The Energy News Digest

Thursday, August 3, 2023

The Energy News Digest for August 3, 2023

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.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Climate Change Made July Hotter for Almost Every Human on Earth (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-heat-cause-global-warming-3d7d0ee31e022aab535adf57b54618ac

Pacific Gas & Electric Cuts Tree-Trimming Program It Says Was Ineffective in Fire Mitigation (KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/pg-e-cuts-tree-trimming-program-it-says-was-ineffective-in-fire-mitigation/

Prepare to Flick Off Your Incandescent Bulbs for Good Under New U.S. Rules That Kicked in This Week (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/incandescent-light-bulb-led-federal-energy-efficiency-rules-950ca7bd90453a5bde277f3002e67d83

The First Generation of Solar Panels Will Wear Out. A Recycling Industry Is Taking Shape (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/the-first-generation-of-solar-panels-will-wear-out-a-recycling-industry-is-taking-shape/

Tesla Faces California Class Action on Its Electric Vehicle Range Claims (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/legal/tesla-faces-california-class-action-its-ev-range-claims-2023-08-03/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1. Pacific Gas & Electric Cuts Tree-Trimming Program It Says Was Ineffective in Fire Mitigation

2. Power, Water, Workforce & Dams Subjects During U.S. Sen. Murray-WA Visit

3. Vilsack on Snake River Dams: Ag ‘Well-Represented’ in Mediation

4. British Columbia: Peace River Dam Milestone Reached - Earthfill Dam Complete

5. Oregon: Columbia County Investigating Substation Damage in Goble

6. WA State: Need to Do Laundry During a Peak Energy Time? It’s Going to Cost More in Tri-Cities

7. The First Generation of Solar Panels Will Wear Out. A Recycling Industry Is Taking Shape

8. Argonne Study Identifies 1,800 Pumped Storage Hydro Sites in Alaska

9. Seattle City Light Signs Power Purchase Agreement for Wind Energy

10. WA State: Clark College Receives $1 Million in Federal Funding for Clean Energy Center

11. Prepare to Flick Off Your Incandescent Bulbs for Good Under New U.S. Rules That Kicked in This Week

12. United Kingdom: The Truth About Heat Pumps and the Power Needed to Run Them

13. Idaho: Study Shows Bald Eagles, Protected Birds Being Shot on Power Lines Is a Leading Cause of Death

14. Alaska: Bristol Bay Sees Strong Wild Sockeye Harvest to Follow Up Record-Breaking Year

15. Washington Drought Affects Farms, Fish, Wildlife

16. Dry July Continues Trend of Below-Average Rainfall in WA

17. Climate Change Made July Hotter for Almost Every Human on Earth

18. A Giant Oregon Wildfire Shows the Limits of Carbon Offsets in Fighting Climate Change

19. Climate Change Is Hitting Close to Home for Nearly 2 Out of 3 Americans, Poll Finds

20. Multimillion-Dollar Microsoft Substation in Malaga, WA to Get $4 Million Boost in Equipment

21. Tesla Faces California Class Action on Its Electric Vehicle Range Claims

22. Meta Begins Blocking News Access on Its Platforms in Canada

23. Northwest Public Power Association Board Appoints Kieran Connolly to Serve as Interim Executive Director

24. Editorial: WA Gov. Inslee Distances Himself from Impacts of His Climate Policies

25. Guest Essay: California Has Averted Blackout Disaster. Why We Owe It to Hydroelectric Infrastructure.

26. Editorial: Snake River Dam Solution Should Not Come from Judiciary

WORD OF THE DAY

Consonant \ CONN-suh-nunt\ Adjective – 1: being in agreement or harmony: free from elements making for discord 2: marked by musical consonances 3: having similar sounds 4: relating to or exhibiting consonance: resonant.

