The Energy News Digest for October 30, 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

Amid Ongoing Lawsuit, Mid-Columbia PUDs Halt Energy Allotments to Canada (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/amid-ongoing-lawsuit-mid-c-puds-halt-energy-allotments-to-canada/

Amazon Announces Plan to Develop Four Nuclear Reactors Along Columbia River (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/washington/amazon-nuclear-reactors-columbia-river/

Offshore Wind Industry Says ‘Misinformation’ from Foes Is a Strong Headwind It Must Fight (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/offshore-wind-industry-says-misinformation-from-19871948.php

Experts: BEAD Success Hinges on States Supplementing FCC Pole Rules (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/state-pole-regs-key-to-bead-broadband-success/

WA Initiative Opponents Claim Blocking Natural Gas Ban Will Drive Up Gas Bills (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d248e9ca-9630-11ef-a2eb-ebb5e98eaccd.html?a

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Amid Ongoing Lawsuit, Mid-Columbia PUDs Halt Energy Allotments to Canada

2.      Amazon Announces Plan to Develop Four Nuclear Reactors Along Columbia River

3.      Hungry for Electricity, Artificial Intelligence Firms Are Knocking on Wyoming’s Door

4.      Paywall Advisory: Tri-Cities Is New Home to a Seattle Startup’s $30 Million Fusion Energy Research Outpost

5.      Oregon: NW Natural Ordered to Phase Out New Gas Connection Subsidies by 2027

6.      Post Falls Dam Accident Injures Worker & Causes Damage, But Avista Says There’s No Risk of Dam Failure

7.      WA State: Seattle’s Pier 66 Goes Green, Concludes 2024 Cruise Season

8.      CAISO Report Outlines Benefits of Participation in Western Energy Imbalance Market

9.      News Release: Western Area Power Administration’s Sierra Nevada Region to Pursue Day-Ahead Market Participation

10.   Offshore Wind Industry Says ‘Misinformation’ from Foes Is a Strong Headwind It Must Fight

11.   Grant Program Is a ‘Win-Win’ for Nonprofits Serving Low-Income Households & Clark Public Utilities

12.   British Columbia Groups’ Bid to Classify Alaskan Fishery as Unsustainable Rejected

13.   Idaho Anglers Asked to Harvest Walleye to Track Spread in Salmon, Steelhead Waters

14.   Idaho Agriculture Department Plans Second Snake River Quagga Mussel Treatment in November

15.   Recent Whale Deaths Highlight Risks from Antarctica’s Booming Krill Fishery

16.   A Wastewater Recycling Program Could Be a Model for Regions Where Water Is Scarce

17.   Experts: BEAD Success Hinges on States Supplementing FCC Pole Rules

18.   Comparing State Broadband Performance

19.   Google’s Artificial Intelligence-Fueled Gains in Cloud Bode Well for Amazon, Microsoft

20.   How Washington Is Committing to Electric Vehicles

21.   Half of U.S. Teens Stare at Screens More Than 4 Hours Per Day

22.   WA Initiative Opponents Claim Blocking Natural Gas Ban Will Drive Up Gas Bills

23.   Study: U.S. Would Lose Over $2.3 Billion by Breaching Lower Snake River Dams

Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition

Cliometrics • \klye-uh-MET-riks\ • noun – The application of methods developed in other fields (as economics, statistics, and data processing) to the study of history.

For the moment, Clarence basked in the glory of his doctoral thesis. Using cliometrics, he proved (on paper) that the 1929 stock market crash was not due to marginal trading and “irrational exuberance” but rather on men’s fashion trends…specifically the lack of spats for men’s shoes. It wasn’t until the defense of his academic paper that the entire house of cards that was his thesis collapsed. It was literally constructed of 3x5 index cards that fell over when one of the professors sneezed.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Amid Ongoing Lawsuit, Mid-Columbia PUDs Halt Energy Allotments to Canada (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/amid-ongoing-lawsuit-mid-c-puds-halt-energy-allotments-to-canada/

2.      Amazon Announces Plan to Develop Four Nuclear Reactors Along Columbia River (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/washington/amazon-nuclear-reactors-columbia-river/

3.      Hungry for Electricity, Artificial Intelligence Firms Are Knocking on Wyoming’s Door (States Newsroom)

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/hungry-electricity-artificial-intelligence-firms-are-knocking-wyomings-door

4.      Paywall Advisory: Tri-Cities Is New Home to a Seattle Startup’s $30 Million Fusion Energy Research Outpost (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/business/article294067959.html

5.      Oregon: NW Natural Ordered to Phase Out New Gas Connection Subsidies by 2027 (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/10/28/nw-natural-gas-oregon-public-utilities-commission-subsidies/

6.      Post Falls Dam Accident Injures Worker & Causes Damage, But Avista Says There’s No Risk of Dam Failure (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/oct/29/post-falls-dam-accident-injures-worker-causes-cosm/

