The Energy News Digest for July 23, 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.

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

Last Call for Future Utility Leaders—FUEL Is Nearly Full!

Do you have your sights set on an executive leadership position in the electric utility industry? If so, take the next step toward your goal by immersing yourself in NWPPA’s Future Utility Executive Leadership (FUEL) program. The FUEL program will equip you with the industry knowledge essential for utility leaders to succeed. This year’s program will take place from October 20 to 24 and November 17 to 21 in Vancouver, Washington. Just a few seats are left, so don’t wait to secure yours! Apply now at www.nwppa.org/fuel.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Microsoft Blames Chinese-Backed Hackers for SharePoint Breaches (CNBC)

https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/microsoft-sharepoint-attack-chinese-hackers-violet-typhoon-linen-typhoon-storm-2603-us-nuclear-agency-hit-19641871.htm

Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Are Using More Power. Regular Customers Are Footing the Bill (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/07/21/repub/ai-data-centers-are-using-more-power-regular-customers-are-footing-the-bill/

Severe Drought Causing Utah Reservoir Levels to Drop at ‘Concerning’ Rate (Utah News Dispatch)

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/briefs/drought-in-utah-causing-reservoir-levels-to-drop/

State of Idaho Has Paused All Work on Federal Program Developing Sites for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/07/23/state-of-idaho-has-paused-all-work-on-federal-program-developing-sites-for-ev-charging-stations/

Mount Rainier’s Quake Swarm Breaks Seismic Records (Axios Seattle)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/07/21/mount-rainier-earthquake-swarm-seismic-volcano-data

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Are Using More Power. Regular Customers Are Footing the Bill

2.      CNBC Lists 10 States with Grids Best Positioned to Power Artificial Intelligence Data Center Boom

3.      Avista Employs New Technology to Identify & Prevent Wildfires

4.      Investigation Leads to Felony Charges for Cut Utility Wires in King County

5.      Coal-Fired Power Plants Are Well-Stocked This Year

6.      Tennessee, Local Governments Will Forgo Sales Taxes on $4.5 Billion Nuclear Facility

7.      Africa: World’s Largest Power Station Could Provide Energy for Half of U.S. Homes

8.      Wyoming: Federal Funding Rebooted for Wind River Reservation Solar Project

9.      Bureau of Land Management Geothermal Leases in Oregon Sale Net More Than $430,000

10.   How Native Homes in New Mexico Are Tapping the Sun

11.   United Nations Says Booming Solar, Wind & Other Green Energy Hits Global Tipping Point for Even Lower Costs

12.   Experts Assess Damage from Fuel Tanker Crash into Washington State Salmon Stream

13.   Severe Drought Causing Utah Reservoir Levels to Drop at ‘Concerning’ Rate

14.   To Fight Cancer-Causing ‘Erin Brockovich’ Toxin, California May Give Water Districts Legal Cover

15.   Court Upholds a Landmark Clean-Heat Rule in Southern California

16.   United Nations’ Top Court Says Failing to Protect Planet from Climate Change Could Violate International Law

17.   WA State: Pacific PUD Fiber Project Finished in East Bay

18.   Microsoft Blames Chinese-Backed Hackers for SharePoint Breaches

19.   U.S. Nuclear Weapons Agency Breached in Microsoft SharePoint Hack: Bloomberg

20.   OpenAI Is Eating Microsoft’s Lunch – Copilot Is Getting Kicked Out of the Cockpit

21.   State of Idaho Has Paused All Work on Federal Program Developing Sites for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

22.   Less Than 400 Electric Vehicle Charging Ports Built Under $7.5 Billion U.S. Infrastructure Program

23.   As Tesla’s Sales Dwindle, a Critical Revenue Source Is Running Dry

24.   GM Says Electric Vehicles Are Its ‘North Star’ as Legacy Automaker Chases Tesla

25.   Mount Rainier’s Quake Swarm Breaks Seismic Records

26.   Earth Is Experiencing Some of Its Shortest Days on Record. It’s Unclear Why

27.   A Look at Megafires as an Oregon Wildfire Approaches the 100,000-Acre Mark

28.   Eaton Fire Could Wipe Out California’s $21-Billion Wildfire Fund, Documents Show

29.   Travel Warning: Measles Cases at Highest Since Virus Was Considered Eradicated

30.   Guest Essay: Idaho Conservation League Is Willing to Talk About Nuclear Power

Word of the Day

Bohemian \bo-HEE-mee-un\ Noun - 1a: a native or inhabitant of Bohemia b: the group of Czech dialects used in Bohemia 2a: vagabond, wanderer; especially gypsy b: a person (as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others.

