The Energy News Digest

Monday, January 13, 2025

The Energy News Digest for January 13, 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.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Los Angeles Wildfires Live Updates: At Least 24 Killed; Santa Ana Winds Return to Region (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/los-angeles-wildfires-live-updates-at-least-24-killed-santa-ana-winds-return-to-region-as-officials-warn-of-particularly-dangerous-situation-173924284.html

What Ignited the Deadly California Wildfires? Investigators Consider an Array of Possibilities (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ignited-deadly-california-wildfires-investigators-053208174.html

‘Big Step.’ Gov. Inslee Approves Largest Solar Project to Date in Washington State (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/big-step-gov-inslee-approves-largest-solar-project-to-date-in-washington-state/ar-BB1rhfGW

Earth Breaks Yearly Heat Record & Lurches Past Dangerous Warming Threshold (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-warming-hot-record-2024-disasters-12f899f071fcdbd051ad49a872611e92

WA State: New Legislative Session to Begin with $12 Billion Budget Shortfall (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/new-legislative-session-to-begin-with-12-billion-budget-shortfall-governor-elect-bob-ferguson-lawmakers-in-olympia-6-percent-cuts

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. What Ignited the Deadly California Wildfires? Investigators Consider an Array of Possibilities

2. Southern California Edison Preserving Equipment Near Eaton Fire Starting Point

3. President Biden Banned Russian Uranium. Richland, WA Hopes to Land $3 Billion Nuclear Fuel Plant with 1,000 Jobs

4. Will The World Fall in Love with Nuclear Power Once More?

5. Columbia River Treaty Talks Continue Amid Tense Border Rhetoric: ‘I’m Always Optimistic’

6. Rocky Mountain Power to Cancel Planned Retirements of Its Wyoming Coal Plants

7. Constellation to Acquire Calpine Under Deal with a Net Purchase Price of $26.6 Billion

8. ‘Big Step.’ Gov. Inslee Approves Largest Solar Project to Date in Washington State

9. WA State: Whitman County Commissioners Issue Moratorium on Wind Energy Projects

10. WA State: Yakima County’s Two-Year Ban on Solar May Continue

11. Do Puget Sound Energy “Flex Events” Really Work? Yes, But Not in the Way You Might Think

12. New Research Shows a Quarter of Freshwater Animals Are Threatened with Extinction

13. Despite State Law, Washington Takes 3+ Years to Reveal Its Climate Pollution

14. Oregon Snowfall Projected to Drop 50% by 2100 Among Findings in Latest State Climate Report

15. Earth Breaks Yearly Heat Record & Lurches Past Dangerous Warming Threshold

16. U.S. Emissions Barely Declined in 2024 Amid Rising Power Demand, Fuel Use

17. Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $18 Million in Internet for All Grants to Tribal Lands – WA, AK, AZ Tribes Benefit

18. USDA to Open Applications for $26 Million Community Connect Program

19. Wireless Is Apparently the New Copper

20. Data Centers Drive Growth, Risk for Pacific Gas & Electric, Constellation, NorthWestern: BofA

21. Uncertainty Over President-Elect Trump’s Electric Vehicle Policies Clouds 2025 Forecast for Carmakers

22. U.S. Supreme Court Likely to Uphold Law Forcing TikTok Sale

23. WA State: New Legislative Session to Begin with $12 Billion Budget Shortfall

24. Kennewick Senator Proposes Bill to Restrict WA Governor's Authority Over Energy Projects

25. Federal Lawmakers: Water Resource Development Act Will Boost Columbia River Projects, Jobs & the Economy

26. Los Angeles Wildfires Live Updates: At Least 24 Killed; Santa Ana Winds Return to Region

27. La Niña Has Officially Arrived. Here's What That Means for Western Washington

28. Editorial: Northwest Energy Crisis Needs Action

29. Guest Essay: We Must Move Fast to Avert a National Electricity Crisis

30. Why Jay Inslee Isn’t Worried About Trump

Word of the Day

Loo \loo\ – Noun – Bathroom.

