The Energy News Digest for March 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

U.S. Senator Murkowski (AK) Explores Nuclear Energy Options for Alaska Communities (The Cordoba Times, AK)

https://thecordovatimes.com/2026/03/24/murkowski-explores-nuclear-energy-options-for-alaska-communities/

Many Rate Hikes in Store for Seattle City Light Customers (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ce27b61d-aa47-436e-b1b2-3bf83ed0b28e.html

U.S. to Pay French Company $1 Billion to Scrap Offshore Wind Projects (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-administration-totalenergies-offshore-wind-9.7139677?cmp=rss

Trump Administration Bans Import of New Foreign-Made Routers, Citing Supply Chain & Security Risks (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/trump-administration-bans-import-of-new-a22093729

Meta, Google Lose U.S. Case Over Social Media Harm to Kids (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/jury-reaches-verdict-meta-google-165623419.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Senator Murkowski (AK) Explores Nuclear Energy Options for Alaska Communities

2.      Montana Senator Daines Supports Nuclear Development

3.      Many Rate Hikes in Store for Seattle City Light Customers

4.      Proposed Bill Aims to Cut California Electricity Rates 30% by 2028

5.      Video: Chelan PUD Spending Jumps for Job Training Program

6.      Missouri: Man Electrocuted While Attempting to Cut Copper Wire Near Labadie Power Plant, Deputies Say

7.      Building Infrastructure: Inside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydropower Mission

8.      Better Grid Utilization Could Save Customers $170 Billion: Brattle Report

9.      U.S. to Pay French Company $1 Billion to Scrap Offshore Wind Projects

10.   Wyoming: Mills Mayor Frustrated Giant Solar Project Has Been Scaled Back, Delayed 3 Years

11.   Britain Responds to Iran War Energy Shock by Requiring Solar Panels & Heat Pumps in All New Homes

12.   What Whale Watching Week in Oregon Can Tell Us About Climate Change

13.   Winemakers Have to Adapt as Oregon’s Wine Country Heats Up

14.   Analysis Suggests Starlink Requirements Could Cost Some Homeowners $10K–$50K

15.   WA State: City of Algona Suspends Fiber Optic Cable Installation Following Second Gas Line Rupture

16.   Trump Administration Bans Import of New Foreign-Made Routers, Citing Supply Chain & Security Risks

17.   One Idea to Reduce Data Centers’ Load on the Energy Grid? Send Them to Space

18.   Portland Launching Rebates for 6,000 E-Bikes: Who’s Eligible

19.   Meta, Google Lose U.S. Case Over Social Media Harm to Kids

20.   Scientists Must Speak Clearly, Especially in Court: Five Tips for Clear Communication

21.   U.S. Supreme Court Justices Appear Skeptical of Late Mail-In Ballot Deadlines

22.   Rounding Out Debate, Ferguson Signs Bill Addressing Washington Retailers’ Penny Problem

23.   What Is a ‘Super El Niño’? Scientists Predict Record-Breaking Climate Event This Year

24.   These Nuclear Reactors Can Benefit Idaho, Power America’s Ambitions

Word of the Day

Puckish \PUCK-ish\ Adjective – Impish, whimsical.

In an ironic twist, the retired hockey player became a commentator for the Montreal Canadiens. It was there that he became well known for his ‘puckish’ sense of humor.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      U.S. Senator Murkowski (AK) Explores Nuclear Energy Options for Alaska Communities (The Cordoba Times, AK)

https://thecordovatimes.com/2026/03/24/murkowski-explores-nuclear-energy-options-for-alaska-communities/

2.      Montana Senator Daines Supports Nuclear Development (KYFR-TV, Bismarck, ND)

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2026/03/24/montana-senator-daines-supports-nuclear-development/

3.      Many Rate Hikes in Store for Seattle City Light Customers (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ce27b61d-aa47-436e-b1b2-3bf83ed0b28e.html

4.      Proposed Bill Aims to Cut California Electricity Rates 30% by 2028 (Allen Media Broadcasting, Chico, CA)

https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/proposed-bill-aims-to-cut-california-electricity-rates-30-by-2028/article_50225fde-8871-401f-b222-e6c887848bad.html

5.      Video: Chelan PUD Spending Jumps for Job Training Program (NCW News, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/videos/pud-spending-jumps-for-job-training-program/video_1bec3ca8-a81b-5e27-9258-a34c66a1ff57.html