Barnabas thought he was living life to the Bohemian fullest: rooming with four guys; drinking Jägermeister each night with wild abandon; blogging incoherently about anything and everything that popped into his febrile mind; rolling out of bed, bleary-eyed the following morning to raise the dough for rent and Top Ramen. His distraught mother put it more succinctly: “My son? He’s living like a bum.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Are Using More Power. Regular Customers Are Footing the Bill (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/07/21/repub/ai-data-centers-are-using-more-power-regular-customers-are-footing-the-bill/

2.      CNBC Lists 10 States with Grids Best Positioned to Power Artificial Intelligence Data Center Boom (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/cnbc-lists-10-states-with-grids-best-positioned-power-ai-data-center-boom

3.      Avista Employs New Technology to Identify & Prevent Wildfires (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/avista-employs-new-technology-to-identify-and-prevent-wildfires/article_74a29496-9c46-42b7-9ec4-934257120250.html

4.      Investigation Leads to Felony Charges for Cut Utility Wires in King County (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/investigation-registered-sex-offender-utility-wires-king-county-renton-bellevue-connor-lacktorin-32-years-old-scrap-copper-tacoma-comcast-lumen-felony-charges

5.      Coal-Fired Power Plants Are Well-Stocked This Year (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65787

6.      Tennessee, Local Governments Will Forgo Sales Taxes on $4.5 Billion Nuclear Facility (Tennessee Lookout)

https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/23/tennessee-local-governments-will-forgo-sales-taxes-on-4-5b-nuclear-facility/

7.      Africa: World’s Largest Power Station Could Provide Energy for Half of U.S. Homes (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/world-s-largest-power-station-could-provide-energy-for-half-of-us-homes/ar-AA1IW5az

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      Wyoming: Federal Funding Rebooted for Wind River Reservation Solar Project (Wyoming Public Media)

https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/tribal-news/2025-07-22/federal-funding-rebooted-for-wind-river-reservation-solar-project

9.      Bureau of Land Management Geothermal Leases in Oregon Sale Net More Than $430,000 (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/blm-geothermal-leases-in-oregon-sale-net-more-than-430000/

10.   How Native Homes in New Mexico Are Tapping the Sun (New York Times – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/climate/new-mexico-navajo-power.html

11.   United Nations Says Booming Solar, Wind & Other Green Energy Hits Global Tipping Point for Even Lower Costs (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-solar-wind-power-fossil-fuels-6aca4846e594ea8405f91edda39a03ad

Fish & Wildlife

12.   Experts Assess Damage from Fuel Tanker Crash into Washington State Salmon Stream (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/experts-assess-damage-from-fuel-tanker-crash-into-washington-state-salmon-stream,384410

Water, Water, Anywhere?

13.   Severe Drought Causing Utah Reservoir Levels to Drop at ‘Concerning’ Rate (Utah News Dispatch)

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/briefs/drought-in-utah-causing-reservoir-levels-to-drop/

14.   To Fight Cancer-Causing ‘Erin Brockovich’ Toxin, California May Give Water Districts Legal Cover (Cal Matters)

https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/california-erin-brockovich-chemical-lawsuit/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

15.   Court Upholds a Landmark Clean-Heat Rule in Southern California (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electrification/court-upholds-a-landmark-clean-heat-rule-in-southern-california

16.   United Nations’ Top Court Says Failing to Protect Planet from Climate Change Could Violate International Law (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/un-court-opinion-climate-change-1ac84a94a5aaffd63518ef1da3502a9e

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   WA State: Pacific PUD Fiber Project Finished in East Bay (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://chinookobserver.com/2025/07/22/pud-fiber-project-finished-in-east-bay/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

