The Energy News Digest for September 22, 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.

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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

After Ida Outages, Utility Proposals Include City of New Orleans Takeover of Its Grid (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-ida-environment-and-nature-louisiana-business-hurricanes-2737820cc6b661a59c9170782a1082dc

California Is Sued Over Its Rule on Solar Power Installers (NY Times)

https://goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-news/california-is-sued-over-its-rule-on-solar-power-installers/

WA State: Report – Group of Douglas County Residents Rallying to Oppose Potential Purchase of Land for Solar Farms (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/report-group-of-douglas-county-residents-rallying-to-oppose-potential-purchase-of-land-for-solar/article_e2e3557c-1b0e-11ec-bd1c-7723262f7e40.html

Montana: Initiative on Nuclear Facility Approvals OK’d for Signature-Gathering (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/initiative-on-nuclear-facility-approvals-okd-for-signature-gathering/article_6e722965-998d-5113-88a4-126d5cf222a9.html

This Year’s Monsoon Has Been One of Arizona’s Wettest (Cronkite News, AZ)

https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/09/21/arizona-weather-2021-monsoon-season-among-wettest-ever/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      After Ida Outages, Utility Proposals Include City of New Orleans Takeover of Its Grid

2.      Montana: Initiative on Nuclear Facility Approvals OK’d for Signature-Gathering

3.      A Hotter Climate Means Falling Trees — And More Power Outages

4.      Montana: NorthWestern Changes Laurel Power Plant Plans

5.      What One City’s Struggle to Ban Natural Gas Says About the Challenge of Electrifying Buildings

6.      City Council Votes to Have Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Help Bring Power to Navajo Families

7.      Molokai Has an Electricity Problem. This Co-Op Wants to Change That

8.      Chelan County PUD Names New Manager to Take Office in 2022

9.      California: Trinity PUD Pursues $9 Million Loan, Discusses Rate Hike

10.   New Research Charts the Impact of Covid-19 on U.S. Electricity Demand in 2020

11.   Guest Essay: Renewables Are Montana’s Energy Key

12.   Guest Essay: Infrastructure Bill Critical to Protect Salmon & a Way of Life

13.   California Is Sued Over Its Rule on Solar Power Installers

14.   WA State: Report – Group of Douglas County Residents Rallying to Oppose Potential Purchase of Land for Solar Farms

15.   Idaho: Proposed Wind Farm Raises Concerns Over Its Proximity to Minidoka Incarceration Site

16.   California: Ocotillo Wind Turbine Collapses—Again

17.   WA State: Snohomish PUD’s Arlington Microgrid Project Now Operational

18.   Solar Industry Demand Raises Temperature in Silicon Market

19.   All Major Bering Sea Crab Stocks Are Down Alarmingly This Season, Surveys Indicate

20.   British Columbia Fishermen Say Ottawa Has Cast Them Adrift

21.   Columbia River Basin Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Extended Two Weeks

22.   Southern Resident Grandmother Orca Missing, Likely Dead

23.   This Year’s Monsoon Has Been One of Arizona’s Wettest

24.   A Dry Year: Irrigators in the Columbia Basin Were Saved by Snowpack, But Dryland Farmers Took a Hit

25.   Drought Continues to Strangle American West, With No Relief in Sight

26.   U.S. Can Meet Paris Climate Commitments, But Will Need to Rely Heavily on Electric Utilities: Report

27.   The FCC Has Pledged to Update Its ‘Broken’ Broadband Mapping Process. Some States Are Starting to Go It Alone

28.   Portland General Electric, Hillsboro Data Center Operator Seek Renewable Energy for Facebook

29.   Tracking Stolen Crypto Is a Booming Business: How Blockchain Sleuths Recover Digital Loot

WORD OF THE DAY

Inchoate \inn-COE-utt\ Adjective - Being only partly in existence or operation: incipient; especially: imperfectly formed or formulated: formless, incoherent.

