Wednesday, July 16, 2025

The Energy News Digest for July 16, 2025

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

Last Call for Future Utility Leaders—FUEL Is Nearly Full!

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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Power Prices Are Expected to Soar Under New Tax Cut & Spending Law (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/15/red-states-could-see-a-sharp-jump-in-power-prices-under-new-law/

Audio: Oregon’s NuScale Power Receives Regulatory Approval for Modular Reactor Design (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/15/think-out-loud-oregon-nuscale-power-receives-regulatory-approval-modular-reactor-design/

Conservation Group Slams Rollback of Key Marine Habitat Protections (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/conservation-group-slams-rollback-of-key-marine-habitat-protections/

Oregon DOJ Says Public Officials Exploited Nonprofit to Cash in on Amazon Data Centers, Reap Millions for Themselves (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2025/07/oregon-doj-says-public-officials-exploited-nonprofit-to-cash-in-on-amazon-data-centers-reap-millions-for-themselves.html

Oregon’s Largest Active Fire Explodes to 28,000 Acres (KXL Radio, Portland, OR)

https://www.kxl.com/oregons-largest-active-fire-explodes-to-28000-acres/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Power Prices Are Expected to Soar Under New Tax Cut & Spending Law

2.      Audio: Oregon’s NuScale Power Receives Regulatory Approval for Modular Reactor Design

3.      Why NuScale Power Stock Jumped Today

4.      Wyoming: Bar Nunn Residents Say ‘No’ Again to Radiant Industries’ Nuclear Plans

5.      Paywall Advisory: BPA Cuts Payments for Tribes, Salmon Restoration Under Revised Cost Projections

6.      Two Renewable Natural Gas Projects Go Online in Tri-Cities

7.      Oregon Legislature Passes First-In-Nation Microgrid Framework

8.      Indian Affairs Announces $42 Million from President's Investing in America Agenda for Tribal Dam Safety, Water & Power Projects

9.      Is Google’s Big Hydropower Deal a Sign of Things to Come?

10.   California: Local Watchdog Group Releases Report on Moss Landing Battery Plant Fire

11.   Damaged Turbine at Wild Horse Wind Farm to Be Removed

12.   California Solar Bill Amended, Preserves 20-Year Rooftop Solar Agreements

13.   Bureau of Land Management Continues Geothermal Energy Support with Planned Lease Sales

14.   U.S. Renewable Power Transmission Project Under Fire from Farmers

15.   “Solar Panels Are Suffocating”: This Alarming Saharan Dust Crisis Threatens to Halve Vital Energy Output Across 1,000 Square Miles

16.   British Columbia Government Rolls Out New Heat Pump Rebate Up to $5,000 to Keep Condos Cool

17.   Conservation Group Slams Rollback of Key Marine Habitat Protections

18.   $30M to Remove Salmon Barriers Across Washington

19.   The Science Behind Eastern Washington’s Big Aquifer

20.   The Deepening Water Shortage Row Between the U.S. & Mexico

21.   The White House Took Down the Nation's Top Climate Report. You Can Still Find It Here

22.   Oregon DOJ Says Public Officials Exploited Nonprofit to Cash in on Amazon Data Centers, Reap Millions for Themselves

23.   Amazon Plans to Offer Satellite Internet Service in Late 2025

24.   Astound Broadband Brings Broadband to Life in Washington’s Rural Clallam County

25.   There Aren’t Enough Artificial Intelligence Chips to Support Data Center Projections, Report Says

26.   Digital Campaign Landing Pages Convert Interest into Action

27.   Largest Ever Merge of Two Black Holes Detected by Observatory in Eastern WA. ‘Extraordinary & Puzzling'

28.   USDA Abruptly Cancels Rural Energy Grant Application Window

29.   DOGE Told Regulator to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Nuclear

30.   Oregon’s Largest Active Fire Explodes to 28,000 Acres

31.   Eleven Wildfires Burning Across WA, Four Classified as ‘Large’

32.   Video Feeds from Washington’s Wildfire Detection Cameras Available Online

33.   WSP Troopers Arrest Suspects for Vandalizing Eastern Washington Electrical Boxes & Stealing Copper Wire

34.   Guest Essay: Trump Foils Plan to Take Down Lower Snake River Dams

35.   Guest Essay: Sarah Dyrdahl – Reimagining the Columbia

36.   Guest Essay: Nuclear Power Is a Key Piece of Washington's Clean Energy Future

37.   Guest Essay: Crucial California Energy Reform Hinges on Critical Fix to Senate Bill 540

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Power Prices Are Expected to Soar Under New Tax Cut & Spending Law (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/15/red-states-could-see-a-sharp-jump-in-power-prices-under-new-law/

