Wednesday, March 20, 2024

The Energy News Digest for March 20, 2024

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

California’s Last Nuclear Plant Gets Lifeline Amid Search for More Clean Energy (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/californias-last-nuclear-plant-gets-lifeline-amid-search-for-more-clean-energy/

UN Weather Agency Issues ‘Red Alert’ on Climate Change After Record Heat, Ice-Melt Increases in 2023 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wmo-un-climate-global-change-report-warming-2154285aabb0cf83dc9ca4015ea0016d

Orca Group Seen Hunting Ocean’s Largest Predators: Researchers (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-killer-whale-orca-population-hunting-predators-1.7149194

Nevada: Greens Ask Haaland to Nix Solar Project to Save Tortoises (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/greens-ask-haaland-to-nix-solar-project-to-save-tortoises/

‘Absolutely Fierce’: Rural Revolt Against Solar & Wind Across North America, Says Energy Analyst (Edmonton Journal, Alberta)

https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/absolutely-fierce-rural-revolt-against-solar-and-wind-across-north-america-says-energy-analyst

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      California’s Last Nuclear Plant Gets Lifeline Amid Search for More Clean Energy

2.      Wyoming: Bill Gates-Backed Firm to Start Building First U.S. Advanced Nuclear Reactor

3.      New York: A Nuclear Power Plant’s Closure Was Hailed as a Green Win. Then Emissions Went Up

4.      California Lawmakers Backpedal on Income-Based Utility Charges as IOUs, Others Propose Alternatives

5.      State Regulators Sent Oregon’s Gas Utilities Back to the Drawing Board on Their Emission Plans. Now What?

6.      Washington: Clallam PUD Seeking Faster Solution for West End Outages

7.      Federal Hydro System Powers Region Through Arctic Blast

8.      Strengthening the Grid’s ’Backbone’ with Hydropower

9.      Utah: 21-Year-Old Worker Hospitalized After Being Shocked by Electricity in Box Elder Co.

10.   Alaska: Senate Committee Gets Update on Eielson Base Micro-Reactor Project

11.   The Total Solar Eclipse Next Month Could Strain Electrical Grids. Power Grid Operators Are Preparing for It

12.   Nevada: Greens Ask Haaland to Nix Solar Project to Save Tortoises

13.   ‘Absolutely Fierce’: Rural Revolt Against Solar & Wind Across North America, Says Energy Analyst

14.   Wind Power Is Waning Across the U.S. What Does the Trend Mean for Wyoming?

15.   How Much Are Wind Turbines Dragging Down Home Values? A New Study Has Surprising Answers

16.   Idaho Falls District Completes Radio Station Upgrades to Support Southeast Idaho Wind

17.   Orca Group Seen Hunting Ocean’s Largest Predators: Researchers

18.   Spring Whale Watch Week Extended on Oregon Coast as Gray Whale Population Recovers

19.   Oregon Kills Thousands of Hatchery Rainbow Trout After Discovering Parasite

20.   Montana: Man to Plead Guilty in Eagle ‘Killing Spree’ on Reservation to Sell Feathers on Black Market

21.   Smelt Fishing May Soon Require License in Washington State

22.   North Central Washington’s Early Snowpack Predictions Show Lower Than Normal Water for 2024

23.   UN Weather Agency Issues ‘Red Alert’ on Climate Change After Record Heat, Ice-Melt Increases in 2023

24.   Study: Lower Snake River Dams Match Emissions Of 1 Million Tons of Coal

25.   Not So Fast, Says NW RiverPartners - Dollars & Sense Part II: An Examination of Reservoir Methane Claims

26.   Maple Syrup Season Came Weeks Early in the Midwest. Producers Are Doing Their Best to Adapt

27.   Washington: Adams County Broadband Project on-Track

28.   President Biden’s Regulators Issue Long-Awaited Rule Meant to Drive Electric Car Sales

29.   California Energy Costs Double National Average, Threatening Electric Vehicle Adoption

30.   Guest Essay: Reevaluate Decisions That Hamper Washington’s Clean Energy Future

31.   Guest Essay: Kurt Miller – Washington State Is Already Facing an Energy Crisis

32.   Editorial: Nuclear Energy Is Tough Sell in Washington, And Safety Issue at Richland Plant Won’t Help

33.   Editorial: Return Focus to Fish in Washington’s Culvert Replacement

WORD OF THE DAY

Viridity /vuh-RID-it-teet/ Noun – 1a: the quality or state of being green, b: the color of grass or foliage 2: naive innocence.

