Monday, July 7, 2025

The Energy News Digest for July 7, 2025

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

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

Do you have your sights set on an executive leadership position in the electric utility industry? If so, take the next step toward your goal by immersing yourself in NWPPA’s Future Utility Executive Leadership (FUEL) program. The FUEL program will equip you with the industry knowledge essential for utility leaders to succeed. This year’s program will take place from October 20 to 24 and November 17 to 21 in Vancouver, Washington. Just a few seats are left, so don’t wait to secure yours! Apply now at www.nwppa.org/fuel.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Trump Admin Spikes Update to Snake River Dam Study (Lewiston Morning Tribune, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lmtribune.com/local-news/trump-admin-spikes-update-to-dam-study-19859501

Feds Speed Up Review for Natrium Nuclear Power Plant in Wyoming (Wyofile)

https://wyofile.com/feds-speed-up-review-for-natrium-nuclear-power-plant-in-wyoming/

Oregon Wave Energy Startup Shutting Down After Losing Federal Funds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/30/oregon-wave-energy-startup-aquaharmonics-shutting-down-doge-federal-funds/

Internet Companies Will Have to Apply Again for $675 Million in Federal Broadband Money (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/internet-companies-apply-again-675-140200521.html

Death Toll from Texas Flash Floods Rises to at Least 95, Officials Say (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/least-13-fatalities-reported-texas-210230248.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Trump Admin Spikes Update to Snake River Dam Study

2.      Agencies Cancel Re-Do of Columbia River System Environmental Impact Statement

3.      Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Columbia River System Operations

4.      Feds Speed Up Review for Natrium Nuclear Power Plant in Wyoming

5.      Montana: Power Rates Go Up, But Not as Much

6.      WA State: Lewis County PUD Charts a Path Forward as Major Bonneville Power Administration Contract Decision Looms

7.      California Budget Leaves Grid Reliability Programs in Limbo, Advocates Say

8.      Hydropower Saps Flows from the Mighty Kern River. Rafters Want Their Whitewater Back.

9.      Georgia: Man Shocked Trying to Steal Copper from Live Electrical Box, Dunwoody Police Say

10.   Ethiopia’s Mega Dam on the Nile River ‘Now Complete’: PM

11.   What Canada Can Learn from Co-op Power in the Rural United States

12.   Oregon Wave Energy Startup Shutting Down After Losing Federal Funds

13.   WA State: Moses Lake Facility Among Those Affected by Group14 Layoffs

14.   Underwater Turbine Spinning for Six Years Off Scotland’s Coast Is a Breakthrough for Tidal Energy

15.   Future of Hood Canal Bridge Under Review as Salmon Concerns Grow

16.   USDA to Scale Back NEPA’s Role in Agency Actions

17.   WA Forest Health Survey Finds 545,000 Acres of Stressed or Dead Trees

18.   Latest Water Report Not Good for Eastern WA Irrigators, Residents

19.   Aging Wapato Dam Critical to Yakama Nation Is Due for Upgrades

20.   Internet Companies Will Have to Apply Again for $675 Million in Federal Broadband Money

21.   Washington Ranked #1 for Broadband Spending in the U.S.

22.   Idaho Ranks Dead Last in Internet Speeds. Change Is Afoot, But Will It Help?

23.   What to Know About Buying Electric Vehicles After the Federal Tax Incentives End

24.   Death Toll from Texas Flash Floods Rises to at Least 95, Officials Say

25.   WA’s Drought Deepens & the Summer Forecast Offers No Respite

26.   As Oregon’s Wildfire Risk Map Dies, Washington Creates Its Own

27.   Oregon: Copper-Wire Thieves Are Knocking Out Streetlights Across Portland, Leaving Highways – And Police – In the Dark

28.   After Six Years, 32,000 Boulders & $172 Million, The Columbia River Jetty Rehab Is Almost Done

29.   Mississippi River Shippers Get Weeklong Tour of Columbia River Shipping System

30.   Editorial: Why Is Your California Electricity Bill So High? It May Be Your Neighbor

31.   Guest Essay: High-Speed Internet Is No Longer a Luxury. Too Many Americans Still Don’t Have It

32.   Guest Essay: Faith And Values – ‘Duty to Speak the Truth for the Salmon’: Fed Ignores Alternatives to Generate Electricity That Would Help Columbia Basin Salmon Runs

Word of the Day

Cloying \KLOY-ing \ Adjective – Disgusting or distasteful by reason of excess; also: excessively sweet or sentimental.

