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Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits the Energy News Digest.
NWPPA Seeking Nominations for Champion of Communications
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 their 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
Is the Sharp Rise in Electricity Prices An Early Inflation
Warning? (Seeking Alpha)
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4817101-sharp-rise-electricity-prices-early-inflation-warning
Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek Hosts Ceremonial Signing of Four
Bills That Focus on Energy Affordability (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Gov. Ferguson Pauses Approval of Major Solar Project in
Central Washington (Washington State Standard)
Washington City Officials Are Using ChatGPT for Government
Work (Cascade PBS)
Idaho’s First Sockeye of the Year Arrived in Late July –
What Was Once Doubtful Is Now Tradition (East Idaho News, Idaho Falls, ID)
News
Highlights (See Stories Below)
1.
Is the Sharp Rise in Electricity Prices An Early
Inflation Warning?
2.
Import Tariffs Could Slow Transmission
Development, Drive Up Utility Costs: Morningstar
3.
Idaho Public Utilities Commission to Accept
Public Comment on Idaho Power’s Proposed 13% Rate Increase
4.
California: Palisades Nuclear Plant Moved to
Operations Status, Ready to Receive Fuel
5.
Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower, Utah to Explore
Nuclear Reactor Sites Amid Power Demand Surge
6.
WA State: Grant PUD Moves Forward with Eminent
Domain Process for Quincy Area Line
7.
Electric Companies Are Fighting Across the West
to Limit Their Blame for Wildfires
8.
NMSU to Lead $14.2 Million Pumped Storage
Project with Navajo Nation
9.
Gov. Ferguson Pauses Approval of Major Solar
Project in Central Washington
10.
Spanish Utility Pauses Solar Project in
Washington as Political Winds Change
11.
USDA–New Rules for Energy Projects on Forests,
Farmland, Effective Immediately
12.
The Fix for Solar Power Blackouts Is Already
Here
13.
Which Households Care Most About Energy
Efficiency?
14.
This Air Conditioning Strategy Is the Sweet Spot
for Saving Energy & Money, Experts Say
15.
Idaho’s First Sockeye of the Year Arrived in
Late July – What Was Once Doubtful Is Now Tradition
16.
WA to Conserve 77,000 Acres of Older Forests on
State Lands
17.
Spokane River Reaches Potential Water Record
Lows After ‘Perfect Storm’ of Conditions
18.
The Colorado River Is in Trouble. Some Groups
Want the Government to Step Up
19.
Washington City Officials Are Using ChatGPT for
Government Work
20.
As WA Government Officials Embrace Artificial
Intelligence, Policies Are Still Catching Up
21.
WA State: Olympia Asked Artificial Intelligence
to Analyze Its Budget, And It Came Up with $28 Million in Possible Cuts
22.
Cracker Barrel Is Keeping Its Old-Time Logo
After New Design Elicited an Uproar
23.
Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek Hosts Ceremonial Signing
of Four Bills That Focus on Energy Affordability
24.
Boxed in by Shifting Tariff Rules, European
Shippers Pause Some U.S.-Bound Parcels
25.
FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Shots but Limits
Access for Some Kids & Adults
26.
Paywall Advisory: Step Up Electricity
Transmission for the Climate, Jobs & Ratepayers
Word of the Day
Palisade \pal-uh-SAYD\ Noun - 1: a fence of stakes especially for defense b: a long, strong stake pointed at the top & set close with others as a defense 2: a line of bold cliffs.
Thundering surf: pillars of white, foamy seawater pounded the rocky palisades off the storm-wracked Oregon coast. Occasionally, a daredevil seagull would shoot through the showering torrents, trying to snatch small fish or other tasty debris that had been churned up from the depths of the ocean
Energy
& Utility Issues
1.
Is the Sharp Rise in Electricity Prices An Early
Inflation Warning? (Seeking Alpha)
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4817101-sharp-rise-electricity-prices-early-inflation-warning
2.
Import Tariffs Could Slow Transmission
Development, Drive Up Utility Costs: Morningstar (Utility Dive)
3.
Idaho Public Utilities Commission to Accept
Public Comment on Idaho Power’s Proposed 13% Rate Increase (Idaho Capital Sun)
4.
California: Palisades Nuclear Plant Moved to
Operations Status, Ready to Receive Fuel (Power Magazine)
https://www.powermag.com/palisades-nuclear-plant-moved-to-operations-status-ready-to-receive-fuel/
5.
Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower, Utah to Explore
Nuclear Reactor Sites Amid Power Demand Surge (Reuters)
6.
WA State: Grant PUD Moves Forward with Eminent
Domain Process for Quincy Area Line (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
7.
Electric Companies Are Fighting Across the West
to Limit Their Blame for Wildfires (KJZZ-Radio, Phoenix, AZ)
8.
NMSU to Lead $14.2 Million Pumped Storage
Project with Navajo Nation (International Water Power)
Renewable
Energy & Self Storage
9.
Gov. Ferguson Pauses Approval of Major Solar
Project in Central Washington (Washington State Standard)
10.
Spanish Utility Pauses Solar Project in
Washington as Political Winds Change (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)
11.
USDA–New Rules for Energy Projects on Forests,
Farmland, Effective Immediately (KONA Radio, Pasco, WA)
https://610kona.com/ixp/136/p/usda-new-rules-on-energy-projects/
12.
The Fix for Solar Power Blackouts Is Already
Here (Bloomberg News)
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-bottlenecks-blackouts-grid-stability-solar-wind/
Conservation
& Efficiency
13.
Which Households Care Most About Energy
Efficiency? (Utility Dive)
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-efficiency-survey-secc-smart-energy/758761/
14.
This Air Conditioning Strategy Is the Sweet Spot
for Saving Energy & Money, Experts Say (Associated Press)
Fish
& Wildlife
15.
Idaho’s First Sockeye of the Year Arrived in
Late July – What Was Once Doubtful Is Now Tradition (East Idaho News, Idaho
Falls, ID)
Environmental
Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three
16.
WA to Conserve 77,000 Acres of Older Forests on
State Lands (Washington State Standard)
Water,
Water, Anywhere?
17.
Spokane River Reaches Potential Water Record
Lows After ‘Perfect Storm’ of conditions (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/aug/25/spokane-river-reaches-potential-water-record-lows-/
18.
The Colorado River Is in Trouble. Some Groups
Want the Government to Step Up (Associated Press)
https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/the-colorado-river-is-in-trouble-some-groups-21017629.php
The
Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity
19.
Washington City Officials Are Using ChatGPT for
Government Work (Cascade PBS)
20.
As WA Government Officials Embrace Artificial
Intelligence, Policies Are Still Catching Up (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)
21.
WA State: Olympia Asked Artificial Intelligence
to Analyze Its Budget, And It Came Up with $28 Million in Possible Cuts
(Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article311766366.html
Public
Relations, Marketing & Media
22.
Cracker Barrel Is Keeping Its Old-Time Logo
After New Design Elicited an Uproar (Associated Press)
Politics,
Governance, and Management
23.
Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek Hosts Ceremonial Signing
of Four Bills That Focus on Energy Affordability (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Other
Things to Know About Today
24.
Boxed in by Shifting Tariff Rules, European
Shippers Pause Some U.S.-Bound Parcels (National Public Radio)
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/23/nx-s1-5513936/dhl-parcel-tariffs
25.
FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Shots but Limits
Access for Some Kids & Adults (Associated Press)
Soapbox
Serenade – Vox Populi
26.
Paywall Advisory: Step Up Electricity
Transmission for the Climate, Jobs & Ratepayers (Seattle Times, WA –
Paywall Advisory)
Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer
Little Legs, Big Dreams: More Than 100 Teams Compete in Lithuania’s
International Corgi Race
https://apnews.com/article/corgi-dogs-race-lithuania-vilnius-8a18653c6922b19e9bcf046ccfb20a2a
Tons of Overripe Tomatoes Become Projectiles in Spain’s
‘Tomatina’ Food Fight
https://apnews.com/article/spain-tomatina-bunol-tomato-food-fight-d60e6af263d1849fa0defe7dc2206abd
The Rise of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, by the Numbers
https://apnews.com/article/pumpkin-spice-latte-starbucks-fall-8c7c2b9b3f8208a3c9c397dfdd01460d
A New York Woman Dug for Three Weeks to Find Her Own
Engagement Ring Diamond
https://www.opb.org/article/2025/08/25/dig-for-engagement-ring-diamond-arkansas/
Song of the Day
Vangelis – Chariots of Fire (Movie Soundtrack)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r78QV5Cwiq0&list=RDr78QV5Cwiq0&start_radio=1
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Although I choose stories that are accessible without paying
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