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Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits the Energy News Digest.
NWPPA Seeking Nominations for Champion of Communications
(Aug. 21) NWPPA is seeking nominations for the 2025 Champion
of Communications Award, which will be presented at the 2025
Northwest Innovations in Communications Conference in Whitefish, Montana,
Sept. 22-25.
Current or former employees of NWPPA member utilities are eligible to receive this award. The NIC Planning Committee selects recipients based on accomplishments through at least 10 years of marketing and communication experience; at least 20 years of service to the industry; and promotion of public power through efforts such as community service.
Nominations are due by Friday, Sept. 5, and can be submitted here.
Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories
Idaho: Dworshak Dam’s “Skeleton Bay” Flooded in Key Step
Toward Regional Energy Growth (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Canada: Peace River Dam Able to Produce More Power Than
Forecast, Leading to Demand for More Benefits (Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation)
To Combat an Energy Shortage, Seattle Looks to Rural Oregon
Solar Farms (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
FCC Documents Show Some Internet Providers Struggling to
Bring Service to Montana (The Daily Montanan)
Americans Spend Less Time Reading for Fun & More Time on
Screens, Study Finds (Yahoo! News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/americans-spend-less-time-reading-150100674.html
News
Highlights (See Stories Below)
1.
Idaho: Dworshak Dam’s “Skeleton Bay” Flooded in
Key Step Toward Regional Energy Growth
2.
Canada: Peace River Dam Able to Produce More
Power Than Forecast, Leading to Demand for More Benefits
3.
WA State: Lewis County PUD Looks to Cooperate
with Another Utility to Fill Gap in Winter Power Needs
4.
Utah County Planning Commission Delays Decision
on Rocky Mountain Power’s Application for Conditional Use Permit for New
Transmission Line
5.
Why This Utility Transmission Boss Is Staying
Cool During the Heat Wave
6.
Tennessee Valley Authority Privatization Could
Spell Trouble for Unions in Appalachia, Workers Say
7.
Arizona Utility Salt River Project Must Provide
Public Records After High Court Decision
8.
EIA Expects Record U.S. Natural Gas Consumption
in 2025
9.
Why Utility Bills Are Rapidly Rising in Some
States
10.
To Combat an Energy Shortage, Seattle Looks to
Rural Oregon Solar Farms
11.
Trump Administration Halts Work on an
Almost-Finished Wind Farm
12.
Permits Were Expedited for This California Clean
Energy Project. Were Residents Sidelined?
13.
Trump Says U.S. Won’t Back Solar, Wind Projects
Hurting Farms
14.
Indigenized Energy, Freedom Forever Collaborate
on Solar Project at Montana Reservation
15.
The Trump Administration Seeks to Eliminate or
Privatize the Energy Star Program
16.
British Columbia Recreational Anglers Get Rare
Chance to Reel in Sockeye Amid Bumper Salmon Run
17.
British Columbia: For The First Time in Over a
Century, Sockeye Salmon Are Able to Return to Okanagan Lake
18.
WA Ecology Official Testifies Against Repeal of
‘Endangerment Finding’ That Allows for Climate Regulation
19.
Mount Rainier Looks Less Snowy as Climate Change
Melts Glaciers Worldwide
20.
FCC Documents Show Some Internet Providers
Struggling to Bring Service to Montana
21.
‘OK, Google — How Much Energy Does an Artificial
Intelligence Bot Need?’
22.
Americans Fear Artificial Intelligence
Permanently Displacing Workers, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds
23.
Fewer Failed Charging Attempts Signal Progress
in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: J.D. Power
24.
Iowa Leads Coalition to Stop California’s
Electric Car Mandate
25.
Washington State Ferry Wenatchee Pulled from
Service Due to Electrical Issues
26.
Americans Spend Less Time Reading for Fun &
More Time on Screens, Study Finds
27.
Here’s What Caused the Swarm of 1,350
Earthquakes at WA’s Mount Rainier
28.
Why Extreme Heat Warnings Could Disappear
29.
WA State: Seattle, Parts of Pierce, King
Counties Now Under Extreme Heat Warning
30.
Oregon: Day Four of Late-Summer Heatwave Grips
Portland Metro
31.
Wildfires Threaten Homes in Oregon &
California, Prompting Hundreds of Evacuations
32.
Where Are the Fires in WA? Here’s a Map of the
Wildfires Burning Across the State
33.
WA State: Three Arrested After $50,000 Worth of
Copper Wire Stolen Near Hoquiam
34.
Guest Essay: The Bonneville Power
Administration’s Approach to Salmon Deserves Credit, Not Criticism
35.
Guest Essay: Michigan Salmon Studies Provide
Tips for Restoring Runs in Washington
Word of the Day
Politic \PAWL-uh-tick\ Adjective - 1: political 2: characterized by shrewdness in managing, contriving, or dealing 3; sagacious in promoting a policy 4: shrewdly tactful.
Getting his main rival to not only agree to an odious act of public policy but also to actually believe it was his idea was the politic genius of Francis Urquhart. “You might well think that. I couldn’t possibly comment.”
Energy
& Utility Issues
1.
Idaho: Dworshak Dam’s “Skeleton Bay” Flooded in
Key Step Toward Regional Energy Growth (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
2.
Canada: Peace River Dam Able to Produce More
Power Than Forecast, Leading to Demand for More Benefits (Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation)
3.
