The Energy News Digest

Monday, June 22, 2026

The Energy News Digest for June 22, 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

Video: Western WA Utility Companies Propose Hefty Rate Hikes (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/video/fmc-g352x6g8du6117r8

Invenergy Says Trump’s $765 Million Offshore Wind Payout Will Fund a Geothermal Push (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/offshore-wind/invenergy-offshore-wind-payout-geothermal

Washington Coast Salmon Seasons Open – ‘Strong forecasts for key Chinook and coho stocks…should provide good recreational fishing opportunity’ (NW Sportsman Magazine)

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/washington-coast-salmon-seasons-open-june-20/

Pacific Northwest’s Yanked Observatories to Return to Ocean After Trump Administration Backs Down (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/trump-administration-halts-dismantling-of-ocean-monitoring-system

Heat Advisory in Effect as Temperatures Expected to Soar in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/21/oregon-washington-heat-advisory/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. Video: Western WA Utility Companies Propose Hefty Rate Hikes

2. New Nationwide Data Reveals Utility-Specific Disconnection Information

3. Oregon Relies More on Natural Gas to Generate Electricity as Coal Drops to All-Time Low

4. Top U.S. Energy Regulator Pushes Grids to Overhaul Data Center Power Rules

5. Alaska House Rejects Senate’s LNG Gas Line Bill, Lawmakers Say Negotiations Will Continue

6. Canada: Energy Minister Plans ‘Nuclear Renaissance’ with Up to 10 Reactors Built by 2040

7. Invenergy Says Trump’s $765 Million Offshore Wind Payout Will Fund a Geothermal Push

8. California: Kern County Supervisors Approve New Solar Project, Anticipates $44 Million in Property Taxes Revenue in First Year of Operation

9. Feds Advance Permit for Controversial Seminoe Pumped-Water Project in Wyoming

10. Big Battery Farms Encounter Resistance Across Western Washington

11. Washington Coast Salmon Seasons Open – ‘Strong forecasts for key Chinook and coho stocks…should provide good recreational fishing opportunity’

12. Power Council: Increased Spill Over Dams Delaying Adult Salmon News Home

13. Low Sockeye Salmon Returns Lead to Fishery Changes in the Columbia River

14. Bonneville Power Administration Funding Cut Puts 7 Million SAFE Hatchery Salmon at Risk, Threatens Oregon Fisheries

15. With Six Months to Go, Wash. Approaches Record Whale Deaths

16. California Sues EPA Over Bid to Revoke Waivers for Stricter Emission Standards

17. Bend: Another Oregon City Adopts Tax on Natural Gas Appliances to Reduce Emissions

18. Phishing Now Hits Americans 14 Times a Day, with Artificial Intelligence Making Scams Harder to Spot

19. Seattle Banned New Data Centers. Why Do Companies Want Them Here Anyway?

20. Growing with the Cloud – Thriving Communities: Microsoft’s First Small-Town Data Center Creates Opportunities Beyond Quincy

21. Are There Enough Electric Vehicle Chargers in Washington for All Those Cars?

22. $35 Million Campaign Finance Fine Against Meta Upheld by WA Supreme Court

23. Pacific Northwest’s Yanked Observatories to Return to Ocean After Trump Administration Backs Down

24. Hubble Spies a Swarm of Stars in a Strange, Irregular Galaxy

25. Heat Advisory in Effect as Temperatures Expected to Soar in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington

26. Puget Sound Region Braces for More Record June Heat; Data Finds Many Local Homes Lack A/C

27. Short Warm Period Followed by Cool Wet Weather

28. Heat, Wind & Drought Conditions Spark Wildfires in U.S. West

29. Walking Away from BEAD – News Is That Some Winners are Refusing to Accept Grant Awards

Word of the Day

Coulrophobia \COOL-ruh-foe-bee-uh\ Noun - Fear of clowns

“Let’s go to the circus,” squealed little Nell to her indulgent parents. Her usually pliant father refrained with a shudder, paralyzed by a flash of coulrophobia. He never fully recovered from a “seltzer bottle” incident in 1968 when clowns ruled the circus at the state fair. “The horror,” he whispered, “the horror.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1. Video: Western WA Utility Companies Propose Hefty Rate Hikes (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/video/fmc-g352x6g8du6117r8