18.   Microsoft Blames Chinese-Backed Hackers for SharePoint Breaches (CNBC)

https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/microsoft-sharepoint-attack-chinese-hackers-violet-typhoon-linen-typhoon-storm-2603-us-nuclear-agency-hit-19641871.htm

19.   U.S. Nuclear Weapons Agency Breached in Microsoft SharePoint Hack: Bloomberg (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/text_n_68803549e4b0f277db44d940

20.   OpenAI Is Eating Microsoft’s Lunch – Copilot Is Getting Kicked Out of the Cockpit (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/openai-is-eating-microsofts-lunch-2000630194

I Sing the Car Electric

21.   State of Idaho Has Paused All Work on Federal Program Developing Sites for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/07/23/state-of-idaho-has-paused-all-work-on-federal-program-developing-sites-for-ev-charging-stations/

22.   Less Than 400 Electric Vehicle Charging Ports Built Under $7.5 Billion U.S. Infrastructure Program (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/less-than-400-ev-charging-ports-built-under-75-billion-us-infrastructure-program-2025-07-22/

23.   As Tesla’s Sales Dwindle, a Critical Revenue Source Is Running Dry (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/as-teslas-sales-dwindle-a-critical-revenue-source-is-running-dry-2000632872

24.   GM Says Electric Vehicles Are Its ‘North Star’ as Legacy Automaker Chases Tesla (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/22/general-motors-electric-vehicles-tesla.html

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

25.   Mount Rainier’s Quake Swarm Breaks Seismic Records (Axios Seattle)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/07/21/mount-rainier-earthquake-swarm-seismic-volcano-data

26.   Earth Is Experiencing Some of Its Shortest Days on Record. It’s Unclear Why (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2025/07/earth-is-experiencing-some-of-its-shortest-days-on-record-its-unclear-why.html

Other Things to Know About Today

27.   A Look at Megafires as an Oregon Wildfire Approaches the 100,000-Acre Mark (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/megafire-wildfires-oregon-cram-fire-9aec4a2ac9ed8a43446e866b31b0985b

28.   Eaton Fire Could Wipe Out California’s $21-Billion Wildfire Fund, Documents Show (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/eaton-fire-could-wipe-californias-100000690.html

29.   Travel Warning: Measles Cases at Highest Since Virus Was Considered Eradicated (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/travel-warning-measles-cases-highest-since-virus-was-considered-eradicated/LYPMYOYTIZF3HJHP73KB5NBV5Y/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

30.   Guest Essay: Idaho Conservation League Is Willing to Talk About Nuclear Power (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/idaho-conservation-league-willing-talk-100000220.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Grieving Family Adopt ‘Identical’ Dog After Losing Pet, Then Make Wild DNA Discovery

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/grieving-family-adopt-identical-dog-35572071

Ground Squirrels Are Taking Over Minot, North Dakota, Possibly Outnumbering City’s Human Population

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/ground-squirrels-prairie-dogs-minot-north-dakota/

Ozzy Osbourne Dies at 76, Weeks After Farewell Black Sabbath Concert; Follow Live Updates as Tributes Pour in from Music Legends

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/live/ozzy-osbourne-dies-at-76-weeks-after-farewell-black-sabbath-concert-follow-live-updates-as-tributes-pour-in-from-music-legends-182404367.html

Physicists Blow Up Gold with Giant Lasers, Accidentally Disprove Renowned Physics Model

https://gizmodo.com/physicists-blow-up-gold-with-giant-lasers-accidentally-disprove-renowned-physics-model-2000633078

Song of the Day

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guHQwOF2Qk8&list=RDguHQwOF2Qk8&start_radio=1

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, which can 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.

The Energy News Digest for July 21, 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.

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

Last Call for Future Utility Leaders—FUEL Is Nearly Full!

