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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Winter Storms Leave
89 Dead Across U.S. as Chill Settles Over Great Lakes & Northeast (The
Independent, UK)
Oregon: Local
Utilities Urge Caution After Three Killed by Downed Power Line (Elkhorn Media
Group, LaGrande, OR)
https://elkhornmediagroup.com/local-utilities-urge-caution-after-three-killed-by-downed-power-line/
Fixing the
Cormorant Disaster on the Columbia: ‘How Could This Have Come Out Any Worse?’
(Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
Early January
Storms Bring Much-Needed Snow to the Pacific Northwest. Is It Enough? (Oregon
Public Broadcasting)
U.S. Rep McMorris
Rodgers Slates Congressional Hearing on Protecting Lower Snake Dams (The Center
Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_df219e70-b716-11ee-8489-d799efc909b7.html
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1. Over
500 Oregonians Remain without Power as of Sunday Afternoon
2. Oregon:
Local Utilities Urge Caution After Three Killed by Downed Power Line
3. Steps
to Follow If a Power Line Falls on Your Car: A Guide
4. Montana:
Watchdogs Asking Why NorthWestern’s Coal Plant Was Down During Freeze
5. Severe
U.S. Cold Snap Prompts Peak Power & Natural Gas Demand
6. Bonneville
Power Administration Crews Brave Arctic Conditions to Restore Power in the
South Region
7. Extreme
Weather Shows Need for Dispatchable Resources, New Transmission: FERC
Commissioners
8. Canada’s
Power Grids Increasingly at Risk from Winter Storms, Heat Waves
9. U.S.
Rep McMorris Rodgers Slates Congressional Hearing on Protecting Lower Snake
Dams
10. Hydropower
Is Key in Making Idaho Electricity Rates Low
11. Electric
Utilities Push Back on Proposal from Native Village & Anchorage Assembly
Leaders to Remove Eklutna River Hydropower Dam
12. Non-Powered
Dams in U.S. Offer Opportunity for Clean Energy
13. WA
State: Former Puyallup Man Sentenced to 3 Years Probation for Tacoma Power
Substation Attacks
14. Avista
Asks Washington State to Approve a Plan to Increase Rates
15. Biden
Administration Finalizes A $1.1 Billion Aid Package for California’s Last
Nuclear Power Plant
16. Montana:
Audit Reports Some Progress at Troubled State Utility Board
17. Bill
Would Set New Rules Against California Utilities Billing Customers for
Political Work
18. Composite
Poles ss. Alternatives in the Face of Natural Disasters
19. Benton
County Wind Farm Proposal Slated for WA State Energy Siting Council Review
20. Interior
Department Adds Six States to Western Solar-Development Plan
21. Alaska
Senator Vows to Kill Renewables Bill as Energy Debate Heats Up in Juneau
22. Washington’s
Solar Permitting Leaves Tribal Resources Vulnerable to Corporations
23. U.S.
Won’t Reverse Clean Energy Transition, Regardless of Election Outcome – Kerry
24. Fixing
the Cormorant Disaster on the Columbia: ‘How Could This Have Come Out Any
Worse?’
25. A
New Study Finds a Critical Vitamin for Salmon in Rivers
26. Major
Solar Farm Builder Settles Case Alleging It Violated Clean Water Rules,
Including in Idaho
27. Latest
EPA Assessment Shows Almost No Improvement in River & Stream Nitrogen
Pollution
28. Early
January Storms Bring Much-Needed Snow to the Pacific Northwest. Is It Enough?
29. WA
State: ‘Water Is the New Gold, & Our Gold Is Rotten’ – West Plains Water
Coalition Produces Short Film on Unfolding PFAS Contamination
30. The
One Issue No One Wants to Talk About in the California Senate Race
31. Montana
Supreme Court Denies Bid to Pause Landmark Youth Climate Ruling
32. Why
Extreme Cold Weather Events Still Happen in a Warming World
33. Bill
in Washington House Could Help Bring High-Speed Internet to Rural Areas
34. BEAD
Impact Analysis: 21 States Could Get 100% Fiber; Six Would See Greater Than 50%
35. Podcast:
Along Those Lines – What the Artificial Intelligence Revolution Means for
Electric Co-ops
36. ‘It’s
Open!’: NASA Finally Unlocks Canister of Dust from 4.6-Billion-Year-Old
Asteroid
37. ‘Mother
Nature Is Not Letting Up’: FEMA to Streamline Relief Funding
38. Washington
State Certifies Ballot Measure That Would Overturn Washington’s Carbon Auction
Market
39. Oregon
Lawmakers Tried to Ban Gas Generators in 2023
40. Winter
Storms Leave 89 Dead Across U.S. as Chill Settles Over Great Lakes &
Northeast
41. Oregon’s
Governor Declares State of Emergency Over Winter Storm
42. Southwestern
Oregon Communities Grapple with Wood Debris Cleanup After Winter Storm
43. FAA
Recommends Airlines Inspect Door Plugs on Another Boeing Model
44. Interview:
Renewable Energy ‘You Have to Be Realistic About What It Can Do’
45. Guest
Essay: More Californians Are Driving Electric Vehicles, Making Public Charging
a ‘Potential Nightmare’
46.