2. New Nationwide Data Reveals Utility-Specific Disconnection Information (Energy Policy Institute)

https://energyandpolicy.org/new-nationwide-data-reveals-utility-specific-disconnection-information/

3. Oregon Relies More on Natural Gas to Generate Electricity as Coal Drops to All-Time Low (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/oregon-relies-more-natural-gas-123059824.html

4. Top U.S. Energy Regulator Pushes Grids to Overhaul Data Center Power Rules (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/top-us-energy-regulator-pushes-grids-overhaul-data-center-power-rules-2026-06-18/

5. Alaska House Rejects Senate’s LNG Gas Line Bill, Lawmakers Say Negotiations Will Continue (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/06/20/alaska-house-rejects-senates-lng-gas-line-bill-lawmakers-say-negotiations-will-continue/

6. Canada: Energy Minister Plans ‘Nuclear Renaissance’ with Up to 10 Reactors Built by 2040 (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-nuclear-strategy-9.7244509

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

7. Invenergy Says Trump’s $765 Million Offshore Wind Payout Will Fund a Geothermal Push (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/offshore-wind/invenergy-offshore-wind-payout-geothermal

8. California: Kern County Supervisors Approve New Solar Project, Anticipates $44 Million in Property Taxes Revenue in First Year of Operation (KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA)

https://www.kget.com/news/environment/kern-county-supervisors-approve-new-solar-project-anticipates-44m-in-property-taxes-revenue-in-first-year-operational/

9. Feds Advance Permit for Controversial Seminoe Pumped-Water Project in Wyoming (Wyofile)

https://wyofile.com/feds-advance-permit-for-controversial-seminoe-pumped-water-project-in-wyoming/

10. Big Battery Farms Encounter Resistance Across Western Washington (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/06/18/big-battery-farms-encounter-resistance-across-western-washington/

Fish & Wildlife

11. Washington Coast Salmon Seasons Open – ‘Strong forecasts for key Chinook and coho stocks…should provide good recreational fishing opportunity’ (NW Sportsman Magazine)

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/washington-coast-salmon-seasons-open-june-20/

12. Power Council: Increased Spill Over Dams Delaying Adult Salmon News Home (Capital Press – Via Fishbio)

https://fishbio.com/news/power-council-increased-spill-over-dams-delaying-adult-salmon/

13. Low Sockeye Salmon Returns Lead to Fishery Changes in the Columbia River (Gorge Radio, Hood River, OR)

https://gorgenewscenter.com/2026/06/18/low-sockeye-salmon-returns-lead-to-fishery-changes-in-the-columbia-river/

14. Bonneville Power Administration Funding Cut Puts 7 Million SAFE Hatchery Salmon at Risk, Threatens Oregon Fisheries (KBOI-TV, Boise, ID)

https://idahonews.com/news/local/bpa-to-end-funding-for-lower-columbia-river-safe-program-putting-7-million-salmon-at-risk

15. With Six Months to Go, Wash. Approaches Record Whale Deaths (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/with-six-months-go-wash-approaches-record-whale-deaths/AFYDBTY7ORFBZL3I2JSSGXKLFI/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

16. California Sues EPA Over Bid to Revoke Waivers for Stricter Emission Standards (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/california-sues-epa-over-bid-to-revoke-waivers-for-stricter-emission-standards/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

17. Bend: Another Oregon City Adopts Tax on Natural Gas Appliances to Reduce Emissions (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/another-oregon-city-adopts-tax-214552065.html

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

18. Phishing Now Hits Americans 14 Times a Day, with Artificial Intelligence Making Scams Harder to Spot (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/how-cybercriminals-use-new-tricks-to-disguise-their-phishing-attacks-conartist-captcha-consumer-alert-ai-scams-how-many-qr-code-scams

HAL’s Internet Café

19. Seattle Banned New Data Centers. Why Do Companies Want Them Here Anyway? (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-banned-new-data-centers-why-companies-want-them-here-anyway

