The Energy News Digest

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

The Energy News Digest for April 2, 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.

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

NWPPA’s Annual Conference & Membership Meeting

Join us as we raise a glass to 85 years of public power excellence at our Annual Conference and Membership Meeting in Santa Rosa, California. Mark your calendars for May 19-22, 2025, as utility executives and policymakers convene in Sonoma County to celebrate this historic milestone and shape our industry’s future.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

PacifiCorp Involved in Bills in Oregon, Washington, Idaho & Other Western States, Limiting Utility Wildfire Liability, Damages (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/03/31/pacificorp-involved-in-bills-in-oregon-western-states-limiting-utility-wildfire-liability-damages/

Canada, U.S. Columbia River Treaty Negotiations in Jeopardy (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2025/04/canada-us-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations-jeopardy

Fines Surpassing $15 Million Recommended Against CenturyLink (Spokane Business Journal, WA)

https://www.spokanejournal.com/articles/16980-fines-surpassing-15m-recommended-for-centurylink

California Soaks Up the Benefits of a Solid Rain Season (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-soaks-up-the-benefits-of-a-solid-rain-season/

Amazon’s Last-Minute Bid for TikTok Comes as a U.S. Ban on the Platform Is Set to Take Effect Saturday (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-amazon-bytedance-china-us-ban-19f62e2dba637a0d1a0b41102a2f351f

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. PacifiCorp Involved in Bills in Oregon, Washington, Idaho & Other Western States, Limiting Utility Wildfire Liability, Damages

2. Canada, U.S. Columbia River Treaty Negotiations in Jeopardy

3. Small Modular Reactor Firms Race to Build a Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain

4. Nuclear Is Now ‘Clean Energy’ in Colorado After Gov. Polis Signs Bill

5. Gas Power’s Boom Sparks a Turbine Supply Crunch

6. U.S. Natural Gas Consumption Set New Winter & Summer Monthly Records in 2024

7. USDA Takes Steps to Release Co-op Funding That Will ‘Unleash American Energy’

8. WA State: Avista Files Request to Raise Electricity Rates

9. California: Carmel Begins Project to Move Power Lines Underground for Safety & Aesthetics

10. Tennessee Valley Authority, The Nation’s Largest Public Utility, Appoints a New CEO

11. U.S. Senators Murkowski (AK), Cantwell (WA) Reintroduce Bill to Support Hydropower Development

12. Nevada Community Hopes President Trump Will Slow Expansion of Solar Farms in Their Area

13. Alaska: Village Of Solomon Hopes to Offset Power Costs with Solar Energy

14. Can Offshore Wind Help Some Fish? Research Increasingly Says Yes.

15. New $5 Billion Plan to Fund Culvert Removals Unveiled by WA Senators

16. The Case of the Missing Hooligans: A Cowlitz River Mystery

17. The Most ‘Poisonous’ Fish in the World: It Has 70 Parasites & Is Eaten in Practically Every Home

18. Puffins Are Returning to the Oregon Coast. Here’s How to Welcome Them Back

19. California Soaks Up the Benefits of a Solid Rain Season

20. What Cutting the Consumer Carbon Tax Means for Canada’s Emissions

21. Fines Surpassing $15 Million Recommended Against CenturyLink

22. Rural Internet Program on Hold as Musk’s Satellites Get New Consideration

23. Indiana: Pole Attachments – ‘Number-One Obstructionist’: Electricity Co-Ops Lambasted for Slow Broadband Rollout

24. The Divide: How Subsea Cable Cuts Put Spotlight on Internet Resilience

25. California: Data Farm Proposed Near Salton Sea Could Be First Major Development in Lithium Valley

26. Amazon’s Last-Minute Bid for TikTok Comes as a U.S. Ban on the Platform Is Set to Take Effect Saturday

27. Murrow College to Map Washington State’s Local News Landscape

28. Several Federal Agencies Launch A ‘Deferred Resignation’ Effort to Encourage Workers to Leave Their Jobs

29. Judge Orders Federal Agencies to Reverse Layoffs. Some in Tri-Cities Could Get Jobs Back

30. Rural Leaders Push Congress to Unfreeze Climate & Environmental Funds

31. Historic Flooding in Southeastern Oregon Prompts State of Emergency

32. Highway Dangers Escalate as Road Crew Incidents Rise Sharply in Western Washington

33. A Closer Look at California’s Surging Electricity Rates

34. Editorial: Fire Season’s Coming. Power Company, Customers Had Better Be Ready

35. Blog: Pew Report on Pole Attachments

Word of the Day

Genius Loci \JEEN-yus – LOW-sigh\ Noun – 1: the pervading spirit of a place 2: a tutelary deity of a place.

Ambrose lazily swirled his plastic spoon in his nightly serving of “Pork and Beans.” Dreamily, he reached out and touched the base of his chipped, plastic Porky Pig statue that had represented the Genius Loci of his family for over forty years. “Oh, Porky,” he intoned. “Please don’t think any less of me when I say that I LOVE eating this little square of pork fat swimming at the top of my daily dose of high-fiber beans.” Porky remained stoic, just as he had for many other house guests over the years.

Energy & Utility Issues

1. PacifiCorp Involved in Bills in Oregon, Washington, Idaho & Other Western States, Limiting Utility Wildfire Liability, Damages (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/03/31/pacificorp-involved-in-bills-in-oregon-western-states-limiting-utility-wildfire-liability-damages/

2. Canada, U.S. Columbia River Treaty Negotiations in Jeopardy (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2025/04/canada-us-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations-jeopardy

3. Small Modular Reactor Firms Race to Build a Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/smr-firms-race-build-nuclear-fuel-supply-chain-2025-03-31/

4. Nuclear Is Now ‘Clean Energy’ in Colorado After Gov. Polis Signs Bill (Colorado Public Radio)

https://www.cpr.org/2025/04/01/polis-declares-nuclear-is-clean-energy/

5. Gas Power’s Boom Sparks a Turbine Supply Crunch (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/gas-powers-boom-sparks-a-turbine-supply-crunch/

6. U.S. Natural Gas Consumption Set New Winter & Summer Monthly Records in 2024 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64845

7. USDA Takes Steps to Release Co-op Funding That Will ‘Unleash American Energy’ (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/usda-takes-steps-to-release-co-op-funding-that-will-unleash-american-energy

8. WA State: Avista Files Request to Raise Electricity Rates (KAYU-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.fox28spokane.com/avista-files-request-to-raise-electricity-rates/

9. California: Carmel Begins Project to Move Power Lines Underground for Safety & Aesthetics (KSBW-TV, Monterey, CA)

https://www.ksbw.com/article/carmel-move-power-lines-underground-california/64341691

10. Tennessee Valley Authority, The Nation’s Largest Public Utility, Appoints a New CEO (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/tennessee-valley-authority-the-nation-s-largest-20251229.php

11. U.S. Senators Murkowski (AK), Cantwell (WA) Reintroduce Bill to Support Hydropower Development (Alaska Native News)

https://alaska-native-news.com/murkowski-cantwell-reintroduce-bill-to-support-hydropower-development/78183/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12. Nevada Community Hopes President Trump Will Slow Expansion of Solar Farms in Their Area (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nevada-solar-farms-esmeralda-7/

13. Alaska: Village Of Solomon Hopes to Offset Power Costs with Solar Energy (KTUU-TV, Anchorage, AK)

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2025/03/30/nome-village-hopes-offset-power-costs-with-solar-energy/

14. Can Offshore Wind Help Some Fish? Research Increasingly Says Yes. (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/offshore-wind/fish-turbines-reef-research

Fish & Wildlife

15. New $5 Billion Plan to Fund Culvert Removals Unveiled by WA Senators (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/31/new-5b-plan-to-fund-culvert-removals-unveiled-by-wa-senators/

16. The Case of the Missing Hooligans: A Cowlitz River Mystery (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-case-of-the-missing-hooligans-a-cowlitz-river-mystery

17. The Most ‘Poisonous’ Fish in the World: It Has 70 Parasites & Is Eaten in Practically Every Home (AS News)

https://en.as.com/latest_news/the-most-poisonous-fish-in-the-world-it-has-70-parasites-and-is-eaten-in-practically-every-home-n/

18. Puffins Are Returning to the Oregon Coast. Here’s How to Welcome Them Back (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2025/04/puffins-are-returning-to-the-oregon-coast-heres-how-to-welcome-them-back.html

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19. California Soaks Up the Benefits of a Solid Rain Season (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-soaks-up-the-benefits-of-a-solid-rain-season/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

20. What Cutting the Consumer Carbon Tax Means for Canada’s Emissions (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/carbon-tax-climate-1.7499218

