The Energy News Digest for September 11, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

U.S. Power Use Expected to Reach Record Highs in 2024 & 2025, EIA Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-forecast-reach-record-highs-2024-2025-eia-says-2024-09-10/

Co-op Leader to Congress: Permitting Reform Crucial to Meeting Power Demand (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

Https://Www.Electric.Coop/Co-Op-Leader-To-Congress-Permitting-Reform-Crucial-To-Meeting-Power-Demand

Oregon: Small-Scale Nuclear Reactor Concept Resurfaces in Umatilla County (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/10/small-scale-nuclear-reactor-smr-concept-umatilla-county/

Broadband Industry Quietly Abandons Capitol Hill Fight to Revive Low-Income Internet Subsidy (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/10/congress-internet-affordable-connectivity-program-charter-comcast-verizon.html

Big Waves Off the Central Oregon Coast Fuel Cutting-Edge Effort to Harness the Ocean for Electricity (Yachats News, OR)

https://yachatsnews.com/big-waves-off-the-central-oregon-coast-fuel-cutting-edge-effort-to-harness-the-ocean-for-electricity/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Power Use Expected to Reach Record Highs in 2024 & 2025, EIA Says

2.      Oregon: Small-Scale Nuclear Reactor Concept Resurfaces in Umatilla County

3.      The U.S. Is Dismantling Nuclear Warheads to Power the Next Generation of Reactors

4.      Bonneville Power Administration Could Be Losing Money Because of Contract Handling, Federal Audit Says

5.      Canada: First Nations Get Seat at Columbia River Negotiations

6.      Massive $4.2 Billion NV Energy Transmission Line Gets Federal OK

7.      Montana Public Service Commission to Investigate NorthWestern Energy Committee

8.      The Tennessee Valley Authority Helped Electrify the South — But Now Its Plans Are Sparking Backlash

9.      Big Waves Off the Central Oregon Coast Fuel Cutting-Edge Effort to Harness the Ocean for Electricity

10.   Battery Farms, The Energy Industry’s New Darling, Line Up to Enter Pacific NW

11.   Biden-Harris Administration Invests Nearly $20 Million to Improve Siting of Renewable Energy and Co-Locate Solar with Cattle Grazing

12.   New Report Reveals Which U.S. States Will Reach 100% Renewable Energy by 2035 — And Which Won’t

13.   California Eyes a Push Toward Electric Heat Pumps Instead of Gas-Powered Heaters

14.   British Columbia First Nation Calls on Government to Invest in Bringing the Salmon Home

15.   Utilities Must Comply with Limits on PFAS Chemicals by 2029. Some Have a Head Start

16.   The Climate Law Spurs Rural Electric Co-Ops’ Retreat from Coal

17.   Broadband Industry Quietly Abandons Capitol Hill Fight to Revive Low-Income Internet Subsidy

18.   WA State: Lewis County PUD Marks Broadband Internet Milestone

19.   Idaho: Man Sentenced for Throwing Electric Scooters in the Snake River

20.   Co-op Leader to Congress: Permitting Reform Crucial to Meeting Power Demand

21.   Guest Essay: Why Many Environmentalists Are Warming to Nuclear Power

22.   Editorial: Prioritize High-Speed Internet Expansion

Word of the Day

Scurrilous \SKURR-uh-luss\ Adjective - 1a: using or given to coarse language b: vulgar and evil 2: containing obscenities, abuse, or slander.

“This meeting of Squirrels Against Scurrilous Attacks will come to order,” squeaked the diminutive, bottle-brushed chairman to his assembled, arboreal rodents. “Electric utilities have too often blamed us for outages,” he squealed. “For an update on our eco-terror tactics, I had invited Sparky to speak, but we haven’t seen him since last week’s big Portland outage.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      U.S. Power Use Expected to Reach Record Highs in 2024 & 2025, EIA Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-forecast-reach-record-highs-2024-2025-eia-says-2024-09-10/

2.      Oregon: Small-Scale Nuclear Reactor Concept Resurfaces in Umatilla County (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/10/small-scale-nuclear-reactor-smr-concept-umatilla-county/

3.      The U.S. Is Dismantling Nuclear Warheads to Power the Next Generation of Reactors (Cable News Network – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-us-is-dismantling-nuclear-warheads-to-power-the-next-generation-of-reactors/ar-AA1qeG6P?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds

4.      Bonneville Power Administration Could Be Losing Money Because of Contract Handling, Federal Audit Says (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/2024/09/10/bonneville-power-administration-could-be-losing-money-because-of-contract-handling-federal-audit-says/

5.      Canada: First Nations Get Seat at Columbia River Negotiations (The Times-Chronicle, Osoyoos, BC)

https://www.timeschronicle.ca/first-nations-get-seat-at-columbia-river-negotiations/

6.      Massive $4.2 Billion NV Energy Transmission Line Gets Federal OK (The Nevada Independent)

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/massive-4-2b-nv-energy-transmission-line-gets-federal-ok

7.      Montana Public Service Commission to Investigate NorthWestern Energy Committee (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2024/09/10/montana-public-service-commission-to-investigate-northwestern-energy-committee/

8.      The Tennessee Valley Authority Helped Electrify the South — But Now Its Plans Are Sparking Backlash (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-tva-helped-electrify-the-south-but-now-its-plans-are-sparking-backlash/ar-AA1qf6mT

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Big Waves Off the Central Oregon Coast Fuel Cutting-Edge Effort to Harness the Ocean for Electricity (Yachats News, OR)

https://yachatsnews.com/big-waves-off-the-central-oregon-coast-fuel-cutting-edge-effort-to-harness-the-ocean-for-electricity/

10.   Battery Farms, The Energy Industry’s New Darling, Line Up to Enter Pacific NW (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/09/05/battery-farms-the-energy-industrys-new-darling-line-up-to-enter-pacific-nw/

11.   Biden-Harris Administration Invests Nearly $20 Million to Improve Siting of Renewable Energy and Co-Locate Solar with Cattle Grazing (U.S. Dept. of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/biden-harris-administration-invests-nearly-20-million-improve-siting-renewable-energy

12.   New Report Reveals Which U.S. States Will Reach 100% Renewable Energy by 2035 — And Which Won’t (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/report-reveals-us-states-reach-104534369.html

Conservation & Efficiency

13.   California Eyes a Push Toward Electric Heat Pumps Instead of Gas-Powered Heaters (KQED Radio, San Francisco, CA)

https://www.kqed.org/news/12003847/california-eyes-a-push-toward-electric-heat-pumps-instead-of-gas-powered-heaters

Fish & Wildlife

14.   British Columbia First Nation Calls on Government to Invest in Bringing the Salmon Home (East Kootenay Now, Cranbrook, BC)

https://www.myeastkootenaynow.com/38802/news/kootenay-news/bc-first-nation-calls-on-government-to-invest-in-bringing-the-salmon-home/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

15.   Utilities Must Comply with Limits on PFAS Chemicals by 2029. Some Have a Head Start (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5075614/utilities-must-comply-with-limits-on-pfas-chemicals-by-2029-some-have-a-head-start

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

16.   The Climate Law Spurs Rural Electric Co-Ops’ Retreat from Coal (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/the-climate-law-spurs-rural-electric-co-ops-retreat-from-coal-2/

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   Broadband Industry Quietly Abandons Capitol Hill Fight to Revive Low-Income Internet Subsidy (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/10/congress-internet-affordable-connectivity-program-charter-comcast-verizon.html

18.   WA State: Lewis County PUD Marks Broadband Internet Milestone (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://chronline.com/stories/lewis-county-pud-marks-broadband-internet-milestone,361445

I Sing the Car Electric

19.   Idaho: Man Sentenced for Throwing Electric Scooters in the Snake River (East Idaho News, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/09/man-sentenced-for-throwing-electric-scooters-in-the-snake-river/

Management & Governance

20.   Co-Op Leader to Congress: Permitting Reform Crucial to Meeting Power Demand (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

Https://Www.Electric.Coop/Co-Op-Leader-To-Congress-Permitting-Reform-Crucial-To-Meeting-Power-Demand

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

21.   Guest Essay: Why Many Environmentalists Are Warming to Nuclear Power (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/environmentalists-nuclear-power-clean-energy-climate/726692/

22.   Editorial: Prioritize High-Speed Internet Expansion (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/sep/10/in-our-view-prioritize-high-speed-internet-expansion/

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Rare Twin Elephants Take First Steps in Myanmar

https://news.yahoo.com/news/rare-twin-elephants-first-steps-111947512.html

Arizona Man’s Blindfolded Basketball Shot Breaks World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/09/10/Guinness-World-Records-blindfolded-basketball-underhand/1461725988498/

World’s Largest String Cheese Ball Made in Mexico

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/09/06/mexico-Guinness-World-Records-string-cheese-ball/8531725642245/

Kentucky Bowling Team Breaks World Record with 2,032 Strikes in 24 Hours

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/09/03/Guinness-World-Records-bowling-strikes-24-hours/4051725376793/

Song of the Day

Henry Mancini – Baby Elephant Walk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RPQKV6ijBY

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 September 9, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Farm Project Faces New Setback (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/environment/2024-09-09/lava-ridge-wind-farm-minidoka-historic-site

Five Companies Eligible to Bid in First-Ever Wind Auction Off the Oregon Coast (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/09/five-companies-eligible-to-bid-in-first-ever-wind-auction-off-the-oregon-coast.html

