Monday, August 19, 2024

The Energy News Digest for August 19, 2024

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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Washington State ‘Increasingly at Risk’ for Rolling Blackouts (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_f423b2cc-5a5e-11ef-ba66-5b8a17c1fd2a.html

Drought Has Cost the Hydropower Industry Billions in Losses in Two Decades, Analysis Finds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/16/hydropower-oregon-washington-drought/

Mediocre Returns for Fraser Sockeye, While Columbia River Expects Record Numbers (My Campbell River Now, BC)

https://www.mycampbellrivernow.com/76782/news/provincial/mediocre-returns-for-fraser-sockeye-while-columbia-river-expects-record-numbers/

State of Oregon Demands Bring More Mitigation Measures to Offshore Wind Development Plans (Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR)

https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-08-15/state-of-oregon-demands-bring-more-mitigation-measures-to-offshore-wind-development-plans

Once a Mainstay of the Radio Dial, Local News Is Signing Off as Stations Struggle to Survive in the Digital Age (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/media/news-radio-local-wcbs-wnyc-sign-off-job-cuts-spotify/index.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Washington State ‘Increasingly at Risk’ for Rolling Blackouts

2.      Drought Has Cost the Hydropower Industry Billions in Losses in Two Decades, Analysis Finds

3.      Tri-Cities Utilities Resist Touting WA Climate Act as $200 Ratepayer Credit Deadline Nears

4.      Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Responds to State’s Propose 18% Energy Supplier Assessment Rate Increase

5.      NW Natural Rate Hike Could Be Limited After Settlement

6.      WA State: Clark Public Utilities Sets Sights on Advanced Metering for Clark County Customers

7.      DOE Funds Five Projects in Alaska for Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program

8.      Western Energy Market Governance Enhancements Approved

9.      U.S. Power Grid Added 20.2 GW of Generating Capacity in the First Half of 2024

10.   Natural Gas Could Play Key Role in Helping to Meet Rise in Power Demand from Data Centers

11.   State of Oregon Demands Bring More Mitigation Measures to Offshore Wind Development Plans

12.   Homer Electric Deal Sets Stage for a Dramatic Jump in Solar Power Production in Alaska

13.   California: Santa Clarita – Appeals Court Rules Canyon View Solar Panels Can Stay

14.   Idaho Has ‘The Highest Potential’ for Geothermal Power. Why Aren’t We Using It?

15.   6,000 Sheep Will Soon Be Grazing on 10,000 Acres of Texas Solar Fields

16.   Why the Solar Industry Is Working to Repair Its Reputation

17.   Can Rooftop Solar Panels Survive Hurricanes?

18.   Mediocre Returns for Fraser Sockeye, While Columbia River Expects Record Numbers

19.   WSDOT Progresses on Fish Habitat Restoration Despite Challenges

20.   Invasive Mussels Found in Washington Pet Store Could Cost State Millions

21.   Researchers Discover Eelgrass Superpower in Washington’s Puget Sound

22.   Toxic Algal Bloom Found on the Snake River for Second Year in a Row

23.   As La Niña Strengthens, Forecasters Warn of a Potential Return to Drought

24.   As Colorado River States Await Water Cuts, They Struggle to Find Agreement on Longer-Term Plans

25.   FCC Makes Statement About Value of Universal Service Fund, Opposing Court Ruling

26.   Once a Mainstay of the Radio Dial, Local News Is Signing Off as Stations Struggle to Survive in the Digital Age

27.   Dredging the Columbia River Is a Complex Process Needed to Keep Navigation Channels Open

28.   Editorial: Power Companies Must Remain Responsive to Customers Amid Fire-Related Blackouts

29.   ‘We Kicked the Door Down’: Nations Mark Watershed Moment for Columbia River Treaty

30.   Guest Essay: To Get More Transmission, We Need a Bottom-Up Approach

Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition

Staple /STAY0pull/ Noun – A commodity for which the demand is constant b: something having widespread and continuous use or appeal c: the sustaining or principal element: substance.

It's National Potato Day!

     A white-fleshed staple

     Hail the noble potato

     Spuds. Boiled, Mashed, Fried. Yum

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Washington State ‘Increasingly at Risk’ for Rolling Blackouts (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_f423b2cc-5a5e-11ef-ba66-5b8a17c1fd2a.html

2.      Drought Has Cost the Hydropower Industry Billions in Losses in Two Decades, Analysis Finds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/16/hydropower-oregon-washington-drought/

3.      Tri-Cities Utilities Resist Touting WA Climate Act as $200 Ratepayer Credit Deadline Nears (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/politics-government/article290880564.html

4.      Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Responds to State’s Propose 18% Energy Supplier Assessment Rate Increase (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/otec-responds-to-odes-propose-18-energy-supplier-assessment-rate-increase/

5.      NW Natural Rate Hike Could Be Limited After Settlement (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/16/nw-natural-utilities-natural-gas-rate-hikes-price-increase/

6.      WA State: Clark Public Utilities Sets Sights on Advanced Metering for Clark County Customers (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/aug/16/clark-public-utilities-sets-sights-on-advanced-metering-for-clark-county-customers/

7.      DOE Funds Five Projects in Alaska for Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program (U.S. Department of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/arctic/articles/doe-funds-five-projects-alaska-energy-improvements-rural-or-remote-areas-era

8.      Western Energy Market Governance Enhancements Approved (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/western-energy-market-governance-enhancements-approved

