Monday, April 1, 2024

The Energy News Digest for April 1, 2024

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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Energy Transition: Inslee Signs Natural Gas Bill into Law – Critics Say It Comes at Expense of Customers (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3956123/inslee-signs-natural-gas-bill-into-law-critics-say-it-comes-at-expense-of-customers/

Aging Hoover Dam May Get $45 Million for Maintenance (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/aging-hoover-dam-may-get-45m-for-maintenance-3023987/

Pacific Northwest Power Utilities Say Region Needs to Prep for Extreme Cold (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/environment-and-planning/2024-03-29/power-utilities-say-region-needs-to-prep-for-extreme-cold

AT&T Says a Data Breach Leaked Millions of Customers’ Information Online. Were You Affected? (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/att-data-breach-was-i-affected-f0dda2b1d266a6068ffc607afd94b779

Oregon State University Research Finds a New Way to Measure the Water Held in Snow (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/26/osu-research-finds-a-new-way-to-measure-the-water-held-in-snow/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Aging Hoover Dam May Get $45 Million for Maintenance

2.      Pacific Northwest Power Utilities Say Region Needs to Prep for Extreme Cold

3.      Consumer Advocacy Group Looks to Change How Utilities’ Rates Are Regulated in Oregon

4.      California Regulator Takes Income-Based Electric Bills Off the Table

5.      Oregon: New 180-Mile, 500-Kilovolt Pacific Power Transmission Line Presented to Deschutes County Commissioners

6.      The United States Was the World’s Largest Liquefied Natural Gas Exporter in 2023

7.      U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA) Leads Celebration at Rocky Reach Dam

8.      Washington: Seattle Company Proposes New Solar Farm Near Tri-Cities

9.      Montana: Flathead Electric Cooperative announces Community Solar III Project in Whitefish

10.   PNNL Scientists Are Working to Advance the Future of Offshore Floating Wind Farms

11.   Chart: Which States Support Community-Led Clean Energy the Most?

12.   Alaska Cannot Override Federal Subsistence Fishing Regulations, Judge Rules

13.   West Coast Whale Population Recovers 5 Years After Hundreds Washed Up Ashore

14.   Smelt in the Columbia River Signals Spring

15.   Salmon in the Classroom Introduces Students to Fish Life Cycles

16.   Oregon State University Research Finds a New Way to Measure the Water Held in Snow

17.   Washington: Carnation Leaders Plan to Sue Seattle Public Utilities After Latest False Alarm

18.   California: Researchers Stunned After Ancient Lake Returns After Vanishing 130 Years Ago

19.   Governor Inslee Moves Washington a Step Closer to Linking Its Carbon Market to California-Quebec

20.   Oregon Prepares to Reboot an Effort to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

21.   Did My Plant Hardiness Zone Change? Check Oregon and Washington Addresses in the Updated USDA Map

22.   AT&T Says a Data Breach Leaked Millions of Customers’ Information Online. Were You Affected?

23.   Would-Be Tesla Buyers Snub Company as Musk’s Reputation Dips

24.   More Than 20% of New Cars Purchased in Washington State Are Electric

25.   ‘Grave Step Backwards’: Meta Shuts Monitoring Tool in Election Year

26.   Washington’s Largest Newspaper Publisher Sold to Out-Of-State Investors Following Financial Hardship

27.   Gmail Revolutionized Email 20 Years Ago. People Thought It Was Google’s April Fools’ Day Joke

28.   Washington: Grant County Economic Development Council Receives $200,000 for Carbon-Transformation Project

29.   Energy Transition: Inslee Signs Natural Gas Bill into Law – Critics Say It Comes at Expense of Customers

30.   WA Senator Maria Cantwell Calls for Potatoes to Remain Classified as Vegetables

31.   Editorial: The Coming Electricity Crisis

32.   Guest Essay: Camilo Amezquita & Roger Gray – Natural Gas Plays Important Role in Region’s Energy Infrastructure

33.   Guest Essay: Roll On, Columbia – How to Meet WA’s Complex Power, Conservation Needs

34.   Guest Essay: Washington Gov. Inslee Should Have Vetoed Natural Gas Bill

WORD OF THE DAY

Expiate /ECK-spee-ayt/ Verb – To atone or make amends for something, such as a sin or offense.

