The Energy News Digest for February 25, 2026

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.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Retirement Delays of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity May Continue in 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67206

Eleven Data Center Developers in Talks with Northwestern, Group Says (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/02/23/eleven-data-center-developers-in-talks-with-northwestern-group-says/

WA State: Douglas PUD Replaces Hydrogen Contractor (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/videos/douglas-pud-replaces-hydrogen-contractor/video_50b48a8d-0193-5436-96cc-6c7afff61c26.html

Mount Baker Geothermal Plant Could Power All of Whatcom County (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/feb/24/mount-baker-geothermal-plant-could-power-all-of-whatcom-county/

State of the Union – Trump's Plan for Rising Energy Costs: Pump Oil, Make Data Centers Pay (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trumps-plan-rising-energy-costs-040157119.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Retirement Delays of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity May Continue in 2026

2.      WA Lawmakers Push for State to Embrace Nuclear Energy

3.      WA State: Grant PUD Cuts Power Waiting List, Plans for Future Growth

4.      Montana: Ravalli County Powered by Water

5.      Live Power Pole Theft in Rural Saskatchewan Leaves Local RCMP Stumped

6.      Campers Named in Eviction Complaint Remain on Idaho Power Property, Official Says

7.      WA State: Douglas PUD Replaces Hydrogen Contractor

8.      Mount Baker Geothermal Plant Could Power All of Whatcom County

9.      Country's Biggest Solar Project Moving Ahead in California

10.   Pause on Virginia Offshore Wind Farm Cost Dominion More Than $200M, But Turbines Will Power Up Soon

11.   Renewable Energy Tax Bill Passes in Olympia, Heads to Senate

12.   First Signs of Herring Spawn Spark Excitement on Vancouver Island

13.   Emergency Declaration Made for Yakima-Tieton Irrigation Canal

14.   Northern Wyoming Dam Survives Two Attacks in State Senate

15.   Another Oregon City Plans to Tax Natural Gas Appliances to Reduce Emissions

16.   Appeals Court Questions Shifting Reasons for Trump’s EPA Killing Clean Energy Contracts

17.   The Surprising Oregon Town Where Cable Television Was Born Four Years Before Portland Got TV

18.   Bitcoin Mining Operation Sparks Fire in Wenatchee Building

19.   Eleven Data Center Developers in Talks with Northwestern, Group Says

20.   Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek: Pace of Data Center Growth ‘Is Not Sustainable’

21.   WA State House Passes Data Center Tariff Bill as Quincy Lawmaker Warns That Rural Jobs are at Risk

22.   Data Center Tax Breaks Are on the Chopping Block in Some States

23.   Supreme Court Rules the Postal Service Can't Be Sued, Even When Mail Is Intentionally Not Delivered

24.   How Social Media Killed the Food Festival Stars & Created Others

25.   Swirling Beauty of the Milky Way Galaxy's Heart Is Captured in a New Telescope Picture

26.   State of the Union – Trump's Plan for Rising Energy Costs: Pump Oil, Make Data Centers Pay

27.   Why The Tab for Powering Data Centers Will Keep Rising — Despite Trump’s Pledge

28.   U.S. Senate Must Act to Fix ‘Broken Permitting Process,’ Say 600 Groups

29.   ‘Costs Will Keep Going Up’: WA Policy Center Says Carbon Dioxide Tax Is Driving Energy Bills Higher, Offers Savings Tips

Word of the Day

Nonplussed \NON-plust\ Verb - To cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do: perplex.

Barty’s aggressive questioning during the trial left the hapless defense witness nonplussed. The man had been called as a character witness for the “Burger King.” Barty, however, relentlessly peppered him with questions about “Ronald McDonald,” “Jack in the Box,” and “Wendy Thomas.” “I don’t know any of those guys,” whined the harried witness.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Retirement Delays of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity May Continue in 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67206

2.      WA Lawmakers Push for State to Embrace Nuclear Energy (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/feb/24/wa-lawmakers-push-for-state-to-embrace-nuclear-energy/

3.      WA State: Grant PUD Cuts Power Waiting List, Plans for Future Growth (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/grant-pud-cuts-power-waiting-list-plans-for-future-growth/article_b3967c01-50fe-4638-a0d4-486eac77b8a6.html

4.      Montana: Ravalli County Powered by Water (The Missoulian, MT)

https://missoulian.com/brandavestudios/article_e92ba739-adef-5fe9-af73-617546f7677d.html

