The Energy News Digest for April 13, 2026

Programming Note

After today’s issue, The Energy News Digest will be taking a break. It will return tanned, rested, and relaxed on April 27

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.

Save on Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp

New to public power, onboarding staff, or interested in learning more about the industry? Then Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp is for you! The next boot camp will be June 1-4 in Eugene, Oregon. Register by April 17 to get the early-bird rate.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

EIA Sees Electricity Consumption Continuing to Grow Through 2050 at a Rate of 0.9% to 1.6% (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/eia-sees-electricity-consumption-continuing-grow-through-2050-rate-09-16

California Utility Bills Are 20% Higher Due to Wildfires (Bloomberg News – Via the Insurance Journal)

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2026/04/13/865378.htm

Oregon’s Snowpack Just Broke a Terrifying Record, & the Consequences Could Be Devastating This Summer (The Oregonian, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/oregon-snowpack-just-broke-terrifying-220237711.html

Commercial Salmon Fishing to Open in California for the First Time Since 2022 as Population Rebounds (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/commercial-salmon-fishing-to-open-in-california-a22202623

Overnight Offshore Earthquake Swarm Poses No Danger to Pacific Northwest, Expert Says (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/earthquakes/overnight-offshore-earthquake-swarm-poses-no-danger-to-pacific-northwest-expert-says/281-f4749ec8-aeb4-4e54-9700-0428518088dc

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      EIA Sees Electricity Consumption Continuing to Grow Through 2050 at a Rate of 0.9% to 1.6%

2.      California Utility Bills Are 20% Higher Due to Wildfires

3.      More Households Face Gas, Electricity Shutoffs Despite New

4.      Analysis Finds U.S. Electricity Costs Stable, Household Burden Near Historic Low

5.      Fire Survivors Call for Audits of Edison's Wildfire Prevention Spending

6.      Terra-Gen to Pay $5.6M To Settle California ISO Market Manipulation Charges

7.      Amid ‘Nuclear Renaissance,’ Idaho Worries About Job Demands Coming to the Intermountain West

8.      Power Providers Make Moves That Are Reshaping Colorado’s Electric Utilities Landscape

9.      New California Law Requires Electrical Utility Worksites to Have AEDs

10.   Wyoming Electric Utility Dumps Wind & Solar in Long-Term Planning

11.   WA State: $7.5M Solar Farm Off Highway 395 Is A First for Franklin County

12.   Sunnyside Renewable Energy Project Aims to Turn Dairy Waste into Natural Gas

13.   In a First, Renewables Beat Natural Gas on U.S. Grid Last Month

14.   Hosting Solar Can Be a Lifeline for Farmers. But Overcoming Local Opposition Is Tough

15.   States Are Struggling to Meet Their Clean Energy Goals. Data Centers Are to Blame

16.   Commercial Salmon Fishing to Open in California for the First Time Since 2022 as Population Rebounds

17.   Seattle to Sign Agreement Concerning Skagit River Dams

18.   ‘The Salmon People’: How Alaska’s Only Native Reservation Saved Its Fishing Culture

19.   Oregon’s Snowpack Just Broke a Terrifying Record, & the Consequences Could Be Devastating This Summer

20.   Fourth WA Drought Emergency. ‘No Way to Sugarcoat’ Power, Fish & Fire Risks

21.   ‘It’s Incredibly Bad’: No End in Sight to Colorado River Water Crisis

22.   $38 Million Water Infrastructure for Idaho

23.   Iran War Has Some U.S. Water Utilities Facing a Fluoride Shortage

24.   Seattle Weighs Five Data Center Proposals Amid Power Concerns

25.   Trump Approves Oregon Disaster Declaration Over Severe Winter Storms

26.   Trump Approves Disaster Declaration for WA Flooding

27.   Two Major Disaster Declarations Approved for Montana

28.   Overnight Offshore Earthquake Swarm Poses No Danger to Pacific Northwest, Expert Says

29.   Guest Essay: Salmon Are Not to Blame for Bonneville Power Administration Failing to Meet Its Responsibilities

Word of the Day

Éminence Grise • \ay-mee-nawns - GREEZ\ • Noun - 1: a confidential agent; especially: one exercising unsuspected or unofficial power 2: a respected authority; specifically: an elder statesman.

