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Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits the Energy News Digest.
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Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories
As Drought Worsens, Western States Brace for Wildfires,
Water Shortages (Washington State Standard)
Over 250 Onshore Wind Projects Stalled as Pentagon Freezes
Permitting (Canary Media)
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/wind-projects-stalled-pentagon-permitting
The Extended Day-Ahead Market Is ‘Solid & Stable’ So
Far, Says California ISO (Utility Dive)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/idaho-power-wants-build-two-100000114.html
A Data Center Drained 30 Million Gallons of Water Unnoticed
— Until Residents Complained About Low Water Pressure (Politico – Via Yahoo!
News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/georgia-residents-seethe-over-30m-180000015.html
Berkshire CEO Threatens to Exit States with Costly Clean
Energy Mandates (E&E News – Via the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition)
News
Highlights (See Stories Below)
1.
The Extended Day-Ahead Market Is ‘Solid &
Stable’ So Far, Says California ISO
2.
Montana Regulators Hold Public Hearings This
Week on NorthWestern Energy-Black Hills Energy Merger
3.
Idaho Power Wants to Build Two Natural Gas Power
Plants. Here’s Where & Why
4.
NW Natural Challenges a Decision to Phase Out
Subsidies for New Gas Customers
5.
Bay Area Ban on New Natural Gas Water Heaters,
Set to Take Effect in Seven Months, May Be Relaxed Over Cost Concerns
6.
Humidity at Pacific Gas & Electric
Substation Likely Cause of Massive December San Francisco Blackout
7.
Appeals Judge Who Wrote Opinion Favorable to
PacifiCorp in Landmark Wildfire Case Formerly Represented the Utility Giant
8.
Close Calls at Michigan’s Dams Are a Climate
Warning to America
9.
Over 250 Onshore Wind Projects Stalled as
Pentagon Freezes Permitting
10.
Berkshire CEO Threatens to Exit States with
Costly Clean Energy Mandates
11.
Public Outcry Kills Wyoming’s First Community
Solar Farm Project
12.
City Of Richland to Consider Major Solar
Expansion at Horn Rapids Site
13.
Oregon’s First Floating Solar Project Brings
Energy Savings, Farm Support
14.
Where Does Balcony Solar Stand in Your State?
15.
As Drought Worsens, Western States Brace for
Wildfires, Water Shortages
16.
California, Nevada & Arizona Announce
Temporary Plan to Save Water from the Colorado River
17.
Washington Looking for Solutions to Looming
Water Challenges
18.
Telecom Project – Lummi Nation Asks Court to
Halt Construction, Protect Ancestral Burial Sites on Point Roberts
19.
Comcast Seeks FCC Action in Pole Dispute with
Appalachian Power Company
20.
A Data Center Drained 30 Million Gallons of
Water Unnoticed — Until Residents Complained About Low Water Pressure
21.
Ambitious Experiment Aims to Test Tiny Nuclear
Reactors for AI Data Centers
22.
Kevin O’Leary Says Opponents of His Utah Data
Center Are ‘Professional Protesters’ – Some Are Powered by Artificial
Intelligence
23.
Amazon Says It Won’t Sell E-Bikes in California
That Exceed State Speed Limits
24.
President Trump Says He Aims to Suspend Gas Tax
‘For a Period of Time’
25.
El Niño Explained – What It Means for
Californians
26.
Substantial Precipitation Will Soon Return to
the Pacific Northwest
Word of the Day
Coulrophobia \KOLE-ruh-fobe-eeyah\ Noun - An extreme fear of clowns.
The psychiatrist’s suggestion to his client, who was being treated for chronic coulrophobia. “Confront your fears, go to the circus,” he intoned. “If the circus performers attack,” he continued, “always go right for the juggler.”
Energy
& Utility Issues
1.
The Extended Day-Ahead Market Is ‘Solid &
Stable’ So Far, Says California ISO (Utility Dive)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/idaho-power-wants-build-two-100000114.html
2.
Montana Regulators Hold Public Hearings This
Week on NorthWestern Energy-Black Hills Energy Merger (MSN News)
3.