     A guilty conscience

     Atoned by one’s repentance

     Expatiate your sins

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Aging Hoover Dam May Get $45 Million for Maintenance (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/aging-hoover-dam-may-get-45m-for-maintenance-3023987/

2.      Pacific Northwest Power Utilities Say Region Needs to Prep for Extreme Cold (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/environment-and-planning/2024-03-29/power-utilities-say-region-needs-to-prep-for-extreme-cold

3.      Consumer Advocacy Group Looks to Change How Utilities’ Rates Are Regulated in Oregon (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://kpic.com/news/local/consumer-advocacy-group-looks-to-change-how-utilities-rates-are-regulated-in-oregon

4.      California Regulator Takes Income-Based Electric Bills Off the Table (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/utilities/california-regulator-takes-income-based-electric-bills-off-the-table

5.      Oregon: New 180-Mile, 500-Kilovolt Pacific Power Transmission Line Presented to Deschutes County Commissioners (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/business/2024/03/29/pacific-power-to-brief-deschutes-county-officials-on-early-plans-for-new-180-mile-500-kilovolt-transmission-line/

6.      The United States Was the World’s Largest Liquefied Natural Gas Exporter in 2023 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61683

7.      U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA) Leads Celebration at Rocky Reach Dam (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/sen-maria-cantwell-leads-celebration-at-rocky-reach-dam/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

8.      Washington: Seattle Company Proposes New Solar Farm Near Tri-Cities (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/mar/29/seattle-company-proposes-new-solar-farm-near-tri-cities/

9.      Montana: Flathead Electric Cooperative announces Community Solar III Project in Whitefish (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

https://www.kpax.com/news/local-news/flathead-county/flathead-electric-cooperative-announces-community-solar-iii-project-in-whitefish

10.   PNNL Scientists Are Working to Advance the Future of Offshore Floating Wind Farms (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/pacific-northwest-national-lab/article287187945.html

11.   Chart: Which States Support Community-Led Clean Energy the Most? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/chart-which-states-support-community-led-clean-energy-the-most

FISH & WILDLIFE

12.   Alaska Cannot Override Federal Subsistence Fishing Regulations, Judge Rules (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/alaska-cannot-override-federal-subsistence-fishing-regulations-judge-rules/

13.   West Coast Whale Population Recovers 5 Years After Hundreds Washed Up Ashore (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/pacific-gray-whales-sings-of-recovery-f2b0bc5bda16fcdae3b6d9df22861d67

14.   Smelt in the Columbia River Signals Spring (Street Roots, OR)

https://www.streetroots.org/news/2024/03/27/smelt-columbia-river-signals-spring

15.   Salmon in the Classroom Introduces Students to Fish Life Cycles (Quad City Herald, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.qcherald.com/stories/salmon-in-the-classroom-introduces-students-to-fish-life-cycles,77447

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

16.   Oregon State University Research Finds a New Way to Measure the Water Held in Snow (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/26/osu-research-finds-a-new-way-to-measure-the-water-held-in-snow/

17.   Washington: Carnation Leaders Plan to Sue Seattle Public Utilities After Latest False Alarm (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/carnation-to-sue-seattle-public-utilities-tolt-river-dam-emergency-alert-malfunctions/281-00f834da-5c3d-4304-b607-675b45821f11

18.   California: Researchers Stunned After Ancient Lake Returns After Vanishing 130 Years Ago (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/researchers-stunned-ancient-lake-returns-000000948.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

19.   Governor Inslee Moves Washington a Step Closer to Linking Its Carbon Market to California-Quebec (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d27cba60-ee11-11ee-9452-c7260579d5db.html

