Monday, August 26, 2024

The Energy News Digest for August 26, 2024

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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Hydropower Expected to Increase Throughout the U.S., But Climate Change Could Affect How — And When — We Use It (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/21/hydropower-electricity-pacific-northwest-renewable-energy-climate-change/

Canada: B.C. Hydro Begins Filling Reservoir as Peace River Dam’s Site C Nears Completion (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-hydro-reservoir-site-c-1.7304535

Inside the Plan to Build a New Dam & Reservoir in WA (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/aug/24/inside-the-plan-to-build-a-new-dam-and-reservoir-in-wa/

Idaho: Japanese Americans Call on President Biden to Halt Wind Farm Near Minidoka (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/environment/2024/08/japanese-americans-call-biden-halt-wind-farm-near-minidoka

Inside the Plan for a Massive WA Insulation Plant to Spin Molten Rock Like Cotton Candy (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/inside-plan-massive-wa-insulation-120000871.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Hydropower Expected to Increase Throughout the U.S., But Climate Change Could Affect How — And When — We Use It

2.      Canada: B.C. Hydro Begins Filling Reservoir as Peace River Dam’s Site C Nears Completion

3.      Glen Canyon Dam Is Producing 17% Less Electricity. What Does That Mean for Colorado Utilities?

4.      WA State: Douglas County PUD Approves Sale of Surplus Hydropower to Puget Sound Energy

5.      Idaho: Army Corps Gives Update on Albeni Falls Dam Gates

6.      Oregon: City of Keizer Advances Deal to Sell Land to Canadian Power Firm

7.      Earthquake Risks & Rising Costs: The Price of Operating California’s Last Nuclear Plant

8.      You Had a Lot of Questions About Next-Generation Nuclear Reactors. We Posed Them to the Experts

9.      Former Pacific PUD Meter Reader Pleads Guilty After Claiming PTSD from Dog Attack, Caught Selling Dogs

10.   Cowlitz PUD Canine Rescue Follow-Up – Castle Rock Woman Pleads Guilty to Shooting Dog in Head, Leaving Him in Toutle Ditch

11.   Idaho: Japanese Americans Call on President Biden to Halt Wind Farm Near Minidoka

12.   Idaho AG Tells Legislative Committee His Office Would Appeal Lava Ridge Wind Project Decision

13.   Tri-Cities Group Thinks WA Board About to Cave After Gov. Inslee Pushes for More Wind Turbines

14.   Spokane County Commissioners Move to Regulate Wind, Solar Farms as Interest Grows in Eastern Washington

15.   Officials Approve Plan to Someday Dismantle Ostrea Solar Site in Yakima County

16.   Inside the Plan for a Massive WA Insulation Plant to Spin Molten Rock Like Cotton Candy

17.   DOE Selects 13 States, Virgin Islands for $54 Million in Low-Income Weatherization, Renewables Funding

18.   American Shad Clog Fish Ladders, Causing Trouble for Salmon

19.   WA State: Decision Upheld to Remove a Portion of Electron Dam on the Puyallup River

20.   Inside the Plan to Build a New Dam & Reservoir in WA

21.   Idaho: Avista Utilities to Reduce Water Release from Post Falls Dam Due to Dry Weather

22.   Rebates on the Way for Farmers Who Paid Fuel Surcharges Under WA Climate Law

23.   Does ‘Carbon Sound’ Have a Ring to It? How Seattle Area Can Become the Silicon Valley of Climate Tech

24.   23 Million Americans Navigate Hiked Internet Costs Since the Affordable Connectivity Program Ended

25.   Energy Demand from Data Centers Growing Faster Than West Can Supply, Experts Say

26.   Meta Strikes Deal for First Major Use of Next-Gen Geothermal Power East of the Rockies

27.   PM Trudeau Says Canada Will Slap Big Tariffs on Chinese-Made Electric Vehicles

28.   Getting There: State Program Will Boost Electric Car Chargers in Northeastern Washington

29.   California ISO Interconnection Reform Plan Draws Support from SoCal Ed, PG&E, PUC

30.   Alaska City Issues Evacuation Orders After Landslide Leaves One Dead & Three Injured

31.   Back-to-Work Order Issued for Two Major Canada Railroads. Union Will Comply, But Lawsuit Planned

32.   Washington’s Fall Could Be Wetter Than Normal, NOAA Predicts

Word of the Day

Sashay /sah-SHAY/ Verb – To proudly walk in a slow, confident way that is meant to attract attention.

