The Energy News Digest for April 21, 2021

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington OKs Bill Setting Path to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030, Prods Utilities to Prep for Grid Impacts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-100-ev-goal-by-2030-utilities-grid-impacts/598682/

DOE Launches 100-Day Grid Security Push as Biden Ends Trump Ban on Some Chinese-Made Equipment (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-launches-100-day-grid-security-push-as-biden-ends-trump-ban-on-some-ch/598702/

Rural Electric Co-Ops Warn Congress a 2035 100% Clean Electricity Target Is ‘Overly Ambitious’ (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rural-electric-co-ops-warn-congress-a-2035-100-clean-electricity-target-is/598659/

Biden Infrastructure Plan Sparks Lobbying War Over How to Fix America’s Internet (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/21/biden-infrastructure-broadband-lobbying-484002

U.S. House Passes Cannabis Banking Bill – Will the Senate? (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/us-house-passes-cannabis-banking-bill.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      DOE Launches 100-Day Grid Security Push as Biden Ends Trump Ban on Some Chinese-Made Equipment

2.      Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Researchers Release Study on Projected Costs to Meet Future Electricity Capacity

3.      Los Alamos National Laboratory Looks to Boost Power Supply Ahead of Nuclear Mission

4.      Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Federal Bill on Hydropower, Renewable Energy

5.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Building $250 Million Natural Gas Power Plant in Laurel

6.      Bonneville Power Administration Selects Suzanne Cooper as Senior Vice President of Power Services

7.      Bonneville Power Administration Names Joel Cook New Chief Operating Officer

8.      NW Power & Conservation Council – Oregon Governor Taps Long-Time Political Ally as Not-Obvious Choice for High-Paid Energy Policy Post

9.      Chelan PUD Commissioners Consider Expanding Support of Affordable Housing

10.   Western Area Power Administration’s Colorado River Storage Project to Explore Membership in Southwest Power Pool

11.   Five Federal Sources of Support for Paying Utility Bills

12.   Colstrip Bill Reminds Many of Montana’s Energy Deregulation Debacle

13.   Op/Ed: Clean Energy Infrastructure Vital to Washington’s Future

14.   Electrify Everything: Why We Need to Go Big on Going Electric

15.   Idaho: Meetings on Proposed Wind Farm East of Shoshone

16.   Navajo Nation Solar Project Will Cement San Juan County’s Position as Exporter of Renewable Energy

17.   Americans Want More Renewable Energy. Can ‘Community Choice’ Help Them Get It?

18.   WA State: May 5 – Orcas Power & Light Hosts Solar Town Hall

19.   Developers Flock to Cold Storage as Americans Stock Their Freezers

20.   White House Finalizes Pacific Ocean Protections for Humpback Whale

21.   Water Level Raised in Lower Snake River

22.   This Stunning Time-Lapse Shows the Megadrought’s Toll on the West’s Largest Reservoir

23.   Rural Electric Co-Ops Warn Congress a 2035 100% Clean Electricity Target Is ‘Overly Ambitious’

24.   A Third of Carbon Emissions Come from Natural Gas. Are Americans Willing to Drop Gas Cooking?

25.   Coal Is Set to Roar Back – So Are Its Climate Risks

26.   WA State: New Modeling Shows Cap-&-Trade Bill Could Spike Gas Prices

27.   The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof – Definitive Answers to the Big Questions.

28.   Biden Infrastructure Plan Sparks Lobbying War Over How to Fix America’s Internet

29.   Why Verizon Is Sweetening 5G Home with Promotions, Free Devices

30.   The Best Broadband in the U.S. Isn’t in New York or San Francisco. It’s in Chattanooga.

31.   Chinese Hackers Compromise Dozens of Government Agencies, Defense Contractors

32.   U.S. Unveils Plan to Protect Power Grid from Foreign Hackers

33.   Google: These Five Datacenters – Including in Oregon – Are Now Running on Carbon-Free Clean Electricity

34.   Washington OKs Bill Setting Path to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030, Prods Utilities to Prep for Grid Impacts