Gardex l’eau she cried.

“Too late” groused the soused old man.

Chamber pot emptied

From Oxford Living Dictionary and Kottkey:

When people flung their potty waste out of the window, they would shout “Gardez l'eau” [gar-day low]. That's French for “watch out for the water”. We probably get the word “loo” from this expression. Some people think it comes from “Room 100,” which is what European people used to call the bathroom. A third theory refers to the trade name 'Waterloo,' which appeared prominently on iron cisterns in many British outhouses during the early 20th century.

Energy & Utility Issues

1. What Ignited the Deadly California Wildfires? Investigators Consider an Array of Possibilities (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ignited-deadly-california-wildfires-investigators-053208174.html

2. Southern California Edison Preserving Equipment Near Eaton Fire Starting Point (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/faults-power-grid-skyrocketed-hours-020320523.html

3. President Biden Banned Russian Uranium. Richland, WA Hopes to Land $3 Billion Nuclear Fuel Plant with 1,000 Jobs (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/biden-banned-russian-uranium-richland-hopes-to-land-3b-nuclear-fuel-plant-with-1-000-jobs/ar-BB1rcNZs

4. Will The World Fall in Love with Nuclear Power Once More? (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/energy/will-the-world-fall-in-love-with-nuclear-power-once-more/

5. Columbia River Treaty Talks Continue Amid Tense Border Rhetoric: ‘I’m Always Optimistic’ (Vernon Now, Vernon, BC)

https://www.vernonnow.com/news/news/National_News/Columbia_River_Treaty_talks_continue_amid_tense_border_rhetoric_I_m_always_optimistic/

6. Rocky Mountain Power to Cancel Planned Retirements of Its Wyoming Coal Plants (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/01/08/rocky-mountain-power-to-cancel-planned-retirements-of-its-wyoming-coal-plants/

7. Constellation to Acquire Calpine Under Deal with a Net Purchase Price of $26.6 Billion (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/constellation-acquire-calpine-under-deal-with-net-purchase-price-266-billion

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8. ‘Big Step.’ Gov. Inslee Approves Largest Solar Project to Date in Washington State (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/big-step-gov-inslee-approves-largest-solar-project-to-date-in-washington-state/ar-BB1rhfGW

9. WA State: Whitman County Commissioners Issue Moratorium on Wind Energy Projects (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_45e57774-cf7d-11ef-bee5-d7703de6ca06.html

10. WA State: Yakima County’s Two-Year Ban on Solar May Continue (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/yakima-county-s-two-year-ban-on-solar-may-continue/article_7bbf6a72-815d-50de-973e-51f7128eac78.html

Conservation & Efficiency

11. Do Puget Sound Energy “Flex Events” Really Work? Yes, But Not in the Way You Might Think (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/washington/article298205253.html

Fish & Wildlife

12. New Research Shows a Quarter of Freshwater Animals Are Threatened with Extinction (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/new-research-shows-a-quarter-of-freshwater-20022549.php

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

13. Despite State Law, Washington Takes 3+ Years to Reveal Its Climate Pollution (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/despite-state-law-washington-takes-3-years-to-reveal-its-climate-pollution

Water, Water, Anywhere?

14. Oregon Snowfall Projected to Drop 50% by 2100 Among Findings in Latest State Climate Report (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/13/oregon-snowfall-projected-drop-50-percent-2100-climate-report/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

15. Earth Breaks Yearly Heat Record & Lurches Past Dangerous Warming Threshold (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-warming-hot-record-2024-disasters-12f899f071fcdbd051ad49a872611e92

16. U.S. Emissions Barely Declined in 2024 Amid Rising Power Demand, Fuel Use (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/emissions-reduction/us-emissions-barely-declined-in-2024-amid-rising-power-demand-fuel-use

London Calling –Telecommunications

17. Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $18 Million in Internet for All Grants to Tribal Lands – WA, AK, AZ Tribes Benefit (National Telecommunications and Information Administration)

https://www.ntia.gov/press-release/2025/biden-harris-administration-announces-nearly-18-million-internet-all-grants-tribal-lands