5.      Live Power Pole Theft in Rural Saskatchewan Leaves Local RCMP Stumped (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/live-power-pole-theft-in-rural-leaves-local-rcmp-stumped-9.7103725

6.      Campers Named in Eviction Complaint Remain on Idaho Power Property, Official Says (Baker City Herald, OR)

https://bakercityherald.com/2026/02/24/campers-named-in-eviction-complaint-remain-on-idaho-power-property-official-says/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

7.      WA State: Douglas PUD Replaces Hydrogen Contractor (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/videos/douglas-pud-replaces-hydrogen-contractor/video_50b48a8d-0193-5436-96cc-6c7afff61c26.html

8.      Mount Baker Geothermal Plant Could Power All of Whatcom County (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/feb/24/mount-baker-geothermal-plant-could-power-all-of-whatcom-county/

9.      Country's Biggest Solar Project Moving Ahead in California (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/nx-s1-5667624/countrys-biggest-solar-project-moving-ahead-in-california

10.   Pause on Virginia Offshore Wind Farm Cost Dominion More Than $200M, But Turbines Will Power Up Soon (WHRO, Norfolk VA)

https://www.whro.org/environment/2026-02-24/pause-on-virginia-offshore-wind-farm-cost-dominion-more-than-200m-but-turbines-will-power-up-soon

11.   Renewable Energy Tax Bill Passes in Olympia, Heads to Senate (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/renewable-energy-tax-bill-passes-in-olympia-heads-to-senate/article_7f0bfbc3-e86e-4527-b699-4850598f601e.html

Fish & Wildlife

12.   First Signs of Herring Spawn Spark Excitement on Vancouver Island (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/herring-spawn-2026-vancouver-island-9.7101843

Water, Water, Anywhere?

13.   Emergency Declaration Made for Yakima-Tieton Irrigation Canal (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/emergency-declaration-made-for-yakima-tieton-irrigation-canal/video_07b29d41-6595-5860-b6ca-dcef054d76fe.html

14.   Northern Wyoming Dam Survives Two Attacks in State Senate (WyoFile)
https://wyofile.com/northern-wyoming-dam-survives-two-attacks-in-senate/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

15.   Another Oregon City Plans to Tax Natural Gas Appliances to Reduce Emissions (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2026/02/another-oregon-city-plans-to-tax-natural-gas-appliances-to-reduce-emissions.html

16.   Appeals Court Questions Shifting Reasons for Trump’s EPA Killing Clean Energy Contracts (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/green-bank-climate-epa-trump-zeldin-73af967533040116fe517452ce8f4ca7

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   The Surprising Oregon Town Where Cable Television Was Born Four Years Before Portland Got TV (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2026/02/the-surprising-oregon-town-where-cable-television-was-born-four-years-before-portland-got-tv.html

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

18.   Bitcoin Mining Operation Sparks Fire in Wenatchee Building (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/bitcoin-mining-fire-wenatchee-building/

HAL’s Internet Café

19.   Eleven Data Center Developers in Talks with Northwestern, Group Says (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/02/23/eleven-data-center-developers-in-talks-with-northwestern-group-says/

20.   Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek: Pace of Data Center Growth ‘Is Not Sustainable’ (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2026/02/gov-tina-kotek-pace-of-oregon-data-center-growth-is-not-sustainable.html

21.   WA State House Passes Data Center Tariff Bill as Quincy Lawmaker Warns That Rural Jobs are at Risk (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/house-passes-data-center-tariff-bill-as-quincy-lawmaker-warns-that-rural-jobs-are-at/article_a84cda4f-b745-4aeb-b393-3c82197a0e15.html

22.   Data Center Tax Breaks Are on the Chopping Block in Some States (States Newsroom)

https://stateline.org/2026/02/24/data-center-tax-breaks-are-on-the-chopping-block-in-some-states/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

23.   Supreme Court Rules the Postal Service Can't Be Sued, Even When Mail Is Intentionally Not Delivered (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/supreme-court-rules-the-postal-service-can-t-be-a21938533

24.   How Social Media Killed the Food Festival Stars & Created Others (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/food-festivals-relevance-south-beach-ea155b815c834b0c16c48c2847ec9822

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

25.   Swirling Beauty of the Milky Way Galaxy's Heart Is Captured in a New Telescope Picture (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/swirling-beauty-of-the-milky-way-galaxys-heart-is-captured-in-a-new-telescope-picture/

Politics, Governance, and Management

26.   State of the Union – Trump's Plan for Rising Energy Costs: Pump Oil, Make Data Centers Pay (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trumps-plan-rising-energy-costs-040157119.html