Brandy was certain that her detailed presentation on the origins of the Sith Lords was precise and well understood by her audience. Had she been sitting in the audience, she would have been keenly aware that her inchoate babblings were going right over the heads of the attendees. Her first mistake was mixing “Star Wars” imagery with “Star Trek” vocabulary; most notably, using the Klingon language in her wandering treatise.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      After Ida Outages, Utility Proposals Include City of New Orleans Takeover of Its Grid (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-ida-environment-and-nature-louisiana-business-hurricanes-2737820cc6b661a59c9170782a1082dc

2.      Montana: Initiative on Nuclear Facility Approvals OK’d for Signature-Gathering (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/initiative-on-nuclear-facility-approvals-okd-for-signature-gathering/article_6e722965-998d-5113-88a4-126d5cf222a9.html

3.      A Hotter Climate Means Falling Trees — And More Power Outages (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/20/1039108221/a-hotter-climate-means-falling-trees-and-more-power-outages

4.      Montana: NorthWestern Changes Laurel Power Plant Plans (Billings Gazette, MT – Paywall Advisory)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/northwestern-changes-laurel-power-plant-plans/article_95e770e9-06fa-5445-b251-0ad401c9f728.html

5.      What One City’s Struggle to Ban Natural Gas Says About the Challenge of Electrifying Buildings (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/buildings/bellingham-washington-natural-gas-ban-building-electrification/

6.      City Council Votes to Have Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Help Bring Power to Navajo Families (Spectrum News)

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/politics/2021/09/21/city-council-votes-to-have-ladwp-help-bring-power-to-navajo-families

7.      Molokai Has an Electricity Problem. This Co-Op Wants to Change That (Honolulu Civic Beat, HI)

https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/09/molokai-has-an-electricity-problem-this-co-op-wants-to-change-that/

8.      Chelan County PUD Names New Manager to Take Office in 2022 (NCW News, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/chelan-county-pud-names-new-manager-to-take-office-in-2022/

9.      California: Trinity PUD Pursues $9 Million Loan, Discusses Rate Hike (Trinity Journal, CA)

http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/local/article_93a1dce2-1b34-11ec-97bf-cb6e2555236f.html

10.   New Research Charts the Impact of Covid-19 on U.S. Electricity Demand in 2020 (PCI News)

https://blog.powercosts.com/2021/09/21/new-research-charts-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-u-s-electricity-demand-in-2020/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

11.   Guest Essay: Renewables Are Montana’s Energy Key (Montana Standard, Butte, MT)

https://mtstandard.com/opinion/columnists/guest-view-renewables-are-montanas-energy-key/article_21b3ef84-65f4-54ad-8fc6-a5a901060cde.html

12.   Guest Essay: Infrastructure Bill Critical to Protect Salmon & a Way of Life (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article254301183.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

13.   California Is Sued Over Its Rule on Solar Power Installers (NY Times)

https://goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-news/california-is-sued-over-its-rule-on-solar-power-installers/

14.   WA State: Report – Group of Douglas County Residents Rallying to Oppose Potential Purchase of Land for Solar Farms (iFiberOne News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/report-group-of-douglas-county-residents-rallying-to-oppose-potential-purchase-of-land-for-solar/article_e2e3557c-1b0e-11ec-bd1c-7723262f7e40.html

15.   Idaho: Proposed Wind Farm Raises Concerns Over Its Proximity to Minidoka Incarceration Site (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2021-09-20/proposed-wind-farm-raises-concerns-over-its-proximity-to-minidoka-incarceration-camp

16.   California: Ocotillo Wind Turbine Collapses—Again (East County Magazine, CA)

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/ocotillo-wind-turbine-collapses-again

17.   WA State: Snohomish PUD’s Arlington Microgrid Project Now Operational (North County Outlook, Marysville, WA)

https://www.northcountyoutlook.com/news/puds-arlington-microgrid-project-now-operational/article_dc8b3446-1af6-11ec-ac89-5bec01ef2cfe.html

18.   Solar Industry Demand Raises Temperature in Silicon Market (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/solar-industry-demand-raises-temperature-silicon-market-2021-09-21/

FISH & WILDLIFE

19.   All Major Bering Sea Crab Stocks Are Down Alarmingly This Season, Surveys Indicate (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2021/09/13/all-major-bering-sea-crab-stocks-are-down-substantially-this-season-survey-results-show/

20.   British Columbia Fishermen Say Ottawa Has Cast Them Adrift (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)

https://www.timescolonist.com/business/b-c-fishermen-say-ottawa-has-cast-them-adrift-1.24359610

21.   Columbia River Basin Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Extended Two Weeks (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Pikeminnow-sport-reward-fishery-extended-two-weeks.aspx

22.   Southern Resident Grandmother Orca Missing, Likely Dead (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/canada-science-environment-and-nature-washington-puget-sound-65b7adf7c6cd872b79d1fedaa5a27aba

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

23.   This Year’s Monsoon Has Been One of Arizona’s Wettest (Cronkite News, AZ)

https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/09/21/arizona-weather-2021-monsoon-season-among-wettest-ever/

24.   A Dry Year: Irrigators in the Columbia Basin Were Saved by Snowpack, But Dryland Farmers Took a Hit (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/sep/22/dry-year-irrigators-columbia-basin-were-saved-snow/