18. USDA to Open Applications for $26 Million Community Connect Program (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/usda-to-open-applications-for-26-million-community-connect-program/

19. Wireless Is Apparently the New Copper (Light Reading)

https://www.lightreading.com/network-platforms/wireless-is-apparently-the-new-copper

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

20. Data Centers Drive Growth, Risk for Pacific Gas & Electric, Constellation, NorthWestern: BofA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/data-centers-opportunity-risk-pacific-gas-electric-constellation-northwestern/736754/

I Sing the Car Electric

21. Uncertainty Over President-Elect Trump’s Electric Vehicle Policies Clouds 2025 Forecast for Carmakers (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicles-tesla-tariffs-incentives-3cf2f0a3cc461007b31e0433ef358a0d

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

22. U.S. Supreme Court Likely to Uphold Law Forcing TikTok Sale (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/supreme-court-likely-to-uphold-law-forcing-tiktok-sale/ar-BB1rfoaz

Politics, Governance, and Management

23. WA State: New Legislative Session to Begin with $12 Billion Budget Shortfall (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/new-legislative-session-to-begin-with-12-billion-budget-shortfall-governor-elect-bob-ferguson-lawmakers-in-olympia-6-percent-cuts

24. Kennewick Senator Proposes Bill to Restrict WA Governor's Authority Over Energy Projects (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/legislature/kennewick-senator-proposes-bill-to-restrict-governors-authority-over-energy-projects/article_c936e6b4-cfc1-11ef-8581-e7015bdb6e06.html

25. Federal Lawmakers: Water Resource Development Act Will Boost Columbia River Projects, Jobs & the Economy (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jan/09/lawmakers-water-resource-development-act-will-boost-columbia-river-projects-jobs-and-the-economy/

Other Things to Know About Today

26. Los Angeles Wildfires Live Updates: At Least 24 Killed; Santa Ana Winds Return to Region (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/los-angeles-wildfires-live-updates-at-least-24-killed-santa-ana-winds-return-to-region-as-officials-warn-of-particularly-dangerous-situation-173924284.html

27. La Niña Has Officially Arrived. Here's What That Means for Western Washington (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/la-nina-winter-washington-forecast-mountain-snow-rain-wet-conditions-puget-sound-pacific-ocean-pnw-noaa

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

28. Editorial: Northwest Energy Crisis Needs Action (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Via Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jan/13/other-papers-say-northwest-energy-crisis-needs-action/

29. Guest Essay: We Must Move Fast to Avert a National Electricity Crisis (The Hill, Washington, DC – Via AOL)

https://www.aol.com/opinion-must-move-fast-avert-190000051.html

30. Why Jay Inslee Isn’t Worried About Trump (E&E News/Politico)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/why-jay-inslee-isnt-worried-about-trump/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Justin Timberlake Joins Portland Kids' "Bike Bus" After Viral Invitation

https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/pop-star-justin-timberlake-portland-students-bike-bus-social-media-campaign/283-ea17a860-fa03-439e-b856-d5821f8f17b0

Eagles Receiver A.J. Brown's Sideline Read Skyrockets to No. 1 Hottest Seller on Amazon

https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/a-j-brown-s-sideline-read-skyrockets-to-no-1-20031488.php

After Being Bitten as a Puppy, Viral Dog Turns ‘Picasso’ Face Injury into Social Media Stardom: ‘A Beacon of Light’

https://www.msn.com/en-us/general/general/after-being-bitten-as-a-puppy-viral-dog-turns-picasso-face-injury-into-social-media-stardom-a-beacon-of-light/ar-AA1x4b30

He Picks Up Trash in Parks Using a Samurai Sword. What Could Go Wrong?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/general/he-picks-up-trash-in-parks-using-a-samurai-sword-what-could-go-wrong/ar-BB1rhuxT

Song of the Day

Come as You Are (Nirvana) – Playing for Change

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

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 8, 2025

The Energy News Digest for January 8, 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.