Idaho Power Wants to Build Two Natural Gas Power
Plants. Here’s Where & Why (Idaho Statesman – Via Yahoo! News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/idaho-power-wants-build-two-100000114.html
4.
NW Natural Challenges a Decision to Phase Out
Subsidies for New Gas Customers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
5.
Bay Area Ban on New Natural Gas Water Heaters,
Set to Take Effect in Seven Months, May Be Relaxed Over Cost Concerns (San Jose
Mercury News, CA – Via MSN News)
6.
Humidity at Pacific Gas & Electric
Substation Likely Cause of Massive December San Francisco Blackout (KQED Radio,
San Francisco, CA)
7.
Appeals Judge Who Wrote Opinion Favorable to
PacifiCorp in Landmark Wildfire Case Formerly Represented the Utility Giant (Oregon
Journalism Project)
8.
Close Calls at Michigan’s Dams Are a Climate
Warning to America (Grist Online)
https://grist.org/extreme-weather/close-calls-at-michigans-dams-are-a-climate-warning-to-america/
Renewable
Energy & Self Storage
9.
Over 250 Onshore Wind Projects Stalled as Pentagon
Freezes Permitting (Canary Media)
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/wind/wind-projects-stalled-pentagon-permitting
10.
Berkshire CEO Threatens to Exit States with Costly
Clean Energy Mandates (E&E News – Via the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition)
11.
Public Outcry Kills Wyoming’s First Community
Solar Farm Project (Cowboy State Daily)
12.
City Of Richland to Consider Major Solar
Expansion at Horn Rapids Site (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)
13.
Oregon’s First Floating Solar Project Brings
Energy Savings, Farm Support (KDRV-TV, Medford, OR)
14.
Where Does Balcony Solar Stand in Your State? (Canary
Media)
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/states-passing-balcony-solar-laws
Water,
Water, Anywhere?
15.
As Drought Worsens, Western States Brace for Wildfires,
Water Shortages (Washington State Standard)
16.
California, Nevada & Arizona Announce
Temporary Plan to Save Water from the Colorado River (Yahoo! News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/california-nevada-arizona-announce-temporary-192139156.html
17.
Washington Looking for Solutions to Looming
Water Challenges (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)
London
Calling –Telecommunications
18.
Telecom Project – Lummi Nation Asks Court to Halt
Construction, Protect Ancestral Burial Sites on Point Roberts (Cascadia Daily)
19.
Comcast Seeks FCC Action in Pole Dispute with
Appalachian Power Company (Broadband Breakfast)
HAL’s
Internet Café
20.
A Data Center Drained 30 Million Gallons of Water
Unnoticed — Until Residents Complained About Low Water Pressure (Politico – Via
Yahoo! News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/georgia-residents-seethe-over-30m-180000015.html
21.
Ambitious Experiment Aims to Test Tiny Nuclear
Reactors for AI Data Centers (Gizmodo)
22.
Kevin O’Leary Says Opponents of His Utah Data
Center Are ‘Professional Protesters’ – Some Are Powered by Artificial
Intelligence (Yahoo! News)
I
Sing the Car Electric
23.
Amazon Says It Won’t Sell E-Bikes in California That
Exceed State Speed Limits (KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA)
Politics,
Governance, and Management
24.
President Trump Says He Aims to Suspend Gas Tax ‘For
a Period of Time’ (CBS News – Via Yahoo! News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-says-suspend-gas-tax-150306695.html
Other
Things to Know About Today
25.
El Niño Explained – What It Means for Californians
(NY Post)
https://nypost.com/2026/05/09/science/el-nino-explained-and-what-it-means-for-californians/
26.
Substantial Precipitation Will Soon Return to
the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2026/05/substantial-precipitation-will-soon.html
Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer
Olivia & Liam Top the List of Most Popular U.S. Baby
Names for the Seventh Year Running
This Mini Horse Plays Keyboard for Hospital Patients – It’s
Going Viral
Mexican Performer Lifts 166.11 Pounds with Her Hair
‘They’re Finally Home’: Southeast Portland Woman’s Missing
Cats Found in LA After Two-Year Search
Song of the Day
Don McClean - Wonderful Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOSdDN44Aew
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