The Energy News Digest

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

The Energy News Digest for January 22, 2025

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest.

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Programming Note

The News Digest is chock full of happenings from Washington, DC this week. The new Presidential administration is wasting no time in issuing executive orders affecting many energy-related issues.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

President Trump’s Executive Orders Halt Wind Development, Declare Energy Emergency (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/trump-offshore-wind-leasing-permitting-executive-orders-energy/737835/

Massive Aquifer Beneath Oregon’s Cascades Could Be the Largest in the World (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/massive-aquifer-beneath-oregons-cascades-could-be-the-largest-in-the-world-2000549681

A Controversial Idaho Wind Farm Near Minidoka Was OK’d Last Month. Now It’s on Hold (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/controversial-idaho-wind-farm-near-190151794.html

Rolling Blackouts Could Loom for Urban Alaska as Natural Gas Crunch Intensifies (The Northern Journal)

https://www.northernjournal.com/rolling-blackouts-could-loom-for-urban-alaska-as-natural-gas-crunch-intensifies/

Hydroelectric Dams on Oregon’s Willamette River Kill Salmon. Congress Says It’s Time to Consider Shutting Them Down (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/16/oregon-salmon-willamette-river-dams-shutdown/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. Rolling Blackouts Could Loom for Urban Alaska as Natural Gas Crunch Intensifies

2. Hydroelectric Dams on Oregon’s Willamette River Kill Salmon. Congress Says It’s Time to Consider Shutting Them Down

3. WA State Regulators Approve New Rates for Puget Sound Energy

4. New WA Board Needed to ‘Build Trust’ in Nuclear as Electric Demand Grows, Says Lawmaker

5. Public Recommendations Open for Annual $300 Million in Pacific Northwest Power, Conservation Projects

6. Southwest Power Pool’s Markets+ Service Gets Key FERC Approval

7. Trump Taps Mark Christie to Lead FERC, Replacing Willie Phillips

8. A Controversial Idaho Wind Farm Near Minidoka Was OK’d Last Month. Now It’s on Hold

9. Second Bill Filed to Limit WA Governor’s Authority to Approve Locally Opposed Wind Farms

10. Loophole in State Rules Paves Way to Ever-Larger Solar Projects on Oregon Farmland

11. Solar Farms Are Booming in the U.S. And Putting Thousands of Hungry Sheep to Work

12. Bald Eagles Are Migrating to the Dalles Dam

13. Massive Aquifer Beneath Oregon’s Cascades Could Be the Largest in the World

14. Why Western Washington Could See Third-Driest January in 80 Years

15. President Trump Signs Executive Order to Increase California Water Supply

16. What’s Next for Electric Vehicles as Trump Moves to Revoke Biden-Era Incentives?

17. President Trump’s Executive Orders Halt Wind Development, Declare Energy Emergency

18. Trump Administration Directs All Federal Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Staff Be Put on Leave

19. Without Much Fanfare, Oregon Lawmakers Get Back to Business in Salem

20. Local Meteorologists Could Face Layoffs Amid New Initiative with the Weather Channel

21. Guest Essay: Load Forecasts from Data Centers Risk Falling into Irrational Exuberance Territory

22. Guest Essay: Washington’s Struggle – How Far-Too-Slow Salmon Recovery Impacts Orcas Like Tahlequah

Word of the Day

Cozen /KUZ-un/ Verb - To cozen someone is to deceive, win over, or induce them to do something by coaxing or trickery.

“This tonic will make you taller, better-looking, and an outstanding dancer,” shouted the sideshow barker. His cozening of the sullen attendees at the frontier renaissance festival was a success, especially since the mixture was mostly 190 proof Everclear, with a hint of cod liver oil.