35.   Idaho Bill That Would Double Electric Vehicle Fees Unlikely to Move Forward This Session

36.   Replica of ‘First’ Electric Car Drives Through Paris to Mark 140 Years

37.   Pacific NW on List of NRECA Winners in Spotlight on Excellence Communications – NWPPA, Montana Electric Coop Ass’n, Umatilla Electric Coop, Flathead Electric

38.   Waters Off Washington State Coast Glow Blue with Bioluminescence

39.   U.S. House Passes Cannabis Banking Bill – Will the Senate?

40.   Morning Wire: Washington State Broadband Bills, Cap Gains Amendments, Budget Timeline

WORD OF THE DAY

Vox Populi \VOCKS-POP-you-lie\ Noun – Popular sentiment.

From Merriam Webster: Vox populi is a Latin phrase that literally translates as “the voice of the people.” It can be found in the longer maxim, Vox populi, vox Dei, which means “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” Many people think that expression means that the people are always right, but it really implies that the will of the masses—right or wrong—is often irresistible. Since the mid-20th century, English speakers, especially British ones, have trimmed vox populi down to the abbreviated form vox pop, an expression used particularly for popular opinion as it is used & expressed by the media.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      DOE Launches 100-Day Grid Security Push as Biden Ends Trump Ban on Some Chinese-Made Equipment (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-launches-100-day-grid-security-push-as-biden-ends-trump-ban-on-some-ch/598702/

2.      Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Researchers Release Study on Projected Costs to Meet Future Electricity Capacity (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/29963-pnnl-researchers-release-study-on-projected-costs-to-meet-future-electricity-capacity/

3.      Los Alamos National Laboratory Looks to Boost Power Supply Ahead of Nuclear Mission (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/nm-state-wire-new-mexico-los-alamos-environment-nuclear-weapons-3b3e44d64773de005c3d27a7db34741f

4.      Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Federal Bill on Hydropower, Renewable Energy (KVEW/KAPP-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/washington-senators-introduce-bipartisan-bill-renewable-hydropower-energy/

5.      Montana: NorthWestern Energy Building $250 Million Natural Gas Power Plant in Laurel (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/montana-northwestern-energy-building.html

6.      Bonneville Power Administration Selects Suzanne Cooper as Senior Vice President of Power Services (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-selects-Suzanne-Cooper-as-senior-vice-president-of-Power-Services.aspx

7.      Bonneville Power Administration Names Joel Cook New Chief Operating Officer (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-names-Joel-Cook-new-chief-operating-officer.aspx

8.      NW Power & Conservation Council – Oregon Governor Taps Long-Time Political Ally as Not-Obvious Choice for High-Paid Energy Policy Post (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/04/oregon-governor-taps-long-time-political-ally-as-not-obvious-choice-for-high-paid-energy-policy-post.html

9.      Chelan PUD Commissioners Consider Expanding Support of Affordable Housing (Leavenworth Echo, WA)

https://www.leavenworthecho.com/news/pud-commissioners-consider-expanding-support-affordable-housing

10.   Western Area Power Administration’s Colorado River Storage Project to Explore Membership in Southwest Power Pool (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/wapas-colorado-river-storage-project-explore-membership-spp

11.   Five Federal Sources of Support for Paying Utility Bills (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/five-federal-sources-support-paying-utility-bills

SOAPBOX SERENADE – OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

12.   Colstrip Bill Reminds Many of Montana’s Energy Deregulation Debacle (Missoula Current, MT)

https://missoulacurrent.com/outdoors/2021/04/energy-deregulation/?print=print

13.   Op/Ed: Clean Energy Infrastructure Vital to Washington’s Future (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/oped-clean-energy-infrastructure-vital.html

14.   Electrify Everything: Why We Need to Go Big on Going Electric (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/article/electrify-everything-why-we-need-to-go-big-on-going-electric/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   Idaho: Meetings on Proposed Wind Farm East of Shoshone (KLIX Radio, Twin Falls, ID)

https://newsradio1310.com/meetings-on-proposed-wind-farm-east-of-shoshone-423-424/

