Wednesday, March 31, 2021

The Energy News Digest for March 31, 2021

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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm’s Virtual Meeting Draws Hundreds (KVEW/KAPP-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/minds-behind-horse-heaven-wind-farm-rescind-expedited-process-request-will-hold-public-hearing/

Pacific Gas & Electric Plan to Reserve Temporary Generators for Wildfire Season Has Groups Worried About Diesel Use (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pge-plan-to-reserve-temporary-generators-for-wildfire-season-has-groups-wo/597603/

Montana: Lewis & Clark Coal-Fired Power Plant Closing March 31 (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2021/03/29/lewis-clark-power-plant-closing-march-31/

President Biden Floats Plan to Bring Broadband to All Americans (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/biden-floats-plan-to-bring-broadband-to-all-americans-1846589551

California: Decision on Controversial Wind-Energy Project in Shasta County Could Come Soon (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2021/03/29/controversial-fountain-wind-project-decision-shasta-county/7046164002/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Plan to Reserve Temporary Generators for Wildfire Season Has Groups Worried About Diesel Use

2.      Montana: Lewis & Clark Coal-Fired Power Plant Closing March 31

3.      Wyoming Lawmakers Move Ahead with Proposed Coal Lawsuit Fund

4.      Snake River Dams - Significant Hydro-Related Federal Legislation Pending

5.      Groups’ Reps Pen a Letter Against Breaching Federal Snake River Dams

6.      Utah Approves $500,000 for Navajo Community Electricity Project

7.      Millions at Risk as States Begin to Lift Power Shut-Off Bans

8.      Lawsuit Challenges Gloria’s ‘Invitation to Bid’ On San Diego Electric & Gas Franchise Agreements

9.      Op/Ed: Gary Ivory – Douglas County PUD Plan Will Serve Our Community for Generations to Come

10.   Women in Public Power Offer Insights on Pathways to Leadership Positions

11.   Preparing for a Resilient Columbia River Hydropower System

12.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm’s Virtual Meeting Draws Hundreds

13.   California: Decision on Controversial Wind-Energy Project in Shasta County Could Come Soon

14.   GOP Lawmakers Take Aim at Arizona Renewable Energy Standards

15.   Interest in Hydrogen Fuel Growing in the Pacific Northwest -- And Tax Dollars Following

16.   Portland, Maine Company Builds Second Underwater Power Generator at Brunswick Landing for Alaskan Village

17.   Op/Ed: Joy Ditto - Incentivize Public Power’s Clean Energy Future

18.   Biomass: The ‘Green Energy’ That Might Be Ruining the Planet

19.   Puget Sound Energy Begins Smart Street Light Installations to Help Customers Save Energy, Reduce Carbon

20.   Op/Ed: All-Electric Homes Too Pricey for Low-Income Buyers

21.   Op/Ed: Studies Shed Light on Why Dams Matter to Salmon & Orcas

22.   Op/Ed: The Struggle to Share a Shrinking Resource — Northwest Salmon

23.   Editorial: Washington State’s Culvert Challenge Deserves Federal Funding

24.   Young Steelhead Begin Journey to Pacific as Part of Idaho Power’s Annual Fish-Hauling Operation

25.   U.S. Officials OK Plan to Send Radioactive Waste to Idaho

26.   Hazardous Waste Landfill in Oregon Plans Expansion

27.   Oregon: The Battle to Protect One of America’s Last Wild Landscapes

28.   Washington State Senator’s Cap-&-Trade Claim Mystifies Farm Groups

29.   What Idaho Researchers Are Learning About Climate Change from a Glacier

30.   President Biden Floats Plan to Bring Broadband to All Americans

31.   Oregon: Blue River Will Get Better Broadband, Thanks to Grant

32.   AT&T Says 10 Mbps Upload Speed is Enough for Nationwide Broadband: Lawyer Accuses Company of Overcharging

33.   T-Mobile Takes a Stab at 5G Home Broadband

34.   Volkswagen Admits Marketing Prank, Pulls Fake Release on Name Change

35.   Op/Ed: Mass Media Is Having a Very Bad Moment

36.   The Dalles Lock Set to Reopen After Emergency Repairs

37.   President Biden Calls for Massive Climate & Transit Package

WORD OF THE DAY

Foist /FOYST/ Verb - 1a: to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant b: to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit 2: to pass off as genuine or worthy.