25.   Drought Continues to Strangle American West, With No Relief in Sight (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/drought-grips-american-west-with-no-relief-in-sight/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

26.   U.S. Can Meet Paris Climate Commitments, But Will Need to Rely Heavily on Electric Utilities: Report (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-can-meet-paris-climate-commitments-but-will-need-to-rely-heavily-on-elec/606883/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

27.   The FCC Has Pledged to Update Its ‘Broken’ Broadband Mapping Process. Some States Are Starting to Go It Alone (Morning Consult)

https://morningconsult.com/2021/09/20/state-level-broadband-mapping-fcc-data/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

28.   Portland General Electric, Hillsboro Data Center Operator Seek Renewable Energy for Facebook (Portland Business Journal, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2021/09/21/pge-qts-facebook-hillsboro.html

29.   Tracking Stolen Crypto Is a Booming Business: How Blockchain Sleuths Recover Digital Loot (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/22/stolen-crypto/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

The ‘Devious Licks’ TikTok Trend Is Getting Teens Arrested

https://gizmodo.com/the-devious-licks-tiktok-trend-is-getting-teens-arreste-1847723234

In Pictures: Where Elephants Help Make Paper

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2021/0921/In-Pictures-Where-elephants-help-make-paper?icid=rss

Florida Woman’s Lost Dog Turns Up on Facebook Nearly a Year Later

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/20/lost-dog-reunited-nearly-one-year-Lisa-Raulerson-West-Palm-Beach-Florida-Sparky/3201632172454/

Colorado Town Pleads for Return of Stolen Phone Booth

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/17/phone-booth-Cope-Colorado-stolen/6201631912735/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Clash – I Fought the Law

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

The Energy News Digest for September 20, 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.

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.

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Safety Blackouts in Northern California Amid Risky Wildfire Conditions (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article254365913.html

WA State: Massive Cryptocurrency Mining Operation Planned at Former Ponderay Newsprint Mill (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/massive-cryptocurrency-mining-operation-planned-150100110.html

Sauk-Suiattle Tribe Sues Seattle City Light Over Green Stance (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-science-lawsuits-fish-seattle-c81966e58203b70ca5b8e8624b64cea3

Illegal Marijuana Farms Take West’s Water in ‘Blatant Theft’ (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-oregon-droughts-marijuana-333e813d352fd2343e3adfe4f954e61a

Fearing Battery Fires After Recalls, People Are Selling Their Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicles Back to GM (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/18/cars/chevrolet-bolt-buybacks/index.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Safety Blackouts in Northern California Amid Risky Wildfire Conditions

2.      WA State: Massive Cryptocurrency Mining Operation Planned at Former Ponderay Newsprint Mill

3.      Sauk-Suiattle Tribe Sues Seattle City Light Over Green Stance

4.      Montana: Senator Tester Faces Choice on Colstrip, Energy Jobs

5.      Montana Consumer Advocate Seeks Electricity Rate Change Dismissal for NorthWest Energy

6.      WA State to Use Federal Utility Funds to Help People Pay for Air Conditioning, Not Just Heat

7.      Amid Soaring Natural Gas Prices, A Boost for Coal

8.      ‘Perfect Storm’ for Power Outages Brewing in British Columbia, Hydro Report Says

9.      Mylar Balloons Cause Power Outages This Year for 68,000 in El Paso, Las Cruces

10.   News Release: USDA Forest Service & Western Area Power Administration Working Together to Reduce Wildfire Threat & Prevent Outages

11.   Dems’ Federal Clean Electricity Plan Could Leave Out Big Utilities

12.   Britain & Norway Sign Pact on New Power Interconnector – Hydropower Boost in the Offing

13.   To Prevent Electricity Shortages, Save Nuclear & Coal Plants

14.   Guest Essay: President Biden Needs One Voice to Lead on Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s Plan to Save Salmon