16.   Navajo Nation Solar Project Will Cement San Juan County’s Position as Exporter of Renewable Energy (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2021/04/19/navajo-nation-solar/801-237-2900/

17.   Americans Want More Renewable Energy. Can ‘Community Choice’ Help Them Get It? (National Geographic Magazine)

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/americans-want-more-renewable-energy-can-community-choice-help-them-get-it

18.   WA State: May 5 – Orcas Power & Light Hosts Solar Town Hall (San Juan Islander, Friday Harbor, WA)

https://sanjuanislander.com/news-articles/utilities/opalco/32516/may-5-opalco-hosts-solar-town-hall-enter-to-win-ten-shares-of-community-solar

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Developers Flock to Cold Storage as Americans Stock Their Freezers (NY Times)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/developers-flock-to-cold-storage-as.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   White House Finalizes Pacific Ocean Protections for Humpback Whale (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/white-house-finalizes-pacific-ocean-protections-for-humpback-whale/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   Water Level Raised in Lower Snake River (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/water-level-raised-in-lower-snake-river/article_5041dfff-b772-53a9-b569-13b8758c3084.html

22.   This Stunning Time-Lapse Shows the Megadrought’s Toll on the West’s Largest Reservoir (VOX)

https://www.vox.com/22392710/southwest-water-drought-arizona-nevada-california-colorado-river-lake-mead-climate-change

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

23.   Rural Electric Co-Ops Warn Congress a 2035 100% Clean Electricity Target Is ‘Overly Ambitious’ (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rural-electric-co-ops-warn-congress-a-2035-100-clean-electricity-target-is/598659/

24.   A Third of Carbon Emissions Come from Natural Gas. Are Americans Willing to Drop Gas Cooking? (WBUR Radio, Boston, MA)

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/04/19/gas-cooking-emissions-climate

25.   Coal Is Set to Roar Back – So Are Its Climate Risks (NY Times)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/coal-is-set-to-roar-back-so-are-its.html

26.   WA State: New Modeling Shows Cap-&-Trade Bill Could Spike Gas Prices (Business Institute of Washington)

https://thelens.news/2021/04/20/new-modeling-shows-cap-and-trade-bill-could-spike-gas-prices/

27.   The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof – Definitive Answers to the Big Questions. (NY Times)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-science-of-climate-change-explained.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Biden Infrastructure Plan Sparks Lobbying War Over How to Fix America’s Internet (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/21/biden-infrastructure-broadband-lobbying-484002

29.   Why Verizon Is Sweetening 5G Home with Promotions, Free Devices (Light Reading)

https://www.lightreading.com/5g/why-verizon-is-sweetening-5g-home-with-promotions-free-devices/d/d-id/768899?

30.   The Best Broadband in the U.S. Isn’t in New York or San Francisco. It’s in Chattanooga. (Yahoo Finance)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-broadband-us-isn-t-142308602.html

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   Chinese Hackers Compromise Dozens of Government Agencies, Defense Contractors (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/chinese-hackers-compromise-defense-contractors-agencies/2021/04/20/10772f9e-a207-11eb-a7ee-949c574a09ac_story.html

32.   U.S. Unveils Plan to Protect Power Grid from Foreign Hackers (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-20/u-s-unveils-plan-to-protect-power-grid-from-foreign-hackers

33.   Google: These Five Datacenters – Including in Oregon – Are Now Running on Carbon-Free Clean Electricity (ZDNet News)

https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-these-five-datacenters-are-now-running-on-carbon-free-clean-electricity/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

34.   Washington OKs Bill Setting Path to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030, Prods Utilities to Prep for Grid Impacts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-100-ev-goal-by-2030-utilities-grid-impacts/598682/

35.   Idaho Bill That Would Double Electric Vehicle Fees Unlikely to Move Forward This Session (Idaho Capitol Sun)

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2021/04/idaho-bill-that-would-double-electric-vehicle-fees-unlikely-to-move-forward-this-session/