Call for Nominations for NWPPA Awards

The Northwest Public Power Association asks you to consider nominations for individuals and/or organizations that should be recognized for their contributions to the industry and their community. Check out the various awards, nomination criteria, and the nominating process for each of NWPPA’s awards. We urge you to participate in making the NWPPA awards program as meaningful as possible by bringing our attention to those individuals who most deserve recognition for their work on behalf of public power. You can bring recognition to a deserving individual or organization. All it takes is a few minutes of your time.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Thousands Flee as Wildfires Burn Out of Control & Destroy Homes Across the Los Angeles Area (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-southern-california-santa-ana-winds-b565a3bd043d6444820f1571b2307bf1

Soaring Electricity Bills Could Hobble California’s Green Energy Push: Report (San Jose Mercury-News, CA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/soaring-electricity-bills-could-hobble-california-s-green-energy-push-report/ar-AA1xa2sH

WA State: Proposed Windmill Project Near Kamiak Butte Sparks Community Debate (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/proposed-windmill-project-near-kamiak-butte-sparks-community-debate/article_6b96a584-cc89-11ef-ad99-1b0b264f5e8c.html

Washington State Bans Commercial Finfish Net Pen Farms (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/washington-state-bans-commercial-finfish-net-pen-farms/

Underwater Volcano Off Oregon Will Erupt This Year, Scientists Predict (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/underwater-volcano-off-oregon-will-erupt-this-year-scientists-predict-2000545335

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. Soaring Electricity Bills Could Hobble California’s Green Energy Push: Report