6.      Missouri: Man Electrocuted While Attempting to Cut Copper Wire Near Labadie Power Plant, Deputies Say (KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO)

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/man-electrocuted-while-attempting-to-steal-copper-wire-labadie/63-a2ae2b06-94ff-456d-a9f7-5108a95e074a

7.      Building Infrastructure: Inside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydropower Mission (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

https://www.army.mil/article-amp/291298/building_infrastructure_inside_the_u_s_army_corps_of_engineers_hydropower_mission

8.      Better Grid Utilization Could Save Customers $170 Billion: Brattle Report (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/better-grid-utilization-could-save-customers-170b-brattle-report/815436/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      U.S. to Pay French Company $1 Billion to Scrap Offshore Wind Projects (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-administration-totalenergies-offshore-wind-9.7139677?cmp=rss

10.   Wyoming: Mills Mayor Frustrated Giant Solar Project Has Been Scaled Back, Delayed 3 Years (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/03/24/wyoming-solar-farm-scales-back-and-delays-construction-to-2029/

Conservation & Efficiency

11.   Britain Responds to Iran War Energy Shock by Requiring Solar Panels & Heat Pumps in All New Homes (CNBC News)

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/24/iran-war-britain-new-homes-solar-heat-pumps-energy-crisis.html

Fish & Wildlife

12.   What Whale Watching Week in Oregon Can Tell Us About Climate Change (Oregon Public Radio)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/24/whale-watching-week-oregon-climate-change/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

13.   Winemakers Have to Adapt as Oregon’s Wine Country Heats Up (Marketplace, American Public Media)

https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/03/24/winemakers-have-to-adapt-as-oregons-wine-country-heats-up

London Calling –Telecommunications

14.   Analysis Suggests Starlink Requirements Could Cost Some Homeowners $10K–$50K (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/analysis-suggests-starlink-requirements-could-cost-some-homeowners-10k-50k/

15.   WA State: City of Algona Suspends Fiber Optic Cable Installation Following Second Gas Line Rupture (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/algona-suspends-fiber-optic-cable-installation-second-gas-line-rupture/281-469d3087-25b8-49ca-9bf2-e4057aadc2fb

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

16.   Trump Administration Bans Import of New Foreign-Made Routers, Citing Supply Chain & Security Risks (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/trump-administration-bans-import-of-new-a22093729

HAL’s Internet Café

17.   One Idea to Reduce Data Centers’ Load on the Energy Grid? Send Them to Space (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/24/nx-s1-5749353/one-idea-to-reduce-data-centers-load-on-the-energy-grid-send-them-to-space

I Sing the Car Electric

18.   Portland Launching Rebates for 6,000 E-Bikes: Who’s Eligible (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/portland-launching-rebates-for-6000-e-bikes-who-s-eligible/ar-AA1Zkysj

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

19.   Meta, Google Lose U.S. Case Over Social Media Harm to Kids (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/jury-reaches-verdict-meta-google-165623419.html

20.   Scientists Must Speak Clearly, Especially in Court: Five Tips for Clear Communication (Union of Concerned Scientists)

https://blog.ucs.org/delta-merner/scientists-must-speak-clearly-especially-in-court-five-tips-for-clear-communication/

Politics, Governance, and Management

21.   U.S. Supreme Court Justices Appear Skeptical of Late Mail-In Ballot Deadlines (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_ce95ee78-9701-48c1-9783-29592d750d3c.html

22.   Rounding Out Debate, Ferguson Signs Bill Addressing Washington Retailers’ Penny Problem (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/rounding-out-debate-ferguson-signs-bill-addressing-retailers-penny-problem/

Other Things to Know About Today

23.   What Is a ‘Super El Niño’? Scientists Predict Record-Breaking Climate Event This Year (The Independent, UK)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/super-el-ni-o-could-002635061.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

24.   These Nuclear Reactors Can Benefit Idaho, Power America’s Ambitions (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/nuclear-reactors-benefit-idaho-power-100000094.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Therapy Llamas at Portland Airport Are Going Viral

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/mar/22/these-therapy-llamas-at-portland-airport-are-going/

An Austrian Man Sticks Balloons Up His Nose for World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/03/23/germany-Guinness-World-Records-balloons-nose-mouth/1451774287387/

Florida Hospital Sues to Evict a Patient Who Won’t Leave Room Five Months After Discharge

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-hospital-sues-evict-patient-wont-leave-room-5-months-discharge-rcna264293