36.   Replica of ‘First’ Electric Car Drives Through Paris to Mark 140 Years (Reuters)

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/replica-first-electric-car-drives-103143611.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

37.   Pacific NW on List of NRECA Winners in Spotlight on Excellence Communications – NWPPA, Montana Electric Coop Ass’n, Umatilla Electric Coop, Flathead Electric (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/spotlight-on-excellence/Pages/default.aspx

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

38.   Waters Off Washington State Coast Glow Blue with Bioluminescence (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/travel/destinations/explore-the-pnw/washington-coast-blue-glow-bioluminescence/281-893866ce-432e-4533-91a7-0d4deebcb606

GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND THE ECONOMY

39.   U.S. House Passes Cannabis Banking Bill – Will the Senate? (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/us-house-passes-cannabis-banking-bill.html

40.   Morning Wire: Washington State Broadband Bills, Cap Gains Amendments, Budget Timeline (Washington State Wire, WA)

https://washingtonstatewire.com/morning-wire-broadband-bills-cap-gains-amendments-budget-timeline/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

What a Trill: $13,000 Flute in the Wind Since 2012 Recovered

https://apnews.com/article/boston-fc8b4f1eb174419e03c9ecfea3c92542

Firefighters rescue dog alone inside moving vehicle

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/21/Edmonton-Alberta-firefighters-rescue-dog-driver/8461619034163/

Man Bowls a Perfect Game with Ball Containing His Father’s Ashes

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/21/John-Hinkle-bowls-perfect-game-fathers-ashes-ball/5581619025702/

Musician Eases Paragliding Fears by Playing Violin – in Flight

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/04/20/turkey-musician-paragliding-violin-Fikret-Eren-Semih-Er/5291618941322/

SONG OF THE DAY

Jethro Tull – Bourée

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2RNe2jwHE0

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions.

The Energy News Digest for April 19, 2021

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

High Winds Cause Outages Throughout Inland Pacific Northwest (Spokane Public Radio)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/post/high-winds-cause-outages-throughout-inland-northwest#stream/0

California Regulators Rebuke Pacific Gas & Electric for Neglect in Reducing Wildfire Risk (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2021-04-15/california-power-regulators-cast-doubt-on-utilitys-plans

Colstrip Operator Eyeing Wind Farm in Southeast Montana (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/colstrip-operator-eyeing-wind-farm-in.html

US West Prepares for Possible First Water Shortage Declaration (Associated Press)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arizona-nevada-drought-water-shortage_n_607b8571e4b0deb3d5b4fbd9

Breaking the Gigabyte Barrier on the Key Peninsula; Not So Wild a Dream (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/breaking-gigabyte-barrier-on-key.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      High Winds Cause Outages Throughout Inland Pacific Northwest

2.      California Regulators Rebuke Pacific Gas & Electric for Neglect in Reducing Wildfire Risk

3.      Arizona Regulators Give Initial OK to New Utility Shutoff Rules

4.      Idaho Power Wants You to Pay for Added Costs. Here’s How Much Your Bill Would Rise

5.      Oregon: A Proposed Gas-Fired Power Plant Near Hermiston May Be Canceled, But Controversy Remains

6.      Watchdog Groups, Others Critical of Proposed New Mexico Utility Merger

7.      Avista Advances Clean Electricity Goals Through Hydropower Contract with Chelan PUD

8.      Inland Pacific Northwest Tribal Leaders Support Dam Removal

9.      Alaska Utilities’ Request for Extension to Coordinate Grid Reform Meets Resistance

10.   California Community Choice Aggregation Membership Surpasses 200 Communities, 28% of Utility Load

11.   WA State: Grant PUD’s Billing Records Reflect Pandemic’s Impact on Residential Customers

12.   California: On Second Try, San Diego Gets Only San Diego Gas & Electric Minimum Bid for Franchise Agreement

13.   Wood Pole Structures: The Backbones of Western Area Power Administration

14.   Ashley Slater Joins National Rural Electric Cooperative Association as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

