The Energy News Digest for November 17, 2025

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

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Battle Over $1.5 Billion Project to Put Giant Power Line Under Columbia River Will Get Local Public Meetings Next Week (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/nov/15/battle-over-1-5b-project-to-put-giant-power-line-under-columbia-river-will-get-local-public-meetings-next-week/

Oregon PUC Denies Request to Revoke Permit for Boardman to Hemingway Line (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/oregon-puc-denies-request-to-revoke-permit-for-boardman-to-hemingway-line/

‘Growing Demand.’ Newest Tri-Cities Data Center Proposal Is Third in Past Year (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/growing-demand-newest-tri-cities-130000168.html

Solgen Solar Energy Dumps 53 Pasco Jobs, WA Operations End in January 2026 (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/136/p/solgen-shuts-down-in-wa/

Next Storm System Expected to Bring Rain, Snow & Cold to Southern California (Victorville Daily-Press, CA – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/next-storm-system-expected-bring-181014156.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Battle Over $1.5 Billion Project to Put Giant Power Line Under Columbia River Will Get Local Public Meetings Next Week

2.      Oregon PUC Denies Request to Revoke Permit for Boardman to Hemingway Line

3.      California: Edison's CEO Vows Swift Payments to Fire Victims, Saying Utility's Equipment Likely at Fault in Eaton Fire

4.      Idaho Seeks to Become ‘Preferred Destination’ for Nuclear Energy Investment

5.      To Meet Growing Energy Demand, Oregon Is ‘Nuclear Curious,’ Mostly Cautious

6.      U.S. ‘Disappointed’ That Rolls-Royce Will Build UK’s First Small Modular Reactors

7.      Oregon: Public Invited to Comment on Draft Study of Detroit Reservoir Deep Drawdown, Potential End to Hydropower Production

8.      Electricity Prices to Continue Rise in 2026: EIA

9.      New Analysis Shows More U.S. Consumers Are Falling Behind on Their Utility Bills

10.   The Bonneville Power Administration Maintains Strong Financial Position Despite Challenging Water Year

11.   U.S. Natural Gas Prices Rise Unevenly Across Sectors

12.   Tribes, Conservation Groups Urge FERC to Uphold Veto Policy on Preliminary Hydro Permits

13.   Solgen Solar Energy Dumps 53 Pasco Jobs, WA Operations End in January 2026

14.   Shrinking Prize: Challenges Mount for Alaska & Washington Fishing Crews as Halibut Decline

15.   In Alaska, Fishing Skippers & Hungry Orcas Vie for Halibut Pulled from the Deep

16.   Rare Orca Superpod Comes to Seattle

17.   Bees Thrive in Overlooked Pockets of Puget Sound

18.   Pacific Seafood Faces Second Lawsuit Over Columbia River Pollution

19.   Montanans Sue Over State's Water Permitting Loophole

20.   Business Groups Ask Supreme Court to Pause California Climate Reporting Laws in Emergency Appeal

21.   The World Will Blow Past U.N. Climate Goals in Four Years, Report Finds

22.   ‘Growing Demand.’ Newest Tri-Cities Data Center Proposal Is Third in Past Year

23.   Most States Don’t Disclose Which Companies Get Data Center Incentives, Report Finds

24.   Regulators Press FERC on State Authority as Trump Promotes Data Centers

25.   WA State’s Hybrid Ferry Fails Again, Pulled Out of Service for Third Time

26.   Oregon: Portland Ballot Proposal Would Divert Climate Tax Funds to Hire Police

27.   Next Storm System Expected to Bring Rain, Snow & Cold to Southern California

28.   Penny Shortages Causing Big Legal, Business Headaches in Much of U.S.

29.   Oregon: Rogue Ales Abruptly Closes Newport Operations & Restaurants; Owes Hundreds of Thousands in Rent & Taxes

30.   Paywall Advisory: Guest Essay - Future Of Clean Energy And Salmon Depends on Collaboration, Not Courts

31.   Guest Essay: Clean Power & Abundant Salmon – Both Are Possible

32.   Guest Essay: Can Data Centers Just Demand Power in the Pacific Northwest?

Word of the Day

Malaise \muh-LAYZ\ Noun – 1: an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness *2: a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being.

“MMMMMM, yummy mayonnaise on my ham and cheese sandwich,” gushed Danforth at his high school reunion picnic. In what was to become known as the “Riverdale Moldy Mayonnaise Malaise,” Danny and his classmates would soon be elbowing for position at the one port-a-potty that the overwhelmed organizers had rented for the occasion.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Battle Over $1.5 Billion Project to Put Giant Power Line Under Columbia River Will Get Local Public Meetings Next Week (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/nov/15/battle-over-1-5b-project-to-put-giant-power-line-under-columbia-river-will-get-local-public-meetings-next-week/

2.      Oregon PUC Denies Request to Revoke Permit for Boardman to Hemingway Line (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/oregon-puc-denies-request-to-revoke-permit-for-boardman-to-hemingway-line/

3.      California: Edison's CEO Vows Swift Payments to Fire Victims, Saying Utility's Equipment Likely at Fault in Eaton Fire (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/edisons-ceo-vows-swift-payments-to-fire-victims-saying-utilitys-equipment-likely-at-fault-in-eaton-fire/ar-AA1QmRjZ

4.      Idaho Seeks to Become ‘Preferred Destination’ for Nuclear Energy Investment (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/11/13/state-of-idaho-seeks-to-become-preferred-destination-for-nuclear-energy-investment/

5.      To Meet Growing Energy Demand, Oregon Is ‘Nuclear Curious,’ Mostly Cautious (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/13/to-meet-growing-energy-demand-oregon-is-nuclear-curious-mostly-cautious/

6.      U.S. ‘Disappointed’ That Rolls-Royce Will Build UK’s First Small Modular Reactors (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/13/us-disappointed-that-rolls-royce-will-build-uks-first-small-modular-reactors

7.      Oregon: Public Invited to Comment on Draft Study of Detroit Reservoir Deep Drawdown, Potential End to Hydropower Production (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/4332270/public-invited-to-comment-on-draft-study-of-detroit-reservoir-deep-drawdown-pot/

8.      Electricity Prices to Continue Rise in 2026: EIA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electricity-prices-demand-to-continue-rising-in-2026-eia/805395/

9.      New Analysis Shows More U.S. Consumers Are Falling Behind on Their Utility Bills (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-utility-bills-16cf846b44369b5b9660238be7112a4d

10.   The Bonneville Power Administration Maintains Strong Financial Position Despite Challenging Water Year (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20251113-bpa-maintains-strong-financial-position-despite-challenging-water-year

11.   U.S. Natural Gas Prices Rise Unevenly Across Sectors (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=66624

12.   Tribes, Conservation Groups Urge FERC to Uphold Veto Policy on Preliminary Hydro Permits (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/tribes-ferc-doe-preliminary-permit-hydroelectric/805387/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

13.   Solgen Solar Energy Dumps 53 Pasco Jobs, WA Operations End in January 2026 (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/136/p/solgen-shuts-down-in-wa/

Fish & Wildlife

14.   Shrinking Prize: Challenges Mount for Alaska & Washington Fishing Crews as Halibut Decline (Northern Journal)

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2025/11/15/shrinking-prize-challenges-mount-for-alaska-and-washington-fishing-crews-as-halibut-decline/

15.   In Alaska, Fishing Skippers & Hungry Orcas Vie for Halibut Pulled from the Deep (Northern Journal)

https://www.northernjournal.com/in-alaska-fishing-skippers-and-hungry-orcas-vie-for-halibut-pulled-from-the-deep/

16.   Rare Orca Superpod Comes to Seattle (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/rare-orca-superpod-comes-to-seattle

17.   Bees Thrive in Overlooked Pockets of Puget Sound (WSU Insider, Pullman, WA)

https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2025/11/12/bees-thrive-in-overlooked-pockets-of-puget-sound/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

18.   Pacific Seafood Faces Second Lawsuit Over Columbia River Pollution (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/pacific-seafood-faces-2nd-lawsuit-over-columbia-river-pollution/article_109374a5-b726-47a5-b861-c510b89045c1.html

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19.   Montanans Sue Over State's Water Permitting Loophole (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/montanans-sue-over-states-water-permitting-loophole/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

20.   Business Groups Ask Supreme Court to Pause California Climate Reporting Laws in Emergency Appeal (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-california-newsom-supreme-court-559597f5196116d567ad234cc5397b11

21.   The World Will Blow Past U.N. Climate Goals in Four Years, Report Finds (Washington Post – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/the-world-will-blow-past-u-n-climate-goals-in-four-years-report-finds/ar-AA1Qk2vg

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

22.   ‘Growing Demand.’ Newest Tri-Cities Data Center Proposal Is Third in Past Year (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/growing-demand-newest-tri-cities-130000168.html

23.   Most States Don’t Disclose Which Companies Get Data Center Incentives, Report Finds (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/14/repub/most-states-dont-disclose-which-companies-get-data-center-incentives-report-finds/

24.   Regulators Press FERC on State Authority as Trump Promotes Data Centers (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/regulators-press-ferc-on-state-authority-as-trump-promotes-data-centers/

I Sing the Car Electric

25.   WA State’s Hybrid Ferry Fails Again, Pulled Out of Service for Third Time (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/136/p/ev-converted-ferry-fails/

Politics, Governance, and Management

26.   Oregon: Portland Ballot Proposal Would Divert Climate Tax Funds to Hire Police (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/11/13/portland-ballot-proposal-climate-police

Other Things to Know About Today

27.   Next Storm System Expected to Bring Rain, Snow & Cold to Southern California (Victorville Daily-Press, CA – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/next-storm-system-expected-bring-181014156.html

28.   Penny Shortages Causing Big Legal, Business Headaches in Much of U.S. (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/penny-shortages-causing-big-legal-business-headaches-in-much-of-us/

29.   Oregon: Rogue Ales Abruptly Closes Newport Operations & Restaurants; Owes Hundreds of Thousands in Rent & Taxes (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025/11/rogue-ales-abruptly-closes-its-newport-operations-and-restaurants-owes-hundreds-of-thousands-in-rent-and-taxes.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

30.   Paywall Advisory: Guest Essay - Future of Clean Energy & Salmon Depends on Collaboration, Not Courts (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/future-of-clean-energy-and-salmon-depends-on-collaboration-not-courts/

31.   Guest Essay: Clean Power & Abundant Salmon – Both Are Possible (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/nov/13/josh-mills-and-mike-leahy-clean-power-and-abundant/

32.   Guest Essay: Can Data Centers Just Demand Power in the Pacific Northwest? (The Olympian, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/data-centers-just-demand-power-200200209.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Hidden Glass Floats Will Honor Oregon Coast Tribe in Lincoln City

https://www.oregonlive.com/native-american-news/2025/11/hidden-glass-floats-will-honor-oregon-coast-tribe-in-lincoln-city.html

Bible Described as the ‘Mona Lisa of Illuminated Manuscripts’ Goes on Display in Rome

https://apnews.com/article/vatican-renaissance-bible-illuminated-manuscript-51dad7436cd0ecc3654341d459c5d514

Seal Escapes Orca Hunt by Jumping onto Photographer's Boat

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/seal-escapes-orca-hunt-jumping-234048531.html

Crews Hide ‘Waldo’ Character in UC Davis Medical Center Construction Site for Nearby Pediatric Patients to Find

https://www.kcra.com/article/waldo-uc-davis-medical-center-pediatric-patients/69417286

Song of the Day

The Moody Blues – I Know You're Out There Somewhere

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

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.

Guest Essay: Future Of Clean Energy And Salmon Depends on Collaboration, Not Courts (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/future-of-clean-energy-and-salmon-depends-on-collaboration-not-courts/

Nov. 14, 2025

By Peter DeFazio and Norm Dicks

Special to The Seattle Times

When President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the Bonneville Dam in 1937, he called it a “yardstick for the future” — a promise that the Pacific Northwest could generate clean, affordable power for all. Nearly nine decades later, that promise endures. Hydropower remains the beating heart of our region’s clean energy system, providing reliable, carbon-free electricity to millions of homes and businesses.

It’s a legacy rooted in bipartisan support. Presidents, governors, and leaders of both parties have long recognized that hydropower is essential to the Northwest’s prosperity and remains the foundation of state climate policies. During our time in Congress, we were part of a bipartisan coalition strongly committed to policies and public investment to protect and grow our cherished salmon populations while supporting hydropower.

Today, we face a challenge that demands the same spirit of collaboration and balance: how to ensure salmon and a strong hydropower system can share healthy rivers. That challenge should be met through thoughtful, inclusive dialogue that brings our region together.

We’re making progress. Billions of dollars of electric customer investments in science-driven habitat restoration and fish passage, and partnership with federal, state and tribal governments are leading to meaningful results for fish, clean energy and communities. Salmon and steelhead returns are increasing.  We need to continue to learn and build on our successes.

As former members of Congress representing Washington and Oregon, we’ve seen firsthand that lasting solutions emerge when states, tribes, farmers, utilities and conservationists work together. Yet despite clear progress, the conversation around salmon recovery has too often turned to litigation or decision-making behind closed doors rather than collaboration.

Having spent decades working in Pacific Northwest politics and policy, we know that fighting is sometimes the only option. Now is not that time.

As we confront the challenges of climate change and the energy transition required to address it, fractured decision-making wastes time, erodes trust and jeopardizes the future of this vital system that millions of people depend on every day.

Instead of channeling energy into lawsuits, we’re calling on Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and other leaders to channel their energies into pragmatic partnership rooted in science and progressive values.

Hydropower is a cornerstone of the Northwest’s clean energy future. As our states strive to meet ambitious climate goals while serving dramatically increasing electric usage, we cannot afford to sideline the single largest source of renewable energy in our region. At the same time, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to healthy salmon runs — vital to tribal cultures, commercial and recreational fisheries and the ecological fabric of the Pacific Northwest.

Fortunately, this is not a zero-sum choice. Modern technologies and collaborative management are proving that we can support both fish populations and reliable, affordable hydropower. State-of-the-art fish passage technologies, science-driven hatchery programs and habitat restoration projects are yielding measurable results. We have more work to do together. Continued innovation and cooperation, not conflict, will drive the next chapter of progress.

We urge the governors of Washington and Oregon to lead together in that spirit, set aside costly litigation and instead convene an inclusive forum for science-based public policy and innovative solutions that address today’s realities. This governance will build on decades of progress, help mitigate rising electricity costs and ensure the Columbia Basin remains a vital, connected landscape for all who depend on it.

Northwest families, workers and communities want leaders who can protect salmon and keep energy affordable. Endless litigation does neither. This moment calls for courage — the courage to unite rather than divide and to act not out of ideology but out of responsibility to future generations.

President Roosevelt envisioned a public power system that would empower the people of the Northwest for decades to come. Today, that vision depends on leaders willing to honor both the power of the river and the life within it. The salmon and the people of our region deserve nothing less.

Peter DeFazio: a Democrat, represented Oregon’s 4th Congressional District from 1987 to 2023.

Norm Dicks: a Democrat, represented Washington's 6th Congressional District from 1977 to 2013.