The Energy News Digest for December 3, 2025

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors The Energy News Digest.

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits the Energy News Digest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Americans Lost More Power Last Year Than Any Year in Previous Decade - Hurricanes Accounted for 80% of Those Lost Hours (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/hurricane-power-outage-electricity-climate-change-helene-milton/806771/

Will Turbines Taller Than Space Needle Hurt Air Traffic at WA’s Third Largest Airport? (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/turbines-taller-space-needle-hurt-205241632.html

Trump Administration Renames Colorado’s National Renewable Energy Lab: The National Lab of the Rockies (Colorado Public Radio)

https://www.cpr.org/2025/12/01/nrel-renamed-national-lab-of-the-rockies-doe-trump/

Data Centers Are Thirsty for Water. This Nevada Region Is Prepared, at Least for Now (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/01/nx-s1-5580551/data-centers-are-thirsty-for-water-this-nevada-city-is-prepared-at-least-for-now

Massive La Nina Precipitation Coming to the Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2025/12/massive-la-nino-precipitation-coming-to.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Lost More Power Last Year Than Any Year in Previous Decade - Hurricanes Accounted for 80% of Those Lost Hours

2.      Utah: Rocky Mountain Power Requests 4.48% Rate Increase to Feed Fire Fund

3.      B.C. Hydro Taking Family to Court Over Blocked Work on Major Transmission Line

4.      WA State: Police Arrest Three People on Charges Including Theft of Electricity

5.      Puerto Rico Holds Hearings on Proposed Power Bill Increases as Customers Fume & Outages Persist

6.      News Release: Energy Department Selects TVA and Holtec to Advance Deployment of U.S. Small Modular Reactors

7.      Power Plants in Southwest Power Pool Can Expand Up to 20% Under New FERC-Approved Fast-Track Review

8.      Lawmakers Urged to Act as Cyberattacks Target an Aging U.S. Power Grid

9.      Will Turbines Taller Than Space Needle Hurt Air Traffic at WA’s Third Largest Airport?

10.   California Has a huge Solar Power Problem. A Fix Is Coming.

11.   Understanding Why America’s Biggest Solar Thermal Project Is Coming to an End

12.   Final Topsoil Report of 2025 Shows Dry Conditions in the Pacific Northwest

13.   Half of 2025 Climate Commitment Act Spending Went Toward Washington State Ferry Fleet Electrification

14.   North Dakota On Track to Be First in Nation with 100% Broadband Internet Access

15.   Data Centers Are Thirsty for Water. This Nevada Region Is Prepared, at Least for Now

16.   The Artificial Intelligence Frenzy Is Driving a Memory Chip Supply Crisis

17.   IBM CEO Says There Is ‘No Way’ Spending Trillions on Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Will Pay Off at Today’s Infrastructure Costs

18.   Electric Vehicle Sales Are Way Down. Here’s Why That Might Not Be a Big Deal.

19.   YouTube Says It Will Comply with Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban

20.   WA State: Fifteen of World’s Most Influential Scientists Work for, or with, This Tri-Cities Lab

21.   Trump Administration Renames Colorado’s National Renewable Energy Lab: The National Lab of the Rockies

22.   U.S. House Must Vote Now on Build More Hydro Act, Congressional Legislators Say

23.   Massive La Nina Precipitation Coming to the Northwest

24.   Podcast: Lewis County PUD GM David Plotz Discusses Clean Energy Implementation Plan, Data Centers

Word of the Day

Horologist \huh-RAWL-uh-jist\ Noun – 1: a person skilled in the practice or theory of horology 2: a maker of clocks or watches.

“Tic-toc, look at my clocks,” announced the wizened horologist to his assembled guests. Albert jumped a foot when they all started to chime at once. “Golly,” he thought. “This just like the ‘Time’ track on ‘Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon!’”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Americans Lost More Power Last Year Than Any Year in Previous Decade - Hurricanes Accounted for 80% of Those Lost Hours (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/hurricane-power-outage-electricity-climate-change-helene-milton/806771/

2.      Utah: Rocky Mountain Power Requests 4.48% Rate Increase to Feed Fire Fund (Utah News Dispatch)

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/12/02/rocky-mountain-power-rate-increase-for-fire-damage-fund/

3.      B.C. Hydro Taking Family to Court Over Blocked Work on Major Transmission Line (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-hydro-north-coast-transmission-line-court-case-9.7001827

4.      WA State: Police Arrest Three People on Charges Including Theft of Electricity (KAPP-TV, Yakima, WA)

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/kennewick-police-arrest-3-people-on-charges-including-theft-of-electricity/article_a213c245-2d2d-4b53-ad90-7a1c63e517f8.html

5.      Puerto Rico Holds Hearings on Proposed Power Bill Increases as Customers Fume & Outages Persist (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/puerto-rico-holds-hearings-on-proposed-power-bill-a21219181