     See Edgar Bergen

     McCarthy’s Éminence Grise

     His voice thrown for laughs

https://joelshorriblehaiku.blogspot.com/

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      EIA Sees Electricity Consumption Continuing to Grow Through 2050 at a Rate of 0.9% to 1.6% (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/eia-sees-electricity-consumption-continuing-grow-through-2050-rate-09-16

2.      California Utility Bills Are 20% Higher Due to Wildfires (Bloomberg News – Via the Insurance Journal)

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2026/04/13/865378.htm

3.      More Households Face Gas, Electricity Shutoffs Despite New Protections (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2026/04/utility-disconnections-rise-in-oregon-despite-moratoriums.html

4.      Analysis Finds U.S. Electricity Costs Stable, Household Burden Near Historic Low (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/51819-analysis-finds-u-s-electricity-costs-stable-household-burden-near-historic-low/

5.      Fire Survivors Call for Audits of Edison's Wildfire Prevention Spending (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fire-survivors-call-audits-edisons-100000644.html

6.      Terra-Gen to Pay $5.6M To Settle California ISO Market Manipulation Charges (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/terra-gen-ferc-caiso-market-manipulation/817178/

7.      Amid ‘Nuclear Renaissance,’ Idaho Worries About Job Demands Coming to the Intermountain West (Utah News Dispatch)

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/04/13/nuclear-renaissance-idaho-worries-about-job-demands/

8.      Power Providers Make Moves That Are Reshaping Colorado’s Electric Utilities Landscape (Colorado Sun)

https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/10/power-providers-wholesale-market-lpea-tri-state/

9.      New California Law Requires Electrical Utility Worksites to Have AEDs (Safety & Health Magazine)

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/new-california-law-requires-electrical-utility-worksites-to-have-aeds/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

10.   Wyoming Electric Utility Dumps Wind & Solar in Long-Term Planning (WyoFile)

https://wyofile.com/wyoming-electric-utility-dumps-wind-and-solar-in-long-term-planning/

11.   WA State: $7.5M Solar Farm Off Highway 395 Is A First for Franklin County (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/75m-solar-farm-off-highway-395-is-a-1st-for-franklin-county/ar-AA20Ly2T

12.   Sunnyside Renewable Energy Project Aims to Turn Dairy Waste into Natural Gas (KIMA-TV, Yakima, WA)

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/sunnyside-renewable-energy-project-aims-to-turn-dairy-waste-into-natural-gas/article_275cad44-cd70-4d86-8ee8-c6c9b2024833.html

13.   In a First, Renewables Beat Natural Gas on U.S. Grid Last Month (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/renewables-beat-natural-gas-us-grid-march-2026

14.   Hosting Solar Can Be a Lifeline for Farmers. But Overcoming Local Opposition Is Tough (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/hosting-solar-can-be-a-lifeline-for-farmers-but-a22203375

15.   States Are Struggling to Meet Their Clean Energy Goals. Data Centers Are to Blame (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/ai-data-centers-nevada-clean-energy-47d1b6633ed720962848f4b5b91e7d6b

Fish & Wildlife

16.   Commercial Salmon Fishing to Open in California for the First Time Since 2022 as Population Rebounds (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/commercial-salmon-fishing-to-open-in-california-a22202623

17.   Seattle to Sign Agreement Concerning Skagit River Dams (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/environment/2026-04-10/seattle-to-sign-agreement-concerning-skagit-river-dams

18.   ‘The Salmon People’: How Alaska’s Only Native Reservation Saved Its Fishing Culture (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/04/09/the-salmon-people-how-alaskas-only-native-reservation-saved-its-fishing-culture/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19.   Oregon’s Snowpack Just Broke a Terrifying Record, & the Consequences Could Be Devastating This Summer (The Oregonian, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/oregon-snowpack-just-broke-terrifying-220237711.html

