast-and-southcentral-alaska-awarded-38m-to-launch-heat-pump-rebate-program/

Fish & Wildlife

16.   British Columbia First Nations Claim Fish Farm Licenses Infringe Upon Aboriginal Fishing Rights (The Toronto Star, Ontario, Canada)

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-first-nations-claim-fish-farm-licences-infringe-upon-aboriginal-fishing-rights/article_974904f3-af55-5297-a84b-53a04b06f96c.html

17.   A Tribe Once Declared ‘Extinct’ Helps Reintroduce Salmon to the Columbia River (Mongabay)

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/07/a-tribe-once-declared-extinct-help-reintroduce-salmon-to-the-columbia-river/

18.   Special Place in Hell Edition: Man Intentionally Runs Over Flock of Seagulls, Killing 25 in Southwest Washington (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/man-intentionally-runs-over-kills-seagulls-long-beach-washington/283-66f5edf3-5da2-42ee-b8b9-6691c1eb9745

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19.   Podcast: The Dangers of Low-Head Dams in the Willamette River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/07/30/think-out-loud-low-head-dams-kayak-river-recreation-canoe/

20.   Water Bills Are Contentious in This Pierce County City. Why Do They Seem So High? (Tacoma News Tribune, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/water-bills-are-contentious-in-this-pierce-county-city-why-do-they-seem-so-high/ar-BB1qUhez

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

21.   Price of Carbon Allowances in California’s Cap-and-Trade Program Fell in Latest Auction (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=62644

22.   Can That Gas Be Remoooved? The Quest for Climate-Friendly Cows. (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2024/0729/cow-methane-greenhouse-gas-emissions

London Calling –Telecommunications

23.   Low-Income Homes Drop Internet Service After Congress Kills Discount Program (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/07/low-income-homes-drop-internet-service-after-congress-kills-discount-program/

24.   FCC Says New Pole Attachment Rules Are in Effect (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/fcc-says-new-pole-attachment-rules-are-in-effect/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

25.   U.S. Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Package of Bills Aimed at Protecting Kids & Teens Online (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/senate-overwhelmingly-passes-package-bills-200400487.html

I Sing the Car Electric

26.   Tesla Recalls 1.8 Million Cars Over Hood Issue (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/article/tesla-recall-cars-hood-issue

27.   California City Unveils Nation’s First All-Electric Vehicle Police Fleet (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/tesla-police-fleet-electric-vehicles-california-59667e9ead54727ba01be83f972a23bd

28.   Podcast: Why Are People in Idaho Hesitant to Buy Electric Vehicles? (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-matters/2024-07-30/people-idaho-hesitant-buy-electric-vehicles

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

29.   Google Wins the Gold Medal for Worst Olympic Ad (Atlantic Magazine)

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/07/google-dear-sydney-olympic-ad/679292/

Management & Governance

30.   What’s the Cost If WA Voters Erase Capital Gains Tax, End Cap-and-Trade? (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/30/whats-the-cost-if-wa-voters-erase-capital-gains-tax-end-cap-and-trade/

31.   WA Gov. Inslee Defends Energy Credit Program Against Claims of Influencing Voters (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_1b8d7a34-4df6-11ef-b984-bbe6169e8b64.html

Other Things to Know About Today

32.   Western Wildfires Latest: 1 Dead in New Colorado Blaze as Containment Expanded on Huge California Fire (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/western-wildfires-latest-1-dead-212744501.html

33.   More Than 1 Million Acres Burned Across Oregon, Firefighters Making Some Progress (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/07/30/oregon-wildfires-durkee-cow-valley-monkey-falls-lone-rock-fire/

34.   Firefighters Battle to Protect Communities as Washington Wildfires Spread (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/washington-wildfires-grow-pioneer-fire-nears-community-of-stehekin-evacuation-level-2-stehekin-valley-hazard-creek-high-bridge-hazard-creek-person-caused-emergency-notification-burn-smoke-easy-north-cascades

35.   Here’s the Latest on Idaho Wildfires, Oregon’s Smoke-Producing Blazes Affecting Boise (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Via Yahoo News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/latest-idaho-wildfires-oregon-smoke-223524809.html

36.   Montana: Existing Wildfires Maintain Containment; Authorities Respond to New Fires Sparked (Montana Public Radio)

https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2024-07-26/existing-wildfires-maintain-containment-authorities-respond-to-new-fires-sparked