20.   Oregon Prepares to Reboot an Effort to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/04/01/oregon-greenhouse-gas-climate-change-legislation-protection-program/

21.   Did My Plant Hardiness Zone Change? Check Oregon and Washington Addresses in the Updated USDA Map (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2024/03/did-my-plant-hardiness-zone-change-check-oregon-washington-addresses-in-updated-usda-map.html

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

22.   AT&T Says a Data Breach Leaked Millions of Customers’ Information Online. Were You Affected? (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/att-data-breach-was-i-affected-f0dda2b1d266a6068ffc607afd94b779

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

23.   Would-Be Tesla Buyers Snub Company as Musk’s Reputation Dips (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/would-be-tesla-buyers-snub-company-musks-reputation-dips-2024-04-01/

24.   More Than 20% of New Cars Purchased in Washington State Are Electric (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/electric-vehicles-keep-charging-ahead-in-washington

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

25.   ‘Grave Step Backwards’: Meta Shuts Monitoring Tool in Election Year (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/grave-step-backwards-meta-shuts-monitoring-tool-in-election-year/

26.   Washington’s Largest Newspaper Publisher Sold to Out-Of-State Investors Following Financial Hardship (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-s-largest-newspaper-publisher-sold-to-out-of-state-investors-following-financial-hardship

27.   Gmail Revolutionized Email 20 Years Ago. People Thought It Was Google’s April Fools’ Day Joke (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/google-gmail-anniversary-email-web-application-8ca1601944845282ecbc87ac9c335a6e

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

28.   Washington: Grant County Economic Development Council Receives $200,000 for Carbon-Transformation Project (North Central Washington Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/grant-county-economic-development-council-receives-200-000-for-carbon-transformation-project/article_977b577c-ec82-11ee-b869-e3b8fcb23789.html

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

29.   Energy Transition: Inslee Signs Natural Gas Bill into Law – Critics Say It Comes at Expense of Customers (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3956123/inslee-signs-natural-gas-bill-into-law-critics-say-it-comes-at-expense-of-customers/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

30.   WA Senator Maria Cantwell Calls for Potatoes to Remain Classified as Vegetables (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/wa-senator-maria-cantwell-calls-potatoes-remain-classified-vegetables/WTV2BEXZDNAYZOE7EPYPA27U6Y/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

31.   Editorial: The Coming Electricity Crisis (MSN/Wall Street Journal)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/opinion-the-coming-electricity-crisis/ar-BB1kIiEW

32.   Guest Essay: Camilo Amezquita & Roger Gray – Natural Gas Plays Important Role in Region’s Energy Infrastructure (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA - Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/mar/29/camilo-amezquita-and-roger-gray-natural-gas-plays-/

33.   Guest Essay: Roll On, Columbia – How to Meet WA’s Complex Power, Conservation Needs (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/roll-on-columbia-how-to-meet-was-complex-power-conservation-needs/

34.   Guest Essay: Washington Gov. Inslee Should Have Vetoed Natural Gas Bill (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/gov-inslee-should-have-vetoed-natural-gas-bill/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

A Talking Crow Went Viral After Befriending an Oregon Elementary School. Then He Went Missing

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2024/04/a-talking-crow-went-viral-after-befriending-an-oregon-elementary-school-then-he-went-missing.html

Baby Hedgehog Rescued by ‘Well-Meaning’ Woman Turns Out to Be a Pom-Pom

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/baby-hedgehog-rescued-well-meaning-132902373.html

NCAA Says a 3-Point Line Was Drawn Nine Inches Short at Portland Women’s Regional by Court Supplier

https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-portland-3point-line-d78742b29b8a48fa3f6b5de7899c7844

Infamous Wooden Plank from ‘Titanic’ Movie Sold for Over $700,000

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/03/28/Heritage-Auctions-Titanic-wooden-door/2601711646493/

SONG OF THE DAY

James Horner – Hymn to the Sea (Titanic Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyN_bPRBI4c

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.