Monday, November 4, 2024

The Energy News Digest for November 4, 202

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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Washington Governor OKs Massive New Wind Farm & Urges Swift Turbine Approvals (Associated Press)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/washington-governor-oks-massive-new-wind-farm-and-urges-swift-turbine-approvals/ar-AA1tps2a

Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Potential Power Shutoffs for Several Northern California Counties on Tuesday (Sacramento Bee, CA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/pg-e-warns-of-potential-power-shutoffs-for-several-northern-california-counties-on-tuesday/ar-AA1ttYgy

Big Tech’s Artificial Intelligence Splurge Worries Investors About Returns (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/meta-microsoft-lift-ai-spending-worrying-wall-street-ahead-amazon-results-2024-10-31/

California: Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order Aimed at Lowering Electric Bills (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/gov-newsom-issues-executive-order-200007347.html

The Energy Culture War Is on the Ballot in One of America’s Greenest States (Mother Jones)

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/11/washington-ballot-initiative-2066-energy-gas-building-electrification/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Potential Power Shutoffs for Several Northern California Counties on Tuesday

2.      California: Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order Aimed at Lowering Electric Bills

3.      How Rising Electricity Demand Is Hurting the Push for More Housing in Oregon

4.      Paywall Advisory: Seattle City Light Rate Surcharge Remains After Bad Water Year

5.      Oregon Regulators Approve Natural Gas Rate Hikes for Some, Cuts for Others

6.      Wall Street Giants to Make $50 Billion Bet on Artificial Intelligence & Power Projects

7.      Wineries File Third Multnomah County Lawsuit Against PacifiCorp After Labor Day Fire ‘Devastation’

8.      NorthWestern Energy, Small Electricity Producer Scrap Over the Price of Power

9.      California ISO Report Outlines Benefits of Participation in Western Energy Imbalance Market

10.   Bonneville Power Administration Gains Valuable Insight from Supplemental Cost Study

11.   Western Area Power Administration Welcomes 12 New Customers to Four-State Loveland Area Projects

12.   Japanese Nuclear Reactor That Restarted 13 Years After Fukushima Disaster Is Shut Down Again

13.   Washington Governor OKs Massive New Wind Farm & Urges Swift Turbine Approvals

14.   Oregon: State Invites Public Participation in Offshore Wind Energy ‘Roadmap’ After Feds Pause Plans

15.   State Invests More Than $8 Million in Cowlitz Indian Tribe Clean Energy Projects. It Pledges to Continue Efforts ‘For Generations.’

16.   Energy Northwest, Pasadena Water & Power Receive Energy Storage Vouchers from DOE

17.   Lawsuit Alleges BLM Violated Endangered Species Act in Approving Lithium Mine

18.   Where Are Renewable Energy Developers Looking to Site Projects?

19.   Northern Pike Kept in Check in Northeast Washington

20.   Idaho Steelhead Run Approaches 100K Most in Nearly a Decade

21.   Environmental Groups Sue to Stop USFWS Plan to Killed Barred Owls

22.   Growing Issue: As Energy Production Increases So Do Chemical Impacts to Critical Habitats

23.   WA State: CA Gov. Newsom Goes North for a Climate Fight

24.   How the Climate Is Changing Your Energy Bill

25.   Study: 76% of U.S. Residents Want Government to Do Something About Soaring Broadband Prices

26.   Big Tech’s Artificial Intelligence Splurge Worries Investors About Returns

27.   Some Washington Schools Could Get Free Electric Buses

28.   Storm Forecasts Have Never Been More Accurate. Meteorologists Have Never Faced So Much Pushback.

29.   The Energy Culture War Is on the Ballot in One of America’s Greenest States

30.   Future of U.S. Energy Goes to the Ballot Box

31.   Pinpoint Alert: Week Starts with Burst of Rain, Wind in Parts of Western Washington

32.   Election Day Stress Weighing on You? Recent Studies Suggest You’re Not Alone

33.   Guest Essay: Energy Northwest Is Tackling Resource Shortage & Climate Change with Small Reactors

34.   Guest Essay: Harnessing The Power of Cooperatives for Rural Nevada

Word of the Day

Misperceive \miss-per-SEEV\ Verb - To understand or perceive incorrectly; misunderstand.

