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HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Could Conclude by June
(Capital Press)
California Senate Republicans Blast Income-Based Fixed
Charge on Utility Bills (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
Idaho Attorney General Releases Comments Regarding the Proposed
Lava Ridge Wind Project (KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)
Montana House Endorses Bill Removing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Environmental Reviews (KTVH-TV, Helena, MT)
Rising Groundwater in California City Creates New Wave of
Issues for Locals (Yahoo! News)
https://news.yahoo.com/rising-groundwater-california-city-creates-194107608.html
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)
1.
Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Could
Conclude by June
2.
California Senate Republicans Blast Income-Based
Fixed Charge on Utility Bills
3.
New WA State Law Prevents Utility Shutoffs
During Extreme Heat
4.
WA State: Utility Districts Respond to Utility
Shutoff Bill Getting Signed into Law
5.
British Columbia: Why Dam Builder Wants to Leave
Construction Debris at the Bottom of the Peace River
6.
Idaho Commission to Hear Testimony on City of
Idaho Falls Purchasing Electrical Facilities
7.
NorthWestern Energy, Montana Electric
Cooperatives Plan for Cyberattacks
8.
A New Bill in Oregon Could Target Environmental
Protesters as Terrorists
9.
Fitch Rates Energy Northwest, WA Elec Rev Ref
Bonds ‘AA’; Affirms Bonneville IDR at ‘AA-’
10.
Montana Electrical Lineworkers Grateful for New
Law Requiring Drivers to Move Over When Passing Them
11.
Idaho Attorney General Releases Comments
Regarding the Proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project
12.
U.S. Land Bureau Under Pressure from Surging
Solar
13.
Turbines & Brine: Washington Offshore Wind
Proposals Present Complex Threats, Challenges
14.
WA State Legislature Approves Wind Turbine
Recycling Bill
15.
Montana: New Solar Array Energizes Missoula
Wastewater Treatment Plant
16.
As Washington Ratchets Down Emissions &
Shifts to a Renewable Energy Grid, Heat Pumps Are About to Have a Huge Moment
17.
This Couple Spent $48,000 to Convert Their
Portland, Oregon, Home to ‘Net Zero’: ‘The Future Is Efficient & Renewable’
18.
WA Could Get Millions in Federal Salmon Recovery
Dollars
19.
U.S. Rep Gluesenkamp Perez (WA) Asks for ‘No
Less Than $1M’ for Lethal Sea Lion Removal
20.
This Year’s Return of Steelhead Could Be One of
the Smallest on Record – It Appears There Are a Number of Factors at Play
21.
Oregon Accepts Petition to Consider Listing
Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcas) as Endangered
22.
Rising Groundwater in California City Creates
New Wave of Issues for Locals
23.
Saudi Company Draws Unlimited Arizona Ground
Water Amid Drought
24.
Montana House Endorses Bill Removing Greenhouse
Gas Emissions from Environmental Reviews
25.
Think Tank: State Should Acknowledge Carbon Tax
a Factor in WA Gas Price Hikes
26.
The U.S. Needs 1 Million More Electricians to
Hit Climate Goals. Can It Recruit More Women?
27.
Google Fiber Outlines Plan to Build in
Pocatello, Idaho
28.
U.S. House Hearing Considers ‘Breaking Barriers’
to Broadband Permitting, Pole Contacts
29.
Groups Voice Opposition to Proposed Pole
Attachments Legislation
30.
British Columbia: Demand for Power for Bitcoin
Mining Still High Despite B.C. Hydro Freeze
31.
Twitter Blue Ticks Mysteriously Return - Even
for the Dead
32.
Twitter Verification Reappears, But Some Disavow
Musk’s Mark
33.
2023 Washington State Legislature Adjourns
Sunday Night After a few Unexpected Twists
34.
Editorial: Seriously, How Many Snake River Dam
Studies Does WA State Really Need?
35. Op/Ed: WA State Dems Wasting Time & Money on More Snake River Dam Studies
WORD OF THE DAY
Divagate \DYE-vuh-gayt\ Verb – To wander or stray from a course or subject: diverge, digress.
Professor Dalgleish’s class was at a loss. What began as a lecture on obscure coins of the Roman Empire had somehow divagated into a romping cabaret-like show featuring dancing girls and sideshow barkers shouting unintelligible patter that seemed to be centered on the professor’s prized collection of old Washington State tax tokens. Surreal would be an understatement.
ENERGY &
UTILITY ISSUES
1.
Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Could
Conclude by June (Capital Press)
2.
California Senate Republicans Blast Income-Based
Fixed Charge on Utility Bills (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
3.
New WA State Law Prevents Utility Shutoffs
During Extreme Heat (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)
4.
WA State: Utility Districts Respond to Utility
Shutoff Bill Getting Signed into Law (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
https://kpq.com/utility-districts-respond-to-utility-shutoff-bill-getting-signed-into-law/
5.
British Columbia: Why Dam Builder Wants to Leave
Construction Debris at the Bottom of the Peace River (Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation)
6.
Idaho Commission to Hear Testimony on City of Idaho
Falls Purchasing Electrical Facilities (News Release)
7.
NorthWestern Energy, Montana Electric
Cooperatives Plan for Cyberattacks (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT0
8.
A New Bill in Oregon Could Target Environmental
Protesters as Terrorists (Grist Online)
https://grist.org/protest/oregon-critical-infrastructure-bill-terrorism/
9.
Fitch Rates Energy Northwest, WA Elec Rev Ref
Bonds ‘AA’; Affirms Bonneville IDR at ‘AA-’ (Fitch Ratings)
10.
Montana Electrical Lineworkers Grateful for New
Law Requiring Drivers to Move Over When Passing Them (KTVH-Helena, MT)
RENEWABLE ENERGY
& SELF STORAGE
11.
Idaho Attorney General Releases Comments
Regarding the Proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project (KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID)
12.
U.S. Land Bureau Under Pressure from Surging
Solar (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-land-bureau-under-pressure-surging-solar-2023-04-20/
13.
Turbines & Brine: Washington Offshore Wind
Proposals Present Complex Threats, Challenges (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)
14.
WA State Legislature Approves Wind Turbine
Recycling Bill (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
15.
Montana: New Solar Array Energizes Missoula
Wastewater Treatment Plant (The Missoulian, Mt)
CONSERVATION
& EFFICIENCY
16.
As Washington Ratchets Down Emissions &
Shifts to a Renewable Energy Grid, Heat Pumps Are About to Have a Huge Moment (The
Inlander, Spokane, WA)
17.
This Couple Spent $48,000 to Convert Their Portland,
Oregon, Home to ‘Net Zero’: ‘The Future Is Efficient & Renewable’ (CNBC)
FISH &
WILDLIFE
18.
WA Could Get Millions in Federal Salmon Recovery
Dollars (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/60-million-coming-to-wa-for-salmon-recovery/
19.
U.S. Rep Gluesenkamp Perez (WA) Asks for ‘No
Less Than $1M’ for Lethal Sea Lion Removal (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
20.
This Year’s Return of Steelhead Could Be One of
the Smallest on Record – It Appears There Are a Number of Factors at Play (Spokesman-Review,
Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/apr/23/this-years-return-could-be-one-of-the-smallest-on-/
21.
Oregon Accepts Petition to Consider Listing Southern
Resident Killer Whales (Orcas) as Endangered (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)
WATER, WATER,
ANYWHERE?
22.
Rising Groundwater in California City Creates
New Wave of Issues for Locals (Yahoo! News)
https://news.yahoo.com/rising-groundwater-california-city-creates-194107608.html
23.
Saudi Company Draws Unlimited Arizona Ground
Water Amid Drought (Yahoo! News)
https://news.yahoo.com/saudi-company-draws-unlimited-arizona-143949845.html
CLIMATE CHANGE
SEQUESTRATION VAULT
24.
Montana House Endorses Bill Removing Greenhouse
Gas Emissions from Environmental Reviews (KTVH-TV, Helena, MT)
25.
Think Tank: State Should Acknowledge Carbon Tax a
Factor in WA Gas Price Hikes (The Center Square)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d6a21f84-df00-11ed-8ad4-c36dc163bd57.html
26.
The U.S. Needs 1 Million More Electricians to Hit
Climate Goals. Can It Recruit More Women? (The Guardian, UK)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/20/us-electricians-shortage-recruit-women
27.
Google Fiber Outlines Plan to Build in Pocatello,
Idaho (Data Center Dynamics)
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/google-fiber-outlines-plan-to-build-in-pocatello-idaho/
28.
U.S. House Hearing Considers ‘Breaking Barriers’
to Broadband Permitting, Pole Contacts (Light Reading)
29.
Groups Voice Opposition to Proposed Pole
Attachments Legislation (American Public Power Association)
BEAM ME UP,
SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY
30.
British Columbia: Demand for Power for Bitcoin
Mining Still High Despite B.C. Hydro Freeze (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
PUBLIC RELATIONS,
MARKETING & MEDIA
31.
Twitter Blue Ticks Mysteriously Return - Even for
the Dead (Bloomberg News)
32.
Twitter Verification Reappears, But Some Disavow
Musk’s Mark (Associated Press)
MANAGEMENT &
GOVERNANCE
33.
2023 Washington State Legislature Adjourns
Sunday Night After a few Unexpected Twists (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)
SOAPBOX SERENADE
– VOX POPULI
34.
Editorial: Seriously, How Many Snake River Dam
Studies Does WA State Really Need? (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://amp.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/editorials/article274341450.html
35.
Op/Ed: WA State Dems Wasting Time & Money on
More Snake River Dam Studies (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article274627966.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Did Ed Sheeran Hit Pilfer Marvin Gaye Classic? Trial To Tell
https://www.opb.org/article/2023/04/24/did-ed-sheeran-hit-pilfer-marvin-gaye-classic-trial-to-tell/
Zoo Seeking ‘Seagull Deterrents’ to Wear Giant Bird
Costumes, Scare Seagulls
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/04/24/Blackpool-Zoo-seagull-deterrents/2981682346231/
1,227 Play ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ at Utah Mall for New
World Record
French cyclists create record-breaking GPS velociraptor
SONG OF THE DAY
Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQj1kPmQXwE
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpyfrixXBqU
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