7.      WA State: Seattle’s Pier 66 Goes Green, Concludes 2024 Cruise Season (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattles-pier-66-goes-green-concludes-2024-cruise-season/5SZJHSV36BBYXHACFL5DO4YYDY/

8.      CAISO Report Outlines Benefits of Participation in Western Energy Imbalance Market (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/45983-caiso-report-outlines-benefits-of-participation-in-western-energy-imbalance-market/

9.      News Release: Western Area Power Administration’s Sierra Nevada Region to Pursue Day-Ahead Market Participation (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/wapas-sierra-nevada-region-to-pursue-day-ahead-market-participation/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

10.   Offshore Wind Industry Says ‘Misinformation’ from Foes Is a Strong Headwind It Must Fight (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/offshore-wind-industry-says-misinformation-from-19871948.php

Conservation & Efficiency

11.   Grant Program Is a ‘Win-Win’ for Nonprofits Serving Low-Income Households & Clark Public Utilities (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/oct/29/grant-program-is-a-win-win-for-nonprofits-serving-low-income-households-and-clark-public-utilities/

Fish & Wildlife

12.   British Columbia Groups’ Bid to Classify Alaskan Fishery as Unsustainable Rejected (Prince George Citizen, BC)

https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/resources-agriculture/bc-groups-bid-to-classify-alaskan-fishery-as-unsustainable-rejected-9729768

13.   Idaho Anglers Asked to Harvest Walleye to Track Spread in Salmon, Steelhead Waters (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/idaho-anglers-asked-to-harvest-walleye-to-track-spread-in-salmon-steelhead-waters/article_905bc17c-9167-11ef-b279-97004059d869.html

14.   Idaho Agriculture Department Plans Second Snake River Quagga Mussel Treatment in November (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/regional_news/idaho-agriculture-department-plans-second-quagga-mussel-treatment-in-snake-river-in-november/article_51017429-6733-5fb0-906f-8b8ef88883e4.html

15.   Recent Whale Deaths Highlight Risks from Antarctica’s Booming Krill Fishery (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/recent-whale-deaths-highlight-risks-from-19874427.php

Water, Water, Anywhere?

16.   A Wastewater Recycling Program Could Be a Model for Regions Where Water Is Scarce (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-5124985/a-wastewater-recycling-program-could-be-a-model-for-regions-where-water-is-scarce

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   Experts: BEAD Success Hinges on States Supplementing FCC Pole Rules (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/state-pole-regs-key-to-bead-broadband-success/

18.   Comparing State Broadband Performance (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2024/10/29/comparing-state-broadband-performance/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

19.   Google’s Artificial Intelligence-Fueled Gains in Cloud Bode Well for Amazon, Microsoft (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/googles-ai-fuelled-gains-cloud-bode-well-amazon-microsoft-2024-10-30/

I Sing the Car Electric

20.   How Washington Is Committing to Electric Vehicles (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article294738389.html

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

21.   Half of U.S. Teens Stare at Screens More Than 4 Hours Per Day (U.S. News & World Report)

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-10-30/half-of-u-s-teens-stare-at-screens-more-than-4-hours-per-day

Management & Governance

22.   WA Initiative Opponents Claim Blocking Natural Gas Ban Will Drive Up Gas Bills (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d248e9ca-9630-11ef-a2eb-ebb5e98eaccd.html?a

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

23.   Study: U.S. Would Lose Over $2.3 Billion by Breaching Lower Snake River Dams (Washington Association of Wheat Growers)

https://www.wawg.org/study-us-would-lose-over-2-3-billion-by-breaching-lower-snake-river-dams/

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Crows Hold Grudges for 17 Years

https://www.newser.com/story/358549/crows-may-hold-grudges-for-life.html

Teri Garr, The Offbeat Comic Actor of ‘Young Frankenstein’ And ‘Tootsie,’ Has Died

https://apnews.com/article/teri-garr-dies-be39482a60724c5bb81bbd8f34dfaf2d

‘Grate Cheese Robbery’: 24 Tons of Cheddar Stolen by Imposters in Massive Heist

https://www.aol.com/grate-cheese-robbery-24-tons-160000932.html

Chance Encounter for Oregon Couple at Hood to Coast Relay, Leads to Love & Finishing 7 Marathons on 7 Continents: ‘Always Meant to Find Each Other’

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/community/oregon-couple-hood-to-coast-relay-love-finishing-marathons-continents/283-852b45c8-c4a2-4046-abfb-46efad4ed9a4

Song of the Day

John Morris – Transylvania Lullaby (Young Frankenstein Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9u8rPTP1sU

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 October 28, 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. Tech Giant Shielded by Alias Makes Deal for $5 Billion Data Center in Eastern WA (Olympian, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/us-tech-giant-shielded-by-alias-makes-deal-for-5b-data-center-in-eastern-wa/ar-AA1sWvqw

Electricity Equilibrium? Finding Power for the Pacific Northwest in the Future ‘Will Be a Significant Challenge’ (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/oct/26/electricity-equilibrium-finding-enough-power-in-the-future-will-be-a-significant-challenge/

British Columbia: First Generating Unit Comes into Service on Peace River’s Site C Hydro Project (BC Hydro)

https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2024/first-generating-unit-comes-into-service-on-site-c.html

Massive Washington State Salmon Recovery Plan Scrutinized with Latest $100 Million Project (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/massive-washington-state-salmon-recovery-plan-scrutinized-with-latest-100m-project,364493

Banking on Oregon Forests: Carbon Markets Could Offer Middle Road in Divide Over Forest Management (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/10/24/banking-on-oregon-forests-carbon-markets-could-offer-middle-road-in-divide-over-forest-management/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      British Columbia: First Generating Unit Comes into Service on Peace River’s Site C Hydro Project

2.      Electricity Equilibrium? Finding Power for the Pacific Northwest in the Future ‘Will Be a Significant Challenge’

3.      Artificial Intelligence, Data Center Load Could Drive ‘Extraordinary’ Rise in U.S. Electricity Bills: Bain Analyst

4.      On Navajo Nation, Push to Electrify More Homes on Vast Reservation

5.      Arizona Cooperative Expresses Interest in CAISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market

6.      Electricity No Longer Included? Guests Shocked by Holiday Inn Express $12.95 ‘Energy Fee’

7.      The Surprising Winners — And Losers — Of America’s Clean Energy Boom

8.      WA State: Grant PUD Considers Solar & Hydropower Contracts for Future Energy Stability

9.      America Wanted to Generate Energy with Waves: Project Suspended as Something Went Wrong

10.   Massive Washington State Salmon Recovery Plan Scrutinized with Latest $100 Million Project

11.   Commercial Salmon Fishers Struggle with Low Prices

12.   Tribes’ Project Spawns Salmon Above Grand Coulee Dam

13.   Canada: Syilx Okanagan Nation Says Salmon Run at Risk After Neighboring Nation Pulls Funds

14.   California’s 2024 Dungeness Crab Season Postponed to Protect Whales

15.   A Small, Silver Lining to the Colorado River Drought

16.   Banking on Oregon Forests: Carbon Markets Could Offer Middle Road in Divide Over Forest Management

17.   More Companies Ditch Junk Carbon Offsets, but New Buyers Loom

18.   U.S. Tech Giant Shielded by Alias Makes Deal for $5 Billion Data Center in Eastern WA

19.   Building Community Trust Is Vital in Emergency Response, WA Health Officials Say

20.   Inslee Fights to Save Landmark Climate Law

21.   Clean Energy Is on the Ballot in These Utility Regulator Races

22.   It’s About Time to ‘Fall Back’: Daylight Saving Time 2024 Ends Sunday

23.   Guest Essay: Beating the Artificial Intelligence Power Crunch without Draining the Electric Grid

24.   Columnist: Will Wind & Solar Hammer Hydro in Washington State?

25.   Western Area Power Administration Statement on Arizona G&T’s Interest in Joining CAISO Extended Day-Ahead Market Study

Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition

Supererogation \soop-err-air-uh-GAY-shun\ Noun - The act of performing more than is required by duty, obligation, or need.

“Barty, you have an exemplary talent…Your supererogation is an inspiration to all the other employees here,” barked the supervisor to his cowering minion. “Great,” thought Barty. Now I need to buy a dictionary to see if that was a compliment or not.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      British Columbia: First Generating Unit Comes into Service on Peace River’s Site C Hydro Project (BC Hydro)

https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2024/first-generating-unit-comes-into-service-on-site-c.html

2.      Electricity Equilibrium? Finding Power for the Pacific Northwest in the Future ‘Will Be a Significant Challenge’ (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/oct/26/electricity-equilibrium-finding-enough-power-in-the-future-will-be-a-significant-challenge/

3.      Artificial Intelligence, Data Center Load Could Drive ‘Extraordinary’ Rise in U.S. Electricity Bills: Bain Analyst (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/data-center-load-growth-us-electricity-bills-bain/730691/

4.      On Navajo Nation, Push to Electrify More Homes on Vast Reservation (Associated Press)

https://www.voanews.com/a/on-navajo-nation-push-to-electrify-more-homes-on-vast-reservation-/7841155.html

5.      Arizona Cooperative Expresses Interest in CAISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market (Power Grid International)

https://www.power-grid.com/td/arizona-cooperative-expresses-interest-in-caisos-extended-day-ahead-market/