27.   Why The Tab for Powering Data Centers Will Keep Rising — Despite Trump’s Pledge (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/why-the-tab-for-powering-data-centers-will-keep-rising-despite-trumps-pledge/

28.   U.S. Senate Must Act to Fix ‘Broken Permitting Process,’ Say 600 Groups (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/51269-senate-must-act-to-fix-broken-permitting-process-say-600-groups/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   ‘Costs Will Keep Going Up’: WA Policy Center Says Carbon Dioxide Tax Is Driving Energy Bills Higher, Offers Savings Tips (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/gee-and-ursula/co2-tax-energy-bills-higher/4208003

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

‘Chocolate Theft’ Is on the Rise in the UK; Some Stores Are Taking Action

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3gqr7p0lqo

Ohio Sanitation Worker Surprised to Find Police Suspect in Trash Can

https://apnews.com/article/trash-can-police-chase-ohio-0d8f828e442bce6cb4e6bc07ad124e1c

A Bumper Berry Harvest Has New Zealand's Weird Flightless Parrot in a Rare Mood for Romance

https://courthousenews.com/a-bumper-berry-harvest-has-new-zealands-weird-flightless-parrot-in-a-rare-mood-for-romance/

Canadian Man Escapes Attacking Turkeys by Getting into Stranger's Car

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/02/25/canada-Ottawa-turkeys-chase-man/7251772035813/

Song of the Day

Josh Groban - Pure Imagination

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSXkVh9LmDQ

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, which can cause 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 cookies may help you access certain paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for February 23, 2026

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.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

PacifiCorp to Pay $575 Million to Resolve Federal Government’s Claims Over Wildfires in Oregon, California (Associated Press)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pacificorp-pay-575m-resolve-federal-000607370.html

Silicon Valley Is Building a Shadow Power Grid for Data Centers Across the U.S. (Washington Post – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/silicon-valley-building-shadow-power-140406982.html

Idaho Power & Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Announce Agreement to Transfer Ownership of Idaho Power’s Oregon Service Area (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/idaho-power-and-oregon-trail-electric-cooperative-announce-agreement-to-transfer-ownership-of-idaho-powers-oregon-service-area/

Columbia River Chinook Fishing Season Predicts Lower Numbers, But Stronger Returns (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/columbia-river-chinook-fishing-season-predicts-lower-numbers-stronger-returns/LLTBCAJTINCTDEI2526ARPG4KI/

‘Shelter in Place’ Advisory Expanded for Americans in Mexico (USA Today – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/widespread-shelter-place-order-place-145441048.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      PacifiCorp to Pay $575 Million to Resolve Federal Government’s Claims Over Wildfires in Oregon, California

2.      Silicon Valley Is Building a Shadow Power Grid for Data Centers Across the U.S.

3.      Idaho Power & Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Announce Agreement to Transfer Ownership of Idaho Power’s Oregon Service Area