Longest Line at Philly Airport? Cheesesteaks, Not Security

https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-chee

Song of the Day

Nana – 99 Luftballons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSlTQmDLx4

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 March 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

Northwest Lawmakers Push for New Bonneville Power Administration Leadership as Energy Pressures Build Across Oregon (Grants Pass Tribune, OR)

https://www.grantspasstribune.com/northwest-lawmakers-push-for-new-bpa-leadership-as-energy-pressures-build-across-oregon/

Amazon’s $100 Million Morrow County Deals Put Local Insiders Under Fire (Hoodline)

https://hoodline.com/2026/03/amazon-s-100-million-morrow-county-deals-put-local-insiders-under-fire/

Oregon: Environmentalists Say Washington County Renewable Energy Project Is Too Near National Wildlife Refuge (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/17/washington-county-oregon-renewable-energy-project-wildlife-refuge/

Southern Oregon Dam Operators Face Intensifying Legal Battles After 2023 Lamprey Killing (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/23/southern-oregon-dam-operators-face-intensifying-legal-battles-after-2023-lamprey-killing/

Oregon Snowpack Continues to Worsen (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/weather/oregon-snowpack-continues-to-worsen/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Northwest Lawmakers Push for New Bonneville Power Administration Leadership as Energy Pressures Build Across Oregon

2.      News Release: Members of Congress Present Secretary of Energy with List of Attributes Considered Essential in the Selection of New Administrator for the Bonneville Power Administration

3.      Washington State, Trump Administration Standoff Continues in Fight Over Coal Plant

4.      Oregon: Power Line Proposal Brings Environmental Worries in Washington County

5.      Oregon: Blachly-Lane to Acquire Monroe Service Area; Power Cost Impact

6.      Utilities Weigh Regional Resource Adequacy Under New Western Market

7.      Blackout: Why Is Resource-Rich Canada a Net Importer of Electricity from the U.S.?

8.      Cuba Begins to Restore Electricity After Nationwide Power Grid Collapse

9.      Oregon: Environmentalists Say Washington County Renewable Energy Project Is Too Near National Wildlife Refuge

10.   Idaho: Jerome County Drafts a New Ordinance to Restrict Renewable Energy Projects to Industrial Zones Only

11.   Puget Sound Energy, Partners Test How Electric Vehicles Can Power Homes During Outages

12.   Energy Fallout from Iran War Signals a Global Wake-Up Call for Renewable Energy

13.   More Washington State Utilities Want to Remotely Control Your Thermostat

14.   WA State: Backlash Grows Over Proposed Thurston Co. Home Seller Energy Checks

15.   How Air Conditioner Maker Carrier Wants to Turn Air Conditioners from Energy Hogs to Grid Assets

16.   Southern Oregon Dam Operators Face Intensifying Legal Battles After 2023 Lamprey Killing

17.   Federal Funding Kicks Off Exploration of Fish Passage Solutions in Oregon

18.   Oregon Snowpack Continues to Worsen

19.   Spring Outlook in Pacific Northwest Favors Above-Normal Temperatures, Below-Average Precipitation

20.   WA State: Additional Odessa Groundwater Replacement Area Canals Coming

21.   Why Colorado River Negotiations Stalled & How They Could Restart

22.   Two Dozen States, 10 Cities Sue EPA Over Repeal of ‘Endangerment’ Finding Central to Climate Fight

23.   The Planet is Heating Faster Than Ever Before, New Research Shows

24.   Alaska Broadband Office Releases Interactive BEAD Map, Two Providers Tout Awards

25.   Fiber Broadband Association Releases New Paper on the Importance of Fiber in Tribal Communities

26.   Amazon’s $100 Million Morrow County Deals Put Local Insiders Under Fire

27.   Data Centers Under Scrutiny by California Lawmakers as Fears Rise About Health & Energy Impacts

28.   ‘ChatGPT Gets a D’: Washington State University Study Finds ‘Inaccuracies’ with Artificial Intelligence

29.   Oregon Electric Vehicle Growth Petered Out Last Year

30.   Washington’s Electric Vehicle Sales Laws Just Took a Big Turn

31.   CBS News Shutters Its Storied Radio News Service After Nearly a Century, Ending an Era

32.   APPA, NRECA Send Letter to DOE on the Importance of Preference Power, Power Marketing Administrations

33.   Environment & Climate Bills That Passed & Failed in WA’s Legislative Session

34.   Hawaii Hit with More Flooding as Heat Tops Records in West

35.   United Nations Issues New Climate Warning as El Niño Looms

36.   Guest Essay: It’s a Bad Idea to Cap Tennessee Valley Authority Salaries

Word of the Day

Orotund \ORE-uh-tund\ Adjective - 1: marked by fullness, strength, & clarity of sound: sonorous 2: pompous, bombastic.