2. Will California’s Power Grid Keep Running Smoothly?

3. Tribes, Environmentalists Gather Forces Against Amazon’s Northwest Nuclear Plan

4. Portland General Electric Heads to Trial Over Tribal Fishing Platform at Willamette Falls

5. Washington Bill Clarifies Facility Siting for ‘Holy Grail’ of Energy

6. California Startup Strikes Deal with Data Center Customer to Deploy Underground Small Modular Reactors

7. California: Court of Appeal Upholds Glendale's Environmental Impact Report for Repowering Project

8. WA State: Proposed Windmill Project Near Kamiak Butte Sparks Community Debate

9. Trump: ‘We’re Going to Try to Have a Policy Where No Windmills Are Being Built’

10. WA State: Yakima County's Two-Year Ban on Solar May Continue

11. Clean Tech Battery Company Backs Out of Richland Land Deal for Its First U.S. Plant

12. Battery Energy Storage System Approved for Industrial Land West of Mount Vernon, WA

13. Solar Panels Are Powering Through U.S. West Wildfire Smoke: Study

14. Washington State Bans Commercial Finfish Net Pen Farms

15. Annual Ocean Indicators Point to Varied Conditions for Pacific Salmon

16. Oregon Lawmakers Appeal to Incoming Trump Administration to Stop Mass-Killing of Barred Owls, Citing Cost

17. Biden Administration Withdraws Old-Growth Forest Plan After Getting Pushback from Industry & GOP

18. Report: WA State Meets Emissions Goal for 2020, Much Progress Needed Ahead of Next Deadline

19. Critic: WA Dept. of Ecology Releasing 'Out of Date' Emissions Data on Climate Goals

20. Why More Frequent Cold Blasts Could Be Coming from Global Warming

21. WA Sues T-Mobile Over Data Breach Impacting 2 Million Residents

22. NTCA Report Finds Middle Mile Costs Dropping for Rural Providers

23. Whoops: Volkswagen Leaks Sensitive Data of 800,000 Electric Vehicle Owners

24. Meta Drops Fact-Checking, Loosens Its Content Moderation Rules

25. Underwater Volcano Off Oregon Will Erupt This Year, Scientists Predict

26. President-Elect Trump Weighing Executive Order Protecting Gas Stoves

27. Thousands Flee as Wildfires Burn Out of Control & Destroy Homes Across the Los Angeles Area

28. California Fire Map & Tracker

29. Winter Chill Incoming? Portland Snow Forecast Look Ahead

30. WA Gov. Inslee Declares State of Emergency After Deadly Bomb Cyclone Devastates Washington

31. Guest Essay: All Energy Options Should Be Considered by Americans

32. Guest Essay: Transmission – Midwest to Lead in ‘Build, Baby, Build’ (Utility Dive)

Word of the Day – Horrible Haiku Edition

Gelid /JELL-id/ Adjective – Something described as gelid, such as the weather or a person’s demeanor, is literally or figuratively extremely cold or icy.

Dreams interrupted

By my spouse’s gelid feet

Hoth, the ice planet

Energy & Utility Issues

1. Soaring Electricity Bills Could Hobble California’s Green Energy Push: Report (San Jose Mercury-News, CA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/soaring-electricity-bills-could-hobble-california-s-green-energy-push-report/ar-AA1xa2sH

2. Will California’s Power Grid Keep Running Smoothly? (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/01/06/will-californias-power-grid-keep-running-smoothly/

3. Tribes, Environmentalists Gather Forces Against Amazon’s Northwest Nuclear Plan (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/07/tribes-environmentalist-amazon-northwest-smr-nuclear-reactor-energy/

4. Portland General Electric Heads to Trial Over Tribal Fishing Platform at Willamette Falls (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/06/portland-utility-heads-to-trial-over-tribal-fishing-platform-at-willamette-falls/

5. Washington Bill Clarifies Facility Siting for ‘Holy Grail’ of Energy (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_d124007e-cc64-11ef-aba2-4b687b7015d5.html

6. California Startup Strikes Deal with Data Center Customer to Deploy Underground Small Modular Reactors (Power Magazine)

https://www.power-eng.com/nuclear/smrs/california-startup-strikes-deal-with-data-center-customer-to-deploy-underground-smrs/

7. California: Court of Appeal Upholds Glendale's Environmental Impact Report for Repowering Project (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/court-appeal-upholds-glendales-environmental-impact-report-repowering-project

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8. WA State: Proposed Windmill Project Near Kamiak Butte Sparks Community Debate (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/proposed-windmill-project-near-kamiak-butte-sparks-community-debate/article_6b96a584-cc89-11ef-ad99-1b0b264f5e8c.html

9. Trump: ‘We’re Going to Try to Have a Policy Where No Windmills Are Being Built’ (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5071767-trump-were-going-to-try-to-have-a-policy-where-no-windmills-are-being-built/

10. WA State: Yakima County's Two-Year Ban on Solar May Continue (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/business/yakima-countys-two-year-ban-on-solar-may-continue/article_aa02129a-cc5c-11ef-87a7-7f31c1aa0821.html

11. Clean Tech Battery Company Backs Out of Richland Land Deal for Its First U.S. Plant (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/clean-tech-battery-company-backs-223047329.html

12. Battery Energy Storage System Approved for Industrial Land West of Mount Vernon, WA (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/jan/03/battery-energy-storage-system-approved-for-industrial-land-west-of-mount-vernon/

13. Solar Panels Are Powering Through U.S. West Wildfire Smoke: Study (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5069650-wildfire-smoke-impact-solar-panels-study/

Fish & Wildlife

14. Washington State Bans Commercial Finfish Net Pen Farms (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/washington-state-bans-commercial-finfish-net-pen-farms/

15. Annual Ocean Indicators Point to Varied Conditions for Pacific Salmon (NOAA Fisheries)

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/annual-ocean-indicators-point-varied-conditions-pacific-salmon

16. Oregon Lawmakers Appeal to Incoming Trump Administration to Stop Mass-Killing of Barred Owls, Citing Cost (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2025/01/oregon-lawmakers-appeal-to-trump-administration-to-stop-mass-killing-of-barred-owls-citing-cost.html