2.      Audio: Oregon’s NuScale Power Receives Regulatory Approval for Modular Reactor Design (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/15/think-out-loud-oregon-nuscale-power-receives-regulatory-approval-modular-reactor-design/

3.      Why NuScale Power Stock Jumped Today (The Motley Fool – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/why-nuscale-power-stock-jumped-today/ar-AA1IB79W

4.      Wyoming: Bar Nunn Residents Say ‘No’ Again to Radiant Industries’ Nuclear Plans (Oil City News)

https://oilcity.news/general/2025/07/14/bar-nunn-residents-offer-resounding-no-to-radiant-industries-regarding-nuclear-plans-in-natrona-county/

5.      Paywall Advisory: BPA Cuts Payments for Tribes, Salmon Restoration Under Revised Cost Projections (RTO Insider – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.rtoinsider.com/110018-bpa-cuts-payments-for-tribes-salmon-restoration-under-revised-cost-projections/

6.      Two Renewable Natural Gas Projects Go Online in Tri-Cities (KONA Radio, Pasco, WA)

https://610kona.com/ixp/136/p/2-renewable-natural-gas-projects-online/

7.      Oregon Legislature Passes First-In-Nation Microgrid Framework (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/oregon-legislature-passes-first-in-nation-microgrid-framework/752932/

8.      Indian Affairs Announces $42 Million from President's Investing in America Agenda for Tribal Dam Safety, Water & Power Projects (Redland Nation News)

https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2025/07/15/news/indian-affairs-announces-42-million-from-presidents-investing-in-america-agenda-for-tribal-dam-safety-water-and-power-projects/132875.html

9.      Is Google’s Big Hydropower Deal a Sign of Things to Come? (Fierce Telecom)

https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/googles-big-hydropower-deal-sign-things-come

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

10.   California: Local Watchdog Group Releases Report on Moss Landing Battery Plant Fire (Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA)

https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/07/15/local-watchdog-group-releases-report-on-moss-landing-battery-plant-fire/

11.   Damaged Turbine at Wild Horse Wind Farm to Be Removed (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/damaged-turbine-at-wild-horse-wind-farm-to-be-removed/article_7b3ea120-f419-4ed0-8ddd-a4edfe99920d.html

12.   California Solar Bill Amended, Preserves 20-Year Rooftop Solar Agreements (KMIR-TV, Palm Springs, CA)

https://www.nbcpalmsprings.com/2025/07/16/california-solar-bill-amended-preserves-20year-rooftop-solar-agreements

13.   Bureau of Land Management Continues Geothermal Energy Support with Planned Lease Sales (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/blm-continues-geothermal-energy-support-with-planned-lease-sales/

14.   U.S. Renewable Power Transmission Project Under Fire from Farmers (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-renewable-power-transmission-project-under-fire-farmers-2025-07-15/

15.   “Solar Panels Are Suffocating”: This Alarming Saharan Dust Crisis Threatens to Halve Vital Energy Output Across 1,000 Square Miles (Energy Reporters)

https://www.energy-reporters.com/environment/solar-panels-are-suffocating-this-alarming-saharan-dust-crisis-threatens-to-halve-vital-energy-output-across-1000-square-miles/

Conservation & Efficiency

16.   British Columbia Government Rolls Out New Heat Pump Rebate Up to $5,000 to Keep Condos Cool (The Daily Hive)

https://dailyhive.com/victoria/bc-heat-pump-rebate-condos-apartments

Fish & Wildlife

17.   Conservation Group Slams Rollback of Key Marine Habitat Protections (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/conservation-group-slams-rollback-of-key-marine-habitat-protections/

18.   $30M to Remove Salmon Barriers Across Washington (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/salmon-habitat-restoration-grants-washington/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19.   The Science Behind Eastern Washington’s Big Aquifer (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/14/the-science-behind-eastern-washingtons-big-aquifer/