The powerful, orotund music enveloped Frederick’s dinner guests in rich waves, the booming resonance causing the wine glasses to vibrate in harmony with the Wagnerian opera blasting from his stereo system. Conversation became impossible, as was hearing anything after the overwhelming concert filled the enclosed dining space of his small apartment.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Northwest Lawmakers Push for New Bonneville Power Administration Leadership as Energy Pressures Build Across Oregon (Grants Pass Tribune, OR)

https://www.grantspasstribune.com/northwest-lawmakers-push-for-new-bpa-leadership-as-energy-pressures-build-across-oregon/

2.      News Release: Members of Congress Present Secretary of Energy with List of Attributes Considered Essential in the Selection of New Administrator for the Bonneville Power Administration (U.S. Rep Cliff Bentz, Oregon)

https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/members-of-congress-present-secretary-of-energy-with-list-of-attributes-considered-essential-in-the-selection-of-new-administrator-for-the-bonneville-power-administration

3.      Washington State, Trump Administration Standoff Continues in Fight Over Coal Plant (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/washington-state-trump-administration-standoff-continues-in-fight-over-coal-plant,398709

4.      Oregon: Power Line Proposal Brings Environmental Worries in Washington County (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/power-line-proposal-brings-envrionmental-worries-in-washington-county/

5.      Oregon: Blachly-Lane to Acquire Monroe Service Area; Power Cost Impact (KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://www.kezi.com/news/local/blachly-lane-to-acquire-monroe-service-area-power-cost-impact/article_adcd9bdb-8f56-4bdb-9b3a-cfad4692fb3e.html

6.      Utilities Weigh Regional Resource Adequacy Under New Western Market (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/western-utilities-weigh-a-new-resource-adequacy-program-under-rowe/815043/

7.      Blackout: Why Is Resource-Rich Canada a Net Importer of Electricity from the U.S.? (Kelowna Now, British Columbia)

https://www.kelownanow.com/news/news/National_News/BLACKOUT/

8.      Cuba Begins to Restore Electricity After Nationwide Power Grid Collapse (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/cuba-begins-restore-electricity-nationwide-183219533.html

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Oregon: Environmentalists Say Washington County Renewable Energy Project Is Too Near National Wildlife Refuge (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/17/washington-county-oregon-renewable-energy-project-wildlife-refuge/

10.   Idaho: Jerome County Drafts a New Ordinance to Restrict Renewable Energy Projects to Industrial Zones Only (KIVI-TV, Nampa, ID)

https://www.kivitv.com/jerome/jerome-county-drafts-a-new-ordinance-to-restrict-renewable-energy-projects-to-industrial-zones-only

11.   Puget Sound Energy, Partners Test How Electric Vehicles Can Power Homes During Outages (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/51551-pse-partners-test-how-evs-can-power-homes-during-outages/

12.   Energy Fallout from Iran War Signals a Global Wake-Up Call for Renewable Energy (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/energy-fallout-from-iran-war-signals-a-global-a22086953

Conservation & Efficiency

13.   More Washington State Utilities Want to Remotely Control Your Thermostat (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/more-washington-state-utilities-want-to-remotely-control-your-thermostat,398744

14.   WA State: Backlash Grows Over Proposed Thurston Co. Home Seller Energy Checks (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/issues/energy/article_0a26da29-1a37-45b5-8213-c87fee96c2bd.html

15.   How Air Conditioner Maker Carrier Wants to Turn Air Conditioners from Energy Hogs to Grid Assets (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/company-thats-turning-air-conditioners-energy-hogs-into-grid-assets--ecmii-2026-03-18/

Fish & Wildlife

16.   Southern Oregon Dam Operators Face Intensifying Legal Battles After 2023 Lamprey Killing (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/23/southern-oregon-dam-operators-face-intensifying-legal-battles-after-2023-lamprey-killing/

17.   Federal Funding Kicks Off Exploration of Fish Passage Solutions in Oregon (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/21/federal-funding-kicks-off-exploration-of-fish-passage-solutions-in-oregon/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