6.      News Release: Energy Department Selects TVA and Holtec to Advance Deployment of U.S. Small Modular Reactors (U.S. Department of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-selects-tva-and-holtec-advance-deployment-us-small-modular-reactors

7.      Power Plants in Southwest Power Pool Can Expand Up to 20% Under New FERC-Approved Fast-Track Review (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-spp-priority-process-power-plant-expansion/806630/

8.      Lawmakers Urged to Act as Cyberattacks Target an Aging U.S. Power Grid (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/50468-lawmakers-urged-to-act-as-cyberattacks-target-an-aging-u-s-power-grid/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Will Turbines Taller Than Space Needle Hurt Air Traffic at WA’s Third Largest Airport? (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/turbines-taller-space-needle-hurt-205241632.html

10.   California Has a huge Solar Power Problem. A Fix Is Coming. (San Francisco Chronicle, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/california-huge-solar-power-problem-120000452.html

11.   Understanding Why America’s Biggest Solar Thermal Project Is Coming to an End (Interesting Engineering)

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/americas-biggest-solar-thermal-project

Water, Water, Anywhere?

12.   Final Topsoil Report of 2025 Shows Dry Conditions in the Pacific Northwest (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

https://pnwag.net/nw-topsoil-remains-dry/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

13.   Half of 2025 Climate Commitment Act Spending Went Toward Washington State Ferry Fleet Electrification (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ae7a9398-30ca-48c8-a819-39d666ac0838.html

London Calling –Telecommunications

14.   North Dakota On Track to Be First in Nation with 100% Broadband Internet Access (North Dakota Monitor)

https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/12/01/north-dakota-on-track-to-be-first-in-nation-with-100-broadband-internet-access/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

15.   Data Centers Are Thirsty for Water. This Nevada Region Is Prepared, at Least for Now (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/01/nx-s1-5580551/data-centers-are-thirsty-for-water-this-nevada-city-is-prepared-at-least-for-now

16.   The Artificial Intelligence Frenzy Is Driving a Memory Chip Supply Crisis (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/ai-frenzy-is-driving-new-global-supply-chain-crisis-2025-12-03/

17.   IBM CEO Says There Is ‘No Way’ Spending Trillions on Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Will Pay Off at Today’s Infrastructure Costs (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-ceo-says-no-way-103010877.html

I Sing the Car Electric

18.   Electric Vehicle Sales Are Way Down. Here’s Why That Might Not Be a Big Deal. (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/solutions/ev-sales-are-way-down-heres-why-that-might-not-be-a-big-deal/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

19.   YouTube Says It Will Comply with Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/youtube-says-it-will-comply-with-australias-teen-social-media-ban-2025-12-03/

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

20.   WA State: Fifteen of World’s Most Influential Scientists Work for, or with, This Tri-Cities Lab (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/15-world-most-influential-scientists-130000407.html

Politics, Governance, and Management

21.   Trump Administration Renames Colorado’s National Renewable Energy Lab: The National Lab of the Rockies (Colorado Public Radio)

https://www.cpr.org/2025/12/01/nrel-renamed-national-lab-of-the-rockies-doe-trump/

22.   U.S. House Must Vote Now on Build More Hydro Act, Congressional Legislators Say (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/50440-house-must-vote-now-on-build-more-hydro-act-congressional-legislators-say/

Other Things to Know About Today

23.   Massive La Nina Precipitation Coming to the Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2025/12/massive-la-nino-precipitation-coming-to.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

24.   Podcast: Lewis County PUD GM David Plotz Discusses Clean Energy Implementation Plan, Data Centers (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/podcasts

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

New Zealand Man Accused of Eating Faberge Pendant Inspired by Bond Movie as Police Wait for Evidence

https://apnews.com/article/octopussy-bond-pendant-swallowed-new-zealand-faberge-150729eac20d88d0e9fa6801d71af799

Fabergé Egg Fetches Record $30.2 Million at Rare Auction

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/faberg-egg-fetches-record-30-174326466.html

Raccoon Goes on Drunken Rampage in Virginia Liquor Store & Passes Out on Bathroom Floor

https://apnews.com/article/drunk-raccoon-liquor-store-bandit-virginia-5109feb2ea9ab9bf8954ec3798689fd0

An Artist Makes Tiny Suits of Armor for Mice

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/02/nx-s1-5529413/an-artist-makes-tiny-suits-of-armor-for-mice

Song of the Day

Al Stewart – Time Passages

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6vuCWGKwqg

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, 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. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for December 1, 2025

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors The Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits the Energy News Digest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Americans Paying Record Electricity Prices as Gas Costs Climb (Bloomberg News – Via Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/americans-paying-record-electricity-prices-172900573.html