     Stark viridity

     It’s not easy being green

     Where are Kermit’s pants?

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      California’s Last Nuclear Plant Gets Lifeline Amid Search for More Clean Energy (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/californias-last-nuclear-plant-gets-lifeline-amid-search-for-more-clean-energy/

2.      Wyoming: Bill Gates-Backed Firm to Start Building First U.S. Advanced Nuclear Reactor (Oil Price)

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Bill-Gates-Backed-Firm-to-Start-Building-First-US-Advanced-Nuclear-Reactor.html

3.      New York: A Nuclear Power Plant’s Closure Was Hailed as a Green Win. Then Emissions Went Up (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/20/nuclear-plant-closure-carbon-emissions-new-york

4.      California Lawmakers Backpedal on Income-Based Utility Charges as IOUs, Others Propose Alternatives (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-lawmakers-backpedal-on-income-based-utility-charges-as-ious-oth/707859/

5.      State Regulators Sent Oregon’s Gas Utilities Back to the Drawing Board on Their Emission Plans. Now What? (Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR)

https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-19/state-regulators-sent-oregons-gas-utilities-back-to-the-drawing-board-on-their-emission-plans-now-what

6.      Washington: Clallam PUD Seeking Faster Solution for West End Outages (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/clallam-pud-seeking-faster-solution-for-west-end-outages/

7.      Federal Hydro System Powers Region Through Arctic Blast (Benton REA, WA)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/federal-hydro-system-powers-region-through-05itc/

8.      Strengthening the Grid’s ​’Backbone’ with Hydropower (Newswise)

https://www.newswise.com/doescience/strengthening-the-grid-s-backbone-with-hydropower/?article_id=808594

9.      Utah: 21-Year-Old Worker Hospitalized After Being Shocked by Electricity in Box Elder Co. (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/21-old-worker-hospitalized-being-011545597.html

10.   Alaska: Senate Committee Gets Update on Eielson Base Micro-Reactor Project (Fairbanks, News-Miner, AK)

https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/senate-committee-gets-update-on-eielson-reactor-project/article_df8479c0-e621-11ee-a8f8-f37f7be1fb2b.html

11.   The Total Solar Eclipse Next Month Could Strain Electrical Grids. Power Grid Operators Are Preparing for It (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/91053124/april-total-solar-eclipse-electrical-power-grid-operators

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   Nevada: Greens Ask Haaland to Nix Solar Project to Save Tortoises (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/greens-ask-haaland-to-nix-solar-project-to-save-tortoises/

13.   ‘Absolutely Fierce’: Rural Revolt Against Solar & Wind Across North America, Says Energy Analyst (Edmonton Journal, Alberta)

https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/absolutely-fierce-rural-revolt-against-solar-and-wind-across-north-america-says-energy-analyst

14.   Wind Power Is Waning Across the U.S. What Does the Trend Mean for Wyoming? (Jackson Hole News & Guide, WY)

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/state_and_regional/wy_news/wind-power-is-waning-across-u-s-what-does-the-trend-mean-for-wyoming/article_eec493b2-e562-11ee-83de-7701d50952a7.html

15.   How Much Are Wind Turbines Dragging Down Home Values? A New Study Has Surprising Answers (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/18/climate/wind-turbines-us-property-value-climate/index.html

16.   Idaho Falls District Completes Radio Station Upgrades to Support Southeast Idaho Wind (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20240318-idaho-falls-dist-completes-radio-station-upgrades-to-support-se-idaho-wi

FISH & WILDLIFE

17.   Orca Group Seen Hunting Ocean’s Largest Predators: Researchers (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-killer-whale-orca-population-hunting-predators-1.7149194