Bertrand was a reluctant lemming. As his fellow furry rodents rushed towards a long drop off a nearby cliff into the sea, Bert decided he would not act in consonant with his brethren. Instead, he lazed in the sun, snacking on bulbs and sedges as the high-pitched cries of the other lemmings faded in the distance.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1. Pacific Gas & Electric Cuts Tree-Trimming Program It Says Was Ineffective in Fire Mitigation (KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/pg-e-cuts-tree-trimming-program-it-says-was-ineffective-in-fire-mitigation/

2. Power, Water, Workforce & Dams Subjects During U.S. Sen. Murray-WA Visit (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2023/aug/02/power-water-workforce-and-dams-subjects-during-mur/

3. Vilsack on Snake River Dams: Ag ‘Well-Represented’ in Mediation (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/grains/vilsack-on-snake-river-dams-ag-well-represented-in-mediation/article_f24a289a-30a8-11ee-b9bc-b7c024202b90.html

4. British Columbia: Peace River Dam Milestone Reached - Earthfill Dam Complete (Alaska Highway News, Canada)

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/fort-st-john/site-c-milestone-reached-earthfill-dam-complete-7351917

5. Oregon: Columbia County Investigating Substation Damage in Goble (Columbia County Spotlight, OR)

Columbia County investigating substation damage in Goble | Public Safety | columbiacountyspotlight.com

6. WA State: Need to Do Laundry During a Peak Energy Time? It’s Going to Cost More in Tri-Cities (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/laundry-during-peak-energy-time-120000473.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

7. The First Generation of Solar Panels Will Wear Out. A Recycling Industry Is Taking Shape (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/the-first-generation-of-solar-panels-will-wear-out-a-recycling-industry-is-taking-shape/

8. Argonne Study Identifies 1,800 Pumped Storage Hydro Sites in Alaska (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/argonne-study-identifies-1800-pumped-storage-hydro-sites-alaska

9. Seattle City Light Signs Power Purchase Agreement for Wind Energy (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/seattle-city-light-signs-ppa-wind-energy

10. WA State: Clark College Receives $1 Million in Federal Funding for Clean Energy Center (Oregon Business)

https://oregonbusiness.com/clark-college-receives-1m-in-federal-funding-for-clean-energy-center/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

11. Prepare to Flick Off Your Incandescent Bulbs for Good Under New U.S. Rules That Kicked in This Week (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/incandescent-light-bulb-led-federal-energy-efficiency-rules-950ca7bd90453a5bde277f3002e67d83

12. United Kingdom: The Truth About Heat Pumps and the Power Needed to Run Them (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66359093

FISH & WILDLIFE

13. Idaho: Study Shows Bald Eagles, Protected Birds Being Shot on Power Lines Is a Leading Cause of Death (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-study-shows-bald-eagles-protected-birds-being-shot-on-power-lines-a-leading-cause-of-death/277-2640f83a-ec1f-45aa-ad0f-7b59fd94a446

14. Alaska: Bristol Bay Sees Strong Wild Sockeye Harvest to Follow Up Record-Breaking Year (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bristol-bay-sees-strong-wild-130000310.html

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

15. Washington Drought Affects Farms, Fish, Wildlife (Spokane Public Radio)

https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2023-08-01/washington-drought-affects-farms-fish-wildlife

16. Dry July Continues Trend of Below-Average Rainfall in WA (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3915780/dry-july-continues-trend-of-below-average-rainfall-in-western-washington/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

17. Climate Change Made July Hotter for Almost Every Human on Earth (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-heat-cause-global-warming-3d7d0ee31e022aab535adf57b54618ac

18. A Giant Oregon Wildfire Shows the Limits of Carbon Offsets in Fighting Climate Change (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/02/climate-change-carbon-offset-oregon/

19. Climate Change Is Hitting Close to Home for Nearly 2 Out of 3 Americans, Poll Finds (PBS Newshour)

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/climate-change-is-hitting-close-to-home-for-nearly-2-out-of-3-americans-poll-finds

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

20. Multimillion-Dollar Microsoft Substation in Malaga, WA to Get $4M Boost in Equipment (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/multimillion-dollar-microsoft-substation-to-get-4m-boost-in-equipment-courtesy-of-chelan-pud/article_af688c38-2ff4-11ee-af36-af5b9b3887c8.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

21. Tesla Faces California Class Action on Its Electric Vehicle Range Claims (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/legal/tesla-faces-california-class-action-its-ev-range-claims-2023-08-03/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

22. Meta Begins Blocking News Access on Its Platforms in Canada (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/tech/meta-canada

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

23. Northwest Public Power Association Board Appoints Kieran Connolly to Serve as Interim Executive Director (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/nwppa-board-appoints-kieran-connolly-serve-interim-executive-director

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

24. Editorial: WA Gov. Inslee Distances Himself from Impacts of His Climate Policies (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-inslee-distances-himself-from-impacts-of-his-climate-policies/article_afca0ddc-27fc-11ee-a914-2b4cda20c1c1.html

25. Guest Essay: California Has Averted Blackout Disaster. Why We Owe It to Hydroelectric Infrastructure. (San Joaquin Valley Sun, CA)

https://sjvsun.com/ag/calif-has-averted-blackout-disaster-why-we-owe-it-to-hydroelectric-infrastructure/

26. Editorial: Snake River Dam Solution Should Not Come from Judiciary (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-snake-river-dam-solution-should-not-come-from-judiciary/article_d4daeb44-2fc4-11ee-af63-eb77254407c2.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Oh Good – This Is How Many Hugs We Actually Need a Day

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-many-hugs-do-we-need-a-day_uk_64c8db6be4b021e2f2957950

Conditions Ripe for a Mesmerizing Perseid Meteor Shower in Oregon

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2023/07/conditions-ripe-for-a-mesmerizing-perseid-meteor-shower-in-oregon.html

The Heaviest Animal Ever? Massive Whale That Lived 40 Million Years Ago Found in Desert

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/heaviest-animal-ever-whale-peru-desert-rcna97912

Maryland woman blasts a world record-breaking 107-decibel burp

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/08/02/Guinness-World-Records-loudest-burp/5591690995460/

SONG OF THE DAY

Rose Royce – Wishing on a Star

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyWfFRa4M1Y

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. I try to choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription. Individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help access some paywall sites.

Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

Monday, July 31, 2023

The Energy News Digest for July 31, 2023

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.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bonneville Power Administration Holds Overall Average Power & Transmission Rates Flat (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20230728-bpa-holds-overall-average-power-and-transmission-rates-flat

Energy Northwest Signs Agreement for Up to 12 Small Modular Reactors (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/energy-northwest-signs-agreement-12-small-modular-reactors

Environmentalists, Lawmakers Press President Biden to Pick a Side in Dam Removal Fight (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_b9114ee4-2b23-11ee-95e4-4b44671e1456.html

Pumped Storage: Tribes Raise Objections to Renewable Energy Project in Columbia River Gorge (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/tech/science/environment/renewable-energy-project-columbia-river-gorge-tribes/283-24fc5c1f-7bdc-4954-9e73-9b91110a568a

Washington Declares Drought Emergency in 12 Counties (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/state-declares-drought-emergency-in-12-counties/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1. Bonneville Power Administration Holds Overall Average Power & Transmission Rates Flat

2. Energy Northwest Signs Agreement for Up to 12 Small Modular Reactors

3. Environmentalists, Lawmakers Press President Biden to Pick a Side in Dam Removal Fight

4. WA State: Grant PUD Seeks Federal Funds to Make Priest Rapids Dam More Earthquake Proof

5. Lawsuits Hover Over Utility Companies as Wildfires Spread Throughout Oregon

6. Drought-Driven Shift Away from Hydropower Is Costing the.S.US West Billions of Dollars: Study

7. Extreme Heat & Aging Power Grids Are a Deadly Combination

8. Chelan PUD Delays Cryptocurrency Rate Hike Second Time This Year

9. Bonneville Power Administration Releases Draft Provider of Choice Policy Tied to Expiration of Power Sales Contracts

10. First U.S. Nuclear Reactor Built from Scratch in Decades Enters Commercial Operation in Georgia

11. Pumped Storage: Tribes Raise Objections to Renewable Energy Project in Columbia River Gorge

12. While Everyone Was Yelling About Gas Stoves, The Incandescent Light Bulb Went Away

13. So, You Want to Electrify Your Home. Do You Need a Panel Upgrade First?

14. Sturgeon Dying in Columbia River as Water Heats Up to Above Historic Summer Average

15. OSU Study: Billions in Conservation Spending Fail to Improve Columbia Basin Wild Fish Stocks

16. Last Wild Atlantic Salmon Can Survive Maine Dams, Feds Say

17. Critically Endangered, But Not Shy: Camera Spots Bunch of Condors Just Hanging Out

18. Washington Declares Drought Emergency in 12 Counties

19. As Frustration Grows, Quintillion Extends Timeline for Restoring Western Alaska Internet Service

20. SpaceX Launches Enormous Satellite for Faster Rural Broadband

21. 1 in 6 Washington Cars Are Electric. The State Aims for More

22. Automaker Tesla Is Opening More Showrooms on Tribal Lands to Avoid State Laws Barring Direct Sales

23. AM Radio Served the Country for 100 Years. Will Electric Vehicles Silence It?

24. Elon Musk Wants to Turn Tweets Into ‘Xs’. But Changing Language Is Not Quite So Simple

25. Guest Essay: Colstrip is Changing – – Not Closing

WORD OF THE DAY

Bogart \BOH-gart\ Verb – 1: bully, intimidate *2: to use or consume without sharing.

Nymphadora made everyone at the root beer decanting party nervous. Along with her bogart of the first bottle from the fruit cellar, she also made wise cracks about no “backwash” guarantees. Ewwwww!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1. Bonneville Power Administration Holds Overall Average Power & Transmission Rates Flat (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20230728-bpa-holds-overall-average-power-and-transmission-rates-flat

2. Energy Northwest Signs Agreement for Up to 12 Small Modular Reactors (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/energy-northwest-signs-agreement-12-small-modular-reactors

3. Environmentalists, Lawmakers Press President Biden to Pick a Side in Dam Removal Fight (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_b9114ee4-2b23-11ee-95e4-4b44671e1456.html

4. WA State: Grant PUD Seeks Federal Funds to Make Priest Rapids Dam More Earthquake Proof (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/grant-pud-seeks-federal-funds-to-make-priest-rapids-dam-more-earthquake-proof/

5. Lawsuits Hover Over Utility Companies as Wildfires Spread Throughout Oregon (KMTR-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://nbc16.com/news/local/lawsuits-hover-over-utility-companies-as-wildfires-spread-throughout-oregon-07-25-2023

6. Drought-Driven Shift Away from Hydropower Is Costing the.S.US West Billions of Dollars: Study (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/4102381-drought-driven-shift-away-from-hydropower-is-costing-the-us-west-billions-of-dollars-study/amp/

7. Extreme Heat & Aging Power Grids Are a Deadly Combination (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-extreme-heat-power-outage-electric-grid/

8. Chelan PUD Delays Cryptocurrency Rate Hike Second Time This Year (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/chelan-pud-delays-cryptocurrency-rate-hike-second-time-in-2023/

9. Bonneville Power Administration Releases Draft Provider of Choice Policy Tied to Expiration of Power Sales Contracts (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/bpa-releases-draft-provider-choice-policy-tied-expiration-power-sales-contracts

10. First U.S. Nuclear Reactor Built from Scratch in Decades Enters Commercial Operation in Georgia (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/1st-us-nuclear-reactor-built-from-scratch-in-decades-enters-commercial-operation-in-georgia/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11. Pumped Storage: Tribes Raise Objections to Renewable Energy Project in Columbia River Gorge (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/tech/science/environment/renewable-energy-project-columbia-river-gorge-tribes/283-24fc5c1f-7bdc-4954-9e73-9b91110a568a