20.   The Deepening Water Shortage Row Between the U.S. & Mexico (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0epzp21z47o

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

21.   The White House Took Down the Nation's Top Climate Report. You Can Still Find It Here (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5453501/national-climate-assessment-nca5-archive-report

London Calling –Telecommunications

22.   Oregon DOJ Says Public Officials Exploited Nonprofit to Cash in on Amazon Data Centers, Reap Millions for Themselves (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2025/07/oregon-doj-says-public-officials-exploited-nonprofit-to-cash-in-on-amazon-data-centers-reap-millions-for-themselves.html

23.   Amazon Plans to Offer Satellite Internet Service in Late 2025 (PYMNTS)

https://www.pymnts.com/amazon/2025/amazon-plans-offer-satellite-internet-service-late-2025/

24.   Astound Broadband Brings Broadband to Life in Washington’s Rural Clallam County (Lightwave Online)

https://www.lightwaveonline.com/home/article/55302510/astound-broadband-brings-broadband-to-life-in-washingtons-rural-clallam-county

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

25.   There Aren’t Enough Artificial Intelligence Chips to Support Data Center Projections, Report Says (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/not-enough-ai-chips-to-support-data-center-projections-london-economics/752371/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

26.   Digital Campaign Landing Pages Convert Interest into Action (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/landdeals/

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

27.   Largest Ever Merge of Two Black Holes Detected by Observatory in Eastern WA. ‘Extraordinary & Puzzling' (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/largest-ever-merge-of-2-black-holes-detected-in-eastern-wa-extraordinary-and-puzzling/ar-AA1IIqXY

Politics, Governance, and Management

28.   USDA Abruptly Cancels Rural Energy Grant Application Window (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/usda-solar-rural-grants-uncertainty

29.   DOGE Told Regulator to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Nuclear (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/14/doge-to-regulator-rubber-stamp-nuclear-00450658

Other Things to Know About Today

30.   Oregon’s Largest Active Fire Explodes to 28,000 Acres (KXL Radio, Portland, OR)

https://www.kxl.com/oregons-largest-active-fire-explodes-to-28000-acres/

31.   Eleven Wildfires Burning Across WA, Four Classified as ‘Large’ (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/local/11-wildfires-wa-large/4110350

32.   Video Feeds from Washington’s Wildfire Detection Cameras Available Online (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/video-feeds-from-washingtons-wildfire-detection-cameras-now-available-online/

33.   WSP Troopers Arrest Suspects for Vandalizing Eastern Washington Electrical Boxes & Stealing Copper Wire (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/news/wsp-troopers-arrest-suspects-for-vandalizing-electrical-boxes-and-stealing-copper-wire/article_f7ab053a-b25d-4750-b61e-e1e3a7b4110a.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

34.   Guest Essay: Trump Foils Plan to Take Down Lower Snake River Dams (Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/brunell-july-2025

35.   Guest Essay: Sarah Dyrdahl – Reimagining the Columbia (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/16/sarah-dyrdahl-reimagining-the-columbia/

36.   Guest Essay: Nuclear Power Is a Key Piece of Washington's Clean Energy Future (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/nuclear-power-is-a-key-piece-of-washingtons-clean-energy-future-opinion/ar-AA1IIowT

37.   Guest Essay: Crucial California Energy Reform Hinges on Critical Fix to Senate Bill 540 (Fresno Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/article310662350.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

They Cut Down England’s Beloved Sycamore Gap Tree. Now They Face Over Four Years in Prison

https://apnews.com/article/britain-sycamore-gap-tree-trial-sentencing-chainsaw-28a6db1552e6acea118aa7e8bcf69ecb

Small Child Climbs into Claw Machine at Ohio Community Center

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/07/11/Mason-Ohio-claw-machine-rescue/3951752253692/

British Chefs Cook Up World's Largest Scotch Egg

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/07/16/Guinness-World-Records-largest-scotch-egg/1951752684454/

California Woman's Home Flooded with Unwanted Amazon Packages

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/07/11/unwanted-Amazon-packages-San-Jose-California/1801752255748/

Song of the Day

The Carpenters – Please, Mr. Postman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyGWEq8IXlQ&list=RDfyGWEq8IXlQ&start_radio=1

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, which can 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.