Energy & Utility Issues

1. Rolling Blackouts Could Loom for Urban Alaska as Natural Gas Crunch Intensifies (The Northern Journal)

https://www.northernjournal.com/rolling-blackouts-could-loom-for-urban-alaska-as-natural-gas-crunch-intensifies/

2. Hydroelectric Dams on Oregon’s Willamette River Kill Salmon. Congress Says It’s Time to Consider Shutting Them Down (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/16/oregon-salmon-willamette-river-dams-shutdown/

3. WA State Regulators Approve New Rates for Puget Sound Energy (Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission)

https://www.utc.wa.gov/news/2025/state-regulators-approve-new-rates-pse

4. New WA Board Needed to ‘Build Trust’ in Nuclear as Electric Demand Grows, Says Lawmaker (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/wa-board-needed-build-trust-130000240.html

5. Public Recommendations Open for Annual $300 Million in Pacific Northwest Power, Conservation Projects (Columbia Gorge News, Hood River, OR)

https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/public-recommendations-open-for-annual-300-million-in-power-conservation-projects/article_79e069ac-d780-11ef-91f9-0f62ce36e4b3.html

6. Southwest Power Pool’s Markets+ Service Gets Key FERC Approval (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/46929-southwest-power-pools-markets-service-gets-key-ferc-approval/

7. Trump Taps Mark Christie to Lead FERC, Replacing Willie Phillips (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/trump-mark-christie-ferc-chairman-phillips/737816/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8. A Controversial Idaho Wind Farm Near Minidoka Was OK’d Last Month. Now It’s on Hold (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/controversial-idaho-wind-farm-near-190151794.html

9. Second Bill Filed to Limit WA Governor’s Authority to Approve Locally Opposed Wind Farms (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/2nd-bill-filed-limit-wa-193054033.html

10. Loophole in State Rules Paves Way to Ever-Larger Solar Projects on Oregon Farmland (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/loophole-in-state-rules-paves-way-to-ever-larger-solar-projects-on-oregon-farmland/ar-AA1xtaaB

11. Solar Farms Are Booming in the U.S. And Putting Thousands of Hungry Sheep to Work (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/solar-farms-booming-us-putting-thousands-hungry-sheep-117844705

Fish & Wildlife

12. Bald Eagles Are Migrating to the Dalles Dam (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2025/01/the-dalles-dam-is-a-great-place-to-spot-migrating-bald-eagles.html

Water, Water, Anywhere?

13. Massive Aquifer Beneath Oregon’s Cascades Could Be the Largest in the World (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/massive-aquifer-beneath-oregons-cascades-could-be-the-largest-in-the-world-2000549681

14. Why Western Washington Could See Third-Driest January in 80 Years (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/western-washington-dry-january-historic/281-953b54f7-1712-4399-b322-76a1cefb4940

15. President Trump Signs Executive Order to Increase California Water Supply (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-signs-executive-order-to-increase-california-water-supply/ar-AA1xCLD6

I Sing the Car Electric

16. What’s Next for Electric Vehicles as Trump Moves to Revoke Biden-Era Incentives? (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-electric-vehicles-pollution-standards-ae3a35faa376630e494765175aee2c28

Politics, Governance, and Management

17. President Trump’s Executive Orders Halt Wind Development, Declare Energy Emergency (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/trump-offshore-wind-leasing-permitting-executive-orders-energy/737835/

18. Trump Administration Directs All Federal Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Staff Be Put on Leave (Associated Press)

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/politics/trump-administration-directs-all-federal-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-staff-be-put-on-leave/ar-AA1xCaoU

19. Without Much Fanfare, Oregon Lawmakers Get Back to Business in Salem (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-legislature-capitol-salem-session-2025-long-start/283-51f01ff2-d71d-4023-bcc0-64bf3dc85175

Other Things to Know About Today

20. Local Meteorologists Could Face Layoffs Amid New Initiative with the Weather Channel (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/19/nx-s1-5267507/local-tv-meteorologists-the-weather-channel-layoffs

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

21. Guest Essay: Load Forecasts from Data Centers Risk Falling into Irrational Exuberance Territory (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/load-forecasts-data-centers-risks-consumers-cost-epsa/737280/