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

17. Biden Administration Withdraws Old-Growth Forest Plan After Getting Pushback from Industry & GOP (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/biden-old-growth-forests-climate-change-e365debe64acf791f16de2ce75cb9342

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

18. Report: WA State Meets Emissions Goal for 2020, Much Progress Needed Ahead of Next Deadline (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA)

https://mybellinghamnow.com/news/297792-report-state-meets-emissions-goal-for-2020-much-progress-needed-ahead-of-next-deadline/

19. Critic: WA Dept. of Ecology Releasing 'Out of Date' Emissions Data on Climate Goals (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_2a085e78-cd4c-11ef-851f-b3b63206708d.html?a

20. Why More Frequent Cold Blasts Could Be Coming from Global Warming (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/polar-vortex-chilly-cold-climate-change-frigid-5dd0dcb49a7ead488e221e8c5d9edc8f

London Calling –Telecommunications

21. WA Sues T-Mobile Over Data Breach Impacting 2 Million Residents (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/wa-attorney-general-sues-t-mobile-over-data-breach

22. NTCA Report Finds Middle Mile Costs Dropping for Rural Providers (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/ntca-report-finds-middle-mile-costs-dropping-for-rural-providers/

I Sing the Car Electric

23. Whoops: Volkswagen Leaks Sensitive Data of 800,000 Electric Vehicle Owners (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/2025/01/06/whoops-volkswagen-leaks-sensitive-data-of-800000-electric-vehicle-owners/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

24. Meta Drops Fact-Checking, Loosens Its Content Moderation Rules (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-drops-fact-checking-loosens-123512391.html

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

25. Underwater Volcano Off Oregon Will Erupt This Year, Scientists Predict (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/underwater-volcano-off-oregon-will-erupt-this-year-scientists-predict-2000545335

Politics, Governance, and Management

26. President-Elect Trump Weighing Executive Order Protecting Gas Stoves (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-weighing-executive-order-protecting-gas-stoves-sources-say-2025-01-07/

Other Things to Know About Today

27. Thousands Flee as Wildfires Burn Out of Control & Destroy Homes Across the Los Angeles Area (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-southern-california-santa-ana-winds-b565a3bd043d6444820f1571b2307bf1

28. California Fire Map & Tracker (Frontline Wildfire Defense)

https://www.frontlinewildfire.com/california-wildfire-map/

29. Winter Chill Incoming? Portland Snow Forecast Look Ahead (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/weather/portland-snow-forecast-us-polar-vortex/283-c921d3b1-ef51-4d19-9098-ddbf38d76f11

30. WA Gov. Inslee Declares State of Emergency After Deadly Bomb Cyclone Devastates Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/inslee-signs-proclamation-1-million-relief-funding-for-bomb-cyclone-victims-washington/281-d59986d7-51ba-43d7-83b7-9f2f5b33a29a

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

31. Guest Essay: All Energy Options Should Be Considered by Americans (The Reflector, Battle Ground, WA)

https://thereflector.com/stories/commentary-all-energy-options-should-be-considered-by-americans,373161

32. Guest Essay: Transmission – Midwest to Lead in ‘Build, Baby, Build’ (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/midwest-miso-transmission-lrtp-thomas/736641/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Steer Swims Across the Columbia River, Runs Loose on Interstate Near Hood River, Police Say

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2025/01/steer-swims-across-the-columbia-river-runs-loose-on-interstate-near-hood-river-police-say.html

Blame It on GPS – Wrong Turn Strands Car on Ski Slope at Colorado Resort

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/01/08/Keystone-Resort-Colorado-car-parked-ski-slope/5721736362183/

Christmas Gift from 1978 Found Behind Wall of Illinois Home

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/01/08/renovation-project-Christmas-gift-Lombard-Illinois/5031736358305/

Italian Mayor's Proclamation Makes It Illegal to Get Sick

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/01/07/italy-Belcastro-Calabria-mayor-proclamation-illness/6801736271304/

Song of the Day

Matt Monro – Born Free (Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQqNS0UDkCA