“Pockets! My dress has pockets!” enthused Martha as she sashayed out the door of her favorite fashion shop.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Hydropower Expected to Increase Throughout the U.S., But Climate Change Could Affect How — And When — We Use It (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/21/hydropower-electricity-pacific-northwest-renewable-energy-climate-change/

2.      Canada: B.C. Hydro Begins Filling Reservoir as Peace River Dam’s Site C Nears Completion (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-hydro-reservoir-site-c-1.7304535

3.      Glen Canyon Dam Is Producing 17% Less Electricity. What Does That Mean for Colorado Utilities? (Colorado Sun, Denver, CO)

https://coloradosun.com/2024/08/22/glen-canyon-dam-hydropower-megadrought/

4.      WA State: Douglas County PUD Approves Sale of Surplus Hydropower to Puget Sound Energy (Hydro Review)

https://www.hydroreview.com/business-finance/business/douglas-county-pud-approves-sale-of-surplus-hydropower-to-puget-sound-energy/#gref

5.      Idaho: Army Corps Gives Update on Albeni Falls Dam Gates (Sandpoint Reader, ID)

https://sandpointreader.com/army-corps-gives-update-on-albeni-falls-dam-gates/

6.      Oregon: City of Keizer Advances Deal to Sell Land to Canadian Power Firm (Keizer Times, OR)

https://www.keizertimes.com/2024/08/22/city-advances-deal-to-sell-land-to-canadian-firm/

7.      Earthquake Risks & Rising Costs: The Price of Operating California’s Last Nuclear Plant (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/earthquake-risks-rising-costs-price-100013503.html

8.      You Had a Lot of Questions About Next-Generation Nuclear Reactors. We Posed Them to the Experts (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-reactors-climate-change-electricity-biden-682d36df7c13a58f7cd8911796df0419

9.      Former Pacific PUD Meter Reader Pleads Guilty After Claiming PTSD from Dog Attack, Caught Selling Dogs (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/meter-reader-pleads-guilty-after-claiming-ptsd-dog-attack-caught-selling-dogs/D6LAZAXKVVHMPHCZR5K7T7CDO4/

10.   Cowlitz PUD Canine Rescue Follow-Up – Castle Rock Woman Pleads Guilty to Shooting Dog in Head, Leaving Him in Toutle Ditch (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/news/state/washington/western-washington-woman-pleads-guilty-to-shooting-dog-in-head-leaving-him-in-toutle-ditch/article_09a606f1-a67e-5217-b035-5153c6bccee1.html

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

11.   Idaho: Japanese Americans Call on President Biden to Halt Wind Farm Near Minidoka (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/environment/2024/08/japanese-americans-call-biden-halt-wind-farm-near-minidoka

12.   Idaho AG Tells Legislative Committee His Office Would Appeal Lava Ridge Wind Project Decision (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/08/22/idaho-ag-tells-legislative-committee-his-office-would-appeal-lava-ridge-wind-project-decision/

13.   Tri-Cities Group Thinks WA Board About to Cave After Gov. Inslee Pushes for More Wind Turbines (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/tri-cities-group-thinks-wa-board-about-to-cave-after-inslee-pushes-for-more-wind-turbines/ar-AA1pj94H

14.   Spokane County Commissioners Move to Regulate Wind, Solar Farms as Interest Grows in Eastern Washington (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spokane-county-commissioners-move-regulate-035900112.html

15.   Officials Approve Plan to Someday Dismantle Ostrea Solar Site in Yakima County (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/business/officials-approve-plan-to-someday-dismantle-ostrea-solar-site-in-yakima-county/article_787a5ab0-6010-11ef-af43-03a2ae522bfa.html