6.      Electricity No Longer Included? Guests Shocked by Holiday Inn Express $12.95 ‘Energy Fee’ (View from the Wing)

https://viewfromthewing.com/electricity-no-longer-included-guests-shocked-by-holiday-inn-express-12-95-energy-fee-roundup/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

7.      The Surprising Winners — And Losers — Of America’s Clean Energy Boom (Washington Post, Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2024/climate-bill-biden-clean-energy/

8.      WA State: Grant PUD Considers Solar & Hydropower Contracts for Future Energy Stability (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/grant-pud-considers-solar-and-hydropower-contracts-for-future-energy-stability/article_8458e7c2-926d-11ef-9fb9-fb25ea254312.html

9.      America Wanted to Generate Energy with Waves: Project Suspended as Something Went Wrong (The Diary 24)

https://www.eldiario24.com/en/tidal-energy-wave-america-project/2792/

Fish & Wildlife

10.   Massive Washington State Salmon Recovery Plan Scrutinized with Latest $100 Million Project (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/massive-washington-state-salmon-recovery-plan-scrutinized-with-latest-100m-project,364493

11.   Commercial Salmon Fishers Struggle with Low Prices (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/10/26/commercial-salmon-fishers-struggle-with-low-prices/

12.   Tribes’ Project Spawns Salmon Above Grand Coulee Dam (NCW Life News, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/tribes-project-spawns-salmon-above-grand-coulee-dam/article_0d68cac0-918b-11ef-bccf-fb8a2e22cf2b.html

13.   Canada: Syilx Okanagan Nation Says Salmon Run at Risk After Neighboring Nation Pulls Funds (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/syilx-okanagan-nation-1.7364655?cmp=rss

14.   California’s 2024 Dungeness Crab Season Postponed to Protect Whales (MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/california-s-2024-dungeness-crab-season-postponed-to-protect-whales/ar-AA1sZbcJ

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

15.   A Small, Silver Lining to the Colorado River Drought (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/27/nx-s1-5137290/a-small-silver-lining-to-the-colorado-river-drought

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

16.   Banking on Oregon Forests: Carbon Markets Could Offer Middle Road in Divide Over Forest Management (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/10/24/banking-on-oregon-forests-carbon-markets-could-offer-middle-road-in-divide-over-forest-management/

17.   More Companies Ditch Junk Carbon Offsets, but New Buyers Loom (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-10-24/carbon-offsets-see-falling-demand-but-cop29-may-open-new-market

Beam Me Up, Scotty - The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

18.   U.S. Tech Giant Shielded by Alias Makes Deal for $5 Billion Data Center in Eastern WA (Olympian, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/us-tech-giant-shielded-by-alias-makes-deal-for-5b-data-center-in-eastern-wa/ar-AA1sWvqw

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

19.   Building Community Trust Is Vital in Emergency Response, WA Health Officials Say (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/health-officials-emergency-response-training-working-on-community-trust-healthcare-provider-exercises-agencies-covid-19-pandemic-professionals-doctor-nurse-umair-shah-state-secretary-information-communication-building-skills-challenge-transparency

Management & Governance

20.   Inslee Fights to Save Landmark Climate Law (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/inslee-fights-to-save-landmark-climate-law/

21.   Clean Energy Is on the Ballot in These Utility Regulator Races (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/politics/clean-energys-on-the-ballot-in-these-utility-regulator-races

Other Things to Know About Today

22.   It’s About Time to ‘Fall Back’: Daylight Saving Time 2024 Ends Sunday (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/time-fall-back-daylight-saving-110235214.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

23.   Guest Essay: Beating the Artificial Intelligence Power Crunch without Draining the Electric Grid (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilsayegh/2024/10/28/beating-the-ai-power-crunch-without-draining-the-electric-grid/

24.   Columnist: Will Wind & Solar Hammer Hydro in Washington State? (The Heartland Institute)

https://heartland.org/opinion/will-wind-and-solar-hammer-hydro-in-washington-state/

25.   Western Area Power Administration Statement on Arizona G&T’s Interest in Joining CAISO Extended Day-Ahead Market Study (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/wapa-statement-on-arizona-gt-cooperatives-interest-in-joining-caiso-extended-day-ahead-market-study/

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Today in History: October 28, Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York

https://apnews.com/today-in-history/october-28

Asteroids Will Swing Close to Earth in a Drive-By Show

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/27/nx-s1-5167001/asteroids-will-swing-close-to-earth-in-a-drive-by-show

Alabama Couple’s 16-Foot, 10-Inch Okra Plant Might Be World’s Largest

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/25/Guinness-World-Records-tallest-okra-plant/4261729873615/

Flushed Candy Wrappers Block Sewer, Officials Stress the ‘Three Ps’

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/23/Southern-Water-candy-wrappers-three-Ps/9501729703989/

Song of the Day

Neil Diamond - America (The Jazz Singer Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8pj1x9-t4

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.