20. Growing with the Cloud – Thriving Communities: Microsoft’s First Small-Town Data Center Creates Opportunities Beyond Quincy (Microsoft Unlocked)

https://unlocked.microsoft.com/quincy-growth/

I Sing the Car Electric

21. Are There Enough Electric Vehicle Chargers in Washington for All Those Cars? (KONA Radio, Pasco, WA)

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

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

22. $35 Million Campaign Finance Fine Against Meta Upheld by WA Supreme Court (Washington State Standard – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/35m-campaign-finance-fine-against-174741668.html

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

23. Pacific Northwest’s Yanked Observatories to Return to Ocean After Trump Administration Backs Down (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/trump-administration-halts-dismantling-of-ocean-monitoring-system

24. Hubble Spies a Swarm of Stars in a Strange, Irregular Galaxy (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/hubble-spies-swarm-stars-strange-140000652.html

Other Things to Know About Today

25. Heat Advisory in Effect as Temperatures Expected to Soar in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/21/oregon-washington-heat-advisory/

26. Puget Sound Region Braces for More Record June Heat; Data Finds Many Local Homes Lack A/C (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/puget-sound-region-braces-for-more-record-june-heat-data-finds-many-local-homes-lack-ac-temperature-hot-weather-forecast-safety-family-air-conditioning-risk-exhaustion-sickness-stroke-seattle-wester-washington-world-cup-tourism-travel

27. Short Warm Period Followed by Cool Wet Weather (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2026/06/short-warm-period-followed-by-cool-wet.html

28. Heat, Wind & Drought Conditions Spark Wildfires in U.S. West (Associated Press)

https://mynorthwest.com/local/heat-drought-wildfires-us-west/4250107

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29. Walking Away from BEAD – News Is That Some Winners are Refusing to Accept Grant Awards (POTS & PANS)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2026/06/22/walking-away-from-bead/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

An Ancient Oak Tree Said to Have Sheltered Legendary Robin Hood Has Died

https://apnews.com/article/major-oak-sherwood-forest-dead-robin-hood-984b4744f2de2e14a20f067a33303111

Clive Davis, Grammy-Winning Record Producer & Music Executive, Dies at 94

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/clive-davis-grammy-winning-record-154154640.html

Michigan Plumbers Find Ring Dropped into Toilet a Decade Earlier

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/06/19/engagement-ring-toilet-plumbers-Hartland-Michigan/6811781886923/

Overturned Truck Releases 2 Million Bees into Texas Neighborhood

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/06/22/Mauriceville-Texas-semi-truck-bees/8411782139125/

Song of the Day

Janis Joplin - Piece of My Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWSbo17f44E

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.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Energy News Digest for June 17, 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.

NWPPA’s Manager as Leader Series Heads to Vancouver, Washington

All courses in NWPPA’s Manager as Leader Series will be coming to Vancouver, Washington, as two-part workshops this year. Own Your Role and Build Thriving Relationships will be Aug. 5-6, Interact With Impact and Lead Change will be Oct. 7-8, and Lead Teams and Coach for Success will be Dec. 1-2. These workshops are designed to ignite, inspire, and nurture the leader mindset within you. Register by next Monday, June 22, to get the early-bird rate for the August workshop.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Seattle City Light Eyes Biggest Bill Increases in Recent Memory (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/seattle-city-light-eyes-biggest-bill-increases-in-recent-memory,404230

Snohomish PUD ‘Confident’ as Court Order Reduces Columbia Basin Hydropower (The Everett Post, WA)

https://www.everettpost.com/local-news/snohomish-pud-confident-as-court-order-reduces-hydro-power/

Oregon, Washington Win Suit Against Trump Memo Pausing Wind Energy Permits (AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/articles/oregon-washington-win-suit-against-234954000.html

Spokane Council Delays Data Center Moratorium Until at Least Next Week (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/jun/15/spokane-council-delays-data-center-moratorium-unti/

Microsoft Sued by Shareholders Over Expenses, Cloud Business, Artificial Intelligence (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/microsoft-sued-by-shareholders-over-expenses-cloud-business-ai-2026-06-15/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. Seattle City Light Eyes Biggest Bill Increases in Recent Memory

2. Snohomish PUD ‘Confident’ as Court Order Reduces Columbia Basin Hydropower

3. Oregon Relies More on Natural Gas to Generate Electricity as Coal Drops to All-Time Low

4. British Columbia Eyes New Hydro Megadams to Meet Soaring Power Demands

5. Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Dreams Stretch Over Half a Century

6. WA State: Helion Secures Key Licenses for Malaga Fusion Plant

7. Scammers Renew Grays Harbor PUD Power Shutoff Threats

8. Is New England’s New Hydropower Transmission Line Paying Off?

9. Oregon, Washington Win Suit Against Trump Memo Pausing Wind Energy Permits

10. Trump Administration to Pay $765 Million to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases

11. Heat Pump Shipments Rise Through April, With More Use for Both Heating & Cooling

12. Ninth Circuit Sides with Yurok Tribe Over Klamath Irrigation Project

13. Fiber Optic Installations Wreak Havoc in Billings & Nationwide

14. Microsoft Sued by Shareholders Over Expenses, Cloud Business, Artificial Intelligence

15. Spokane Council Delays Data Center Moratorium Until at Least Next Week

16. Artificial Intelligence Firms Are Getting Creative as They Scramble for Energy

17. Insight: Fast-Tracked Power Plants Fuel Artificial Intelligence Boom, With Little Public Scrutiny

18. Eugene Water & Electric Board Puts the Brakes on Its E-Bike Rebate Program

19. Grant PUD Considers Rounding Customer Bills to Nearest Dollar After Penny Discontinued

20. Look Up at the Night Sky on Wednesday for a Mini-Planetary Alignment

21. Oregon Wildfire Emergency Declared as Fire Danger Rises

22. Idaho Gov. Little Says State Is Preparing for Challenging Wildfire Season as Fund Drops to $0

Word of the Day

Rambunctious \ram-BUNK-shuss\ Adjective - Uncontrolled in a way that is playful or full of energy.

Cool breeze, swirling gusts

Rambunctious leaves playing tag

Float softly to rest

Energy & Utility Issues

1. Seattle City Light Eyes Biggest Bill Increases in Recent Memory (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/seattle-city-light-eyes-biggest-bill-increases-in-recent-memory,404230

2. Snohomish PUD ‘Confident’ as Court Order Reduces Columbia Basin Hydropower (The Everett Post, WA)

https://www.everettpost.com/local-news/snohomish-pud-confident-as-court-order-reduces-hydro-power/

3. Oregon Relies More on Natural Gas to Generate Electricity as Coal Drops to All-Time Low (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/oregon-relies-more-natural-gas-123059824.html

4. British Columbia Eyes New Hydro Megadams to Meet Soaring Power Demands (Vancouver Sun, BC)

https://vancouversun.com/business/bc-eyes-new-hydro-megadams-soaring-power-demands

5. Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Dreams Stretch Over Half a Century (Alaska Beacon)

https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/06/17/alaska-natural-gas-pipeline-dreams-stretch-over-half-a-century/

6. WA State: Helion Secures Key Licenses for Malaga Fusion Plant (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/helion-fusion-licenses-malaga/

7. Scammers Renew Grays Harbor PUD Power Shutoff Threats (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/scammers-renew-grays-harbor-pud-power-shutoff-threats,404216?

8. Is New England’s New Hydropower Transmission Line Paying Off? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/transmission/new-england-hydropower-transmission-line

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9. Oregon, Washington Win Suit Against Trump Memo Pausing Wind Energy Permits (AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/articles/oregon-washington-win-suit-against-234954000.html

10. Trump Administration to Pay $765 Million to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases (The Independent, OK – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-administration-to-pay-765m-to-cancel-more-offshore-wind-leases/ar-AA25TDwr

Conservation & Efficiency

11. Heat Pump Shipments Rise Through April, With More Use for Both Heating & Cooling (Utility Dive)

https://www.facilitiesdive.com/news/heat-pump-shipments-rise-through-april-with-more-use-for-both-heating-and/823023/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

12. Ninth Circuit Sides with Yurok Tribe Over Klamath Irrigation Project (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/ninth-circuit-sides-with-yurok-tribe-over-klamath-irrigation-project/

London Calling –Telecommunications

13. Fiber Optic Installations Wreak Havoc in Billings & Nationwide (KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT)

https://www.ktvq.com/news/fiber-optic-installations-wreak-havoc-in-billings-and-nationwide

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

14. Microsoft Sued by Shareholders Over Expenses, