The Energy News Digest for December 4, 2023

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

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

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Pacific Northwest Republicans Object to Leaked Draft of Snake River Dams Agreement (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/dec/03/northwest-republicans-object-to-leaked-draft-of-sn/

Culture Complaints Spark WA Utilities Commission Investigation (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/news/2023/11/culture-complaints-spark-wa-utilities-commission-investigation

Washington Farm Bureau: Cap-And-Trade Costs Farmers Over $153 Million (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/climate_changed/washington-farm-bureau-cap-and-trade-costs-farmers-over-153-million/article_7d86725a-9081-11ee-a4ac-cb1bdb1a5bd9.html

Former WSDOT Economist Accuses State Leaders of Retaliation for Refusing to Lie About Gas Prices (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/investigations/former-wsdot-economist-accuses-state-retaliation-for-refusing-lie-gas-prices/281-09151707-2976-48e2-bdd5-c65e36a52aac

Arizona: Work Resumes on $10 Billion Renewable Energy Transmission Project Despite Tribal Objections (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/work-resumes-on-10b-renewable-energy-18525148.php

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Arizona: Work Resumes on $10 Billion Renewable Energy Transmission Project Despite Tribal Objections

2.      U.S. Leads Coalition to Triple Nuclear Power by 2050 In Effort to Address Climate Change

3.      The Future of Nuclear Energy Will Be Decided in Idaho

4.      Property Owners Seek to Have Boardman to Hemingway Eminent Domain Lawsuit Dismissed

5.      Companies Say They’re Closing in on Nuclear Fusion as an Energy Source. Will It Work?

6.      Former Top Ohio Utility Regulator Surrenders in $60 Million Bribery Scheme Linked to Energy Bill

7.      Pacific Northwest Republicans Object to Leaked Draft of Snake River Dams Agreement

8.      White House: Snake River Dam Mediation ‘Still in Active Negotiations’

9.      Western Montana Electric Co-ops Wary of Snake River Dam Removal

10.   Feds Consider Removing Snake River Dams in Leaked Agreement with Plaintiffs in Lawsuit

11.   Court Filings Reveal Secret Agreement Between Biden Admin, Eco Groups Seeking to Tear Down Key Power Source

12.   Groups Voice Concern About Columbia River Basin Restoration Document

13.   News Release: Update on Lower Snake River Dams Mediation Efforts

14.   USDA Grows Solar Power in Rural Oregon Despite Limited Transmission, Assistance

15.   WA Gov. Inslee Touts Green Energy at New Moses Lake Battery Factory

16.   Solar Energy – Production Underway at REC

17.   Salt River Project Pursues Plan to Use Solar, Hydro Energy to Power Thousands of Arizona Homes

18.   Puget Sound Energy Plans to Nearly Double Clean Energy Portfolio by 2025

19.   Clean Energy Traffic Jam Snarls Grid Access in Key Solar Market

20.   Why Utilities Can’t Afford to Ignore Stored Solar Panels

21.   New Washington State Rules Promoting Heat Pumps Face Pushback

22.   World’s Largest Gathering of Bald Eagles Threatened by Alaska Copper Mine Project, Environmentalists Say

23.   Okanagan River Salmon Eyed for Endangered-Species Protection

24.   Inside The Effort to Truck Sockeye Salmon Past Lake Washington

25.   Army Water Regulators Await Torrent of Winter Moisture Set to Blast the Pacific Northwest

26.   Washington Farm Bureau: Cap-And-Trade Costs Farmers Over $153 Million

27.   Initiative Poses Extra Hurdle for Merging of Washington, California Carbon Markets

28.   FCC To Vote on New Pole Attachments Rules to Promote Broadband Expansion

29.   WA State: Ribbon Cutting for Brinnon Broadband

30.   Bitcoin Has Surpassed $41,000 for the First Time Since April 2022. What’s Behind the Price Surge?

31.   Electric Vehicle Chargers: New Target for Washington Copper Thieves

32.   How Power Companies Can Ride the Electric Vehicle Wave for New Revenue

33.   Idaho & the Energy Future: The Nuclear Batteries That Power NASA Missions

34.   Culture Complaints Spark WA Utilities Commission Investigation

35.   Former WSDOT Economist Accuses State Leaders of Retaliation for Refusing to Lie About Gas Prices

36.   A Potent Atmospheric River Will Bring Heavy Rain & Some Flooding to the Pacific Northwest

37.   Editorial: Secret Talks on Snake River Dams Bad Policy

38.   Opinion: NRECA – U.S. Government’s Secret Anti-Hydro Deal is Major Threat to Reliability in Pacific Northwest

39.   Editorial: How Deep Is WA Gov. Inslee’s New Appreciation for Local Perspectives?

WORD OF THE DAY

Supererogation \soop-err-air-uh-GAY-shun\ Noun - The act of performing more than is required by duty, obligation, or need.

“Barty, you have an exemplary talent…your supererogation is an inspiration to all,” barked the supervisor to his cowering minion. “Great,” thought Barty, “Now I need to buy a dictionary to see if that was a compliment or not.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Arizona: Work Resumes on $10 Billion Renewable Energy Transmission Project Despite Tribal Objections (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/work-resumes-on-10b-renewable-energy-18525148.php

2.      U.S. Leads Coalition to Triple Nuclear Power by 2050 In Effort to Address Climate Change (CNBC News)

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/04/us-leads-coalition-to-triple-nuclear-power-by-2050-in-effort-to-address-climate-change.html

3.      The Future of Nuclear Energy Will Be Decided in Idaho (Japan Times)

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/03/world/nuclear-energy-future/

4.      Property Owners Seek to Have Boardman to Hemingway Eminent Domain Lawsuit Dismissed (LaGrande Observer, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lagrandeobserver.com/news/state/property-owners-seek-to-have-eminent-domain-lawsuit-dismissed/article_1b98a715-5e94-56e8-aa30-c4dfc6953c10.html

5.      Companies Say They’re Closing in on Nuclear Fusion as an Energy Source. Will It Work? (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/04/1215539157/companies-say-theyre-closing-in-on-nuclear-fusion-as-an-energy-source-will-it-wo

6.      Former Top Ohio Utility Regulator Surrenders in $60 Million Bribery Scheme Linked to Energy Bill (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/former-top-ohio-utility-regulator-surrenders-in-18532294.php

(NOW) NOT-SO-SECRET SNAKE RIVER SESSIONS

7.      Pacific Northwest Republicans Object to Leaked Draft of Snake River Dams Agreement (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/dec/03/northwest-republicans-object-to-leaked-draft-of-sn/

8.      White House: Snake River Dam Mediation ‘Still in Active Negotiations’ (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/white-house-snake-river-dam-mediation-still-in-active-negotiations/article_0b1517d2-8fb2-11ee-9879-17eec455912e.html

9.      Western Montana Electric Co-ops Wary of Snake River Dam Removal (Ravalli Republic, MT)

https://ravallirepublic.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/snake-river-dam-western-montana-electrical-coops/article_3acf2bc2-332c-50ef-939f-b44debfec049.html

10.   Feds Consider Removing Snake River Dams in Leaked Agreement with Plaintiffs in Lawsuit (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/11/30/feds-consider-removing-snake-river-dams-in-leaked-agreement-with-plaintiffs-in-lawsuit/

11.   Court Filings Reveal Secret Agreement Between Biden Admin, Eco Groups Seeking to Tear Down Key Power Source (Fox News)

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/court-filings-reveal-secret-agreement-between-biden-admin-eco-groups-seeking-tear-down-key-power-source

12.   Groups Voice Concern About Columbia River Basin Restoration Document (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/groups-voice-concern-about-columbia-river-basin-restoration-document

13.   News Release: Update on Lower Snake River Dams Mediation Efforts (Washington Association of Wheat Growers)

https://www.wawg.org/update-on-lower-snake-river-dams-mediation-efforts/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

14.   USDA Grows Solar Power in Rural Oregon Despite Limited Transmission, Assistance (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/03/oregon-rural-solar-power-energy/