Trend Toward Electric Utility Rate Increases in Regulated Markets Continues in 2024 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=63024

Opportunities Exist to Improve Bonneville Power Administration’s Management of Fish and Wildlife Program Contracts (U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General)

https://www.energy.gov/ig/articles/audit-doe-oig-24-27

‘Wimpy’ Winter Ahead for Pacific Northwest Despite La Niña Prediction, Climatologist Says (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/wimpy-winter-pacific-northwest-la-nina-prediction-climatologist

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Trend Toward Electric Utility Rate Increases in Regulated Markets Continues in 2024

2.      WA State: Utility Rates Slated to Steadily Rise in Seattle, Starting in 2025

3.      Hundreds Lose Out on $200 Energy Credit After Spokane Valley Utility Rejects WA State Program

4.      Public Power Utilities Among Recipients for Hydropower Improvement Project Funding

5.      British Columbia Releases More Details on the Columbia River Treaty Agreement-in-Principle

6.      NW Power & Conservation Council Discusses Upgrade to Long-Term Load Forecasting Capabilities, Reviews New Market Study & Price Forecasting

7.      WestTEC to Develop West-Wide ‘Actionable’ Transmission Plan

8.      Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Farm Project Faces New Setback

9.      Five Companies Eligible to Bid in First-Ever Wind Auction Off the Oregon Coast

10.   ‘Rushed’ Offshore Wind Energy Project Denounced by Oregon Senators

11.   California: As Crews Chainsaw Joshua Trees, Mojave Desert Community Protests Solar Energy Project

12.   Wyoming: Albany County Commission Approves Roads for Wind Power, Federal Funding & New Infrastructure

13.   Arizona: Hopi Nation to Receive $20 Million for Solar Power Project

14.   California: Fire Breaks Out in Escondido San Diego Gas & Electric Battery Storage Facility

15.   As The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub Gets Its First Influx of Cash, Douglas County PUD Is Nearly Ready to Make Green Hydrogen Fuel

16.   Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7.3 Billion in Clean Energy Investments from the Investing in America Agenda, Largest Investment in Rural Electrification Since the New Deal

17.   Opportunities Exist to Improve Bonneville Power Administration’s Management of Fish and Wildlife Program Contracts

18.   Electrocuted Birds Are Bursting into Flames & Starting Wildfires

19.   Washington High Court Overturns Lower Courts, Firms Up Ecology’s Power

20.   Trump Vows to Pull Back Climate Law’s Unspent Dollars

21.   Utah Supreme Court Hears Arguments from Teens That Fossil Fuel Policies Violate Their Rights

22.   Verizon to Buy Frontier in $20 Billion Deal to Boost Fiber Network in U.S.

23.   Electric Vehicle Sales Are Growing. So Why Are Automakers Getting Cold Feet?

24.   Bryan Mercier Will Be Appointed Bureau of Indian Affairs Director

25.   ‘Wimpy’ Winter Ahead for Pacific Northwest Despite La Niña Prediction, Climatologist Says

Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition

Lithe \LIE-th\ Adjective - 1: easily bent or flexed 2: characterized by easy flexibility and grace; also: athletically slim.

     The blurred white arrow

     Released from the archer’s lithe bow

     Flies true to the mark

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Trend Toward Electric Utility Rate Increases in Regulated Markets Continues in 2024 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=63024

2.      WA State: Utility Rates Slated to Steadily Rise in Seattle, Starting in 2025 (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/utility-rates-slated-to-steadily-rise-in-seattle-starting-in-2025

3.      Hundreds Lose Out on $200 Energy Credit After Spokane Valley Utility Rejects WA State Program (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/sep/08/hundreds-lose-out-on-200-energy-credit-after-spoka/

4.      Public Power Utilities Among Recipients for Hydropower Improvement Project Funding (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/public-power-utilities-among-recipients-hydropower-improvement-project-funding

5.      British Columbia Releases More Details on the Columbia River Treaty Agreement-in-Principle (Kimberly Bulletin, British Columbia)

https://www.kimberleybulletin.com/local-news/bc-releases-more-details-on-the-columbia-river-treaty-agreement-in-principle-7521435

6.      NW Power & Conservation Council Discusses Upgrade to Long-Term Load Forecasting Capabilities, Reviews New Market Study & Price Forecasting (NW Power & Conservation Council)

https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/2024/08/22/load_forecasting_upgrades_market_study_results/

7.      WestTEC to Develop West-Wide ‘Actionable’ Transmission Plan (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/westtec-west-interregional-transmission-plan-study-nv-energy-xcel-bpa-caiso-spp/726282/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Farm Project Faces New Setback (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/environment/2024-09-09/lava-ridge-wind-farm-minidoka-historic-site