9.      U.S. Power Grid Added 20.2 GW of Generating Capacity in the First Half of 2024 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=62864

10.   Natural Gas Could Play Key Role in Helping to Meet Rise in Power Demand from Data Centers (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/natural-gas-could-play-key-role-helping-meet-rise-power-demand-data-centers

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

11.   State of Oregon Demands Bring More Mitigation Measures to Offshore Wind Development Plans (Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR)

https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-08-15/state-of-oregon-demands-bring-more-mitigation-measures-to-offshore-wind-development-plans

12.   Homer Electric Deal Sets Stage for a Dramatic Jump in Solar Power Production in Alaska (Anchorage Daily News, AK – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.adn.com/business-economy/energy/2024/08/18/homer-electric-deal-sets-stage-for-a-dramatic-jump-in-solar-power-production-in-alaska/

13.   California: Santa Clarita – Appeals Court Rules Canyon View Solar Panels Can Stay (Santa Clarita Valley Signal, CA)

https://signalscv.com/2024/08/appeals-court-rules-canyon-view-solar-panels-can-stay/

14.   Idaho Has ‘The Highest Potential’ for Geothermal Power. Why Aren’t We Using It? (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article290517379.html

15.   6,000 Sheep Will Soon Be Grazing on 10,000 Acres of Texas Solar Fields (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/6-000-sheep-will-soon-be-grazing-on-10-00-acres-of-texas-solar-fields

16.   Why the Solar Industry Is Working to Repair Its Reputation (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/13/nx-s1-4926499/why-the-solar-industry-is-working-to-repair-its-reputation

17.   Can Rooftop Solar Panels Survive Hurricanes? (Washington Post, Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/08/17/solar-panel-hurricane-hail-snow/

Fish & Wildlife

18.   Mediocre Returns for Fraser Sockeye, While Columbia River Expects Record Numbers (My Campbell River Now, BC)

https://www.mycampbellrivernow.com/76782/news/provincial/mediocre-returns-for-fraser-sockeye-while-columbia-river-expects-record-numbers/

19.   WSDOT Progresses on Fish Habitat Restoration Despite Challenges (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/wsdot-progresses-fish-habitat-restoration-despite-challenges/7EVYMKMQNNAQJB7GGY7QFZV554/

20.   Invasive Mussels Found in Washington Pet Store Could Cost State Millions (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/aug/19/invasive-mussels-found-in-washington-pet-store-cou/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

21.   Researchers Discover Eelgrass Superpower in Washington’s Puget Sound (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/researchers-discover-eelgrass-superpower-in-washingtons-puget-sound,360062

22.   Toxic Algal Bloom Found on the Snake River for Second Year in a Row (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/18/algal-bloom-snake-river-little-goose-dam/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

23.   As La Niña Strengthens, Forecasters Warn of a Potential Return to Drought (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/la-ni-strengthens-forecasters-warn-100042167.html

24.   As Colorado River States Await Water Cuts, They Struggle to Find Agreement on Longer-Term Plans (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/colorado-river-california-arizona-climate-change-drought-690ec20790e10819b8bb1341772534ac

London Calling –Telecommunications

25.   FCC Makes Statement About Value of Universal Service Fund, Opposing Court Ruling (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/fcc-makes-statement-about-value-of-universal-service-fund-opposing-court-ruling/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

26.   Once a Mainstay of the Radio Dial, Local News Is Signing Off as Stations Struggle to Survive in the Digital Age (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/media/news-radio-local-wcbs-wnyc-sign-off-job-cuts-spotify/index.html

Other Things to Know About Today

27.   Dredging the Columbia River Is a Complex Process Needed to Keep Navigation Channels Open (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/aug/19/dredging-the-columbia-river-is-a-complex-process-needed-to-keep-navigation-channels-open/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

28.   Editorial: Power Companies Must Remain Responsive to Customers Amid Fire-Related Blackouts (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/opinion-power-companies-must-remain-responsive-to-customers-amid-fire-related-blackouts/article_d2d956d4-5a6e-11ef-9f9f-8b5a14ab38f7.html

29.   ‘We Kicked the Door Down’: Nations Mark Watershed Moment for Columbia River Treaty (Indiginews, Canada)

https://indiginews.com/news/nations-mark-watershed-moment-in-columbia-river-treaty-talks

30.   Guest Essay: To Get More Transmission, We Need a Bottom-Up Approach (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/transmission-development-permitting/724257/

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Stray Dog ‘Desperate to Catch a Ride’ Chases Pup Bus, Gets Adopted

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/stray-dog-desperate-to-catch-a-ride-chases-pup-bus-gets-adopted/ar-AA1oMQmt

The Collapse of an Iconic Arch in Utah Has Some Wondering If Other Famous Arches Are Also at Risk

https://apnews.com/article/arch-collapse-utah-lake-powell-7e4b3c9966b488ca5b3d9ca00b8db702

Video: Stumpy the Cherry Blossom Tree Is Gone, But Its Clones, Little Stumplings, Live On

https://apnews.com/video/rising-sea-levels-trees-district-of-columbia-national-national-2b7c0ff58b9640468687435fa5fb1243

Rare Super Blue Moon Will Be in the Skies This Week. Here's How to See It

https://www.aol.com/news/rare-super-blue-moon-skies-171719845.html

Song of the Day

Ella Fitzgerald – Blue Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcO-xiE6P9w

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.