15.   WA Gov. Inslee Touts Green Energy at New Moses Lake Battery Factory (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3941172/inslee-visit-grant-co-battery-manufacturer-promote-green-energy/

16.   Solar Energy – Production Underway at REC (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2023/nov/30/production-underway-at-rec/

17.   Salt River Project Pursues Plan to Use Solar, Hydro Energy to Power Thousands of Arizona Homes (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/energy/2023/12/02/srp-plans-to-use-solar-hydro-energy-to-power-thousands-of-arizona-homes/71767213007/

18.   Puget Sound Energy Plans to Nearly Double Clean Energy Portfolio by 2025 (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/41958-puget-sound-energy-plans-to-nearly-double-clean-energy-portfolio-by-2025/

19.   Clean Energy Traffic Jam Snarls Grid Access in Key Solar Market (Bloomberg Law)

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/solar-energy-traffic-jam-snarls-access-to-california-power-grid

20.   Why Utilities Can’t Afford to Ignore Stored Solar Panels (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/why-utilities-cant-afford-to-ignore-stored-solar-panels/700942/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

21.   New Washington State Rules Promoting Heat Pumps Face Pushback (Axios Seattle)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/12/04/heat-pumps-building-codes-washington-state

FISH & WILDLIFE

22.   World’s Largest Gathering of Bald Eagles Threatened by Alaska Copper Mine Project, Environmentalists Say (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chilkat-bald-eagle-preserve-copper-mine/

23.   Okanagan River Salmon Eyed for Endangered-Species Protection (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://kuow.org/stories/okanagan-river-salmon-eyed-for-endangered-species-protection

24.   Inside The Effort to Truck Sockeye Salmon Past Lake Washington (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/inside-the-effort-to-truck-sockeye-salmon-past-lake-washington/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

25.   Army Water Regulators Await Torrent of Winter Moisture Set to Blast the Pacific Northwest (U.S. Army)

https://www.army.mil/article/272071/army_water_regulators_await_torrent_of_winter_moisture_set_to_blast_the_pacific_northwest

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   Washington Farm Bureau: Cap-And-Trade Costs Farmers Over $153 Million (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.capitalpress.com/climate_changed/washington-farm-bureau-cap-and-trade-costs-farmers-over-153-million/article_7d86725a-9081-11ee-a4ac-cb1bdb1a5bd9.html

27.   Initiative Poses Extra Hurdle for Merging of Washington, California Carbon Markets (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/12/02/initiative-poses-extra-hurdle-for-merging-of-washington-california-carbon-markets/

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

28.   FCC To Vote on New Pole Attachments Rules to Promote Broadband Expansion (National Law Review)

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/fcc-vote-new-pole-attachments-rules-promote-broadband-expansion

29.   WA State: Ribbon Cutting for Brinnon Broadband (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

https://masonwebtv.com/archives/54683

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

30.   Bitcoin Has Surpassed $41,000 for the First Time Since April 2022. What’s Behind the Price Surge? (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/bitcoin-has-surpassed-41-000-for-the-first-time-18532787.php

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   Electric Vehicle Chargers: New Target for Washington Copper Thieves (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/crime/ev-chargers-new-target-washington-copper-thieves/281-e720eefe-8553-435c-b6e2-bac885579aa8

32.   How Power Companies Can Ride the Electric Vehicle Wave for New Revenue (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/how-power-companies-can-ride-the-ev-wave-for-new-revenue/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

33.   Idaho & the Energy Future: The Nuclear Batteries That Power NASA Missions (BYU Scroll)

https://byuiscroll.org/idaho-and-the-energy-future-the-nuclear-batteries-that-power-nasa-missions/

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

34.   Culture Complaints Spark WA Utilities Commission Investigation (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/news/2023/11/culture-complaints-spark-wa-utilities-commission-investigation

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

35.   Former WSDOT Economist Accuses State Leaders of Retaliation for Refusing to Lie About Gas Prices (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/investigations/former-wsdot-economist-accuses-state-retaliation-for-refusing-lie-gas-prices/281-09151707-2976-48e2-bdd5-c65e36a52aac

36.   A Potent Atmospheric River Will Bring Heavy Rain & Some Flooding to the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-potent-atmospheric-river-will-bring.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

37.   Editorial: Secret Talks on Snake River Dams Bad Policy (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/dec/01/in-our-view-secret-talks-on-salmon-river-dams-bad-policy/

38.   Opinion: NRECA – U.S. Government’s Secret Anti-Hydro Deal is Major Threat to Reliability in Pacific Northwest (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/nreca-u-s-governments-secret-anti-hydro-deal-is-major-threat-to-reliability-in-pacific-northwest

39.   Editorial: How Deep Is WA Gov. Inslee’s New Appreciation for Local Perspectives? (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/op-ed/article282480693.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Rizz (Charisma) Named Word of the Year 2023 by Oxford University Press

https://news.yahoo.com/rizz-named-word-2023-oxford-000923783.html?.tsrc=1013

Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp Deal Backfires, Chewing Up $11 Million in Profit

https://globalnews.ca/news/10142337/red-lobster-endless-shrimp-deal-profit-loss/

Vandal Costs Woodinville Winery Hundreds of Thousands after Draining More Than 21,000 Bottles

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/vandal-costs-woodinville-winery-hundreds-thousands-after-draining-more-than-21000-bottles/36WX4PQEIRHCVDAQTA2HGDKCVQ/

Washington City Council Candidate Who Didn’t Vote Loses by One Ballot

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/04/Rainier-City-Council-Washington-one-vote/2021701709770/

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Burdon & War - Spill the Wine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W77Kwh6f0TE

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. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help access some paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for November 29, 2023

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest. 

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

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Leaked ‘Secret Plan’ Reveals Biden Admin’s $1 Billion Proposal Preparing for Snake Dam Breaching (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/leaked-secret-plan-reveals-biden-admins-1b-plus-proposal-preparing-for-snake-dam-breaching,330011

New Nuclear Projects Remain a Challenge for Public Power (Fitch Ratings)

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/new-nuclear-projects-remain-challenge-for-public-power-29-11-2023

Pacific Power’s Parent Company Wants to Limit Liability from Future Wildfire-Related Lawsuits After Oregon Ruling (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/pacific-power-pacificorp-wildfire-customer-rates-public-utility-commission-board/283-e1e56cfd-fed2-48dc-b234-42873e763b4e

Solar Adoption in Oregon Rose Sharply Over Past Decade (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/11/26/solar-power-oregon/

Climate Change, Drought, Wildfires Reduce Value of Private Forestland in the West by Billions (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/11/27/climate-change-drought-wildfires-reduce-value-of-private-forestland-in-the-west-by-billions/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Leaked ‘Secret Plan’ Reveals Biden Admin’s $1 Billion Proposal Preparing for Snake Dam Breaching

2.      News Release: Secret Agreement Between U.S. Government & Anti-Hydro Plaintiff Groups Represents ‘Greatest Threat’ for the Region

3.      News Release: Northwest Lawmakers Request Additional Information on Package of Actions and Commitments to Determine the Future of the Lower Snake River Dams

4.      New Nuclear Projects Remain a Challenge for Public Power

5.      Pacific Power’s Parent Company Wants to Limit Liability from Future Wildfire-Related Lawsuits After Oregon Ruling

6.      Nevada Public Utilities Commission Faces Legal Challenge Over Electricity Rate Subsidies

7.      APPA President & CEO Scott Corwin Sees Natural Gas Continuing to Play Key Role in Maintaining Reliability

8.      WA State: Chelan County PUD Uses Helicopter for Transmission Line Tag Replacement

9.      Alaska: GVEA’s New Executive Wrestles with Power-Generation Challenges

10.   APPA Urges Members to Sign Letter to Congress in Support of LIHEAP

11.   Solar Adoption in Oregon Rose Sharply Over Past Decade

12.   WA State: Klickitat County Adopts Moratorium on Large-Scale Solar Development

13.   Google’s Geothermal Energy Project Now Powers Nevada Data Centers

14.   Environmentalists Face Off Against Environmentalists Over Offshore Wind Projects

15.   Permitting Purgatory – Inside Biden’s Race to Connect Renewables to the Grid

16.   Study: Salton Sea Has Enough Lithium to Make More Than 375 Million EV Batteries

17.   WA Adopts New Rules to Phase Out Fossil Fuels in New Construction

18.   Energy Efficiency Must Double in Pace by 2030 to Hit Climate Goals, IEA Says

19.   Does Unplugging Appliances Save Electricity? Yes—and See the 8 Biggest Energy Hogs

20.   Salmon Competing with Industry as Glaciers Melt Says Study — Exposing New Habitat

21.   U.S. Moves to Protect Wolverines as Climate Change Melts Their Mountain Refuges, Threatens Extinction

22.   Tensions Are Bubbling Up at Thirsty Arizona Alfalfa Farms as Foreign Firms Exploit Unregulated Water

23.   NASA Satellites Could Be a New Tool to Help Estimate Snowpack, Manage Water Resources

24.   Climate Change, Drought, Wildfires Reduce Value of Private Forestland in the West by Billions

25.   Lower Carbon Dioxide Emissions Are Partially Due to Shifts in Power Generation Sources

26.   New Hardiness Zone Map Will Help U.S. Gardeners Keep Pace with Climate Change

27.   USDA Invests $2.28 Million to Expand Healthcare, Broadband in Rural Oregon

28.   FCC to Consider ‘Rapid Response Team’ for Pole Attachment Disputes at December Meeting

29.   Fake AI-Generated Woman on Tech Conference Agenda Leads Microsoft & Amazon Execs to Drop Out

30.   iPhone’s New NameDrop Feature Has Cops Warning Parents — Do You Need to Be Worried?

31.   A Rough Patch on the Road to an Electric Car Future

32.   Is the Internet Bad for Mental Health? What the Latest Study Really Means.

33.   Canada: Federal Government Reaches Deal with Google on Online News Act

34.   High-Fat Flight Is First Jetliner to Make Fossil Fuel-Free Trans-Atlantic Crossing from London to NY

35.   Seattle Lobbying Firm Strategies 360 Files for Bankruptcy Amid Legal Feud

36.   Freezing Rain & Snow Hits Thursday for Most of Washington State

37.   Seattle Winter May Come Sooner Than You Think

38.   Christmas Trees — And the Farmers Who Grow Them — Are Vanishing

39.   Editorial: WA Governor’s Spokesman Insinuates State Is Succeeding at ‘Salmon Restoration.’ He’s Wrong.

40.   Guest Essay: WA Has an Obligation to Tribes & All Citizens to Fix Salmon-Blocking Culverts

WORD OF THE DAY

Afflatus • \ah-FLAYT-tuss\ • Noun – A divine imparting of knowledge or power.

Wilbur, a novice in the competitive fire-house chili contests, surprised the grizzled culinary judges by winning the grand champion award. Although there was no evidence of cheating, the judges were perplexed by Wilbur’s unexpected knowledge and skill in the contest, which could only be attributed to divine inspiration. As an aside, the judges agreed that the “afflatus quotient” was strong with him.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Leaked ‘Secret Plan’ Reveals Biden Admin’s $1 Billion Proposal Preparing for Snake Dam Breaching (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/leaked-secret-plan-reveals-biden-admins-1b-plus-proposal-preparing-for-snake-dam-breaching,330011

2.      News Release: Secret Agreement Between U.S. Government & Anti-Hydro Plaintiff Groups Represents ‘Greatest Threat’ for the Region (NW RiverPartners)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2023/11/news-release-secret-agreement-between.html

3.      News Release: Northwest Lawmakers Request Additional Information on Package of Actions and Commitments to Determine the Future of the Lower Snake River Dams (U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, WA)

https://mcmorris.house.gov/posts/northwest-lawmakers-request-additional-information-on-package-of-actions-and-commitments-to-determine-the-future-of-the-lower-snake-river-dams

4.      New Nuclear Projects Remain a Challenge for Public Power (Fitch Ratings)

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/new-nuclear-projects-remain-challenge-for-public-power-29-11-2023

5.      Pacific Power’s Parent Company Wants to Limit Liability from Future Wildfire-Related Lawsuits After Oregon Ruling (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/pacific-power-pacificorp-wildfire-customer-rates-public-utility-commission-board/283-e1e56cfd-fed2-48dc-b234-42873e763b4e

6.      Nevada Public Utilities Commission Faces Legal Challenge Over Electricity Rate Subsidies (Energy Portal)

https://www.energyportal.eu/news/lv-resort-industry-asks-judge-to-throw-out-puc-order-granting-nv-energy-statewide-rate/542784/#gsc.tab=0

7.      APPA President & CEO Scott Corwin Sees Natural Gas Continuing to Play Key Role in Maintaining Reliability (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-president-and-ceo-scott-corwin-sees-natural-gas-continuing-play-key-role-maintaining

8.      WA State: Chelan County PUD Uses Helicopter for Transmission Line Tag Replacement (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/chelan-county-pud-uses-helicopter-for-transmission-line-tag-replacement/article_c7dd690c-8e16-11ee-b7c3-9f40973f614b.html

9.      Alaska: GVEA’s New Executive Wrestles with Power-Generation Challenges (KUAC-Radio, Fairbanks, AK)

https://fm.kuac.org/energy-and-environment/2023-11-28/gveas-new-executive-wrestles-with-power-generation-challenges

10.   APPA Urges Members to Sign Letter to Congress in Support of LIHEAP (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-urges-members-sign-letter-congress-support-liheap

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

11.   Solar Adoption in Oregon Rose Sharply Over Past Decade (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/11/26/solar-power-oregon/

12.   WA State: Klickitat County Adopts Moratorium on Large-Scale Solar Development (Gorge Radio, Hood River, OR)

https://gorgeradio.com/?pg=35041&post=true

13.   Google’s Geothermal Energy Project Now Powers Nevada Data Centers (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/google-s-geothermal-energy-project-nevada-data-centers-1851055753

14.   Environmentalists Face Off Against Environmentalists Over Offshore Wind Projects (Wall Street Journal, Via Windwatch)

https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2023/11/29/environmentalists-face-off-against-environmentalists-over-offshore-wind-projects/

15.   Permitting Purgatory – Inside Biden’s Race to Connect Renewables to the Grid (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/inside-bidens-race-to-connect-renewables-to-the-grid/

16.   Study: Salton Sea Has Enough Lithium to Make More Than 375 Million EV Batteries (The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, CA)

https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/11/28/study-salton-sea-has-enough-lithium-to-make-more-than-375-million-ev-batteries/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

17.   WA Adopts New Rules to Phase Out Fossil Fuels in New Construction (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/wa-adopts-new-rules-to-phase-out-fossil-fuels-in-new-construction/

18.   Energy Efficiency Must Double in Pace by 2030 to Hit Climate Goals, IEA Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/energy-efficiency-must-double-pace-by-2030-hit-climate-goals-iea-says-2023-11-29/

19.   Does Unplugging Appliances Save Electricity? Yes—and See the 8 Biggest Energy Hogs (Bob Vila)

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/does-unplugging-appliances-save-electricity/

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   Salmon Competing with Industry as Glaciers Melt Says Study — Exposing New Habitat (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/salmon-competing-with-industry-as-glaciers-melt-says-study-exposing-new-habitat-1.7042872

21.   U.S. Moves to Protect Wolverines as Climate Change Melts Their Mountain Refuges, Threatens Extinction (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wolverine-species-endangered-climate-change-024ec09a032851a26a248fab93ad7d0e

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

22.   Tensions Are Bubbling Up at Thirsty Arizona Alfalfa Farms as Foreign Firms Exploit Unregulated Water (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-uae-alfalfa-water-arizona-drought-d911d5219c8f41dc44d65fb2af6b04df

23.   NASA Satellites Could Be a New Tool to Help Estimate Snowpack, Manage Water Resources (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/11/29/nasa-satellites-could-be-a-new-tool-to-help-estimate-snowpack-manage-water-resources/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