22. Guest Essay: Washington’s Struggle – How Far-Too-Slow Salmon Recovery Impacts Orcas Like Tahlequah (Tacoma News-Tribune, WA – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/washington-struggle-far-too-slow-130000081.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

New Pompeii Excavation Reveals a Large Private Thermal Complex Built 2,000 Years Ago

https://apnews.com/article/italy-pompeii-park-discovery-thermal-baths-archeology-03d8b699dfeab2c88274d870f90c7b19

Wine Sales Drying Up as Americans Turn Elsewhere

https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/data-shows-wine-decline-consumers-spending-less-drinking-less-rcna187628

How to Glimpse a Parade of Planets in the January Night Sky

https://apnews.com/article/how-to-view-january-planetary-parade-e4bc1550777bb93d6dbee21eb8ee23fc

Lunar New Year 2025: The Year of the Snake

https://www.almanac.com/content/chinese-new-year-chinese-zodiac

Song of the Day

Ella Fitsgerald – The Days of Wine & Roses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSCEdMSMPT4

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.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The Energy News Digest for January 15, 2025

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest.

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

California Fires Live Updates: Firefighters Battle Los Angeles, Ventura Blazes as ‘Particularly Dangerous’ Winds Warning Still in Effect (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/california-fires-live-updates-firefighters-battle-los-angeles-ventura-blazes-as-particularly-dangerous-winds-warning-still-in-effect-142111784.html

Los Angeles Wildfires Spark Initial Round of Lawsuits Against Utilities (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-wildfires-lawsuits-utilities/

Nevada’s Joshua Trees Bulldozed in Mesquite; Solar Company Defends Solar Farm (KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV)

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/nevadas-joshua-trees-bulldozed-in-mesquite-solar-company-defends-solar-farm/

Washington State Wanted to Be a National Leader on Solar Panel Recycling, But It’s Had a Tough Start (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/washington-state-wanted-to-be-a-national-leader-on-solar-panel-recycling-but-its-had-a-tough,373645

TikTok Prepares to Shut Down App in U.S. on Sunday, Sources Say (Reuters)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tiktok-preparing-us-shut-off-041323685.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. Los Angeles Wildfires Spark Initial Round of Lawsuits Against Utilities

2. California Utility Faces Billions in Claims for Fire Damage Even If It Did Nothing Wrong

3. Regulators Criticized Edison’s Wildfire Safety Actions Months Before Deadly Eaton Fire

4. Fairbanks Electric Utility Sees Issues with Power Supply from Southcentral Alaska

5. EIA Extends Five Key Energy Forecasts Through December 2026

6. DOE Selects Utilities for Groundbreaking Technical Assistance Program to Advance Grid Deployment and Integration – Includes Golden Valley Electric Ass’n & Puget Sound Energy

7. U.S. Beauty Queen & ‘New Face of Nuclear Energy’ Campaigns to Sway Public Opinion in Australia

8. Nevada’s Joshua Trees Bulldozed in Mesquite; Solar Company Defends Solar Farm

9. People Are Rushing to Install Solar Panels Before Trump Becomes President

10. Washington State Wanted to Be a National Leader on Solar Panel Recycling, But It’s Had a Tough Start

11. Solar Panels as Apple Tree Shades in WSU Wenatchee Test Orchard

12. USDA Continues Historic Commitment, Partnering with Rural Communities on Clean, Affordable Energy – Includes Inland Power & Light

13. WA State: Pend Oreille PUD Receives Full Funding to Restore Metaline Falls Water System

14. U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear from Oil & Gas Companies Trying to Block Climate Change Lawsuits

15. Biden Orders Energy & Defense Departments to Lease Sites for Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, Clean Energy Generation

16. Federal Highway Administration Announces Grants for Electric Vehicle Projects in Public Power Communities – Including SMUD

17. TikTok Prepares to Shut Down App in U.S. on Sunday, Sources Say

18. RedNote: What to Know About the Chinese App TikTok Users Are Flocking To

19. Agents, Secure Sources and Video: 2025 Artificial Intelligence Trends for Public Power Utilities

20. WA Is ‘A Light to the World’ Gov. Inslee Tells Lawmakers in His Final State of the State Address

21. OR Gov. Kotek Appoints Karin Power to the Public Utility Commission

22. Washington Utility, Property Taxes Would Surge by 3% Under Democrat’s Bill

23. Trump Nominee Chris Wright to Lay Out Top Three Goals as Energy Secretary

24. California Fires Live Updates: Firefighters Battle Los Angeles, Ventura Blazes as ‘Particularly Dangerous’ Winds Warning Still in Effect

25. Six Washington Counties Suffered an Estimated $34 Million in Damage During Bomb Cyclone

26. Audio: How Texas Became America’s Clean Energy Leader

27. Audio: Can a River Have Rights? Everett Is Finding Out

Word of the Day

Deus Ex Machina /DAY-us-eks-MAH-kih-nuhnoun/ Noun – A character or thing that suddenly enters the story in a novel, play, movie, etc., and solves a problem that had previously seemed impossible to solve.

Viktor, the villain of the Poughkeepsie hangnail scandal that rocked the Professional Tiddlywinks Association, met his ignominious end at the association’s season-ending tournament. Waving his ill-gotten trophy above his head, shouting invective at his detractors in the parking lot, a bolt of lightning – like a deus ex machina - cut his dark life to an abrupt end.

Energy & Utility Issues

1. Los Angeles Wildfires Spark Initial Round of Lawsuits Against Utilities (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-wildfires-lawsuits-utilities/

2. California Utility Faces Billions in Claims for Fire Damage Even If It Did Nothing Wrong (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/california-utility-faces-billions-claims-fire-damage-even-if-it-did-nothing-2025-01-15/

3. Regulators Criticized Edison’s Wildfire Safety Actions Months Before Deadly Eaton Fire (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via AOL)

https://www.aol.com/news/regulators-criticized-edisons-wildfire-safety-203317126.html

4. Fairbanks Electric Utility Sees Issues with Power Supply from Southcentral Alaska (KTUU-TV, Anchorage, AK)

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2025/01/15/fairbanks-electric-utility-sees-issues-with-power-supply-southcentral-alaska/

5. EIA Extends Five Key Energy Forecasts Through December 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64264

6. DOE Selects Utilities for Groundbreaking Technical Assistance Program to Advance Grid Deployment and Integration – Includes Golden Valley Electric Ass’n & Puget Sound Energy (U.S. Dept. of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/doe-selects-utilities-groundbreaking-technical-assistance-program-advance-grid

7. U.S. Beauty Queen & ‘New Face of Nuclear Energy’ Campaigns to Sway Public Opinion in Australia (Australia Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-16/nuclear-power-campaign-deploys-miss-america/104795806

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8. Nevada’s Joshua Trees Bulldozed in Mesquite; Solar Company Defends Solar Farm (KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV)

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/nevadas-joshua-trees-bulldozed-in-mesquite-solar-company-defends-solar-farm/

9. People Are Rushing to Install Solar Panels Before Trump Becomes President (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/12/nx-s1-5228024/trump-solar-tax-credits?utm_medium=email

10. Washington State Wanted to Be a National Leader on Solar Panel Recycling, But It’s Had a Tough Start (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/washington-state-wanted-to-be-a-national-leader-on-solar-panel-recycling-but-its-had-a-tough,373645

11. Solar Panels as Apple Tree Shades in WSU Wenatchee Test Orchard (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/solar-panels-shade-apple-orchard/

12. USDA Continues Historic Commitment, Partnering with Rural Communities on Clean, Affordable Energy – Includes Inland Power & Light (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/01/10/usda-continues-historic-commitment-partnering-rural-communities-clean-affordable-energy

Water, Water, Anywhere?