Do you have your sights set on an executive leadership position in the electric utility industry? If so, take the next step toward your goal by immersing yourself in NWPPA’s Future Utility Executive Leadership (FUEL) program. The FUEL program will equip you with the industry knowledge essential for utility leaders to succeed. This year’s program will take place from October 20 to 24 and November 17 to 21 in Vancouver, Washington. Just a few seats are left, so don’t wait to secure yours! Apply now at www.nwppa.org/fuel.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Microsoft Alerts Businesses, Governments to Server Software Attack (Reuters)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-alerts-businesses-governments-server-000040886.html

Small Modular Reactors Are Gaining Steam Globally. Will Any Get Built? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/nuclear/small-modular-reactors-are-having-a-moment-will-any-get-built

Washingtonians Rush to Go Green Before Federal Tax Incentives Expire (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/16/washingtonians-rush-to-go-green-before-federal-tax/

A Plan to Shoot 450,000 Owls—To Save a Different Owl—Could Be in Jeopardy (Phys.Org)

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-owls-owl-jeopardy.html

Oregon Wildfire Burns Almost 100,000 Acres, Approaching Rare Megafire Status (NBC News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/oregon-wildfire-burns-almost-100k-193233436.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Small Modular Reactors Are Gaining Steam Globally. Will Any Get Built?

2.      News Release: Idaho National Laboratory Collaborates with Microsoft to Streamline Nuclear Licensing

3.      As Building New Power Gets Harder, U.S. Utilities Seek Record Rate Increases

4.      A ‘Penultimate’ Milestone: BC Hydro’s Peace River Dam Is Almost Complete

5.      China Begins Building World's Largest Dam, Fueling Fears in India

6.      Oregon: How Lane County Electric Utilities Deal with Wildfire Danger

7.      Wildfire Mitigation: Co-ops Battle an 'Existential Threat'

8.      States Rush to Protect Grid as Artificial Intelligence Booms

9.      Washingtonians Rush to Go Green Before Federal Tax Incentives Expire

10.   Solar, Wind Projects on U.S. Lands Will Get Extra Scrutiny

11.   Along Those Lines: How Co-ops Are Educating Their Members on Rooftop Solar

12.   Puget Sound Energy, Washington's Biggest Utility, Pays Customers to Save Energy During Heat Wave

13.   Bonneville Power Administration Supports Local Beverage Company with Juicy Energy Efficiency Project

14.   A Plan to Shoot 450,000 Owls—To Save a Different Owl—Could Be in Jeopardy

15.   50 Years After the Snake River Dams Were Completed, Can They Continue to Coexist with Salmon?

16.   Thirteen Montana Rivers, & Three Yellowstone National Park Waterways, Under Fishing Restrictions

17.   Port Angeles, WA Lifts 'Do Not Drink' Water Order After Fuel Tanker Spill

18.   Oregon: Willamette Falls Locks Take a Hit with No New Funding from the Legislature

19.   FCC To Eliminate Gigabit Speed Goal & Scrap Analysis of Broadband Prices

20.   Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet Works Great If Hardly Anyone Uses It

21.   FCC Focuses on Satellite Growth as BEAD Changes Loom

22.   New Proposed FCC Pole Rules

23.   Microsoft Alerts Businesses, Governments to Server Software Attack

24.   What to Know About a Vulnerability Being Exploited on Microsoft SharePoint Servers

25.   Oregon: ‘It Blocks Out the Sky’ – Data Center’s Big Plans Rile Neighbors in Small-Town Forest Grove

26.   Meta Investors Settlement with Zuckerberg Takes Heat Off Delaware, Averts $8 Billion Trial

27.   California: Newsom Commits to Reaching Grid Regionalization Deal This Session

28.   President Trump Taps Project 2025 Contributor to Fill Vacant FERC Seat

29.   With One Call, Trump Alters the Fate of a Contested Power Project

30.   Oregon Wildfire Burns Almost 100,000 Acres, Approaching Rare Megafire Status

31.   Lightning & Thunderstorms Over & East of the Cascade Crest

32.   Alaska Airlines Resumes Flights After Briefly Grounding Fleet, But Delays May Linger

33.   Guest Essay: The Power Grid Battle That’s Dividing California Environmentalists

34.   News Release: Host Of Organizations Strongly Oppose Privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority: Public Power Belongs to the People

35.   Guest Essay: Trump Administration & Tennessee Senators Right to Call for Tennessee Valley Authority Reform

36.   Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Adds to Long History of Poor Resource Management

Word of the Day - The Horrible Haiku Edition

Nervy /NURR-vee/ Adjective - 1 archaic: sinewy, strong 2a: showing or expressive of calm courage: bold b: marked by effrontery or presumption: brash 3: excitable, nervous.

     Get outta my way!

     Behold the nervy Karen

     Demands first in line

https://joelshorriblehaiku.blogspot.com/

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Small Modular Reactors Are Gaining Steam Globally. Will Any Get Built? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/nuclear/small-modular-reactors-are-having-a-moment-will-any-get-built

2.      News Release: Idaho National Laboratory Collaborates with Microsoft to Streamline Nuclear Licensing (Idaho National Laboratory)

https://inl.gov/news-release/idaho-national-laboratory-collaborates-with-microsoft-to-streamline-nuclear-licensing/

3.      As Building New Power Gets Harder, U.S. Utilities Seek Record Rate Increases (Latitude Media)

https://www.latitudemedia.com/news/as-building-new-power-gets-harder-us-utilities-seek-record-rate-increases/

4.      A ‘Penultimate’ Milestone: BC Hydro’s Peace River Dam Is Almost Complete (Renewable Energy World)

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydro-power/a-penultimate-milestone-bc-hydros-site-c-is-almost-complete/

5.      China Begins Building World's Largest Dam, Fueling Fears in India (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-begins-building-worlds-largest-082938942.html

6.      Oregon: How Lane County Electric Utilities Deal with Wildfire Danger (KLCC-Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/environment/2025-07-21/how-lane-county-electric-utilities-deal-with-wildfire-danger

7.      Wildfire Mitigation: Co-ops Battle an 'Existential Threat' (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/Pages/Wildfire-Mitigation-Co-ops-Coast-to-Coast-Battle-Existential-Threat.aspx

8.      States Rush to Protect Grid as Artificial Intelligence Booms (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2025/07/17/states-rush-to-protect-grid-as-ai-booms-00459312

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Washingtonians Rush to Go Green Before Federal Tax Incentives Expire (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/16/washingtonians-rush-to-go-green-before-federal-tax/

10.   Solar, Wind Projects on U.S. Lands Will Get Extra Scrutiny (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/solar-wind-projects-us-lands-will-get-extra-scrutiny-2025-07-17/

11.   Along Those Lines: How Co-ops Are Educating Their Members on Rooftop Solar (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-how-co-ops-are-educating-their-members-on-rooftop-solar

Conservation & Efficiency

12.   Puget Sound Energy, Washington's Biggest Utility, Pays Customers to Save Energy During Heat Wave (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-s-biggest-utility-pays-customers-to-save-energy-during-heat-wave

13.   Bonneville Power Administration Supports Local Beverage Company with Juicy Energy Efficiency Project (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20250714-bpa-supports-local-beverage-co-with-juicy-energy-efficiency-project

Fish & Wildlife

14.   A Plan to Shoot 450,000 Owls—To Save a Different Owl—Could Be in Jeopardy (Phys.Org)

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-owls-owl-jeopardy.html

15.   50 Years After the Snake River Dams Were Completed, Can They Continue to Coexist with Salmon? (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/20/50-years-after-the-snake-river-dams-were-completed/

16.   Thirteen Montana Rivers, & Three Yellowstone National Park Waterways, Under Fishing Restrictions (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/thirteen-montana-rivers-and-three-yellowstone-national-park-waterways-under-fishing-restrictions/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

17.   Port Angeles, WA Lifts 'Do Not Drink' Water Order After Fuel Tanker Spill (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/port-angeles-wa-issues-not-230813767.html

18.   Oregon: Willamette Falls Locks Take a Hit with No New Funding from the Legislature (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/21/willamette-falls-locks-navigational-boats-infrastructure-seismic-earthquake/

London Calling –Telecommunications

19.   FCC To Eliminate Gigabit Speed Goal & Scrap Analysis of Broadband Prices (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/07/fcc-to-eliminate-gigabit-speed-goal-and-scrap-analysis-of-broadband-prices/

20.   Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet Works Great If Hardly Anyone Uses It (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/elon-musk-s-starlink-internet-works-great-if-hardly-anyone-uses-it/ar-AA1IRysn

21.   FCC Focuses on Satellite Growth as BEAD Changes Loom (Fierce Network)

https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/fcc-focuses-satellite-growth-bead-changes-loom

22.   New Proposed FCC Pole Rules (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2025/07/17/new-proposed-fcc-pole-rules/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

23.   Microsoft Alerts Businesses, Governments to Server Software Attack (Reuters)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-alerts-businesses-governments-server-000040886.html

24.   What to Know About a Vulnerability Being Exploited on Microsoft SharePoint Servers (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-sharepoint-zero-point-vulnerability-65ebcae88267e1aa375013adaa283765

25.   Oregon: ‘It Blocks Out the Sky’ – Data Center’s Big Plans Rile Neighbors in Small-Town Forest Grove (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2025/07/it-blocks-out-the-sky-data-centers-big-plans-rile-neighbors-in-small-town-forest-grove.html

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

26.   Meta Investors Settlement with Zuckerberg Takes Heat Off Delaware, Averts $8 Billion Trial (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/meta-investors-settlement-with-zuckerberg-takes-heat-off-delaware-2025-07-21/

Politics, Governance, and Management

27.   California: Newsom Commits to Reaching Grid Regionalization Deal This Session (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/newsom-commits-to-reaching-grid-regionalization-deal-this-session/

28.   President Trump Taps Project 2025 Contributor to Fill Vacant FERC Seat (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/white-house-ferc-lacerte/753339/

29.   With One Call, Trump Alters the Fate of a Contested Power Project (New York Times – Via DNYUS)

https://dnyuz.com/2025/07/17/with-one-call-trump-alters-the-fate-of-a-contested-power-project/

Other Things to Know About Today

30.   Oregon Wildfire Burns Almost 100,000 Acres, Approaching Rare Megafire Status (NBC News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/oregon-wildfire-burns-almost-100k-193233436.html

31.   Lightning & Thunderstorms Over & East of the Cascade Crest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2025/07/lightning-and-thunderstorms-over-and.html

32.   Alaska Airlines Resumes Flights After Briefly Grounding Fleet, But Delays May Linger (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025/07/alaska-airlines-resumes-flights-after-briefly-grounding-fleet-but-delays-may-linger.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

33.   Guest Essay: The Power Grid Battle That’s Dividing California Environmentalists (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, CA)

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/opinion/roth-the-power-grid-battle-thats-dividing-california-environmentalists/

34.   News Release: Host Of Organizations Strongly Oppose Privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority: Public Power Belongs to the People (Appalachian Voices)

https://appvoices.org/2025/07/18/tva-privatization/

35.   Guest Essay: Trump Administration & Tennessee Senators Right to Call for Tennessee Valley Authority Reform (Knoxville News-Sentinel, TN)

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/07/21/trump-and-tn-senators-right-to-call-for-tva-reform-opinion/85212703007/

36.   Guest Essay: Bonneville Power Administration Adds to Long History of Poor Resource Management (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-bpa-adds-to-long-history-of-poor-resource-management/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Visitor Tears Hole in 17th-Century Painting at Uffizi Galleries

https://hyperallergic.com/1022201/visitor-tears-hole-in-17th-century-painting-at-uffizi-galleries/

Largest Piece of Mars on Earth Fetches $5.3 Million at Auction, But Young Dinosaur Steals the Show

https://apnews.com/article/mars-rock-meteorite-auction-dinosaur-sothebys-01d7ccfc8dc580ad86f8e97a305fc8fa

Rosebud, Iconic Sled from ‘Citizen Kane,’ Sells for $14.75 Million at Auction

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/rosebud-iconic-sled-citizen-kane-003356489.html

He Who Must Not Be Named: Bigfoot 'Hairy Creature' Emoji Coming Soon

https://mashable.com/article/bigfoot-emoji-coming-soon-hairy-creature

Song of the Day

Bernard Herrmann – Citizen Kane Overture (Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ew3g8x4XSY&list=RD8ew3g8x4XSY&start_radio=1

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, which can 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.