20.   Fourth WA Drought Emergency. ‘No Way to Sugarcoat’ Power, Fish & Fire Risks (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/4th-wa-drought-emergency-no-234912771.html

21.   ‘It’s Incredibly Bad’: No End in Sight to Colorado River Water Crisis (WyoFile)

https://wyofile.com/its-incredibly-bad-no-end-in-sight-to-colorado-river-water-crisis/

22.   $38 Million Water Infrastructure for Idaho (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/38-million-water-infrastructure-for-idaho/article_842ca0f2-b587-414b-be80-0b9c1ba92a3b.html

23.   Iran War Has Some U.S. Water Utilities Facing a Fluoride Shortage (ABC News)

https://abcnews.com/Health/wireStory/iran-war-us-water-utilities-facing-fluoride-shortage-131996908

HAL’s Internet Café

24.   Seattle Weighs Five Data Center Proposals Amid Power Concerns (Axios Seattle)

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/04/10/seattle-five-data-center-proposals-city-light-electricity-demand-review

Politics, Governance, and Management

25.   Trump Approves Oregon Disaster Declaration Over Severe Winter Storms (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/trump-approves-oregon-disaster-declaration-over-severe-winter-storms/

26.   Trump Approves Disaster Declaration for WA Flooding (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/trump-approves-disaster-declaration-for-wa-flooding/

27.   Two Major Disaster Declarations Approved for Montana (KFBB-TV, Great Falls, MT)

https://www.montanarightnow.com/helena/2-major-disaster-declarations-approved-for-montana/article_70488e2d-1665-4230-99ca-5d8162e403ed.html

Other Things to Know About Today

28.   Overnight Offshore Earthquake Swarm Poses No Danger to Pacific Northwest, Expert Says (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/earthquakes/overnight-offshore-earthquake-swarm-poses-no-danger-to-pacific-northwest-expert-says/281-f4749ec8-aeb4-4e54-9700-0428518088dc

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   Guest Essay: Salmon Are Not to Blame for Bonneville Power Administration Failing to Meet Its Responsibilities (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/08/salmon-are-not-to-blame-for-bonneville-power-administration-failing-to-meet-its-responsibilities/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Nearly 50 Years Later, Cincinnati May Get a Real 'WKRP'

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/07/nx-s1-5775485/nearly-50-years-later-cincinnati-may-get-a-real-wkrp-radio-station

From ‘BuddhaBot’ to $1.99-Per-Minute Chats with Artificial Intelligence Jesus, the Faith-Based Tech Boom Is Here

https://apnews.com/article/religious-chatbots-ai-technology-jesus-buddhabot-e1ed4832b25a23ee85292da681a0ec37

‘H.R. Pufnstuf’, ‘Land of the Lost’ Co-Creator, Sid Krofft, Dies at 96

https://ktla.com/entertainment/h-r-pufnstuf-land-of-the-lost-co-creator-sid-krofft-dies-at-96/

He Recorded 10,000 Concerts on Tape, Now They’re Streaming for Free

https://ktla.com/entertainment/he-recorded-10000-concerts-on-tape-now-theyre-streaming-for-free/

Song of the Day

 Tom Wells & Hugh Wilson – WKRP Theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7TyXhNDCLE

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 April 8, 2026

This is the 3,200th blog post of The Energy News Digest 🥳

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.

Save on Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp

New to public power, onboarding staff, or interested in learning more about the industry? Then Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp is for you! The next boot camp will be June 1-4 in Eugene, Oregon. Register by April 17 to get the early-bird rate.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

NERC Is ‘Actively Monitoring the Grid’ Following Iran-Linked Cyber Threat (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nerc-cisa-iran-war-cyber-hacking/816914/

Paywall Advisory: Seattle Reaches $4 Billion Deal to Keep Skagit River Dams, Truck Salmon (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/seattle-reaches-4b-deal-to-keep-skagit-river-dams-truck-salmon/

President Proposes Cutting Energy Programs in 2027 Budget, Including LIHEAP (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/president-proposes-cutting-energy-programs-2027-budget

Berkshire-Owned PacifiCorp Utility Wins Ruling That Could Reduce Oregon Wildfire Damages (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/berkshire-owned-pacificorp-utility-wins-ruling-that-could-reduce-oregon-wildfire-damages/ar-AA20rxXi

Washington Attorney General Challenges ‘Steep’ Northwest Natural Rate Hikes (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/washington/washington-attorney-general-challenges-steep-northwest-natural-rate-hikes/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Berkshire-Owned PacifiCorp Utility Wins Ruling That Could Reduce Oregon Wildfire Damages

2.      Washington Attorney General Challenges ‘Steep’ Northwest Natural Rate Hikes

3.      Judge Puts Legal Challenge to NV Energy’s Peak Demand Charge on April Docket

4.      California: New Bill Aims to Cut Electric Rates by 30% & Pay Wildfire Survivors

5.      Utilities Ask Federal Regulators to Speed Up Power Line Projects

6.      Tennessee Valley Authority Board Could Move Quickly to Replace Don Moul as CEO

7.      Alaska: Woman Accused of Using Extension Cord to Steal Neighbor’s Electricity

8.      Balcony Solar: A New Kind of Solar Is Taking Off — With Utah Leading the Way

9.      Where Does Balcony Solar Stand in Your State?

10.   There’s Hope for the Offshore Wind Industry — Yes, Really

11.   The Heat Pump Water Heater Payoff: Here’s How to Crunch the Numbers

12.   Bay Area Startup Introduces Flat-Rate, Single-Room Heat Pumps

13.   Paywall Advisory: Seattle Reaches $4 Billion Deal to Keep Skagit River Dams, Truck Salmon

14.   Judge Takes Up Tribe’s Push to Expand Columbia River Fishing Rights Case

15.   Endangered Salmon Returned to California’s Far North — Then the Money Dried Up

16.   Canada: Feds' $412.9 Million Renewal of Pacific Salmon Initiative Cautiously Welcomed

17.   Pacific Northwest Starts to Feel the Heat Following Un-Snowy Winter

18.   A Winter without Snow Depletes Europe’s Clean Energy Reservoir

19.   March Smashes Record as Most Abnormally Hot Month for Continental US, Federal Meteorologists Say

20.   Rising Energy Prices Could Spell Trouble for Telcos

21.   New FCC Actions to Streamline Retirement of Copper Networks

22.   NERC Is ‘Actively Monitoring the Grid’ Following Iran-Linked Cyber Threat

23.   Iranian-Affiliated Cyber Actors Exploit Programmable Logic Controllers Across U.S. Critical Infrastructure

24.   California: Imperial County Supervisors Clear Path for Massive Data Center Complex Amid Fierce Opposition

25.   Idaho Legislature Leaves Big Tax Breaks for Data Centers on the Books. A California Company Eyeing Large Data Center Could Use Them

26.   Satellite Data Shows Earth Is Getting Ever Brighter at Night

27.   Photos Show Stunning Views of the Moon & Earth from the Artemis II Mission

28.   President Proposes Cutting Energy Programs in 2027 Budget, Including LIHEAP

29.   Washington Association of Wheat Growers Discusses High Costs, Profitability, Dams with Governor, White House

30.   Report Warns Washington's Affordability Crisis Is Accelerating as Climbing Costs Persist

31.   Washington DOT Holds Ceremony for 61 Employees Killed in Work Zones Since 1950

32.   Guest Essay: Energy Affordability Endangered by WA Environmental Laws

33.   Guest Essay: The High Cost of Olympia’s Hidden Utility Tax

Word of the Day

Lachrymose \ LACK-rim-mose\ Adjective – 1: given to tears or weeping: tearful 2: tending to cause tears: mournful.