Haha, just fooling.

Volkswagen foists false story.

And, gets burned by it.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Plan to Reserve Temporary Generators for Wildfire Season Has Groups Worried About Diesel Use (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pge-plan-to-reserve-temporary-generators-for-wildfire-season-has-groups-wo/597603/

2.      Montana: Lewis & Clark Coal-Fired Power Plant Closing March 31 (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2021/03/29/lewis-clark-power-plant-closing-march-31/

3.      Wyoming Lawmakers Move Ahead with Proposed Coal Lawsuit Fund (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wyoming/articles/2021-03-30/wyoming-lawmakers-move-ahead-with-proposed-coal-lawsuit-fund

4.      Snake River Dams - Significant Hydro-Related Federal Legislation Pending (Lexology)

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=acb2fedd-5a40-46bb-b666-f1b1dfb86d93

5.      Groups’ Reps Pen a Letter Against Breaching Federal Snake River Dams (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/groups-reps-pen-a-letter-against-breaching/article_f2214160-6f28-59a2-b3f1-8e5f4537498a.html

6.      Utah Approves $500,000 for Navajo Community Electricity Project (KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://ksltv.com/458642/utah-approves-500k-for-navajo-community-electricity-project/

7.      Millions at Risk as States Begin to Lift Power Shut-Off Bans (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/27/981875140/millions-at-risk-as-states-begin-to-lift-power-shut-off-bans

8.      Lawsuit Challenges Gloria’s ‘Invitation to Bid’ On San Diego Electric & Gas Franchise Agreements (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2021-03-29/lawsuit-itb

9.      Op/Ed: Gary Ivory – Douglas County PUD Plan Will Serve Our Community for Generations to Come (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/opinion/opinion-gary-ivory-douglas-county-pud-plan-will-serve-our-community-for-generations-to-come/article_705a2b16-90f8-11eb-bbd9-b327dadbb974.html

10.   Women in Public Power Offer Insights on Pathways to Leadership Positions (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/women-public-power-offer-insights-pathways-leadership-positions

11.   Preparing for a Resilient Columbia River Hydropower System (Bonneville Power Administration – PDF)

https://www.bpa.gov/news/pubs/FactSheets/fs-202102-Preparing-for-a-resilient-Columbia-River-hydropower-system.pdf

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

12.   WA State: Horse Heaven Wind Farm’s Virtual Meeting Draws Hundreds (KVEW/KAPP-TV, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA)

https://www.yaktrinews.com/minds-behind-horse-heaven-wind-farm-rescind-expedited-process-request-will-hold-public-hearing/

13.   California: Decision on Controversial Wind-Energy Project in Shasta County Could Come Soon (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2021/03/29/controversial-fountain-wind-project-decision-shasta-county/7046164002/

14.   GOP Lawmakers Take Aim at Arizona Renewable Energy Standards (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-03-30/gop-lawmakers-take-aim-at-arizona-renewable-energy-standards

15.   Interest in Hydrogen Fuel Growing in the Pacific Northwest -- And Tax Dollars Following (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/post/interest-hydrogen-fuel-growing-pacific-northwest-and-tax-dollars-following

16.   Portland, Maine Company Builds Second Underwater Power Generator at Brunswick Landing for Alaskan Village (Portland Press-Herald, ME)

https://www.pressherald.com/2021/03/29/portland-company-builds-second-underwater-power-generator-at-brunswick-landing-for-alaskan-village/

17.   Op/Ed: Joy Ditto - Incentivize Public Power’s Clean Energy Future (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/545686-incentivize-public-powers-clean-energy-future?rl=1

18.   Biomass: The ‘Green Energy’ That Might Be Ruining the Planet (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/03/26/biomass-carbon-climate-politics-477620

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Puget Sound Energy Begins Smart Street Light Installations to Help Customers Save Energy, Reduce Carbon (Whatcom Talk, Bellingham, WA)

https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2021/03/31/pse-begins-smart-street-light-installations-to-help-customers-save-energy-reduce-carbon/

20.   Op/Ed: All-Electric Homes Too Pricey for Low-Income Buyers (Colorado Politics)

https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/all-electric-homes-too-pricey-for-low-income-buyers/article_29c63b58-8d34-11eb-8e53-3becc7859c4c.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

21.   Op/Ed: Studies Shed Light on Why Dams Matter to Salmon & Orcas (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2021/03/30/your-turn-what-dams-mean-salmon-orcas/4810417001/

22.   Op/Ed: The Struggle to Share a Shrinking Resource — Northwest Salmon (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-struggle-to-share-a-shrinking-resource-northwest-salmon/

23.   Editorial: Washington State’s Culvert Challenge Deserves Federal Funding (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/washingtons-culvert-challenge-deserves-federal-funding/

24.   Young Steelhead Begin Journey to Pacific as Part of Idaho Power’s Annual Fish-Hauling Operation (Big Country News, Clarkston, WA)

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/idaho/young-steelhead-begin-journey-to-pacific-as-part-of-idaho-powers-annual-fish-hauling-operation/article_1bc6a398-919a-11eb-abbf-8b9796e56ce7.html

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFLATUS – CLEAN UP ON AISLE THREE

25.   U.S. Officials OK Plan to Send Radioactive Waste to Idaho (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/national/us-officials-ok-plan-to-send-radioactive-waste-to-idaho/277-b1c7f9d7-007a-433a-8d25-fe70429b81ec

26.   Hazardous Waste Landfill in Oregon Plans Expansion (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/chemical-waste-waste-management-hazardous-waste-oregon-8aef2824fa4504b887550043c49d74e4

27.   Oregon: The Battle to Protect One of America’s Last Wild Landscapes (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/owyhee-canyonlands-sagebrush-climate-change_n_605de458c5b66d30c743e3e5

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

28.   Washington State Senator’s Cap-&-Trade Claim Mystifies Farm Groups (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/state/washington/washington-senators-cap-and-trade-claim-mystifies-farm-groups/article_b40db8d4-90b5-11eb-ab02-e37ab2bc67ad.html

29.   What Idaho Researchers Are Learning About Climate Change from a Glacier (Boise Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/what-idaho-researchers-are-learning-about-climate-change-glacier#stream/0

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

30.   President Biden Floats Plan to Bring Broadband to All Americans (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/biden-floats-plan-to-bring-broadband-to-all-americans-1846589551

31.   Oregon: Blue River Will Get Better Broadband, Thanks to Grant (KLCC Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/post/blue-river-will-get-better-broadband-thanks-grant

32.   AT&T Says 10 Mbps Upload Speed is Enough for Nationwide Broadband: Lawyer Accuses Company of Overcharging (TechTimes)

https://www.techtimes.com/articles/258592/20210331/at-t-internet-deals-10-mbps-upload-speed-enough-nationwide-broadband-lawyer-overcharging.htm

33.   T-Mobile Takes a Stab at 5G Home Broadband (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-31/t-mobile-takes-a-stab-at-5g-home-broadband-where-others-failed

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

34.   Volkswagen Admits Marketing Prank, Pulls Fake Release on Name Change (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-usa-name/volkswagen-admits-marketing-prank-pulls-fake-release-on-name-change-idUSKBN2BM1O3

35.   Op/Ed: Mass Media Is Having a Very Bad Moment (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/mass-media-is-having-a-very-bad-moment/

BUSINESS, GOVERNANCE, & MANAGEMENT

36.   The Dalles Lock Set to Reopen After Emergency Repairs (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/2553911/the-dalles-lock-set-to-open-after-emergency-repairs/

37.   President Biden Calls for Massive Climate & Transit Package (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/biden-climate-transit-package-d9c8ffad-4486-4e61-a7bb-3d421fa0546d.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Doc Severinsen, Oregon Native & Longtime ‘Tonight Show’ Bandleader, Is Profiled in a PBS Special

https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2021/03/doc-severinsen-oregon-native-and-longtime-tonight-show-bandleader-is-profiled-in-a-pbs-special.html

Stranger Lived Undetected in Couple’s Basement, Stealing Their Food, Washington Cops Say

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/washington/article250325746.html?ac_cid=DM417821&ac_bid=-80541498

NCAA Kicks Beavers Out of Hotel in the Middle of the Night After Elite 8 Loss

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/oregon-state-beavers/ncaa-kicks-oregon-state-beavers-out-hotel-middle-night-after-elite-8

Hickory the Mule Is Back Home After Leading Hikers to Injured Owner, Then Disappearing into Forest

https://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/2021/03/hickory-the-mule-is-back-home-after-leading-hikers-to-injured-owner-then-disappearing-into-forest.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Doc Severinsen – McArthur Park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF8scBG0iJs

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.