WA State: Lewis County PUD Looks to Cooperate with
Another Utility to Fill Gap in Winter Power Needs (The Chronicle, Centralia,
WA)
4.
Utah County Planning Commission Delays Decision on
Rocky Mountain Power’s Application for Conditional Use Permit for New
Transmission Line (The Herald, Provo, UT)
5.
Why This Utility Transmission Boss Is Staying
Cool During the Heat Wave (Politico)
6.
Tennessee Valley Authority Privatization Could
Spell Trouble for Unions in Appalachia, Workers Say (Blue Ridge Public Radio, North
Carolina)
7.
Arizona Utility Salt River Project Must Provide
Public Records After High Court Decision (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)
https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/energy/2025/08/22/srp-public-records/85765949007/
8.
EIA Expects Record U.S. Natural Gas Consumption in
2025 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65984
9.
Why Utility Bills Are Rapidly Rising in Some
States (CBS News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/why-utility-bills-rapidly-rising-101949969.html
Renewable
Energy & Self Storage
10.
To Combat an Energy Shortage, Seattle Looks to
Rural Oregon Solar Farms (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
11.
Trump Administration Halts Work on an Almost-Finished
Wind Farm (National Public Radio)
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/23/nx-s1-5513919/trump-stops-offshore-wind-renewable-energy
12.
Permits Were Expedited for This California Clean
Energy Project. Were Residents Sidelined? (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via MSN)
13.
Trump Says U.S. Won’t Back Solar, Wind Projects
Hurting Farms (Bloomberg News – Via MSN)
14.
Indigenized Energy, Freedom Forever Collaborate on
Solar Project at Montana Reservation (Solar Power World)
Conservation
& Efficiency
15.
The Trump Administration Seeks to Eliminate or Privatize
the Energy Star Program (National Public Radio)
Fish
& Wildlife
16.
British Columbia Recreational Anglers Get Rare
Chance to Reel in Sockeye Amid Bumper Salmon Run (Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation)
17.
British Columbia: For the First Time in Over a Century,
Sockeye Salmon Are Able to Return to Okanagan Lake (Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sockeye-salmon-okanagan-lake-1.7614045
Climate
Change Sequestration Vault
18.
WA Ecology Official Testifies Against Repeal of ‘Endangerment
Finding’ That Allows for Climate Regulation (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall
Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/aug/20/wa-ecology-official-testifies-against-repeal-of-en/
19.
Mount Rainier Looks Less Snowy as Climate Change
Melts Glaciers Worldwide (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)
London
Calling –Telecommunications
20.
FCC Documents Show Some Internet Providers
Struggling to Bring Service to Montana (The Daily Montanan)
The
Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity
21.
‘OK, Google — How Much Energy Does an Artificial
Intelligence Bot Need?’ (Politico)
22.
Americans Fear Artificial Intelligence Permanently
Displacing Workers, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds (Reuters)
I
Sing the Car Electric
23.
Fewer Failed Charging Attempts Signal Progress
in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: J.D. Power (American Public Power
Association)
24.
Iowa Leads Coalition to Stop California’s Electric
Car Mandate (MSN News)
25.
Washington State Ferry Wenatchee Pulled from
Service Due to Electrical Issues (Kitsap Daily News, WA – Via MSN)
Public
Relations, Marketing & Media
26.
Americans Spend Less Time Reading for Fun &
More Time on Screens, Study Finds (Yahoo! News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/americans-spend-less-time-reading-150100674.html
Barrel
O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science
27.
Here’s What Caused the Swarm of 1,350
Earthquakes at WA’s Mount Rainier (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)
https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/what-caused-swarm-earthquakes-mount-rainier
28.
Why Extreme Heat Warnings Could Disappear (Politico)
Other
Things to Know About Today
29.
WA State: Seattle, Parts of Pierce, King Counties
Now Under Extreme Heat Warning (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)
30.
Oregon: Day Four of Late-Summer Heatwave Grips Portland
Metro (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)
https://www.koin.com/weather/day-4-of-late-summer-heatwave-grips-portland-metro/
31.
Wildfires Threaten Homes in Oregon & California,
Prompting Hundreds of Evacuations (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-oregon-california-evacuations-9f109bcd8e7ab61b08f8c67b93dfb1ed
32.
Where Are the Fires in WA? Here’s a Map of the Wildfires
Burning Across the State (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)
https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/heres-where-wildfires-washington
33.
WA State: Three Arrested After $50,000 Worth of Copper
Wire Stolen Near Hoquiam (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
Soapbox
Serenade – Vox Populi
34.
Guest Essay: The Bonneville Power Administration’s
Approach to Salmon Deserves Credit, Not Criticism (Seattle Times, WA - Via The
Energy News Feed)
https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2025/08/guest-essay-bpas-approach-to-salmon.html
35.
Guest Essay: Michigan Salmon Studies Provide
Tips for Restoring Runs in Washington (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)
Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer
Library Book Returned After 82 Years. Note Says, ‘Grandma Won’t
Be Able to Pay for It Anymore’
This Demolition Derby with a Twist Keeps an Oregon Town’s
Beloved Park Open Year-Round
Squirrel Honored with Topps Card After Interrupting Yankees Game
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/08/25/Yankees-Red-Sox-squirrel-baseball-card/2001756138894/
Mexican Festival’s Taco Serving Breaks Three World Records
Song of the Day
The Beach Boys – Fun, Fun, Fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_o-N0fhZ0&list=RDVF_o-N0fhZ0&start_radio=1
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