Energy Assistance Funds Released to States After Government Shutdown Delay (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/energy-assistance-funds-released-to-states-after-government-shutdown-delay/69580680

On Pole Attachments, Industry Groups Battle Over Cost Caps & Utility Control (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/on-pole-attachments-industry-groups-battle-over-cost-caps-and-utility-control/

Alaska: State Biologists Forecast a Strong but Not Exceptional 2026 Bristol Bay Sockeye Run (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/state-biologists-forecast-a-strong-but-not-exceptional-2026-bristol-bay-sockeye-run/

Why Cyber Monday Could Break Spending Records Despite Economic Uncertainty (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/cyber-monday-deals-discounts-4acd3e4b065f62a1c08cd04905b11f87

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Americans Paying Record Electricity Prices as Gas Costs Climb

2.      Residential Electricity Prices Continue Rise, Up 7.4% in September: EIA

3.      What Goes into Your Skyrocketing Energy Bills

4.      Energy Assistance Funds Released to States After Government Shutdown Delay

5.      California Utilities Try Artificial Intelligence to Combat Costly Wildfire Liabilities

6.      Better Nuclear Play: NuScale Power vs. Oklo

7.      Hydropower, Energy Dominance, & Tribal Rights

8.      California Lawmakers Push Regulators to Hold Utilities Accountable for Solar Delays

9.      Balcony Solar Poised to Take Off in U.S.

10.   Alaska: State Biologists Forecast a Strong but Not Exceptional 2026 Bristol Bay Sockeye Run

11.   Mount Rainier Shrinking Due to Climate Change, Study Finds

12.   Alaska Publishes Draft Rules for New Program Intended to Bury Carbon Dioxide, Key to Gas Pipeline

13.   Washington Releases Detailed List of Projects Funded by Climate Commitment Act

14.   News Release: New Report Details $1.5 Billion in Climate Commitment Act Investments 

15.   On Pole Attachments, Industry Groups Battle Over Cost Caps & Utility Control

16.   WA State: Pierce County Pledged $7.15 Million for Internet In Rural Areas. One Plan Was Scrapped

17.   Cities in California & Illinois Challenge FCC’s Preemptive Reforms

18.   Future Data Centers Are Driving Up Forecasts for Energy Demand. States Want Proof They’ll Get Built

19.   British Columbia Bitcoin Mines Are Transitioning into Artificial Intelligence Data Centers

20.   Feds Approve Idaho’s Plan for Developing Network of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

21.   A Lost Generation of News Consumers? Survey Shows How Teenagers Dislike the News Media

22.   La Niña Strengthens: What are the Implications for this Winter?

23.   Genome Study Reveals Milestone in History of Cat Domestication

24.   Attorneys General in Washington & Idaho Object to Latest Attempt to Ban State Artificial Intelligence Laws

25.   U.S. Dept of Energy Releases Updated Agency Structure & Organization Chart

26.   Why Cyber Monday Could Break Spending Records Despite Economic Uncertainty

27.   FCC Says Hackers Hijack U.S. Radio Gear to Send Fake Alerts, Obscenities

28.   Elway Poll Shutters

Word of the Day

Boycott \BOY-kaht\ Verb – To engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (as a person, store, or organization), usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions.

Ambrose’s global warming protest was less than successful. It seems that his idea to boycott his own carbon dioxide emissions by not breathing was a fatal mistake.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Americans Paying Record Electricity Prices as Gas Costs Climb (Bloomberg News – Via Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/americans-paying-record-electricity-prices-172900573.html

2.      Residential Electricity Prices Continue Rise, Up 7.4% in September: EIA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/residential-electricity-prices-eia-lng/806562/

3.      What Goes into Your Skyrocketing Energy Bills (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2025/11/climate/energy-bills-cost-gas-electric-vis/

4.      Energy Assistance Funds Released to States After Government Shutdown Delay (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/energy-assistance-funds-released-to-states-after-government-shutdown-delay/69580680

5.      California Utilities Try Artificial Intelligence to Combat Costly Wildfire Liabilities (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via DNYUZ)

https://dnyuz.com/2025/12/01/california-utilities-try-ai-to-combat-costly-wildfire-liabilities/

6.      Better Nuclear Play: NuScale Power vs. Oklo (The Motley Fool)

https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/11/26/better-nuclear-play-nuscale-power-vs-oklo/

7.      Hydropower, Energy Dominance, & Tribal Rights (Clean Technica)

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/30/hydropower-energy-dominance-and-tribal-rights/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      California Lawmakers Push Regulators to Hold Utilities Accountable for Solar Delays (KMPH-TV, Visalia, CA)

https://kmph.com/news/local/california-lawmakers-push-cpuc-to-hold-utilities-accountable-for-solar-delays

9.      Balcony Solar Poised to Take Off in U.S. (BoingBoing)

https://boingboing.net/2025/11/30/balcony-solar-poised-to-take-off-in-u-s.html/amp

