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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories
Washington State ‘Increasingly at Risk’ for Rolling
Blackouts (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_f423b2cc-5a5e-11ef-ba66-5b8a17c1fd2a.html
Drought Has Cost the Hydropower Industry Billions in Losses
in Two Decades, Analysis Finds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/16/hydropower-oregon-washington-drought/
Mediocre Returns for Fraser Sockeye, While Columbia River
Expects Record Numbers (My Campbell River Now, BC)
State of Oregon Demands Bring More Mitigation Measures to
Offshore Wind Development Plans (Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR)
Once a Mainstay of the Radio Dial, Local News Is Signing Off
as Stations Struggle to Survive in the Digital Age (Cable News Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/media/news-radio-local-wcbs-wnyc-sign-off-job-cuts-spotify/index.html
News
Highlights (See Stories Below)
1.
Washington State ‘Increasingly at Risk’ for
Rolling Blackouts
2.
Drought Has Cost the Hydropower Industry
Billions in Losses in Two Decades, Analysis Finds
3.
Tri-Cities Utilities Resist Touting WA Climate
Act as $200 Ratepayer Credit Deadline Nears
4.
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Responds to
State’s Propose 18% Energy Supplier Assessment Rate Increase
5.
NW Natural Rate Hike Could Be Limited After
Settlement
6.
WA State: Clark Public Utilities Sets Sights on
Advanced Metering for Clark County Customers
7.
DOE Funds Five Projects in Alaska for Energy
Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program
8.
Western Energy Market Governance Enhancements
Approved
9.
U.S. Power Grid Added 20.2 GW of Generating
Capacity in the First Half of 2024
10.
Natural Gas Could Play Key Role in Helping to
Meet Rise in Power Demand from Data Centers
11.
State of Oregon Demands Bring More Mitigation
Measures to Offshore Wind Development Plans
12.
Homer Electric Deal Sets Stage for a Dramatic
Jump in Solar Power Production in Alaska
13.
California: Santa Clarita – Appeals Court Rules
Canyon View Solar Panels Can Stay
14.
Idaho Has ‘The Highest Potential’ for Geothermal
Power. Why Aren’t We Using It?
15.
6,000 Sheep Will Soon Be Grazing on 10,000 Acres
of Texas Solar Fields
16.
Why the Solar Industry Is Working to Repair Its
Reputation
17.
Can Rooftop Solar Panels Survive Hurricanes?
18.
Mediocre Returns for Fraser Sockeye, While
Columbia River Expects Record Numbers
19.
WSDOT Progresses on Fish Habitat Restoration
Despite Challenges
20.
Invasive Mussels Found in Washington Pet Store
Could Cost State Millions
21.
Researchers Discover Eelgrass Superpower in
Washington’s Puget Sound
22.
Toxic Algal Bloom Found on the Snake River for
Second Year in a Row
23.
As La Niña Strengthens, Forecasters Warn of a
Potential Return to Drought
24.
As Colorado River States Await Water Cuts, They
Struggle to Find Agreement on Longer-Term Plans
25.
FCC Makes Statement About Value of Universal
Service Fund, Opposing Court Ruling
26.
Once a Mainstay of the Radio Dial, Local News Is
Signing Off as Stations Struggle to Survive in the Digital Age
27.
Dredging the Columbia River Is a Complex Process
Needed to Keep Navigation Channels Open
28.
Editorial: Power Companies Must Remain
Responsive to Customers Amid Fire-Related Blackouts
29.
‘We Kicked the Door Down’: Nations Mark
Watershed Moment for Columbia River Treaty
30.
Guest Essay: To Get More Transmission, We Need a
Bottom-Up Approach
Word of the Day – The Horrible Haiku Edition
Staple /STAY0pull/ Noun – A commodity for which the demand is constant b: something having widespread and continuous use or appeal c: the sustaining or principal element: substance.
It's National Potato Day!
A white-fleshed
staple
Hail the noble
potato
Spuds. Boiled, Mashed, Fried. Yum
Energy
& Utility Issues
1.
Washington State ‘Increasingly at Risk’ for
Rolling Blackouts (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_f423b2cc-5a5e-11ef-ba66-5b8a17c1fd2a.html
2.
Drought Has Cost the Hydropower Industry
Billions in Losses in Two Decades, Analysis Finds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/16/hydropower-oregon-washington-drought/
3.
Tri-Cities Utilities Resist Touting WA Climate
Act as $200 Ratepayer Credit Deadline Nears (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall
Advisory)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/politics-government/article290880564.html
4.
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Responds to State’s
Propose 18% Energy Supplier Assessment Rate Increase (Elkhorn Media Group,
LaGrande, OR)
5.