Tad’s ad campaign for a new variety of onions was not doing well. After having sold the DeBarto Onion Company on the popular theme “An Onion a Day Keeps Your Spouse Away,” he embarked on a new campaign for “Lachrymose Free Onions, They’re All Wet”. His fellow executives were not amused.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Berkshire-Owned PacifiCorp Utility Wins Ruling That Could Reduce Oregon Wildfire Damages (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/berkshire-owned-pacificorp-utility-wins-ruling-that-could-reduce-oregon-wildfire-damages/ar-AA20rxXi

2.      Washington Attorney General Challenges ‘Steep’ Northwest Natural Rate Hikes (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/washington/washington-attorney-general-challenges-steep-northwest-natural-rate-hikes/

3.      Judge Puts Legal Challenge to NV Energy’s Peak Demand Charge on April Docket (Nevada Current)

https://nevadacurrent.com/briefs/judge-puts-legal-challenge-to-nv-energys-peak-demand-charge-on-april-docket/

4.      California: New Bill Aims to Cut Electric Rates by 30% & Pay Wildfire Survivors (KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/new-bill-aims-to-cut-electric-rates-by-30-and-pay-wildfire-survivors/

5.      Utilities Ask Federal Regulators to Speed Up Power Line Projects (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/policy/51786-utilities-ask-federal-regulators-to-speed-up-power-line-projects/

6.      Tennessee Valley Authority Board Could Move Quickly to Replace Don Moul as CEO (Knoxville News-Sentinel, TN – Via Yahoo!)

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/energy/articles/tva-board-could-move-quickly-090810257.html

7.      Alaska: Woman Accused of Using Extension Cord to Steal Neighbor’s Electricity (KTUU-TV, Juneau, AK)

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/04/06/woman-accused-using-extension-cord-steal-neighbors-electricity/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      Balcony Solar: A New Kind of Solar Is Taking Off — With Utah Leading the Way (KNVU Radio, Logan, UT)

https://kvnutalk.com/a-new-kind-of-solar-is-taking-off-with-utah-leading-the-way/

9.      Where Does Balcony Solar Stand in Your State? (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/states-passing-balcony-solar-laws

10.   There’s Hope for the Offshore Wind Industry — Yes, Really (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/energy/offshore-wind-court-interior-permitting-reform-congress/

Conservation & Efficiency

11.   The Heat Pump Water Heater Payoff: Here’s How to Crunch the Numbers (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-heat-pump-water-heater-payoff-here-s-how-to-crunch-the-numbers/ar-AA20jTE7

12.   Bay Area Startup Introduces Flat-Rate, Single-Room Heat Pumps (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/merino-energy-launch-appliance-california

Fish & Wildlife

13.   Paywall Advisory: Seattle Reaches $4 Billion Deal to Keep Skagit River Dams, Truck Salmon (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/seattle-reaches-4b-deal-to-keep-skagit-river-dams-truck-salmon/

14.   Judge Takes Up Tribe’s Push to Expand Columbia River Fishing Rights Case (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/judge-takes-up-tribes-push-to-expand-columbia-river-fishing-rights-case/

15.   Endangered Salmon Returned to California’s Far North — Then the Money Dried Up (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/chinook-salmon-restoration-funding-california-mccloud-river-ad5bafdfb4297d3ed8b7a914dde794a1

16.   Canada: Feds' $412.9 Million Renewal of Pacific Salmon Initiative Cautiously Welcomed (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pacific-salmon-initiative-announcement-9.7155534?cmp=rss

Water, Water, Anywhere?