Misconceive \miss-kun-SEEV\ Verb - To conceive or interpret wrongly; misunderstand.

Unfortunately for Sam, he used the wrong universal interpreter in his first contact with the Filenesians on the planet Closet. His equipment’s misperception of the Filenesians' extremely peaceful intentions led to his misconception that to destroy the peaceful planet, all that was required was to demolish their well-stocked clothing warehouses. This only freed the Filenesians of whatever limited modesty they had…making the planet the first intergalactic nudist colony.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Potential Power Shutoffs for Several Northern California Counties on Tuesday (Sacramento Bee, CA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/pg-e-warns-of-potential-power-shutoffs-for-several-northern-california-counties-on-tuesday/ar-AA1ttYgy

2.      California: Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order Aimed at Lowering Electric Bills (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/gov-newsom-issues-executive-order-200007347.html

3.      How Rising Electricity Demand Is Hurting the Push for More Housing in Oregon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/11/03/salem-housing-power-grid-connection/

4.      Paywall Advisory: Seattle City Light Rate Surcharge Remains After Bad Water Year (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/seattle-city-light-rate-surcharge-remains-after-bad-water-year/

5.      Oregon Regulators Approve Natural Gas Rate Hikes for Some, Cuts for Others (Oregon Capital Chronicle – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/oregon-regulators-approve-natural-gas-164439954.html

6.      Wall Street Giants to Make $50 Billion Bet on Artificial Intelligence & Power Projects (Wall Street Journal – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/wall-street-giants-to-make-50-billion-bet-on-ai-and-power-projects/ar-AA1tc9oX

7.      Wineries File Third Multnomah County Lawsuit Against PacifiCorp After Labor Day Fire ‘Devastation’ (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/wildfires/wineries-file-third-multnomah-county-lawsuit-against-pacificorp-after-labor-day-fire-devastation/

8.      NorthWestern Energy, Small Electricity Producer Scrap Over the Price of Power (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2024/10/30/northwestern-energy-small-electricity-producer-scrap-over-the-price-of-power/

9.      California ISO 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/

10.   Bonneville Power Administration Gains Valuable Insight from Supplemental Cost Study (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20241101-bpa-gains-valuable-insight-from-supplemental-cost-study

11.   Western Area Power Administration Welcomes 12 New Customers to Four-State Loveland Area Projects (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/wapa-welcomes-12-new-customers-to-lap/

12.   Japanese Nuclear Reactor That Restarted 13 Years After Fukushima Disaster Is Shut Down Again (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/japanese-nuclear-reactor-that-restarted-13-years-19885148.php

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

13.   Washington Governor OKs Massive New Wind Farm & Urges Swift Turbine Approvals (Associated Press)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/washington-governor-oks-massive-new-wind-farm-and-urges-swift-turbine-approvals/ar-AA1tps2a

14.   Oregon: State Invites Public Participation in Offshore Wind Energy ‘Roadmap’ After Feds Pause Plans (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/state-invites-public-participation-in-offshore-wind-energy-roadmap-after-feds-pause-plans/

15.   State Invests More Than $8 Million in Cowlitz Indian Tribe Clean Energy Projects. It Pledges to Continue Efforts ‘For Generations.’ (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/oct/30/state-invests-more-than-8m-in-cowlitz-indian-tribe-clean-energy-projects-it-pledges-to-continue-efforts-for-generations/

16.   Energy Northwest, Pasadena Water & Power Receive Energy Storage Vouchers from DOE (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/energy-northwest-pasadena-water-and-power-receive-energy-storage-vouchers-doe

17.   Lawsuit Alleges BLM Violated Endangered Species Act in Approving Lithium Mine (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/lawsuit-alleges-blm-violated-endangered-species-act-in-approving-lithium-mine-3204081/

18.   Where Are Renewable Energy Developers Looking to Site Projects? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/where-are-renewable-energy-developers-looking-to-site-projects/731820/

Fish & Wildlife

19.   Northern Pike Kept in Check in Northeast Washington (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/nov/01/northern-pike-kept-in-check-in-northeast-washingto/

20.   Idaho Steelhead Run Approaches 100K Most in Nearly a Decade (KQQQ Radio, Pullman, WA)

https://pullmanradio.com/idaho-steelhead-run-nears-100k-most-in-nearly-a-decade/

21.   Environmental Groups Sue to Stop USFWS Plan to Killed Barred Owls (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/environmental-groups-sue-to-stop-usfws-plan-to-killed-barred-owls/ar-AA1tmgDB

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

22.   Growing Issue: As Energy Production Increases So Do Chemical Impacts to Critical Habitats (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/as-energy-production-increases-so-so-unwanted-impacts-to-habitats/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

23.   WA State: CA Gov. Newsom Goes North for a Climate Fight (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2024/10/28/newsom-goes-north-for-a-climate-fight-00185963

24.   How the Climate Is Changing Your Energy Bill (High Country News)

https://www.hcn.org/issues/56-11/how-the-climate-is-changing-your-energy-bill/

London Calling –Telecommunications

25.   Study: 76% of U.S. Residents Want Government to Do Something About Soaring Broadband Prices (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/2024/11/01/study-76-of-u-s-residents-want-government-to-do-something-about-soaring-broadband-prices/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

26.   Big Tech’s Artificial Intelligence Splurge Worries Investors About Returns (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/meta-microsoft-lift-ai-spending-worrying-wall-street-ahead-amazon-results-2024-10-31/

I Sing the Car Electric

27.   Some Washington Schools Could Get Free Electric Buses (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/nov/03/some-washington-schools-could-get-free-electric-buses/

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

28.   Storm Forecasts Have Never Been More Accurate. Meteorologists Have Never Faced So Much Pushback. (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/storm-forecasts-never-more-accurate-221817570.html

Management & Governance

29.   The Energy Culture War Is on the Ballot in One of America’s Greenest States (Mother Jones)

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/11/washington-ballot-initiative-2066-energy-gas-building-electrification/

30.   Future of U.S. Energy Goes to the Ballot Box (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/future-of-us-energy-goes-to-the-ballot-box/

Other Things to Know About Today

31.   Pinpoint Alert: Week Starts with Burst of Rain, Wind in Parts of Western Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/pinpoint-alert-week-starts-with-burst-rain-wind-parts-western-washington/6LTRRC4I6VFWRLYMPBWI7S6SPU/

32.   Election Day Stress Weighing on You? Recent Studies Suggest You’re Not Alone (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_8acf95e2-9899-11ef-bf01-eb807a282bb6.html?a

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

33.   Guest Essay: Energy Northwest Is Tackling Resource Shortage & Climate Change with Small Reactors (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via AOL)

https://www.aol.com/energy-northwest-tackling-shortage-climate-120000169.html

34.   Guest Essay: Harnessing The Power of Cooperatives for Rural Nevada (The Eureka Sentinel, NV)

https://eurekasentinel.com/2024/11/harnessing-the-power-of-cooperatives-for-rural-nevada/

Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions

Quincy Jones, Music Titan Who Worked with Artists from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, Dies at 91

https://apnews.com/article/quincy-jones-dead-a9e31c7e39c448d8971519f47a22dd21

Whidbey Island Home Infested with Thousands of Bats Turns Dream into Nightmare

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/whidbey-island-home-infested-with-thousands-bats-turns-dream-into-nightmare/X5GASGH5ZZEU3FVFXKSUFJEY3Q/

Words Expats Should Know: Stubentiger (It’s More Than a Cat in German)

https://www.iamexpat.de/education/education-news/words-expats-should-know-stubentiger-its-more-cat-german

Orphaned Squirrel Who Became Social Media Star Euthanized After Being Seized from Home

https://apnews.com/article/new-york-pet-squirrel-seized-peanut-pnut-e6318ee7e74492465bb6b0fc22f085ad

Song of the Day

Michael Jackson – Thriller (Produced by Quincy Jones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO4vI8P88NM

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.