Guest Essay: Affordable Connectivity Program Is
More Than Broadband; It’s a Lifeline
WORD OF THE DAY
Antebellum • \ANT-i-bell-um\ • adjective – Existing before a war; especially existing before the American Civil War. Etymology: Latin ante bellum before the war.
Sitting on the front porch of the antebellum mansion in Mississippi, Beauregard thought dreamily of his old home in the far north of Saskatchewan. “Somewhere near Uranium City,” he mused, “a small child is being carried away by a hungry mosquito. Here, the bugs are so laid back that they just expect you to offer a meaty arm or well-turned ankle for their consideration.”
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Over 500 Oregonians Remain without Power as of Sunday
Afternoon (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)
2.
Oregon: Local Utilities Urge Caution After Three
Killed by Downed Power Line (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)
https://elkhornmediagroup.com/local-utilities-urge-caution-after-three-killed-by-downed-power-line/
3.
Steps to Follow If a Power Line Falls on Your
Car: A Guide (The News International)
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1150289-steps-to-follow-if-a-power-line-falls-on-your-car-a-guide
4.
Montana: Watchdogs Asking Why NorthWestern’s
Coal Plant Was Down During Freeze (Missoula Current, Mt)
https://missoulacurrent.com/watchdogs-coal-plant/
5.
Severe U.S. Cold Snap Prompts Peak Power &
Natural Gas Demand (Reuters)
6.
Bonneville Power Administration Crews Brave Arctic
Conditions to Restore Power in the South Region (Bonneville Power
Administration)
7.
Extreme Weather Shows Need for Dispatchable
Resources, New Transmission: FERC Commissioners (Utility Dive)
8.
Canada’s Power Grids Increasingly at Risk from Winter
Storms, Heat Waves (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/power-risk-winter-heat-overload-demand-1.7087499
9.
U.S. Rep McMorris Rodgers Slates Congressional
Hearing on Protecting Lower Snake Dams (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_df219e70-b716-11ee-8489-d799efc909b7.html
10.
Hydropower Is Key in Making Idaho Electricity
Rates Low (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)
11.
Electric Utilities Push Back on Proposal from Native
Village & Anchorage Assembly Leaders to Remove Eklutna River Hydropower Dam
(Anchorage Daily News, AK – Paywall Advisory)
12.
Non-Powered Dams in U.S. Offer Opportunity for Clean
Energy (Hydro Review)
13.
WA State: Former Puyallup Man Sentenced to 3
Years Probation for Tacoma Power Substation Attacks (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)
14.
Avista Asks Washington State to Approve a Plan to
Increase Rates (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)
15.
Biden Administration Finalizes A $1.1 Billion
Aid Package for California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant (Associated Press)
16.
Montana: Audit Reports Some Progress at Troubled
State Utility Board (Montana Free Press)
17.
Bill Would Set New Rules Against California Utilities
Billing Customers for Political Work (Orange County Register, CA – Paywall Advisory)
18.
Composite Poles ss. Alternatives in the Face of Natural
Disasters (Utility Dive)
RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE
19.
Benton County Wind Farm Proposal Slated for WA
State Energy Siting Council Review (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_132b10d8-b592-11ee-b018-6fb921ad085e.html
20.
Interior Department Adds Six States to Western
Solar-Development Plan (The Hill, Washington, DC)
21.
Alaska Senator Vows to Kill Renewables Bill as Energy
Debate Heats Up in Juneau (Northern Journal, AK)
https://www.northernjournal.com/p/alaska-senator-vows-to-kill-renewables
22.
Washington’s Solar Permitting Leaves Tribal
Resources Vulnerable to Corporations (High Country News)
23.
U.S. Won’t Reverse Clean Energy Transition,
Regardless of Election Outcome – Kerry (Reuters)
FISH & WILDLIFE
24.