15.   Opinion: Ending the Salmon Wars

16.   Commentary: Washington Can Lead the Transition to Cleaner Transportation

17.   Colstrip Operator Eyeing Wind Farm in Southeast Montana

18.   It Was an Old Apple Orchard. Now It Could Be the Future of Clean Hydrogen Energy in Washington State

19.   There’s a Booming Business in America’s Forests. Some Aren’t Happy About It.

20.   West Coast Fishermen, Tribes Brace for Another Abysmal Salmon Season

21.   Study Finds Chinook Salmon Are Returning to Rivers Younger Than Before, Re-Sparking Debate on Fish Management

22.   Early Pikeminnow Season Launch Could Pay Off for Some Anglers

23.   Super-Large Squirrels, AKA Marmots or Rockchucks, Emerge from Hibernation to Pester Oregon School

24.   US West Prepares for Possible First Water Shortage Declaration

25.   Power Companies Urge President Biden to Implement Policies to Cut Emissions 80% by 2030

26.   Tribal Nations Adapt to Being at ‘Ground Zero’ of the Climate Crisis

27.   Public Power Utilities Recognized for Their Efforts to Shift to Modern, Carbon-Free Energy Systems

28.   Breaking the Gigabyte Barrier on the Key Peninsula; Not So Wild a Dream

29.   Access to Billions in Federal Funding a Key Distinction Between WA State Broadband Bills

30.   Washington State Governor Expected to Sign New Bill Ending Prohibition on Municipal Broadband

31.   Washington State Votes to Kill Law That Restricted Community Broadband

32.   Idaho: Ziply Fiber Goes Live with Fiber Gig-Speed Network in Coeur d’Alene Area

33.   Revenge: Spectrum Workers on Strike Build Their Own ISP

34.   NERC Finding 25% of Utilities Exposed to SolarWinds Hack Indicates Growing Vulnerabilities, Analysts Say

35.   Washington State Sets Ambitious Goal: All New Cars Sold Will Be Electric by 2030

36.   Nuclear, Hydropower – The Details in President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan That Could Bring Republicans to the Table

37.   WA State: Senator Hawkins’ Wildfire Bill with Electric Utilities Focus Almost to Finish Line

38.   Glick Discloses That FERC Is in Discussions with State Regulators on Transmission Issues

39.   U.S. House Committee Asks USDA Secretary About Unused Broadband Funds

WORD OF THE DAY

Auctorial • \awk-TOR-ee-ul\ • adjective – Of or relating to an author.

Of all his auctorial duties, Dagwood’s required appearances at signing parties were the most feared and loathed. It wasn’t until the fourth such appearance at a bookstore in Dirt, North Dakota that he decided to only sign books in his personal secret code. Therefore, the recipient of the book would never know that although the inscription said, “best wishes” the real meaning was “get lost”. Dagwood’s quality life was thereby improved immeasurably, and he looked forward to his appointments with glee.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      High Winds Cause Outages Throughout Inland Pacific Northwest (Spokane Public Radio)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/post/high-winds-cause-outages-throughout-inland-northwest#stream/0

2.      California Regulators Rebuke Pacific Gas & Electric for Neglect in Reducing Wildfire Risk (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2021-04-15/california-power-regulators-cast-doubt-on-utilitys-plans

3.      Arizona Regulators Give Initial OK to New Utility Shutoff Rules (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)

https://tucson.com/business/arizona-regulators-give-initial-ok-to-new-utility-shutoff-rules/article_d5f08d4a-9ecb-11eb-aa55-2bd937a9bd82.html

4.      Idaho Power Wants You to Pay for Added Costs. Here’s How Much Your Bill Would Rise (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article250731274.html

5.      Oregon: A Proposed Gas-Fired Power Plant Near Hermiston May Be Canceled, But Controversy Remains (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/04/a-proposed-power-plant-near-hermiston-may-be-canceled-but-controversy-remains.html