15.   Guest Essay: Rural Oregon Seeks Bold Action on Climate

16.   A Hydrogen Hub in Utah Could Power Los Angeles’ Climate Future. Now Chevron Wants In

17.   Idaho: ‘Can’t Please Everybody.’ Community Members, Local Officials Continue to Question Wind Project

18.   California: Water Authority Seeks Proposals for Pumped Storage System at San Vicente

19.   World’s Longest-Operating Solar Thermal Facility Is Retiring Most of Its Capacity

20.   New Design for Offshore Wind Farm Has Lots of Fans

21.   Feds OK Plan to Cut Salmon Fishing When Needed for Orcas

22.   Record Alaska Salmon Catches Buoy Gig Harbor Fishing Fleet with ‘Best Season’ in Years

23.   Why Are Columbia River Steelhead Having Such a Bad Year?

24.   Faroe Islands Will Review Regulations after Record Dolphin Slaughter

25.   Your Gas Stove Is Polluting Your Own Home. Go Electric

26.   Illegal Marijuana Farms Take West’s Water in ‘Blatant Theft’

27.   Drought Tests Centuries-Old Water Traditions in New Mexico

28.   2020-21: The Water Year of Surprises

29.   WA State: ToledoTel Seeks Partnership with Lewis County to Expand High-Speed Internet to Winlock & Napavine

30.   WA State: Jefferson PUD Aims to Extend High Speed Internet

31.   Bitcoin Uses as Much Electricity as Washington State. How Is That Possible?

32.   Fearing Battery Fires After Recalls, People Are Selling Their Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicles Back to GM

33.   Our Electric Road-Trip Future Looks a Lot Like Buc-ee’s

34.   Public Wants Washington State to Help Struggling Newspapers

35.   Goats Are Cute, Hungry, and Might Help Save California

36.   Interior Reverses Trump, Moves BLM Headquarters Back to DC

37.   High-Stakes Christmas Looms as Surging Toy Demand Meets Supply-Chain Snarls

WORD OF THE DAY

Élan • \ay-LAWN\ • Noun - Vigorous spirit or enthusiasm

A great description of élan comes from Stevie Winwood’s Back in the High Life Again, “…We will drink and dance with one hand free…”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Warns of Safety Blackouts in Northern California Amid Risky Wildfire Conditions (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article254365913.html

2.      WA State: Massive Cryptocurrency Mining Operation Planned at Former Ponderay Newsprint Mill (Yahoo News)

https://news.yahoo.com/massive-cryptocurrency-mining-operation-planned-150100110.html

3.      Sauk-Suiattle Tribe Sues Seattle City Light Over Green Stance (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-science-lawsuits-fish-seattle-c81966e58203b70ca5b8e8624b64cea3

4.      Montana: Senator Tester Faces Choice on Colstrip, Energy Jobs (The Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, MT)

https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/sep/19/senator-tester-faces-choice-colstrip-energy-jobs/

5.      Montana Consumer Advocate Seeks Electricity Rate Change Dismissal for NorthWest Energy (Yellowstone Public Radio)

https://www.ypradio.org/energy/2021-09-16/montana-consumer-advocate-seeks-electricity-rate-change-dismissal

6.      WA State to Use Federal Utility Funds to Help People Pay for Air Conditioning, Not Just Heat (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/article254265978.html?

7.      Amid Soaring Natural Gas Prices, A Boost for Coal (Casper Star-Tribune WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/amid-soaring-natural-gas-prices-a-boost-for-coal/article_9449ef2e-abe9-510f-aae1-140e5374c966.html

8.      ‘Perfect Storm’ for Power Outages Brewing in British Columbia, Hydro Report Says (The Weather Network)

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/perfect-storm-for-power-outages-brewing-in-british-columbia-hydro-report-says

9.      Mylar Balloons Cause Power Outages This Year for 68,000 in El Paso, Las Cruces (KVIA-TV, El Paso, TX)

https://kvia.com/news/local-news/2021/09/16/mylar-balloons-cause-power-outages-this-year-for-68000-in-el-paso-las-cruces/

10.   News Release: USDA Forest Service & Western Area Power Administration Working Together to Reduce Wildfire Threat & Prevent Outages (USDA Forest Service)

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD953616

11.   Dems’ Federal Clean Electricity Plan Could Leave Out Big Utilities (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/dems-clean-electricity-plan-could-leave-out-big-utilities/

12.   Britain & Norway Sign Pact on New Power Interconnector – Hydropower Boost in the Offing (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/britain-norway-sign-pact-new-power-interconnector-2021-09-16/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

13.   To Prevent Electricity Shortages, Save Nuclear & Coal Plants (Washington Examiner)

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/to-prevent-electricity-shortages-save-nuclear-and-coal-plants

14.   Guest Essay: President Biden Needs One Voice to Lead on Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s Plan to Save Salmon (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article254259178.html

15.   Guest Essay: Rural Oregon Seeks Bold Action on Climate (Eugene Register-Guard, OR – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/09/18/guest-view-rural-oregon-seeks-bold-action-climate-climate-change-fossil-fuels-energy-ruarl-community/8353379002/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