Conservation & Efficiency

16.   Inside the Plan for a Massive WA Insulation Plant to Spin Molten Rock Like Cotton Candy (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/inside-plan-massive-wa-insulation-120000871.html

17.   DOE Selects 13 States, Virgin Islands for $54 Million in Low-Income Weatherization, Renewables Funding (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-awards-53m-for-low-income-weatherization-renewables-projects/724944/

Fish & Wildlife

18.   American Shad Clog Fish Ladders, Causing Trouble for Salmon (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/2024/08/21/american-shad-clog-fish-ladders-causing-trouble-for-salmon/

19.   WA State: Decision Upheld to Remove a Portion of Electron Dam on the Puyallup River (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/2024/08/22/decision-upheld-to-remove-a-portion-of-electron-dam-on-the-puyallup-river/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

20.   Inside the Plan to Build a New Dam & Reservoir in WA (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/aug/24/inside-the-plan-to-build-a-new-dam-and-reservoir-in-wa/

21.   Idaho: Avista Utilities to Reduce Water Release from Post Falls Dam Due to Dry Weather (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/news/avista-utilities-to-reduce-water-release-from-post-falls-dam-due-to-dry-weather/article_2560cb54-60bd-11ef-bf36-fb712831da29.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

22.   Rebates on the Way for Farmers Who Paid Fuel Surcharges Under WA Climate Law (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/08/22/rebates-on-the-way-for-farmers-who-paid-fuel-surcharges-under-wa-climate-law/

23.   Does ‘Carbon Sound’ Have a Ring to It? How Seattle Area Can Become the Silicon Valley of Climate Tech (GeekWire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2024/carbon-sound-can-seattle-become-the-silicon-valley-of-climate-tech/

London Calling –Telecommunications

24.   23 Million Americans Navigate Hiked Internet Costs Since the Affordable Connectivity Program Ended (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/23-million-americans-navigate-hiked-internet-costs-since-the-acp-ended/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

25.   Energy Demand from Data Centers Growing Faster Than West Can Supply, Experts Say (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/26/fast-growing-energy-demand-data-centers-pose-challenges-west/

26.   Meta Strikes Deal for First Major Use of Next-Gen Geothermal Power East of the Rockies (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/4848084-meta-geothermal-energy-storage/

I Sing the Car Electric

27.   PM Trudeau Says Canada Will Slap Big Tariffs on Chinese-Made Electric Vehicles (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-halifax-tariffs-china-evs-1.7304773

28.   Getting There: State Program Will Boost Electric Car Chargers in Northeastern Washington (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/getting-state-program-boost-electric-035900500.html

Management & Governance

29.   California ISO Interconnection Reform Plan Draws Support from SoCal Ed, PG&E, PUC (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/caiso-interconnection-reform-ferc-pge-sce-puc-clearway/725077/

Other Things to Know About Today

30.   Alaska City Issues Evacuation Orders After Landslide Leaves One Dead & Three Injured (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/26/us/ketchikan-alaska-landslide-evacuations/index.html

31.   Back-to-Work Order Issued for Two Major Canada Railroads. Union Will Comply, But Lawsuit Planned (Associated Press)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canadian-arbitrator-orders-employees-2-222802595.html

32.   Washington’s Fall Could Be Wetter Than Normal, NOAA Predicts (Axios Seattle)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/08/23/washington-fall-weather-outlook-noaa-pacific-northwest

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Canadian Hits All the Right Notes to Win 2024 Air Guitar World Champion

https://keyt.com/news/2024/08/24/canadian-hits-all-the-right-notes-to-win-2024-air-guitar-world-champion/

NASA: Astronauts Stuck on ISS Must Wait for SpaceX Ride Home in 2025

https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2024/0824/nasa-astronauts-iss-spacex-boeing-starliner

Soaked Kitten Rescued from Ohio Car Wash

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/08/26/Fayette-Regional-Humane-Society-Ultimate-Shine-Car-Wash-kitten/1511724687912/

Man Builds 54-Level House of Cards in Eight Hours

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/08/23/Guinness-World-Records-card-stacking/3371724426363/

Song of the Day

Claude Debussy – Reflections in the Water

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnnKmQ-wXZw

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.