17.   Pacific Northwest Starts to Feel the Heat Following Un-Snowy Winter (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/northwest-starts-to-feel-heat-following-un-snowy-winter

18.   A Winter without Snow Depletes Europe’s Clean Energy Reservoir (Bloomberg News – Via DNYUZ)

https://dnyuz.com/2026/04/07/a-winter-without-snow-depletes-europes-clean-energy-reservoir/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

19.   March Smashes Record as Most Abnormally Hot Month for Continental US, Federal Meteorologists Say (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/march-smashes-record-as-most-abnormally-hot-month-a22195839

London Calling –Telecommunications

20.   Rising Energy Prices Could Spell Trouble for Telcos (Fierce Network)

https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/rising-energy-prices-could-spell-trouble-telcos

21.   New FCC Actions to Streamline Retirement of Copper Networks (Broadband Communities)

https://bbcmag.com/new-fcc-actions-to-streamline-retirement-of-copper-networks/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

22.   NERC Is ‘Actively Monitoring the Grid’ Following Iran-Linked Cyber Threat (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nerc-cisa-iran-war-cyber-hacking/816914/

23.   Iranian-Affiliated Cyber Actors Exploit Programmable Logic Controllers Across U.S. Critical Infrastructure (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/iranian-affiliated-cyber-actors-exploit-programmable-logic-controllers-across-us-critical

HAL’s Internet Café

24.   California: Imperial County Supervisors Clear Path for Massive Data Center Complex Amid Fierce Opposition (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2026/04/07/imperial-county-supervisors-clear-path-for-massive-data-center-complex-amid-fierce-opposition

25.   Idaho Legislature Leaves Big Tax Breaks for Data Centers on the Books. A California Company Eyeing Large Data Center Could Use Them (BoiseDEV)

https://boisedev.com/news/2026/03/16/data-micron-exemption/

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

26.   Satellite Data Shows Earth Is Getting Ever Brighter at Night (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/science/satellite-data-shows-earth-is-getting-ever-brighter-night-2026-04-08/

27.   Photos Show Stunning Views of the Moon & Earth from the Artemis II Mission (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/artemis-moon-astronauts-earthset-photos-6e4a3f6bbb29d6a4d5628bf0c5cebda8

Politics, Governance, and Management

28.   President Proposes Cutting Energy Programs in 2027 Budget, Including LIHEAP (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/president-proposes-cutting-energy-programs-2027-budget

29.   Washington Association of Wheat Growers Discusses High Costs, Profitability, Dams with Governor, White House  (Capital Press – Paywall Advisory)

https://capitalpress.com/2026/04/07/wawg-discusses-high-costs-profitability-dams-with-governor-white-house/

Other Things to Know About Today

30.   Report Warns Washington's Affordability Crisis Is Accelerating as Climbing Costs Persist (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/2026-washington-affordability-crisis-report-housing-utilities-food-transportation-household-budgets-consumer-spending-costs-prices-we-pay

31.   Washington DOT Holds Ceremony for 61 Employees Killed in Work Zones Since 1950 (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/wsdot-holds-ceremony-61-employees-killed-work-zones-since-1950/TXLNHVKEKNC7HA62VX6QCUMO7M/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

32.   Guest Essay: Energy Affordability Endangered by WA Environmental Laws (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/news/energy-affordability-endangered-wa-environmental-120000407.html

33.   Guest Essay: The High Cost of Olympia’s Hidden Utility Tax (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://chronline.com/stories/commentary-the-high-cost-of-olympias-hidden-utility-tax,399795

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Eight States, Three Time Zones & a Ton of History: Take a Trip Down Route 66 as It Turns 100

https://courthousenews.com/eight-states-three-time-zones-and-a-ton-of-history-take-a-trip-down-route-66-as-it-turns-100/

Oklahoma Couple's Wedding Weekend Goes Viral for Sheltering with Volleyball Teams During Tornado

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-couple-indian-wedding-shelter-volleyball-teams-tornado/70944367

Car Shell Suspended on Rock Face Above British Columbia Highway in Apparent Prank

https://apnews.com/article/beetle-british-columbia-stawamus-chief-prank-university-ba1a96169c7898aa90bc7cee794917c5

Canada: Two Fighting Bald Eagles Freed from Power Line in Surrey

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fighting-bald-eagles-power-line-9.7154366?cmp=rss

Song of the Day

Manhattan Transfer – Route 66

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN8OaU3Sllc

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