16.   A Hydrogen Hub in Utah Could Power Los Angeles’ Climate Future. Now Chevron Wants In (Los Angeles Times, CA)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2021-09-16/hydrogen-hub-utah-los-angeles-chevron-boiling-point

17.   Idaho: ‘Can’t Please Everybody.’ Community Members, Local Officials Continue to Question Wind Project (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

https://magicvalley.com/news/local/cant-please-everybody-community-members-local-officials-continue-to-question-wind-project/article_d38fa47f-2737-5918-8ec1-4acfa5f26a58.html

18.   California: Water Authority Seeks Proposals for Pumped Storage System at San Vicente (California News-Times)

https://californianewstimes.com/water-authority-seeks-proposals-for-pumped-storage-system-at-san-vicente/524859/

19.   World’s Longest-Operating Solar Thermal Facility Is Retiring Most of Its Capacity (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=49616

20.   New Design for Offshore Wind Farm Has Lots of Fans (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/new-design-for-offshore-wind-farm-has-lots-of-fans-a935cdbe-321e-4e1b-a578-e5c821f3ceb2.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Feds OK Plan to Cut Salmon Fishing When Needed for Orcas (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/feds-ok-plan-to-cut-salmon-fishing-when-needed-for-orcas

22.   Record Alaska Salmon Catches Buoy Gig Harbor Fishing Fleet with ‘Best Season’ in Years (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-news/article254270273.html

23.   Why Are Columbia River Steelhead Having Such a Bad Year? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/09/16/steelhead-columbia-river-record-low-science/

24.   Faroe Islands Will Review Regulations after Record Dolphin Slaughter (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/faroe-islands-dolphin-follow-1.6179472?cmp=rss

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

25.   Your Gas Stove Is Polluting Your Own Home. Go Electric (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/16/your-gas-stove-is-leaking-air-pollution-inside-your-own-home-go-electric

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

26.   Illegal Marijuana Farms Take West’s Water in ‘Blatant Theft’ (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-oregon-droughts-marijuana-333e813d352fd2343e3adfe4f954e61a

27.   Drought Tests Centuries-Old Water Traditions in New Mexico (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-mountains-climate-environment-and-nature-new-mexico-24965087147cf6c38af75bfabc840b01

28.   2020-21: The Water Year of Surprises (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/2020-21-the-water-year-of-surprises/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   WA State: ToledoTel Seeks Partnership with Lewis County to Expand High-Speed Internet to Winlock & Napavine (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/toledotel-seeks-partnership-with-lewis-county-to-expand-high-speed-internet-to-winlock-and-napavine,272859

30.   WA State: Jefferson PUD Aims to Extend High Speed Internet (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/pud-aims-to-extend-high-speed-internet/

THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

31.   Bitcoin Uses as Much Electricity as Washington State. How Is That Possible? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/bitcoin-uses-as-much-electricity-as-washington-state-how-is-that-possible/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

32.   Fearing Battery Fires After Recalls, People Are Selling Their Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicles Back to GM (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/18/cars/chevrolet-bolt-buybacks/index.html

33.   Our Electric Road-Trip Future Looks a Lot Like Buc-ee’s (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-09-14/our-ev-road-trip-future-looks-a-lot-like-buc-ee-s

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

34.   Public Wants Washington State to Help Struggling Newspapers (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/public-wants-state-to-help-struggling-newspapers/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

35.   Goats Are Cute, Hungry, and Might Help Save California (Marie Claire)

https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a37654029/goats-wildfires-california-2021/

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW TODAY

36.   Interior Reverses Trump, Moves BLM Headquarters Back to DC (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/572796-interior-to-restore-dc-land-management-hq-while-also-maintaining

37.   High-Stakes Christmas Looms as Surging Toy Demand Meets Supply-Chain Snarls (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/high-stakes-christmas-looms-surging-toy-demand-meets-supply-chain-snarls-2021-09-20/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘A Big Gray Elephant’: Paris’ Arc de Triomphe Is Wrapped Up

https://komonews.com/news/offbeat/a-big-gray-elephant-paris-arc-de-triomphe-is-wrapped-up

‘New’ Van Gogh Drawing to Go on Display in Amsterdam Museum

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-europe-museums-amsterdam-3cddc59408c2b405004cb674ca4d838c

Samuel Adams’ Latest Potent Beer Is Illegal in 15 States

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/20/Samuel-Adams-Utopias-beer-illegal-15-states/7301632163091/

Boston’s ‘Skinny House’ Sells for $1.25 Million

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/09/18/Boston-Skinny-House-sells-million/2781631985645/

SONG OF THE DAY

Joni Mitchell – Free Man in Paris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQj6h8KpkiQ