Fish & Wildlife

10.   Alaska: State Biologists Forecast a Strong but Not Exceptional 2026 Bristol Bay Sockeye Run (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/state-biologists-forecast-a-strong-but-not-exceptional-2026-bristol-bay-sockeye-run/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

11.   Mount Rainier Shrinking Due to Climate Change, Study Finds (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/mount-rainier-shrinking-due-to-climate-change-study-finds/article_d25a4c0a-0536-5a29-b1f9-37a39c4c7e70.html

12.   Alaska Publishes Draft Rules for New Program Intended to Bury Carbon Dioxide, Key to Gas Pipeline (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/alaska-publishes-draft-rules-for-new-program-intended-to-bury-carbon-dioxide-key-to-gas-pipeline/

13.   Washington Releases Detailed List of Projects Funded by Climate Commitment Act (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/washington-releases-detailed-list-of-projects-funded-by-climate-commitment-act,391829

14.   News Release: New Report Details $1.5 Billion in Climate Commitment Act Investments (WA Department of Ecology)

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/nov-26-new-report-details-1-5-billion-in-climate-commitment-act-investments

London Calling –Telecommunications

15.   On Pole Attachments, Industry Groups Battle Over Cost Caps & Utility Control (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/on-pole-attachments-industry-groups-battle-over-cost-caps-and-utility-control/

16.   WA State: Pierce County Pledged $7.15 Million for Internet in Rural Areas. One Plan Was Scrapped (Tacoma News-Tribune, WA – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pierce-county-pledged-7-15m-for-internet-in-rural-areas-one-plan-was-scrapped/ar-AA1RukWd

17.   Cities in California & Illinois Challenge FCC’s Preemptive Reforms (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/cities-in-california-and-illinois-challenge-fccs-preemptive-reforms/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

18.   Future Data Centers Are Driving Up Forecasts for Energy Demand. States Want Proof They’ll Get Built (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-energy-texas-ohio-pennsylvania-ferc-data-centers-5061f62a504297b6c384ee513ac47928

19.   British Columbia Bitcoin Mines Are Transitioning into Artificial Intelligence Data Centers (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/northern-bc-bitcoin-mines-ai-9.6998180?cmp=rss

I Sing the Car Electric

20.   Feds Approve Idaho’s Plan for Developing Network of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/11/28/feds-approve-idahos-plan-for-developing-network-of-ev-charging-stations/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

21.   A Lost Generation of News Consumers? Survey Shows How Teenagers Dislike the News Media (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/a-lost-generation-of-news-consumers-survey-shows-a21214853

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

22.   La Niña Strengthens: What are the Implications for this Winter? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2025/11/la-nina-strengthens-what-are.html

23.   Genome Study Reveals Milestone in History of Cat Domestication (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/science/genome-study-reveals-milestone-history-cat-domestication-2025-11-27/

Politics, Governance, and Management

24.   Attorneys General in Washington & Idaho Object to Latest Attempt to Ban State Artificial Intelligence Laws (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/nov/28/attorneys-general-in-washington-and-idaho-object-t/

25.   U.S. Dept of Energy Releases Updated Agency Structure & Organization Chart (Holland & Knight Law)

https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/11/doe-releases-updated-agency-structure-and-organization-chart

Other Things to Know About Today

26.   Why Cyber Monday Could Break Spending Records Despite Economic Uncertainty (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/cyber-monday-deals-discounts-4acd3e4b065f62a1c08cd04905b11f87

27.   FCC Says Hackers Hijack U.S. Radio Gear to Send Fake Alerts, Obscenities (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fcc-says-hackers-hijack-us-radio-gear-send-fake-alerts-obscenities-2025-11-26/

28.   Elway Poll Shutters (TVW)

https://substack.com/@tvwstories/p-180063652

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Volkswagen Debuts Restored Vintage Blue Bus That Survived a California Wildfire & Melted Hearts

https://autos.yahoo.com/classic-and-collector/articles/volkswagen-debuts-restored-vintage-blue-231932896.html

Wealthy California Coastal City Bans Pickleball, Saying It ‘Turned into a Madhouse’

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wealthy-california-coastal-city-bans-pickleball-saying-it-turned-into-a-madhouse/ar-AA1RbKdW

‘Rage Bait’ Named Oxford Word of the Year 2025

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/rage-bait-named-oxford-word-220144659.html

More Than $100,000 Worth of Escargots Stolen from French Snail Farmer with Michelin Clientele

https://www.kcra.com/article/snail-theft-france-escargots-stolen/69577725

Song of the Day

The Jerry Granelli Trio – Linus and Lucy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OODA_K5hxyc

The Jerry Granelli Trio – Skating (Peanuts)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-zXBHwEcC4

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, 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. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.