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

37.   Guest Essay: George & Simms – Repurposing Willamette Dams Would Save Money, Aid Salmon (Yamhill County News-Register, OR)

https://newsregister.com/article?articleTitle=george-and-simms-repurposing-willamette-dams-would-save-money-aid-salmon--1722013028--49607--commentary

38.   Guest Essay: Goldendale Energy Project Comes at the Expense of Tribes, Nature (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/guest-commentary-goldendale-energy-project-comes-at-the-expense-of-tribes-nature/article_e8c39852-4bd6-11ef-86b2-533cae58bd45.html

39.   Guest Essay: A Strong America Requires Reliable, Plentiful, & Affordable Energy (Real Clear Energy)

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2024/07/30/a_strong_america_requires_reliable_plentiful_and_affordable_energy_1048199.html

40.   Deeply Unserious 5th Circuit Declares $8 Billion Rural FCC Broadband Subsidy Program ‘Unconstitutional’ (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/2024/07/29/deeply-unserious-5th-circuit-declares-8-billion-rural-fcc-broadband-subsidy-program-unconstitutional/

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

At These Locations Around the World, Cats Are the Star

https://apnews.com/article/famous-cats-museums-bars-offices-5e508a330d170c9862e1ff1514940837

American Flags Should Be Born in the USA Now, Too, Congress Says

https://apnews.com/article/american-flags-susan-collins-china-c31c30bce3b0a1afc74f79f769022a26

Washington Is on Northern Lights Watch This Week, as a ‘Cannibal’ Solar Storm Blasts Earth

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/washington-is-on-northern-lights-watch-this-week-as-a-cannibal-solar-storm-blasts-earth/ar-BB1qUCFH

Massive Dragonfly Swarms Descend on Rhode Island Beach

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/07/31/dragonfly-swarms-Misquamicut-Beach-Rhode-Island/1491722457505/

Song of the Day

Michael Buble – Moondance

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

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. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for July 29, 2024

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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

‘On the Edge of an Energy Crisis’: Forecasting the Future of Electricity in the Pacific Northwest (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/pacific-northwest-energy-summit-green-tech-power-grid/283-9ddfcf76-9587-4015-92b1-19ab3adfadda

Washington Is Giving Tax Breaks to Data Centers That Threaten the State’s Green Energy Push (ProPublica/Seattle Times, WA)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/washington-is-giving-tax-breaks-to-data-centers-that-threaten-the-state-s-green-energy-push/ar-BB1qLc1B

What Could Be Nation’s Largest Solar Project Proposed by Feds at Eastern WA Nuclear Site (Tri-City Herald, WA via Yahoo News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/could-nation-largest-solar-project-182118237.html

Scoop: Washington Tribes Seek to Halt Offshore Wind Development (Axios Seattle)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/07/26/wind-farm-offshore-quinault-hoh-tribe

Federal Funds Set to Revive Pacific Northwest Salmon, Steelhead Populations (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2024/jul/29/federal-funds-set-to-revive-pnw-salmon-steelhead-populations/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      ‘On the Edge of an Energy Crisis’: Forecasting the Future of Electricity in the Pacific Northwest

2.      Washington Is Giving Tax Breaks to Data Centers That Threaten the State’s Green Energy Push

3.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Gears Up for Performance Testing at New Laurel Gas Plant

4.      Natural Gas Electricity Generation in the United States Spiked with July Heatwave

5.      State Lawmakers Continue Calls for Feds to Move San Onofre’s Nuclear Waste

6.      Bonneville Power Administration Implements Interconnection Reforms to Clear Queue Backlog

7.      News Release: Oregon, Washington’s U.S. Senators Urge Bonneville Power Administration to Carefully Consider Day-Ahead Electricity Market Decision

8.      Nevada: Workers Critically Injured While Replacing Stolen Copper Wires from City Streetlights

9.      The Fight to Make Landlords Turn Down the Thermostat

10.   Northern Wasco County PUD General Manager and CEO Details Dramatic Growth

11.   News Release: U.S. Department of Energy Selects 20 Projects Across 16 States to Receive Up to $371 Million for Transmission