18.   Spring Whale Watch Week Extended on Oregon Coast as Gray Whale Population Recovers (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2024/03/spring-whale-watch-week-extended-on-oregon-coast-as-gray-whale-population-recovers.html

19.   Oregon Kills Thousands of Hatchery Rainbow Trout After Discovering Parasite (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/19/oregon-hatchery-rainbow-trout-parasite/

20.   Montana: Man to Plead Guilty in Eagle ‘Killing Spree’ on Reservation to Sell Feathers on Black Market (Associated Press)

https://www.mrt.com/living/article/man-to-plead-guilty-in-eagle-killing-spree-19286833.php

21.   Smelt Fishing May Soon Require License in Washington State (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/mar/19/smelt-fishing-may-soon-require-license-in-washington-state/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   North Central Washington’s Early Snowpack Predictions Show Lower Than Normal Water for 2024 (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/ncws-early-snowpack-predictions-show-lower-than-normal-water-for-2024/article_6d02373e-e644-11ee-b014-cf399b015e10.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   UN Weather Agency Issues ‘Red Alert’ on Climate Change After Record Heat, Ice-Melt Increases in 2023 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wmo-un-climate-global-change-report-warming-2154285aabb0cf83dc9ca4015ea0016d

24.   Study: Lower Snake River Dams Match Emissions Of 1 Million Tons of Coal (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/study-lower-snake-river-dams-match-emissions-of-1m-tons-coal/

25.   Not So Fast, Says NW RiverPartners - Dollars & Sense Part II: An Examination of Reservoir Methane Claims (NW RiverPartners – Links to  PDF File)

https://nwriverpartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-10-13-Dollars-Sense-Part-II-Critquing-Methane-Emissions-Claims.pdf

26.   Maple Syrup Season Came Weeks Early in the Midwest. Producers Are Doing Their Best to Adapt (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/maple-syrup-warmer-unpredictable-winters-climate-change-8c6dfbb575f1e1c2256aa57efb685697

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   Washington: Adams County Broadband Project on-Track (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2024/mar/20/adams-county-broadband-project-on-track/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

28.   President Biden’s Regulators Issue Long-Awaited Rule Meant to Drive Electric Car Sales (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/20/bidens-regulators-poised-to-issue-rule-meant-to-drive-electric-car-sales-00148019

29.   California Energy Costs Double National Average, Threatening Electric Vehicle Adoption (The Center Square)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/california-energy-costs-double-national-average-threatening-ev-adoption/article_b503ade8-b2b0-5a9a-accf-ec98cdbf90b1.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

30.   Guest Essay: Reevaluate Decisions That Hamper Washington’s Clean Energy Future (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/reevaluate-decisions-that-hamper-was-clean-energy-future/

31.   Guest Essay: Kurt Miller – Washington State Is Already Facing an Energy Crisis (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/mar/16/kurt-miller-washington-state-is-already-facing-an-/

32.   Editorial: Nuclear Energy Is Tough Sell in Washington, And Safety Issue at Richland Plant Won’t Help (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/movies/nuclear-energy-tough-sell-wa-193008008.html

33.   Editorial: Return Focus to Fish in Washington’s Culvert Replacement (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/return-focus-to-fish-in-culvert-replacement/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

The Iconic Road in Each State Everyone Should Drive Down at Least Once

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/the-iconic-road-in-each-state-everyone-should-drive-down-at-least-once/ss-BB1k0hdD

Library Book on Psychedelics Took ‘Long, Strange Trip’ for 37 Years

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/03/19/Riverside-Library-Weld-County-Colorado-overdue-37-years/5131710882127/

World’s Southernmost Post Office Seeks Workers to Sort Mail, Count Penguins

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/03/14/Antarctic-Heritage-Trust-penguin-post-office/9701710437931/

World’s Heaviest Blueberry Grown in Australia

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/03/14/australia-Guinness-World-Records-heaviest-blueberry/3511710432515/

SONG OF THE DAY

Postmodern Jukebox – Mr. Blue Sky (Cover)

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

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.