6.      Watchdog Groups, Others Critical of Proposed New Mexico Utility Merger (Santa Fe New Mexican, NM)

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/watchdog-groups-others-critical-of-proposed-new-mexico-utility-merger/article_e457c76a-96e0-11eb-8c4a-c3f467b081c4.html

7.      Avista Advances Clean Electricity Goals Through Hydropower Contract with Chelan PUD (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/29947-avista-advances-clean-electricity-goals-through-hydropower-contract-with-chelan-pud/?amp

8.      Inland Pacific Northwest Tribal Leaders Support Dam Removal (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/inland-northwest-tribal-leaders-support-dam-removal/article_d3be4e2b-7c6c-5eb3-9605-b04f74edb3e5.html

9.      Alaska Utilities’ Request for Extension to Coordinate Grid Reform Meets Resistance (Alaska Journal of Commerce)

https://www.alaskajournal.com/2021-04-14/utilities%E2%80%99-request-extension-coordinate-meets-resistance

10.   California Community Choice Aggregation Membership Surpasses 200 Communities, 28% of Utility Load (S&P Global)

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/metals/041521-california-cca-membership-surpasses-200-communities-28-of-utility-load

11.   WA State: Grant PUD’s Billing Records Reflect Pandemic’s Impact on Residential Customers (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/grant-puds-billing-records-reflect-pandemics-impact-on-residential-customers/

12.   California: On Second Try, San Diego Gets Only San Diego Gas & Electric Minimum Bid for Franchise Agreement (Times of San Diego, CA)

https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/04/16/on-2nd-try-san-diego-gets-only-sdge-minimum-bid-for-franchise-agreement/

13.   Wood Pole Structures: The Backbones of Western Area Power Administration (Western Area Power Administration)

https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2021/Pages/Wood-pole-structures-the-backbones-of-WAPA.aspx

14.   Ashley Slater Joins National Rural Electric Cooperative Association as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs (NRECA)

https://www.electric.coop/ashley-slater-joins-nreca-as-vice-president-regulatory-affairs

SOAPBOX SERENADE – EDITORIALS & OPINIONS

15.   Opinion: Ending the Salmon Wars (Idaho Falls Post-Register, ID)

https://www.postregister.com/opinion/columns/opinion-ending-the-salmon-wars/article_c16ee447-0cc2-5f8d-a4bf-fc774ff7e7c9.html

16.   Commentary: Washington Can Lead the Transition to Cleaner Transportation (Energy News Network)

https://energynews.us/2021/04/15/commentary-washington-can-lead-the-transition-to-cleaner-transportation/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

17.   Colstrip Operator Eyeing Wind Farm in Southeast Montana (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/colstrip-operator-eyeing-wind-farm-in.html

18.   It Was an Old Apple Orchard. Now It Could Be the Future of Clean Hydrogen Energy in Washington State (Inside Climate News)

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15042021/green-hydrogen-washington-state/

19.   There’s a Booming Business in America’s Forests. Some Aren’t Happy About It. (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/climate/wood-pellet-industry-climate.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   West Coast Fishermen, Tribes Brace for Another Abysmal Salmon Season (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/fishermen-tribes-brace-for-another-abysmal-salmon-season/article_84beea0c-8894-510d-be2b-34a4d4f19aa8.html

21.   Study Finds Chinook Salmon Are Returning to Rivers Younger Than Before, Re-Sparking Debate on Fish Management (Longview Daily News, WA)

https://tdn.com/news/local/study-finds-chinook-salmon-are-returning-to-rivers-younger-than-before-re-sparking-debate-on/article_d5c5d981-fe7c-5c2a-b60b-8809fb51b5b9.html

22.   Early Pikeminnow Season Launch Could Pay Off for Some Anglers (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Early-pikeminnow-season-launch-gives-some-anglers-the-chance-to-earn-more-cash.aspx

23.   Super-Large Squirrels, AKA Marmots or Rockchucks, Emerge from Hibernation to Pester Oregon School (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/04/super-large-squirrels-also-known-as-marmots-or-rockchucks-emerge-from-hibernation-to-pester-oregon-school.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