4.      Idaho: Co-op Proposal Touted as Way to Slash Electricity Costs in McCall

5.      California: San Francisco Seeks Breakaway from Pacific Gas & Electric to Create Public Utility

6.      Inside WA’s Messy Breakup with Montana Coal Country

7.      Man Gets Prison Time for Sabotaging Substation in Oregon

8.      Nevada: Las Vegas Police Investigate Terrorism Event After Vehicle Rammed into Power Substation

9.      U.S. Military Airlifts Small Reactor as Trump Pushes to Quickly Deploy Nuclear Power

10.   Nuclear Power: ‘Just a Couple of Guys’: How a Little-Known Company Could Score Big from a Trump Trade Deal

11.   New U.S. Electric Generating Capacity Expected to Reach a Record High in 2026

12.   U.S. Electric Co-ops Call for Action on Grid Reliability

13.   Oregon: Ochoco Irrigation District Awarded $1 Million for Floating Solar Project Near Prineville

14.   Columbia River Chinook Fishing Season Predicts Lower Numbers, But Stronger Returns

15.   New Southern Resident Orca Calf Spotted in Strait of Juan De Fuca

16.   Luck & Hard Work Align in Success for Cowlitz River Smelt Dippers

17.   Cost of Trump’s Coal Push Plays Out in Dollars, Noise & Health

18.   Inconsistent Lake Pend Oreille Levels Shrink Region’s Economy, Study Says

19.   WA State: Kennewick Irrigation District Upgrades Canals, Reservoirs as Drought Threat Looms

20.   Threat of a Colorado River Lawsuit Looms. Here’s How Utah Is Preparing.

21.   U.S. Energy Chief Says International Energy Agency Must ‘Drop’ Focus on Climate Change

22.   Who Pays for Power – Trump Adviser Drops Bombshell on Meta, Microsoft

23.   California: State Lawmaker Calls on Imperial County Officials to Halt Controversial Data Center Project

24.   National Lab in WA Has Key Role in Trump AI Mission to Transform Science

25.   The Great American Weather Tragedy: Excellent Forecasts but Poor Societal Response

26.   ‘Shelter in Place’ Advisory Expanded for Americans in Mexico

27.   Millions Are Stuck at Home Due to Blizzard Warnings & Travel Shutdowns in Northeastern U.S.

28.   Copper Wire Theft Disrupts Light Rail Service in South King County for Second Time in Nine Days

29.   Guest Essay: Removing Snake River Dams Could Have Surprising Benefits

30.   Guest Essay: The Ghosts of Nuclear Past, Present, & Future: Can You Tell Them Apart?

31.   WA State: Thurston County Wants to Grade Your Home’s Energy Before Letting You Sell It

Word of the Day

Recurring \rih-KURR-ring\ Verb – 1: To happen, come up, or show up again or repeatedly 2: to return to one's attention or memory 3: to return in thought or discourse.

Willie the wildebeest awoke with a start. The recurring dream that had haunted his dark nights had returned. In his nocturne wanderings, he had been transformed into a humanoid biped, wandering aimlessly in packs of hundreds through concrete jungles…going hither and thither…not knowing the destination, or the reason for his travels. “The horror, the horror,” he muttered.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      PacifiCorp to Pay $575 Million to Resolve Federal Government’s Claims Over Wildfires in Oregon, California (Associated Press)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pacificorp-pay-575m-resolve-federal-000607370.html

2.      Silicon Valley Is Building a Shadow Power Grid for Data Centers Across the U.S. (Washington Post – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/silicon-valley-building-shadow-power-140406982.html

3.      Idaho Power & Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Announce Agreement to Transfer Ownership of Idaho Power’s Oregon Service Area (Elkhorn Media Group, LaGrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/idaho-power-and-oregon-trail-electric-cooperative-announce-agreement-to-transfer-ownership-of-idaho-powers-oregon-service-area/

4.      Idaho: Co-op Proposal Touted as Way to Slash Electricity Costs in McCall (Valley Lookout, McCall, ID)

https://valleylookout.com/2026/02/19/mccall-intrigued-by-public-electricity-proposal-to-create-task-force/

5.      California: San Francisco Seeks Breakaway from Pacific Gas & Electric to Create Public Utility (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/san-francisco-seeks-breakaway-from-pge-creation-of-public-utility/

6.      Inside WA’s Messy Breakup with Montana Coal Country (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/northwest/inside-wa-s-messy-breakup-with-montana-coal-country/article_fbf94fe6-d85f-587d-8375-7ff3bc9d8eca.html

7.      Man Gets Prison Time for Sabotaging Substation in Oregon (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2026/02/man-gets-prison-time-for-sabotaging-substation-in-oregon.html

8.      Nevada: Las Vegas Police Investigate Terrorism Event After Vehicle Rammed into Power Substation (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-boulder-city-cec28b585a8fe780005fa47bdb156970

9.      U.S. Military Airlifts Small Reactor as Trump Pushes to Quickly Deploy Nuclear Power (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-power-microreactor-energy-pentagon-9b4bf19cfc38560ca14cf652fa9a3806

10.   Nuclear Power: ‘Just a Couple of Guys’: How a Little-Known Company Could Score Big from a Trump Trade Deal (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/23/energy-company-trump-japan-trade-deal-00791916

11.   New U.S. Electric Generating Capacity Expected to Reach a Record High in 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67205

12.   U.S. Electric Co-ops Call for Action on Grid Reliability (Coop News)

https://www.thenews.coop/us-electric-co-ops-call-for-action-on-grid-reliability/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

13.   Oregon: Ochoco Irrigation District Awarded $1 Million for Floating Solar Project Near Prineville (Central Oregon Daily News)

https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/prineville/ochoco-irrigation-district-floating-solar-1m-funding/article_1808ad6d-ce86-49ea-a7cf-746260a8a41c.html