13. WA State: Pend Oreille PUD Receives Full Funding to Restore Metaline Falls Water System (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/news/public-utility-district-receives-full-funding-to-restore-metaline-falls-water-system/article_9bf65666-d2b0-11ef-99e9-eb295e8c0ebf.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

14. U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear from Oil & Gas Companies Trying to Block Climate Change Lawsuits (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-climate-change-oil-gas-companies-7548dbfe5cb38a9174330602cbef42c2

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

15. Biden Orders Energy & Defense Departments to Lease Sites for Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, Clean Energy Generation (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/biden-doe-dod-lease-sites-ai-data-centers-clean-energy/737257/

I Sing the Car Electric

16. Federal Highway Administration Announces Grants for Electric Vehicle Projects in Public Power Communities – Including SMUD (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/federal-highway-administration-announces-grants-ev-projects-public-power-communities

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

17. TikTok Prepares to Shut Down App in U.S. on Sunday, Sources Say (Reuters)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tiktok-preparing-us-shut-off-041323685.html

18. RedNote: What to Know About the Chinese App TikTok Users Are Flocking To (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/technology/chinas-rednote-what-you-need-know-about-app-tiktok-users-are-flocking-2025-01-15/

19. Agents, Secure Sources and Video: 2025 Artificial Intelligence Trends for Public Power Utilities (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://www.pioneerutilityresources.com/ai-agents-sources-video/

Politics, Governance, and Management

20. WA Is ‘A Light to the World’ Gov. Inslee Tells Lawmakers in His Final State of the State Address (The Olympian, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/wa-is-a-light-to-the-world-gov-inslee-tells-lawmakers-in-his-final-state-of-the-state-address/ar-BB1rsdIr

21. OR Gov. Kotek Appoints Karin Power to the Public Utility Commission (Willamette Week)

https://www.wweek.com/news/2025/01/14/kotek-appoints-karin-power-to-the-public-utility-commission/

22. Washington Utility, Property Taxes Would Surge by 3% Under Democrat’s Bill (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/ktth/ktth-opinion/rantz-washington-utility-property-taxes-would-surge-by-3-under-democrats-bill/4028109

23. Trump Nominee Chris Wright to Lay Out Top Three Goals as Energy Secretary (Axios)

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/15/chris-wright-energy-secretary-opening-statement?utm_medium=email

Other Things to Know About Today

24. California Fires Live Updates: Firefighters Battle Los Angeles, Ventura Blazes as ‘Particularly Dangerous’ Winds Warning Still in Effect (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/california-fires-live-updates-firefighters-battle-los-angeles-ventura-blazes-as-particularly-dangerous-winds-warning-still-in-effect-142111784.html

25. Six Washington Counties Suffered an Estimated $34 Million in Damage During Bomb Cyclone (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/bomb-cyclone-gov-inslee-request-disaster-declaration/281-afc57c72-db02-4e60-ad14-08de4c5d1770

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

26. Audio: How Texas Became America’s Clean Energy Leader (On Point – WBUR Radio)

https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2025/01/15/texas-clean-energy-wind-solar-renewable

27. Audio: Can a River Have Rights? Everett Is Finding Out (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/can-a-river-have-rights-everett-is-finding-out

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Planters Offers $45,000 & Benefits to Drive Its Iconic Nutmobile

https://www.fox13news.com/news/planters-nutmobile-driver-job

Enormous Dinosaur Skull Uncovers a Previously Unknown Species

https://gizmodo.com/enormous-dinosaur-skull-uncovers-a-previously-unknown-species-2000549301

Belgium’s Pastoral Pastime of Pigeon Racing Faces High Anxiety Over Crime Wave

https://apnews.com/article/pigeon-racing-breeding-theft-belgium-fraud-4313323916aae9aa85b0e240851726ba

Old Farmer’s Almanac Reveals Washington’s 2025 Weather Forecast

https://kpq.com/ixp/1137/p/extended-60-day-weather-forecast/

Song of the Day

Joe Cocker - Bird on a Wire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwbJ1Od_E7E