24.   Climate Change, Drought, Wildfires Reduce Value of Private Forestland in the West by Billions (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/11/27/climate-change-drought-wildfires-reduce-value-of-private-forestland-in-the-west-by-billions/

25.   Lower Carbon Dioxide Emissions Are Partially Due to Shifts in Power Generation Sources (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61023

26.   New Hardiness Zone Map Will Help U.S. Gardeners Keep Pace with Climate Change (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/garden-hardiness-climate-change-usda-zones-89d78178703e30bc3fd948ceaff61e7f

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   USDA Invests $2.28 Million to Expand Healthcare, Broadband in Rural Oregon (Columbia Gorge News, Hood River, OR)

https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/usda-invests-2-28m-to-expand-healthcare-broadband-in-rural-oregon/article_2ef9eeec-8e64-11ee-b747-d715ed971fd1.html

28.   FCC to Consider ‘Rapid Response Team’ for Pole Attachment Disputes at December Meeting (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2023/11/fcc-to-consider-rapid-response-team-for-pole-attachment-disputes-at-december-meeting/

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

29.   Fake AI-Generated Woman on Tech Conference Agenda Leads Microsoft & Amazon Execs to Drop Out (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/tech-conference-fake-women-ai-generated-devternity-98ed551e90ec49e81589cc928715ae3c

30.   iPhone’s New NameDrop Feature Has Cops Warning Parents — Do You Need to Be Worried? (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/iphones-new-namedrop-feature-has-cops-warning-parents--but-do-you-need-to-be-worried-225423659.html

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

31.   A Rough Patch on the Road to an Electric Car Future (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2023/1128/A-rough-patch-on-the-road-to-an-electric-car-future

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

32.   Is the Internet Bad for Mental Health? What the Latest Study Really Means. (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/article/internet-mental-health

33.   Canada: Federal Government Reaches Deal with Google on Online News Act (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/google-online-news-act-1.7043330?cmp=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

34.   High-Fat Flight Is First Jetliner to Make Fossil Fuel-Free Trans-Atlantic Crossing from London to NY (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/high-fat-flight-is-first-jetliner-to-make-18520256.php

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

35.   Seattle Lobbying Firm Strategies 360 Files for Bankruptcy Amid Legal Feud (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-lobbying-firm-strategies-360-files-for-bankruptcy-amid-legal-feud/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

36.   Freezing Rain & Snow Hits Thursday for Most of Washington State (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/134/p/snow-thursday-washington-state/

37.   Seattle Winter May Come Sooner Than You Think (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3940822/winter-in-the-pacific-northwest-may-be-sooner-than-you-think/

38.   Christmas Trees — And the Farmers Who Grow Them — Are Vanishing (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/christmas-trees-shortage-1.7040722?cmp=rss

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

39.   Editorial: WA Governor’s Spokesman Insinuates State Is Succeeding at ‘Salmon Restoration.’ He’s Wrong. (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/governors-spokesman-insinuates-state-is-succeeding-at-salmon-restoration-hes-wrong

40.   Guest Essay: WA Has an Obligation to Tribes & All Citizens to Fix Salmon-Blocking Culverts (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/wa-has-an-obligation-to-tribes-and-all-citizens-to-fix-salmon-blocking-culverts/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Driver Blasts Google Maps for Desert Road Detour on Trip to Los Angeles

https://ktla.com/news/california/driver-blasts-google-maps-for-desert-road-detour-on-trip-to-l-a/amp/

It’s the Holidays. Stop Resisting These Five Inevitable Christmas Songs

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/opinion/column/christmas-songs-nonstop-holiday-season-mariah-carey-RPE7WFTKMFDATAH55ALCDPE6Z4/

Indian Woman Has the Longest Hair in the World

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/11/29/india-Guinness-World-Records-longest-hair-living-person/3591701274446/

Sanitation Workers Dig Through 20 Tons of Trash to Find Lost Wedding Ring

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/11/28/Windham-New-Hampshire-wedding-ring/1041701207579/

SONG OF THE DAY

Canned Heat – On the Road Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A5Xl9hPowA

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.

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