12.   What Could Be Nation’s Largest Solar Project Proposed by Feds at Eastern WA Nuclear Site

13.   Scoop: Washington Tribes Seek to Halt Offshore Wind Development

14.   Company Provides Visuals of Palouse Wind Farms

15.   U.S. Wind Power Falls to 33-Month Low, Generators Burn More Natural Gas

16.   SMUD Receives $10 Million State Grant for Long-Duration Battery Storage Project

17.   News Release: Biden-Harris Administration Advances Clean Energy Projects on Western Public Lands with Potential to Power Nearly 2 Million Homes

18.   Federal Funds Set to Revive Pacific Northwest Salmon, Steelhead Populations

19.   There’s a New Top Fish of the Columbia River — And It Doesn’t Mind the Warm Water

20.   Grant PUD Fiber Buildout Scheduled for October Completion

21.   Court Rules FCC’s Universal Service Fund Unconstitutional

22.   Video Game Performers Will Go on Strike Over Artificial Intelligence Concerns

23.   Porsche, MINI Rate High in JD Power Satisfaction Survey, Non-Tesla Electric Vehicle Owners Happier

24.   How to Capture Moments with a Cellphone

25.   California, Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hubs Secure First Tranche of $7B Federal Awards

26.   Voters To Decide on Pace of Washington’s Transition Off Natural Gas

27.   California Town Decimated by 2018 Wildfire Threatened Again by State’s Largest This Year, As Fires Plague Oregon & Canada

28.   Rain Arrives on What’s Typically Seattle’s Driest Day of the Year

29.   Guest Essay: Hydro Deauthorization Delay Stirring Concerns in Oregon

Word of the Day

Roustabout \ROWSS-tuh-bowt\ Noun – 1a: deckhand b: longshoreman 2: an unskilled or semiskilled laborer especially in an oil field or refinery *3: a circus worker who erects and dismantles tents, cares for the grounds, and handles animals and equipment.

Atone worked his entire life as a roustabout for the circus, putting up and taking down the billowing big-top tent. With retirement looming, all he had to show for his 30 years of work were numerous tattoos, a lifetime supply of “zoo-doo,” and the emotional scars from the 1968 “clown car calamity” in Hoboken, New Jersey. “There was clown white all over the highway,” he muttered, visibly shuddering over the memory.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      ‘On the Edge of an Energy Crisis’: Forecasting the Future of Electricity in the Pacific Northwest (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/pacific-northwest-energy-summit-green-tech-power-grid/283-9ddfcf76-9587-4015-92b1-19ab3adfadda

2.      Washington Is Giving Tax Breaks to Data Centers That Threaten the State’s Green Energy Push (ProPublica/Seattle Times, WA)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/washington-is-giving-tax-breaks-to-data-centers-that-threaten-the-state-s-green-energy-push/ar-BB1qLc1B

3.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Gears Up for Performance Testing at New Laurel Gas Plant (The Missoulian, MT)

https://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/yellowstone-county-generating-station-fires-up/article_482b9af8-c5b4-5797-939c-02f3d6331708.html

4.      Natural Gas Electricity Generation in the United States Spiked with July Heatwave (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=62604

5.      State Lawmakers Continue Calls for Feds to Move San Onofre’s Nuclear Waste (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2024/07/25/state-lawmakers-continue-calls-for-feds-to-move-san-onofres-nuclear-waste

6.      Bonneville Power Administration Implements Interconnection Reforms to Clear Queue Backlog (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/bpa-implements-interconnection-reforms-clear-queue-backlog

7.      News Release: Oregon, Washington’s U.S. Senators Urge Bonneville Power Administration to Carefully Consider Day-Ahead Electricity Market Decision (U.S. Senator Ron Wyden – OR)

https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/oregon-washingtons-us-senators-urge-bpa-to-carefully-consider-day-ahead-electricity-market-decision

8.      Nevada: Workers Critically Injured While Replacing Stolen Copper Wires from City Streetlights (KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV)

https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/07/25/workers-critically-injured-while-replacing-stolen-copper-wires-city-streetlights/

9.      The Fight to Make Landlords Turn Down the Thermostat (Washington Post Via Yahoo News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-fight-to-make-landlords-turn-down-the-thermostat/ar-BB1qBlOS

10.   Northern Wasco County PUD General Manager and CEO Details Dramatic Growth (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/northern-wasco-county-pud-general-manager-and-ceo-details-dramatic-growth

11.   News Release: U.S. Department of Energy Selects 20 Projects Across 16 States to Receive Up to $371 Million for Transmission (U.S. Dept. Of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/gdo/TSED?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12.   What Could Be Nation’s Largest Solar Project Proposed by Feds at Eastern WA Nuclear Site (Tri-City Herald, WA via Yahoo News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/could-nation-largest-solar-project-182118237.html

13.   Scoop: Washington Tribes Seek to Halt Offshore Wind Development (Axios Seattle)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/07/26/wind-farm-offshore-quinault-hoh-tribe

14.   Company Provides Visuals of Palouse Wind Farms (Lewiston Morning Tribune, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lmtribune.com/northwest/company-provides-visuals-of-wind-farms/article_4812c029-30e9-59ae-a2a3-e4cb2818e4cb.html

15.   U.S. Wind Power Falls to 33-Month Low, Generators Burn More Natural Gas (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-wind-power-falls-33-month-low-generators-burn-more-natgas-2024-07-24/

16.   SMUD Receives $10 Million State Grant for Long-Duration Battery Storage Project (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/smud-receives-10-million-state-grant-long-duration-battery-storage-project

17.   News Release: Biden-Harris Administration Advances Clean Energy Projects on Western Public Lands with Potential to Power Nearly 2 Million Homes (U.S. Dept. of the Interior)

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-advances-clean-energy-projects-western-public-lands

Fish & Wildlife

18.   Federal Funds Set to Revive Pacific Northwest Salmon, Steelhead Populations (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2024/jul/29/federal-funds-set-to-revive-pnw-salmon-steelhead-populations/

19.   There’s a New Top Fish of the Columbia River — And It Doesn’t Mind the Warm Water (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/jul/24/theres-a-new-top-fish-of-the-columbia-river-and-it/

London Calling –Telecommunications

20.   Grant PUD Fiber Buildout Scheduled for October Completion (Columbia Basin Herald, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2024/jul/18/grant-pud-fiber-buildout-scheduled-for-october-completion/

21.   Court Rules FCC’s Universal Service Fund Unconstitutional (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/court-rules-fccs-universal-service-fund-unconstitutional/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

22.   Video Game Performers Will Go on Strike Over Artificial Intelligence Concerns (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/sagaftra-video-game-performers-ai-strike-4f4c7d846040c24553dbc2604e5b6034

I Sing the Car Electric

23.   Porsche, MINI Rate High in JD Power Satisfaction Survey, Non-Tesla Electric Vehicle Owners Happier (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2024/07/28/jd-power-ratings-satisfaction-survey/74579565007/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

24.   How to Capture Moments with a Cellphone (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/2024cellshots/

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

25.   California, Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hubs Secure First Tranche of $7B Federal Awards (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/california-pacific-northwest-hydrogen-hubs-secure-first-tranche-of-7b-federal-awards/

Management & Governance

26.   Voters To Decide on Pace of Washington’s Transition Off Natural Gas (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/voters-to-decide-on-pace-of-washingtons-transition-off-natural-gas/

Other Things to Know About Today

27.   California Town Decimated by 2018 Wildfire Threatened Again by State’s Largest This Year, As Fires Plague Oregon & Canada (Cable News Network)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-town-decimated-2018-wildfire-042852410.html

28.   Rain Arrives on What’s Typically Seattle’s Driest Day of the Year (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/weather-blog/seattle-rain-july-29/281-0c21b686-e943-4cae-a5b9-531eb2383262

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   Guest Essay: Hydro Deauthorization Delay Stirring Concerns in Oregon (Yamhill County News-Register, OR)

https://newsregister.com/article?articleTitle=hydro-deauthorization-delay-stirring-concerns-in-oregon--1722013023--49606--commentary

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Like ‘Little Bombs,’ Soda Cans Are Exploding on Southwest Flights. Here’s Why

https://www.yahoo.com/news/little-bombs-soda-cans-exploding-190002527.html

‘Bob the Cap Catcher’ Fetches Olympic Swimmer’s Cap from the Pool — and Goes Viral in Colorful Speedo

https://people.com/2024-paris-olympics-bob-the-cap-catcher-goes-viral-in-colorful-speedo-8684950

Collection of 163 Unique Bedpans Fails to Sell at Auction

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/07/29/bedpan-collection-auction/5111722274096/

Carrie Fisher’s ‘Star Wars’ Gold Bikini Auctioned for $175,000

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/07/29/Star-Wars-props-auctioned-Slave-Leia-bikini/8741722281989/

Song of the Day

10,000 Maniacs – Like the Weather

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&app=desktop&v=Ln_-8NTM64U

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