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

12. While Everyone Was Yelling About Gas Stoves, The Incandescent Light Bulb Went Away (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/27/incandescent-light-bulb-led-00107935

13. So, You Want to Electrify Your Home. Do You Need a Panel Upgrade First? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/guides-and-how-tos/so-you-want-to-electrify-your-home-do-you-need-a-panel-upgrade-first

FISH & WILDLIFE

14. Sturgeon Dying in Columbia River as Water Heats Up to Above Historic Summer Average (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/sturgeon-dying-columbia-river-water-194341057.html

15. OSU Study: Billions in Conservation Spending Fail to Improve Columbia Basin Wild Fish Stocks (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/environment/2023/07/28/osu-study-billions-in-conservation-spending-fail-to-improve-columbia-basin-wild-fish-stocks/

16. Last Wild Atlantic Salmon Can Survive Maine Dams, Feds Say (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/maine-dams-endangered-salmon-kennebec-7ece63c8a9b6dc32864ff8da7f1f24d3

17. Critically Endangered, But Not Shy: Camera Spots Bunch of Condors Just Hanging Out (KQED Broadcasting, San Francisco, CA)

https://www.kqed.org/news/11956021/critically-endangered-but-not-shy-camera-spots-bunch-of-condors-just-hanging-out

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

18. Washington Declares Drought Emergency in 12 Counties (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/state-declares-drought-emergency-in-12-counties/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

19. As Frustration Grows, Quintillion Extends Timeline for Restoring Western Alaska Internet Service (Alaska Public Media)

https://alaskapublic.org/2023/07/26/as-frustration-grows-quintillion-extends-timeline-for-restoring-western-alaska-internet-service/

20. SpaceX Launches Enormous Satellite for Faster Rural Broadband (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/spacex-launches-enormous-satellite-for-faster-rural-broadband/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

21. 1 in 6 Washington Cars Are Electric. The State Aims for More (KUOW News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/1-in-6-washington-cars-are-evs-the-state-aims-for-more

22. Automaker Tesla Is Opening More Showrooms on Tribal Lands to Avoid State Laws Barring Direct Sales (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/tesla-cars-tribal-sovereignty-51f2d23c73da675d804f9c44975e6ae7

23. AM Radio Served the Country for 100 Years. Will Electric Vehicles Silence It? (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-07-31/am-radio-served-the-country-for-100-years-will-electric-vehicles-silence-it

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

24. Elon Musk Wants to Turn Tweets Into ‘Xs’. But Changing Language Is Not Quite So Simple (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

https://www.seattlepi.com/living/article/elon-musk-wants-to-turn-tweets-into-x-s-but-18263405.php

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

25. Guest Essay: Colstrip is Changing – – Not Closing (Big Sky Business Journal, MT)

http://bigskybusinessjournal.com/2023/07/26/colstrip-is-changing-not-closing/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Washington State Ferries Workers Save Kitten from Drowning

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/washington-state-ferries-workers-save-kitten-drowning/XBA3YESUVFCZRE5P7VBM4Y5WSM/

‘Pee-Wee Herman’ Actor Paul Reubens Dies at 70

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/pee-wee-herman-actor-paul-reubens-dies-at-70/article_74e747fa-6964-5018-9921-07871bfb1e3a.html

Kraft Heinz Defeats Lawsuit Over Mac & Cheese Preparation Time

https://www.reuters.com/legal/kraft-heinz-defeats-lawsuit-over-mac-cheese-preparation-time-2023-07-27/

150 Feet of Love... And Bologna: Hundreds Gather for Mega Meat Sandwich in Pennsylvania

https://news.yahoo.com/150-feet-love-bologna-hundreds-143100982.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Danny Elfman – Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure – Soundtrack Suite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgp_JFCwfs8