24.   US West Prepares for Possible First Water Shortage Declaration (Associated Press)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arizona-nevada-drought-water-shortage_n_607b8571e4b0deb3d5b4fbd9

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   Power Companies Urge President Biden to Implement Policies to Cut Emissions 80% by 2030 (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/power-companies-urge-biden-implement-policies-cut-emissions-80-by-2030-2021-04-17/

26.   Tribal Nations Adapt to Being at ‘Ground Zero’ of the Climate Crisis (High Country News)

https://www.hcn.org/articles/climate-change-tribal-nations-adapt-to-being-at-ground-zero-of-the-climate-crisis

27.   Public Power Utilities Recognized for Their Efforts to Shift to Modern, Carbon-Free Energy Systems (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/public-power-utilities-recognized-their-efforts-shift-modern-carbon-free-energy-systems

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   Breaking the Gigabyte Barrier on the Key Peninsula; Not So Wild a Dream (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/breaking-gigabyte-barrier-on-key.html

29.   Access to Billions in Federal Funding a Key Distinction Between WA State Broadband Bills (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

https://washingtonstatewire.com/access-to-billions-in-federal-funding-a-key-distinction-between-broadband-bills/

30.   Washington State Governor Expected to Sign New Bill Ending Prohibition on Municipal Broadband (Geekwire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2021/washington-state-governor-expected-sign-new-bill-ending-prohibition-municipal-broadband/

31.   Washington State Votes to Kill Law That Restricted Community Broadband (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210414/08352046611/washington-state-votes-to-kill-law-that-restricted-community-broadband.shtml

32.   Idaho: Ziply Fiber Goes Live with Fiber Gig-Speed Network in Coeur d’Alene Area (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2021/04/idaho-ziply-fiber-goes-live-with-fiber.html

33.   Revenge: Spectrum Workers on Strike Build Their Own ISP (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/revenge-spectrum-workers-on-strike-build-their-own-isp-1846678437

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

34.   NERC Finding 25% of Utilities Exposed to SolarWinds Hack Indicates Growing Vulnerabilities, Analysts Say (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nerc-finding-25-of-utilities-exposed-to-solarwinds-hack-indicates-growing/598449/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

35.   Washington State Sets Ambitious Goal: All New Cars Sold Will Be Electric by 2030 (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/post/washington-sets-ambitious-goal-all-new-cars-sold-will-be-electric-2030

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

36.   Nuclear, Hydropower – The Details in President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan That Could Bring Republicans to the Table (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/politics/the-details-in-bidens-infrastructure-plan-that-could-bring-republicans-to-the-table/

37.   WA State: Senator Hawkins’ Wildfire Bill with Electric Utilities Focus Almost to Finish Line (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.kpq.com/senator-hawkins-wildfire-bill-with-electric-utilities-focus-almost-to-finish-line/

38.   Glick Discloses That FERC Is in Discussions with State Regulators on Transmission Issues (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/glick-discloses-ferc-discussions-with-state-regulators-transmission-issues

39.   U.S. House Committee Asks USDA Secretary About Unused Broadband Funds (Brownfield Ag News)

https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/house-committee-asks-usda-secretary-about-unused-broadband-funds/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Filling Your Entire Backyard with a Giant K’nex Roller Coaster Beats Waiting in Line at an Amusement Park

https://gizmodo.com/filling-your-entire-backyard-with-a-giant-knex-roller-c-1846711500

NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter Has Flown on Mars

https://gizmodo.com/nasa-s-ingenuity-helicopter-has-flown-on-mars-1846711306

Lyrid Meteor Shower Visible in Clear Seattle Skies

https://mynorthwest.com/2802505/lyrid-meteor-shower-seattle-skies/

Couple: Man Has Tossed Used Cups in Their Yard for Three Years

https://news.yahoo.com/couple-man-tossed-used-cups-234159341.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain – Life on Mars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW0ACEOEq6w

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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