“Oh, Archie,” purred Edith to her temperamental husband. Her cloying efforts to calm him only fueled his outrage, leading to another politically incorrect episode of “All in the Family.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Trump Admin Spikes Update to Snake River Dam Study (Lewiston Morning Tribune, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.lmtribune.com/local-news/trump-admin-spikes-update-to-dam-study-19859501

2.      Agencies Cancel Re-Do of Columbia River System Environmental Impact Statement (Capital Press - Paywall Advisory)

https://capitalpress.com/2025/07/03/agencies-cancel-re-do-of-columbia-river-system-environmental-impact-statement/

3.      Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Columbia River System Operations (The Federal Register – Links to PDF File)

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-12604.pdf

4.      Feds Speed Up Review for Natrium Nuclear Power Plant in Wyoming (Wyofile)

https://wyofile.com/feds-speed-up-review-for-natrium-nuclear-power-plant-in-wyoming/

5.      Montana: Power Rates Go Up, But Not as Much (KGVO Radio, Missoula, MT)

https://newstalkkgvo.com/northwestern-energy-rate-increase-2/

6.      WA State: Lewis County PUD Charts a Path Forward as Major Bonneville Power Administration Contract Decision Looms (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/lewis-county-pud-charts-a-path-forward-as-major-contract-decision-looms,383546

7.      California Budget Leaves Grid Reliability Programs in Limbo, Advocates Say (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-budget-grid-reliability-program-dsgs/752237/

8.      Hydropower Saps Flows from the Mighty Kern River. Rafters Want Their Whitewater Back. (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hydropower-saps-flows-mighty-kern-100000827.html

9.      Georgia: Man Shocked Trying to Steal Copper from Live Electrical Box, Dunwoody Police Say (WSB-TV, Atlanta, Georgia)

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/man-was-shocked-trying-steal-copper-live-electrical-box-dunwoody-police-say/CVV5JH3R7VAH5L5TUDLEBQIFOM/

10.   Ethiopia’s Mega Dam on the Nile River ‘Now Complete’: PM (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ethiopias-mega-dam-nile-now-102605296.html

11.   What Canada Can Learn from Co-op Power in the Rural United States (Corporate Insights)

https://www.corporateknights.com/energy/what-canada-can-learn-from-co-op-power-in-rural-united-states/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12.   Oregon Wave Energy Startup Shutting Down After Losing Federal Funds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/30/oregon-wave-energy-startup-aquaharmonics-shutting-down-doge-federal-funds/

13.   WA State: Moses Lake Facility Among Those Affected by Group14 Layoffs (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2025/jul/05/moses-lake-facility-among-those-affected-by-group14-layoffs/

14.   Underwater Turbine Spinning for Six Years Off Scotland’s Coast Is a Breakthrough for Tidal Energy (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/underwater-turbine-spinning-6-years-off-scotlands-coast-123542503

Fish & Wildlife

15.   Future of Hood Canal Bridge Under Review as Salmon Concerns Grow (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.myclallamcounty.com/2025/07/02/future-of-hood-canal-bridge-under-review-as-salmon-concerns-grow/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

16.   USDA to Scale Back NEPA’s Role in Agency Actions (KFGO Radio, Fargo, ND)

https://kfgo.com/2025/07/07/usda-to-scale-back-nepas-role-in-agency-actions/

17.   WA Forest Health Survey Finds 545,000 Acres of Stressed or Dead Trees (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/07/02/wa-forest-health-survey-finds-545000-acres-of-stressed-or-dead-trees/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

18.   Latest Water Report Not Good for Eastern WA Irrigators, Residents (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/136/p/irrigation-water-report-not-good/

19.   Aging Wapato Dam Critical to Yakama Nation Is Due for Upgrades (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/lower_valley/aging-wapato-dam-critical-to-yakama-nation-is-due-for-upgrades/article_00f0d615-70d7-429d-bd52-8f3a32e58c47.html

London Calling –Telecommunications

20.   Internet Companies Will Have to Apply Again for $675 Million in Federal Broadband Money (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/internet-companies-apply-again-675-140200521.html

21.   Washington Ranked #1 for Broadband Spending in the U.S. (KONA Radio, Pasco, WA)

https://610kona.com/ixp/137/p/washington-wifi-spending-2025/

22.   Idaho Ranks Dead Last in Internet Speeds. Change Is Afoot, But Will It Help? (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article309339240.html

I Sing the Car Electric

23.   What to Know About Buying Electric Vehicles After the Federal Tax Incentives End (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicle-tax-credit-congress-trump-cars-077b3852263f7b473dc3619030611649

Other Things to Know About Today

24.   Death Toll from Texas Flash Floods Rises to at Least 95, Officials Say (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/least-13-fatalities-reported-texas-210230248.html

25.   WA’s Drought Deepens & the Summer Forecast Offers No Respite (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jul/07/was-drought-deepens-and-the-summer-forecast-offers-no-respite/

26.   As Oregon’s Wildfire Risk Map Dies, Washington Creates Its Own (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/07/washington-state-wildfire-risk-map/

27.   Oregon: Copper-Wire Thieves Are Knocking Out Streetlights Across Portland, Leaving Highways – And Police – In the Dark (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2025/07/copper-wire-thieves-are-knocking-out-streetlights-across-portland-leaving-highways-and-police-in-the-dark.html

28.   After Six Years, 32,000 Boulders & $172 Million, The Columbia River Jetty Rehab Is Almost Done (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/07/05/after-six-years-32000-boulders-and-172m-the-columbia-river-jetty-rehab-is-almost-done/

29.   Mississippi River Shippers Get Weeklong Tour of Columbia River Shipping System (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jun/30/mississippi-river-shippers-get-weeklong-tour-of-columbia-river-shipping-system/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

30.   Editorial: Why Is Your California Electricity Bill So High? It May Be Your Neighbor (Sacramento Bee, CA – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/why-is-your-california-electricity-bill-so-high-it-may-be-your-neighbor-opinion/ar-AA1I7qP8

31.   Guest Essay: High-Speed Internet Is No Longer a Luxury. Too Many Americans Still Don’t Have It (Tacoma News-Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/article309968770.html

32.   Guest Essay: Faith And Values – ‘Duty to Speak the Truth for the Salmon’: Fed Ignores Alternatives to Generate Electricity That Would Help Columbia Basin Salmon Runs (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/07/faith-and-values-duty-to-speak-the-truth-for-the-s/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Newly Spotted Comet Is Third Interstellar Object Seen in Our Solar System

https://www.reuters.com/science/newly-spotted-comet-is-third-interstellar-object-seen-our-solar-system-2025-07-03/

So, a Salmon Fell from the Sky Before the Mariners’ 4th of July Game

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/so-salmon-fell-sky-before-mariners-4th-july-game/EIW5QT5KJNAAVGYWI4CEVD4B7M/

Fortune Cookie Numbers Earn Kentucky Woman a $50,000 Lottery Prize

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/07/02/lotto-Kentucky-Lottery-fortune-cookie/4171751486889/

Crash Covers Pennsylvania Interstate in Boxes of Mozzarella Cheese

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/07/03/mozzarella-cheese-crash-Clearfield-County-Pennsylvania/4381751555993/

Song of the Day

Glenn Miller - Three Little Fishes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFMSzRlBJ9g

Links & Paywall Advisory

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