NW Natural Rate Hike Could Be Limited After
Settlement (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/16/nw-natural-utilities-natural-gas-rate-hikes-price-increase/
6.
WA State: Clark Public Utilities Sets Sights on
Advanced Metering for Clark County Customers (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall
Advisory)
7.
DOE Funds Five Projects in Alaska for Energy
Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program (U.S. Department of Energy)
8.
Western Energy Market Governance Enhancements
Approved (American Public Power Association)
9.
U.S. Power Grid Added 20.2 GW of Generating
Capacity in the First Half of 2024 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=62864
10.
Natural Gas Could Play Key Role in Helping to Meet
Rise in Power Demand from Data Centers (American Public Power Association)
Renewable
Energy & Self Storage
11.
State of Oregon Demands Bring More Mitigation
Measures to Offshore Wind Development Plans (Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR)
12.
Homer Electric Deal Sets Stage for a Dramatic
Jump in Solar Power Production in Alaska (Anchorage Daily News, AK – Paywall Advisory)
13.
California: Santa Clarita – Appeals Court Rules
Canyon View Solar Panels Can Stay (Santa Clarita Valley Signal, CA)
https://signalscv.com/2024/08/appeals-court-rules-canyon-view-solar-panels-can-stay/
14.
Idaho Has ‘The Highest Potential’ for Geothermal
Power. Why Aren’t We Using It? (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article290517379.html
15.
6,000 Sheep Will Soon Be Grazing on 10,000 Acres
of Texas Solar Fields (Canary Media)
16.
Why the Solar Industry Is Working to Repair Its
Reputation (National Public Radio)
17.
Can Rooftop Solar Panels Survive Hurricanes? (Washington
Post, Paywall Advisory)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/08/17/solar-panel-hurricane-hail-snow/
Fish
& Wildlife
18.
Mediocre Returns for Fraser Sockeye, While
Columbia River Expects Record Numbers (My Campbell River Now, BC)
19.
WSDOT Progresses on Fish Habitat Restoration
Despite Challenges (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
20.
Invasive Mussels Found in Washington Pet Store
Could Cost State Millions (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/aug/19/invasive-mussels-found-in-washington-pet-store-cou/
Environmental
Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three
21.
Researchers Discover Eelgrass Superpower in Washington’s
Puget Sound (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
22.
Toxic Algal Bloom Found on the Snake River for Second
Year in a Row (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/18/algal-bloom-snake-river-little-goose-dam/
Water,
Water, Anywhere?
23.
As La Niña Strengthens, Forecasters Warn of a Potential
Return to Drought (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/la-ni-strengthens-forecasters-warn-100042167.html
24.
As Colorado River States Await Water Cuts, They
Struggle to Find Agreement on Longer-Term Plans (Associated Press)
London
Calling –Telecommunications
25.
FCC Makes Statement About Value of Universal
Service Fund, Opposing Court Ruling (Telecompetitor)
Public
Relations, Marketing & Media
26.
Once a Mainstay of the Radio Dial, Local News Is
Signing Off as Stations Struggle to Survive in the Digital Age (Cable News
Network)
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/media/news-radio-local-wcbs-wnyc-sign-off-job-cuts-spotify/index.html
Other
Things to Know About Today
27.
Dredging the Columbia River Is a Complex Process
Needed to Keep Navigation Channels Open (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall
Advisory)
Soapbox
Serenade – Vox Populi
28.
Editorial: Power Companies Must Remain
Responsive to Customers Amid Fire-Related Blackouts (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA
– Paywall Advisory)
29.
‘We Kicked the Door Down’: Nations Mark
Watershed Moment for Columbia River Treaty (Indiginews, Canada)
https://indiginews.com/news/nations-mark-watershed-moment-in-columbia-river-treaty-talks
30.
Guest Essay: To Get More Transmission, We Need a
Bottom-Up Approach (Utility Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/transmission-development-permitting/724257/
Alligators in the Sewer – Diversions
Stray Dog ‘Desperate to Catch a Ride’ Chases Pup Bus, Gets
Adopted
The Collapse of an Iconic Arch in Utah Has Some Wondering If
Other Famous Arches Are Also at Risk
https://apnews.com/article/arch-collapse-utah-lake-powell-7e4b3c9966b488ca5b3d9ca00b8db702
Video: Stumpy the Cherry Blossom Tree Is Gone, But Its
Clones, Little Stumplings, Live On
Rare Super Blue Moon Will Be in the Skies This Week. Here's How
to See It
https://www.aol.com/news/rare-super-blue-moon-skies-171719845.html
Song of the Day
Ella Fitzgerald – Blue Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcO-xiE6P9w
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.