9.      Five Companies Eligible to Bid in First-Ever Wind Auction Off the Oregon Coast (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/09/five-companies-eligible-to-bid-in-first-ever-wind-auction-off-the-oregon-coast.html

10.   ‘Rushed’ Offshore Wind Energy Project Denounced by Oregon Senators (KDRV-TV, Medford, OR)

https://www.kdrv.com/news/top-stories/rushed-offshore-wind-energy-project-denounced-by-oregon-senators/article_ffbaa8fc-6bde-11ef-929a-c320e3f8ea7b.html

11.   California: As Crews Chainsaw Joshua Trees, Mojave Desert Community Protests Solar Energy Project (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-09-06/california-desert-town-protests-solar-energy-project

12.   Wyoming: Albany County Commission Approves Roads for Wind Power, Federal Funding & New Infrastructure (Wyoming Business Report)

https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/albany-county-commission-approves-roads-for-wind-power-federal-funding-and-new-infrastructure/article_b412fcd4-6c73-11ef-80c9-d3c61bf8165e.html

13.   Arizona: Hopi Nation to Receive $20 Million for Solar Power Project (KNAU-Radio, Flagstaff, AZ)

https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2024-09-05/hopi-nation-to-receive-20-million-for-solar-power-project

14.   California: Fire Breaks Out in Escondido San Diego Gas & Electric Battery Storage Facility (KUSI TV, San Diego, CA)

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/fire-breaks-out-in-escondido-sdge-battery-storage-facility/

15.   As The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub Gets Its First Influx of Cash, Douglas County PUD Is Nearly Ready to Make Green Hydrogen Fuel (The Inlander, Spokane, WA)

https://www.inlander.com/news/as-the-pacific-northwest-hydrogen-hub-gets-its-first-influx-of-cash-douglas-county-pud-is-nearly-ready-to-make-green-hydrogen-fuel-28529688

16.   Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7.3 Billion in Clean Energy Investments from the Investing in America Agenda, Largest Investment in Rural Electrification Since the New Deal (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/09/05/biden-harris-administration-announces-73-billion-clean-energy

Fish & Wildlife

17.   Opportunities Exist to Improve Bonneville Power Administration’s Management of Fish and Wildlife Program Contracts (U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General)

https://www.energy.gov/ig/articles/audit-doe-oig-24-27

18.   Electrocuted Birds Are Bursting into Flames & Starting Wildfires (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/electrocuted-birds-are-bursting-into-flames-and-starting-wildfires-2000495354

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

19.   Washington High Court Overturns Lower Courts, Firms Up Ecology’s Power (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/washington-high-court-overturns-lower-courts-firms-up-ecologys-power/article_6961d348-6bda-11ef-9a4e-9b202c9fc399.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

20.   Trump Vows to Pull Back Climate Law’s Unspent Dollars (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/05/trump-inflation-reduction-act-00177493

21.   Utah Supreme Court Hears Arguments from Teens That Fossil Fuel Policies Violate Their Rights (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/09/05/utah-supreme-court-hears-arguments-from-teens-that-fossil-fuel-policies-violate-their-rights/

London Calling –Telecommunications

22.   Verizon to Buy Frontier in $20 Billion Deal to Boost Fiber Network in U.S. (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/verizon-acquire-frontier-20-bln-deal-2024-09-05/

I Sing the Car Electric

23.   Electric Vehicle Sales Are Growing. So Why Are Automakers Getting Cold Feet? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electric-vehicles/ev-sales-are-growing-so-why-are-automakers-getting-cold-feet

Management & Governance

24.   Bryan Mercier Will Be Appointed Bureau of Indian Affairs Director (Native News Online)

https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/bryan-mercier-will-be-appointed-bia-director

Other Things to Know About Today

25.   ‘Wimpy’ Winter Ahead for Pacific Northwest Despite La Niña Prediction, Climatologist Says (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/wimpy-winter-pacific-northwest-la-nina-prediction-climatologist

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Huge Payout Expected for a Rare Coin Bought by Ohio Farm Family & Hidden for Decades

https://www.yahoo.com/news/huge-payout-expected-rare-coin-040252524.html

Charles Barkley Keeps $1 Million Promise to New Orleans School After 2 Students’ Feat

https://www.yahoo.com/news/charles-barkley-keeps-1-million-222146425.html

Ruins of a Long-Sunken Greek Village Emerge as Drought Saps a Vital Reservoir

https://www.courthousenews.com/ruins-of-a-long-sunken-greek-village-emerge-as-drought-saps-a-vital-reservoir/

Indian Student Builds World’s Smallest Vacuum Cleaner

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/09/04/india-Guinness-World-Records-smallest-vacuum/1651725466989/

Song of the Day

Neil Young - Harvest Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgrC-iZ8UDU

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.