London Calling –Telecommunications

21. Fines Surpassing $15 Million Recommended Against CenturyLink (Spokane Business Journal, WA)

https://www.spokanejournal.com/articles/16980-fines-surpassing-15m-recommended-for-centurylink

22. Rural Internet Program on Hold as Musk’s Satellites Get New Consideration (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rural-internet-program-on-hold-as-musk-s-satellites-get-new-consideration/ar-AA1C3YBg

23. Indiana: Pole Attachments – ‘Number-One Obstructionist’: Electricity Co-Ops Lambasted for Slow Broadband Rollout (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/04/02/number-one-obstructionist-electricity-co-ops-lambasted-for-slow-broadband-rollout/

24. The Divide: How Subsea Cable Cuts Put Spotlight on Internet Resilience (Light Reading)

https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/the-divide-how-subsea-cable-cuts-put-spotlight-on-internet-resilience

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

25. California: Data Farm Proposed Near Salton Sea Could Be First Major Development in Lithium Valley (Palm Springs Desert Sun, CA)

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2025/04/01/data-server-farm-proposed-near-californias-salton-sea/81173371007/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

26. Amazon’s Last-Minute Bid for TikTok Comes as a U.S. Ban on the Platform Is Set to Take Effect Saturday (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-amazon-bytedance-china-us-ban-19f62e2dba637a0d1a0b41102a2f351f

27. Murrow College to Map Washington State’s Local News Landscape (WSU Insider)

https://news.wsu.edu/news/2024/10/02/murrow-college-to-map-washingtons-local-news-landscape/

Politics, Governance, and Management

28. Several Federal Agencies Launch A ‘Deferred Resignation’ Effort to Encourage Workers to Leave Their Jobs (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/federal-agencies-launch-new-deferred-resignation-effort-encourage-work-rcna199069

29. Judge Orders Federal Agencies to Reverse Layoffs. Some in Tri-Cities Could Get Jobs Back (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-orders-federal-agencies-reverse-020436890.html

30. Rural Leaders Push Congress to Unfreeze Climate & Environmental Funds (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/31/nx-s1-5342672/climate-change-grant-funding-freeze-trump-republican

Other Things to Know About Today

31. Historic Flooding in Southeastern Oregon Prompts State of Emergency (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/historic-flooding-southeastern-oregon-prompts-175443516.html

32. Highway Dangers Escalate as Road Crew Incidents Rise Sharply in Western Washington (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/highway-dangers-escalate-as-road-crew-incidents-rise-sharply

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

33. A Closer Look at California’s Surging Electricity Rates (Public Policy Institute of California)

https://www.ppic.org/blog/a-closer-look-at-californias-surging-electricity-rates/

34. Editorial: Fire Season’s Coming. Power Company, Customers Had Better Be Ready (The Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/opinion/us-viewpoints/article303249661.html

35. Blog: Pew Report on Pole Attachments (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2025/04/01/pew-report-on-pole-attachments/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

55 Years Later – Camera Set Up to Catch Loch Ness Monster Discovered

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx20g82y1k8o

Stolen Painting of President George Washington Recovered in Colorado After Burglary

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/stolen-painting-president-george-washington-recovered-colorado-burglary/

Wild Turkeys Chase Mail Carrier Out of Massachusetts Neighborhood

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/04/01/postal-worker-chased-turkeys-Massachusetts/3631743539576/

Minnesota Cat’s 18.5-Inch Tail Earns Guinness World Records Title

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/03/27/Guinness-World-Records-longest-tail-domestic-cat/2161743104475/

Song of the Day

Trevor Jones – Loch Ness Suite (Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fVXlMW_zcI

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.

Monday, March 31, 2025

The Energy News Digest for March 31, 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.

The Energy News Digest is edited by Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus.

NWPPA’s Annual Conference & Membership Meeting

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

New Wave of Smaller, Cheaper Nuclear Reactors Sends U.S. States Racing to Attract the Industry (Associated Press)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/new-wave-of-smaller-cheaper-nuclear-reactors-sends-us-states-racing-to-attract-the-industry/ar-AA1BSDoV

Canadians Remain Ready for United States’ Return to Columbia River Treaty Negotiations (My Nelson News, BC)

https://www.mynelsonnow.com/69225/news/kootenay-news/canadians-remain-ready-for-united-states-return-to-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations/

Grant County PUD To Impose Load-Growth Limits for Data Center Customers (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/grant-county-pud-to-impose-load-growth-limits-for-data-center-customers/article_4e1a6748-ad00-4f96-923f-7a23fa9cc20a.html

In New England, Canadian Hydropower Has Slowed to an Ominous Trickle (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/hydropower/canadian-hydroelectric-new-england-cutoff

U.S. Supreme Court Seems Likely to OK $8 Billion Phone & Internet Subsidy for Rural, Low-Income Areas (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-telecommunications-fee-internet-c51526ec5c78ed913064b1c4d3399ba2

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. New Wave of Smaller, Cheaper Nuclear Reactors Sends U.S. States Racing to Attract the Industry

2. Idaho: Oklo Reveals 75-MW Reactor Design, Eyes Late 2027 Commercial Deployment

3. Canadians Remain Ready for United States’ Return to Columbia River Treaty Negotiations

4. Pause In Columbia River Treaty Talks Stokes Worry for Flood Control in Vancouver

5. In New England, Canadian Hydropower Has Slowed to an Ominous Trickle

6. Are We Ready for an Underwater Power Line in the Columbia River?

7. Plan For Subsea Cable to Send Canada’s Clean Power to the United Kingdom

8. WA State: West End Clallam County Power Line Targeted for Upgrades Amid Ongoing Outages

9. U.S. Energy Infrastructure Gets a D+ From American Society of Civil Engineers

10. Revolving Federal Fund Proposed to Assist Energy Needs of Southwest States

11. Public Power Lineworkers Earn Trophies at National Lineworkers Rodeo

12. California: Shasta County’s Fight to Stop Controversial Wind Energy Project Scores a Win

13. California: Proposed Solar Farm in Sacramento County Sparks Debate Over Environment; Moves Forward

14. BLM Rushes Review of Oregon Lithium Project Following Trump’s Executive Order

15. WA State: Tidal Power – OPALCO Files a Draft License Application with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

16. Oregon: Energy Conservation Could Offset Large Expected Increase in Demand, EWEB Says

17. Thousands Line Oregon’s Sandy River for Rare Seven-Hour Smelt Fishery

18. Smelt Poachers Caught with Over a Ton of Fish During One-Day Season

19. 950 Adult Steelhead Pass Round Butte Dam in Historic 2024–25 Run

20. King County Scientists Discover Method to Help Salmon Survive Polluted Stormwater

21. EPA Offers Industrial Polluters a Way to Avoid Rules on Mercury, Arsenic & Other Toxic Chemicals – Send an Email

22. British Columbia Faces April 1 Deadline to Repeal Carbon Tax — But Will the Bill Pass in Time?

23. Climate Commitment Act Ag Exemption Bill Moves Through Washington Senate

24. U.S. Supreme Court Seems Likely to OK $8 Billion Phone & Internet Subsidy for Rural, Low-Income Areas

25. Elon Musk’s Starlink Is Likely to Get a Boost from the Trump Administration

26. Grant County PUD To Impose Load-Growth Limits for Data Center Customers

27. Meta, Micron Projects Will Guzzle Idaho Electricity, Lawmakers Say. Who’s Going to Pay?

28. Panelists Warn of ‘Choke Points’ in America’s Nuclear Energy Future

29. Westport City Council Approves SEALink Networks’ Cable Landing Station in Washington State

30. We Asked Five Artificial Intelligence Helpers to Write Tough Emails. One Was a Clear Winner.

31. X Is Sold. But Musk Is Still in Control.

32. Trump Admin Considers Killing Big Energy Projects in Dem States Including PNW Hydrogen Hub

33. House GOP Members Fight for Biden-Era Energy Spending, Including in Washington

34. Trump Administration Cancels Clean Energy Grants as It Prioritizes Fossil Fuels

35. California Suspends Environmental Laws to Speed Rebuilding of Utilities After L.A. Fires

36. As Wildfire Season Approaches, Budget Woes & Federal Uncertainty Have Put States’ Plans at Risk

37. WA State: Property With 'Iconic' Politically-Charged Uncle Sam Billboard Near I-5 In Napavine on the Market for $2.5 Million

38. Guest Essay: WA Governor Should Reconsider Pulling Fisheries Expert

39. Guest Essay: A Death Sentence for Idaho’s Salmon

Word of the Day

Gibbous \JIB-buss\ Adjective - 1a: marked by convexity or swelling b: of the moon or a planet: seen with more than half but not the entire apparent disk illuminated 2: having a hump: humpbacked

“Young Frankenstein – 1974”

The scene opens. Gene Wilder, as Doctor Frankenstein, addresses his “googly-eyed” gibbous assistant Igor, played by Marty Feldman:

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: You know, I’m a rather brilliant surgeon. Perhaps I can help you with that hump.

Igor: What hump?

Energy & Utility Issues

1. New Wave of Smaller, Cheaper Nuclear Reactors Sends U.S. States Racing to Attract the Industry (Associated Press)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/new-wave-of-smaller-cheaper-nuclear-reactors-sends-us-states-racing-to-attract-the-industry/ar-AA1BSDoV

2. Idaho: Oklo Reveals 75-MW Reactor Design, Eyes Late 2027 Commercial Deployment (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/oklo-75-mw-reactor-design-smr-nuclear/743578/

3. Canadians Remain Ready for United States’ Return to Columbia River Treaty Negotiations (My Nelson News, BC)

https://www.mynelsonnow.com/69225/news/kootenay-news/canadians-remain-ready-for-united-states-return-to-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations/

4. Pause In Columbia River Treaty Talks Stokes Worry for Flood Control in Vancouver (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/mar/29/pause-in-columbia-river-treaty-talks-stokes-worry-for-flood-control-in-vancouver/

5. In New England, Canadian Hydropower Has Slowed to an Ominous Trickle (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/hydropower/canadian-hydroelectric-new-england-cutoff

6. Are We Ready for an Underwater Power Line in the Columbia River? (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/are-we-ready-for-an-underwater-power-line-at-the-bottom-of-the-columbia-river/

7. Plan For Subsea Cable to Send Canada’s Clean Power to the United Kingdom (The Times, UK)

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/plan-for-subsea-cable-to-send-canadas-clean-power-to-uk-npfwt9hmt

8. WA State: West End Clallam County Power Line Targeted for Upgrades Amid Ongoing Outages (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

https://www.myclallamcounty.com/2025/03/28/west-end-power-line-targeted-for-upgrades-amid-ongoing-outages/

9. U.S. Energy Infrastructure Gets a D+ From American Society of Civil Engineers (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-infrastructure-transmission-transformers-civil-engineers/743698/

10. Revolving Federal Fund Proposed to Assist Energy Needs of Southwest States (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/47719-revolving-federal-fund-proposed-to-assist-energy-needs-of-southwest-states/

11. Public Power Lineworkers Earn Trophies at National Lineworkers Rodeo (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/public-power-lineworkers-earn-trophies-national-lineworkers-rodeo

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12. California: Shasta County’s Fight to Stop Controversial Wind Energy Project Scores a Win (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2025/03/26/shasta-county-fight-to-stop-wind-energy-fountain-wind-project-gets-boost/82670130007/

13. California: Proposed Solar Farm in Sacramento County Sparks Debate Over Environment; Moves Forward (KRCA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/proposed-solar-farm-wilton-sacramento-county/64303894

14. BLM Rushes Review of Oregon Lithium Project Following Trump’s Executive Order (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/03/26/blm-rushes-review-oregon-lithium-mine/

15. WA State: Tidal Power – OPALCO Files a Draft License Application with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Orcas Power & Light Company, Friday Harbor, WA)

https://www.opalco.com/opalco-files-a-draft-license-application-with-federal-energy-regulatory-commission/2025/03/

Conservation & Efficiency

16. Oregon: Energy Conservation Could Offset Large Expected Increase in Demand, EWEB Says (KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://www.kezi.com/news/local/energy-conservation-could-offset-large-expected-increase-in-demand-eweb-says/article_669698e7-3010-44f5-91e4-9fcb578e1871.html

Fish & Wildlife

17. Thousands Line Oregon’s Sandy River for Rare Seven-Hour Smelt Fishery (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/03/31/oregon-sandy-river-eulachon-smelt-dip-fishery-fishing-troutdale-fish/

18. Smelt Poachers Caught with Over a Ton of Fish During One-Day Season (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2025/03/smelt-poachers-caught-with-over-a-ton-of-fish-during-one-day-season.html

19. 950 Adult Steelhead Pass Round Butte Dam in Historic 2024–25 Run (Central Oregon Daily, Bend, OR)

https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/madras/round-butte-dam-deschutes-river-record-steelhead-run/article_475a413c-937e-413d-91ec-2091fcf25f5f.html

20. King County Scientists Discover Method to Help Salmon Survive Polluted Stormwater (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/local/salmon-survive-polluted-stormwater/4068529

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

21. EPA Offers Industrial Polluters a Way to Avoid Rules on Mercury, Arsenic & Other Toxic Chemicals – Send an Email (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-epa-clean-air-exemption-mercury-13f009f79fdc84443e428618d2a01bba

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

22. British Columbia Faces April 1 Deadline to Repeal Carbon Tax — But Will the Bill Pass in Time? (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/carbon-tax-up-for-discussion-monday-1.7497589?cmp=rss

23. Climate Commitment Act Ag Exemption Bill Moves Through Washington Senate (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2025/mar/31/cca-ag-exemption-bill-moves-through-senate/

London Calling –Telecommunications

24. U.S. Supreme Court Seems Likely to OK $8 Billion Phone & Internet Subsidy for Rural, Low-Income Areas (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-telecommunications-fee-internet-c51526ec5c78ed913064b1c4d3399ba2

25. Elon Musk’s Starlink Is Likely to Get a Boost from the Trump Administration (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5338963/elon-musks-starlink-is-likely-to-get-a-boost-from-the-trump-administration

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

26. Grant County PUD To Impose Load-Growth Limits for Data Center Customers (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/grant-county-pud-to-impose-load-growth-limits-for-data-center-customers/article_4e1a6748-ad00-4f96-923f-7a23fa9cc20a.html

27. Meta, Micron Projects Will Guzzle Idaho Electricity, Lawmakers Say. Who’s Going to Pay? (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/meta-micron-projects-guzzle-idaho-190557028.html

28. Panelists Warn of ‘Choke Points’ in America’s Nuclear Energy Future (Broadband Breakfast)

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/panelists-warn-of-choke-points-in-americas-nuclear-energy-future/

29. Westport City Council Approves SEALink Networks’ Cable Landing Station in Washington State (Data Center Dynamics)

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/westport-city-council-approves-sealink-networks-cable-landing-station-in-washington-state/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

30. We Asked Five Artificial Intelligence Helpers to Write Tough Emails. One Was a Clear Winner. (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/we-asked-5-ai-bots-to-write-tough-emails-one-beat-a-human/ar-AA1BGurX

31. X Is Sold. But Musk Is Still in Control. (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/article/x-sold-xai

Politics, Governance, and Management

32. Trump Admin Considers Killing Big Energy Projects in Dem States Including PNW Hydrogen Hub (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/26/energy-department-hydrogen-projects-blue-states-00249589

33. House GOP Members Fight for Biden-Era Energy Spending, Including in Washington (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/northwest/house-gop-members-fight-for-biden-era-energy-spending-including-in-wa/article_098c8a98-269a-597f-ad76-15bc2b8bba4d.html

34. Trump Administration Cancels Clean Energy Grants as It Prioritizes Fossil Fuels (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-energy-department-clean-energy-wind-solar-batteries-hydrogen-fossil-fuels-cf1dff9ee771c566765e9ca3e3599d91

Other Things to Know About Today

35. California Suspends Environmental Laws to Speed Rebuilding of Utilities After L.A. Fires (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-suspends-environmental-laws-speed-100018564.html

36. As Wildfire Season Approaches, Budget Woes & Federal Uncertainty Have Put States’ Plans at Risk (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-state-budget-doge-trump-musk-a6b5d83981bb615e950f0f7f1a6145ad

37. WA State: Property With 'Iconic' Politically-Charged Uncle Sam Billboard Near I-5 In Napavine on the Market for $2.5 Million (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/property-iconic-politically-charged-uncle-045900035.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

38. Guest Essay: WA Governor Should Reconsider Pulling Fisheries Expert (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-governor-should-reconsider-pulling-fisheries-expert/

39. Guest Essay: A Death Sentence for Idaho’s Salmon (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/mar/29/gregg-servheen-a-death-sentence-for-idahos-salmon/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Richard Chamberlain: Heartthrob King of the TV Mini-Series Dies

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxe2nv0mdv2o

Drawing Bought for $12 in Pennsylvania Might Be an Authentic Pierre-Auguste Renoir

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/03/27/Pierre-Auguste-Renoir-drawing-Pennsylvania/3991743095798/

Mini Dachshund Spotted 16 Months After Disappearance on Australian Island

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/03/27/australia-missing-miniature-dachshund-Kangaroo-Island-16-months/4721743098335/

California Woman Uses World's Longest Tongue To Play Jenga

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/03/31/Guinness-World-Records-longest-tongue-Jenga/2651743431104/

Song of the Day

Maurice Jarre - Shogun (Soundtrack, 1980)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYKDkephfG0