An analysis released by Northwest RiverPartners July 1 counters numerous assumptions made about economic benefits of breaching the four lower Snake River dams. Read MoreNW RiverPartners Counters Assumptions on Dam-Breaching Benefits
Top Stories
- Decline of Five Pacific Salmon Species Could Signal Tipping Point
- ISAB Agrees With Premise But Not Conclusions of Chinook Paper
- NWPCC Addresses Modeling Errors, But Results Might Not Vary
- Optimism for Columbia, Snake Sockeye Runs, But Challenges Remain
- Waning Hydro, Imports Make California Summer Uncertain for Grid
Avista on July 2 requested rate adjustments for Idaho natural gas customers that would result in a 10.6 percent, $7.1 million revenue increase effective Sept. 1. The filings would have no impact on the utility's earnings. The revenue increase is the net of the $9 million purchased gas increa… Read MoreBrief Mentions: News Roundup
The debate over changes to energy wheel-throughs in California intensified this week, with Arizona's top regulator charging that federal energy regulators allowed the California ISO "to unfairly block" electricity flowing to Arizona. Read MoreArizona Exploring 'Next Steps' After FERC OKs California ISO Wheel-Through Rules
A surge of heat across California and Nevada starting July 9 is expected to increase energy demand as temperatures likely reach record highs through July 11. Read MoreHigher Heat and Demand Drive Up Prices
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Jackie Flowers of Tacoma Public Utilities and Humaira Falkenberg of Pacific County PUD join co-hosts Karen Heim of the Public Power Council and Ahlmahz Negash of Tacoma Power for an all-female-cast episode to talk about workforces that are representative of our communities, in celebration of Women's History Month. You can find the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Substack.
In the latest Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the California Independent System Operator's latest look at expanding its footprint, Southwest Power Pool's announcement that Markets+ is moving into development early, big rate-increase requests from two SoCal utilities, Puget Sound Energy's push to shut down its natural gas business, and more.
A Northwest Power and Conservation Council advisory committee meeting was delayed a week to address modeling errors uncovered after concerns were raised about unexpected forecasts. Read MoreNWPCC Addresses Modeling Errors, But Results Might Not Vary
King County is poised to study waste-to-energy (WTE) technology as a way to avert maxing-out its Cedar Hills Landfill in 2040, but will have to address greenhouse gas emission restrictions imposed by the State of Washington if it opts to use it. Read MoreWaste-to-Energy Tech Eyed for Cedar Hills, But GHG Challenges Remain
The Montana PSC has approved increasing NorthWestern Energy's Power Cost and Credits Adjustment Mechanism (PCCAM) from nearly $62 million to just under $79 million. The rise comes in part from NWE having to spend more on capacity contracts to ensure it has enough power when it needs it. Read MoreCapacity Needs Driving Up Power Costs for NorthWestern Energy
Scientists who study Pacific salmon abundance and the influence of pink salmon runs on the ocean's food web say 2020's record-low catch and abundance of the five major salmon species in the North Pacific Ocean could signal the beginning of a new reality caused by a warming ocean, which gener… Read MoreDecline of Five Pacific Salmon Species Could Signal Tipping Point
Independent scientists say Canadian researcher David Welch correctly analyzed data to show that the Snake River's low returns of Chinook salmon are similar to the rate of returns for many Chinook runs from California to Alaska—including Chinook runs in undammed rivers. Read MoreISAB Agrees With Premise But Not Conclusions of Chinook Paper
Despite a record heat wave that sent river temperatures dangerously close to lethal limits for fish, sockeye salmon migrating up the Columbia and Snake rivers are already seeing more success in their journey upstream compared to 2015, when an estimated 250,000 sockeye died in the river. Read MoreOptimism for Columbia, Snake Sockeye Runs, But Challenges Remain
Decreasing hydropower and teetering amounts of imports are adding to the reasons California's electricity supply could fall short of demand this summer. Read MoreWaning Hydro, Imports Make California Summer Uncertain for Grid
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the largest shareholder of Puget Sound Energy's parent company, is selling its 31.6 percent stake in the utility to two asset management companies. Read MorePuget Sound Energy's New Investors Share Net-Zero GHG Goals
The Department of Energy on July 7 formally proposed more changes to a 2020 "process rule" for setting equipment efficiency standards, aiming to meet 2024 deadlines for updating the standards. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden continued his push for infrastructure legislation, including tax inc… Read MorePOTOMAC: DOE Proposes More 'Process Rule' Revisions