18.   Oregon Snowpack Continues to Worsen (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/weather/oregon-snowpack-continues-to-worsen/

19.   Spring Outlook in Pacific Northwest Favors Above-Normal Temperatures, Below-Average Precipitation (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/mar/22/spring-outlook-warns-of-dreaded-heat-dome/

20.   WA State: Additional Odessa Groundwater Replacement Area Canals Coming (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/mar/23/additional-odessa-groundwater-replacement-area-canals-coming/

21.   Why Colorado River Negotiations Stalled & How They Could Restart (PBS News)

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/why-colorado-river-negotiations-stalled-and-how-they-could-restart

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

22.   Two Dozen States, 10 Cities Sue EPA Over Repeal of ‘Endangerment’ Finding Central to Climate Fight (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-climate-change-epa-states-endangerment-6b1b5b38140c76a5cc55e17ae5f3b99b

23.   The Planet is Heating Faster Than Ever Before, New Research Shows (TIME Magazine)

https://time.com/7382950/climate-change-speeding-up-science/

London Calling –Telecommunications

24.   Alaska Broadband Office Releases Interactive BEAD Map, Two Providers Tout Awards (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/alaska-broadband-office-releases-interactive-bead-map-two-providers-tout-awards/

25.   Fiber Broadband Association Releases New Paper on the Importance of Fiber in Tribal Communities (BusinessWire)

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260318364196/en/Fiber-Broadband-Association-Releases-New-Paper-on-The-Importance-of-Fiber-in-Tribal-Communities

HAL’s Internet Café

26.   Amazon’s $100 Million Morrow County Deals Put Local Insiders Under Fire (Hoodline)

https://hoodline.com/2026/03/amazon-s-100-million-morrow-county-deals-put-local-insiders-under-fire/

27.   Data Centers Under Scrutiny by California Lawmakers as Fears Rise About Health & Energy Impacts (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/data-centers-under-scrutiny-california-100000620.html

28.   ‘ChatGPT Gets a D’: Washington State University Study Finds ‘Inaccuracies’ with Artificial Intelligence (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/technology/chatgpt-wsu-study-finds-inaccuracies-with-ai/

I Sing the Car Electric

29.   Oregon Electric Vehicle Growth Petered Out Last Year (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2026/03/oregon-electric-vehicle-growth-petered-out-last-year.html

30.   Washington’s Electric Vehicle Sales Laws Just Took a Big Turn (KONA Radio, Pasco, WA)

https://610kona.com/ixp/1135/p/washington-ev-direct-sales/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

31.   CBS News Shutters Its Storied Radio News Service After Nearly a Century, Ending an Era (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/cbs-radio-news-bari-weiss-11372c28f9557d0b10e329e6c4be339f

Politics, Governance, and Management

32.   APPA, NRECA Send Letter to DOE on the Importance of Preference Power, Power Marketing Administrations (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-nreca-send-letter-doe-importance-preference-power-pmas

33.   Environment & Climate Bills That Passed & Failed in WA’s Legislative Session (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/03/22/environment-and-climate-bills-that-passed-and-failed-in-was-legislative-session-data-centers-transmission-authority-loopholes/

Other Things to Know About Today

34.   Hawaii Hit with More Flooding as Heat Tops Records in West (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/mar/21/hawaii-hit-with-more-flooding-as-heat-tops-records/

35.   United Nations Issues New Climate Warning as El Niño Looms (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/un-issues-climate-warning-el-040627850.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

36.   Guest Essay: It’s a Bad Idea to Cap Tennessee Valley Authority Salaries (Washington Examiner – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/it-s-a-bad-idea-to-cap-tennessee-valley-authority-salaries/ar-AA1Z9E1X

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Cursive Is Back. But Should Students Be Learning the Skill?

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/19/cursive-reemerges-in-schools-with-pushback-from-experts/

A Rare Look Inside the Sistine Chapel for a Private Concert About Angel Encounters

https://apnews.com/article/sistine-chapel-concert-vatican-8158bf4d0a7cb3f1c78d5c0fd1f324b6

Real Possum Found Among Plush Toy Animals in Australian Airport Gift Shop

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/travel/possum-toys-australia-airport-shop-intl-scli

Message in a Bottle Floats from Canada to Scotland in 2 Years

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/message-in-a-bottle-floats-from-canada-to-scotland-in-2-years/ar-AA1Z01g7

Song of the Day

When in Rome - The Promise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRC2XC5MVVU

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.