Fixing the Cormorant Disaster on the Columbia: ‘How
Could This Have Come Out Any Worse?’ (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
25.
A New Study Finds a Critical Vitamin for Salmon in
Rivers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/01/21/chinook-salmon-thiamine-sacramento-river/
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE
26.
Major Solar Farm Builder Settles Case Alleging
It Violated Clean Water Rules, Including in Idaho (Associated Press)
27.
Latest EPA Assessment Shows Almost No
Improvement in River & Stream Nitrogen Pollution (Associated Press)
WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?
28.
Early January Storms Bring Much-Needed Snow to the
Pacific Northwest. Is It Enough? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
29.
WA State: ‘Water Is the New Gold, & Our Gold
Is Rotten’ – West Plains Water Coalition Produces Short Film on Unfolding PFAS Contamination
(Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/jan/22/water-is-the-new-gold-and-our-gold-is-rotten-west-/
30.
The One Issue No One Wants to Talk About in the California
Senate Race (Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/22/california-senate-candidates-water-00136729
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
31.
Montana Supreme Court Denies Bid to Pause Landmark
Youth Climate Ruling (Reuters)
32.
Why Extreme Cold Weather Events Still Happen in
a Warming World (Public Broadcasting Corporation)
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/why-extreme-cold-weather-events-still-happen-in-a-warming-world
LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS
33.
Bill in Washington House Could Help Bring
High-Speed Internet to Rural Areas (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
https://kpq.com/bill-in-wa-house-could-help-bring-high-speed-internet-to-rural-areas/
34.
BEAD Impact Analysis: 21 States Could Get 100%
Fiber; Six Would See Greater Than 50% (Telecompetitor)
https://www.telecompetitor.com/bead-impact-analysis-21-states-could-get-100-fiber-six-will-see/
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA
35.
Podcast: Along Those Lines – What the Artificial
Intelligence Revolution Means for Electric Co-ops (National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association)
https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-artificial-intelligence
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE
36.
‘It’s Open!’: NASA Finally Unlocks Canister of
Dust from 4.6 Billion-Year-Old Asteroid (The Guardian, UK)
MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE
37.
‘Mother Nature Is Not Letting Up’: FEMA to Streamline
Relief Funding (Christian Science Monitor)
38.
Washington State Certifies Ballot Measure That
Would Overturn Washington’s Carbon Auction Market (Spokesman-Review, Spokane,
WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/jan/16/state-certifies-ballot-measure-that-would-overturn/
39.
Oregon Lawmakers Tried to Ban Gas Generators in 2023
(Oregon Catalyst)
https://oregoncatalyst.com/74799-lawmakers-ban-gas-generators.html
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY
40.
Winter Storms Leave 89 Dead Across U.S. as Chill
Settles Over Great Lakes & Northeast (The Independent, UK)
41.
Oregon’s Governor Declares State of Emergency
Over Winter Storm (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
42.
Southwestern Oregon Communities Grapple with
Wood Debris Cleanup After Winter Storm (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/01/21/eugene-tree-debris-winter-storm/
43.
FAA Recommends Airlines Inspect Door Plugs on
Another Boeing Model (ABC News)
https://abcnews.go.com/US/faa-recommends-airlines-inspect-door-plugs-boeing-model/story?id=106556063
SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI
44.
Interview: Renewable Energy ‘You Have to Be
Realistic About What It Can Do’ (KVI-Radio, Seattle, WA)
https://www.kvi.com/2024/01/18/renewable-energy-you-have-to-be-realistic-about-what-it-can-do/
45.
Guest Essay: More Californians Are Driving Electric
Vehicles, Making Public Charging a ‘Potential Nightmare’ (Yahoo! News)
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/more-californians-driving-evs-making-130000274.html
46.
Guest Essay: Affordable Connectivity Program Is
More Than Broadband; It’s a Lifeline (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Cicadas Will Emerge
Together for the First Time in Over 200 Years
https://news.yahoo.com/cicadas-emerge-together-first-time-210345489.html
Yogurt Company
Offers $10,000 for a One-Month ‘Digital Detox’
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/01/22/Siggis-Dairy-digital-detox/7811705942150/
Amorous Fish Blamed
for Mysterious Sound Around Florida Bay
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/01/19/mystery-sound-Tampa-Bay-black-drum-fish/4181705683683/
Zoos Offer Roach
Naming Rights, Hippo Poop Candles for Valentine’s Day
SONG OF THE DAY
Alison Krauss &
Shawn Colvin – The Boxer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy9B43ERrbw
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. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie
files may help access some paywall sites.