Fish & Wildlife

14.   Columbia River Chinook Fishing Season Predicts Lower Numbers, But Stronger Returns (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/columbia-river-chinook-fishing-season-predicts-lower-numbers-stronger-returns/LLTBCAJTINCTDEI2526ARPG4KI/

15.   New Southern Resident Orca Calf Spotted in Strait of Juan De Fuca (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/new-southern-resident-orca-calf-spotted-with-l-pod-in-strait-of-juan-de-fuca-puget-sound-orcas-new-calfs-2026-whale-research-wild-life-western-washington-friday-harbor

16.   Luck & Hard Work Align in Success for Cowlitz River Smelt Dippers (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/02/23/luck-and-hard-work-align-in-success-for-cowlitz-river-smelt-dippers/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

17.   Cost of Trump’s Coal Push Plays Out in Dollars, Noise & Health (Bloomberg News – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/cost-of-trump-s-coal-push-plays-out-in-dollars-noise-and-health/ar-AA1WlyZh

Water, Water, Anywhere?

18.   Inconsistent Lake Pend Oreille Levels Shrink Region’s Economy, Study Says (Bonner County Daily Bee, ID)

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2026/feb/22/inconsistent-lake-levels-shrink-regions-economy-study-says/

19.   WA State: Kennewick Irrigation District Upgrades Canals, Reservoirs as Drought Threat Looms (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://keprtv.com/news/local/kennewick-irrigation-district-upgrades-canals-reservoirs-as-drought-threat-looms

20.   Threat of a Colorado River Lawsuit Looms. Here’s How Utah Is Preparing. (Utah News Dispatch)

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/02/22/threat-of-a-colorado-river-lawsuit-looms-heres-how-utah-is-preparing/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

21.   U.S. Energy Chief Says International Energy Agency Must ‘Drop’ Focus on Climate Change (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-energy-chief-says-iea-163023300.html

HAL’s Internet Café

22.   Who Pays for Power – Trump Adviser Drops Bombshell on Meta, Microsoft (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-adviser-drops-bombshell-meta-201300241.html

23.   California: State Lawmaker Calls on Imperial County Officials to Halt Controversial Data Center Project (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2026/02/19/state-lawmaker-calls-on-imperial-county-officials-to-halt-controversial-data-center-project

24.   National Lab in WA Has Key Role in Trump AI Mission to Transform Science (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/national-lab-wa-key-role-130000404.html

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

25.   The Great American Weather Tragedy: Excellent Forecasts but Poor Societal Response (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-great-american-weather-tragedy.html

Other Things to Know About Today

26.   ‘Shelter in Place’ Advisory Expanded for Americans in Mexico (USA Today – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/widespread-shelter-place-order-place-145441048.html

27.   Millions Are Stuck at Home Due to Blizzard Warnings & Travel Shutdowns in Northeastern U.S. (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/us-east-coast-winter-storm-blizzard-c32d60af1f146359664d6688a2dcdada

28.   Copper Wire Theft Disrupts Light Rail Service in South King County for Second Time in Nine Days (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/copper-wire-theft-disrupts-light-rail-service-in-south-king-county-for-2nd-time-in-9-days/ar-AA1WR3mc

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   Guest Essay: Removing Snake River Dams Could Have Surprising Benefits (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/removing-snake-river-dams-could-have-surprising-benefits-opinion/ar-AA1WQdkF

30.   Guest Essay: The Ghosts of Nuclear Past, Present, & Future: Can You Tell Them Apart? (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ghosts-of-nuclear-past-present-future-Joshua-Skov/806941/

31.   WA State: Thurston County Wants to Grade Your Home’s Energy Before Letting You Sell It (KTTK Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://seattlered.com/seattle-red/jason-rantz-opinion/thurston-county-climate-home/4116757

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

What 42 Massive & Decaying Presidential Heads Say About America

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/what-42-massive-and-decaying-presidential-heads-say-about-america/ar-AA1WrtoG

When in Rome: Budapest Pizzeria Offers Time-Travel Twist with Ancient Rome-Inspired Pie

https://apnews.com/article/hungary-ancient-rome-pizza-896056031e34081a2fa76ae563438116

Six Planets Will Parade Across the Night Sky at the End of February

https://www.seattlepi.com/living/6-planets-will-parade-across-the-night-sky-at-the-a21840029

Mr. Clean ‘Retiring’ After Nearly 70 Years

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/news/mr-clean-retiring-after-nearly-70-years/ar-AA1WLUSc

Song of the Day

Dean Martin – That’s Amore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4866HEQLLW4

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, which can cause 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 cookies may help you access certain paywall sites.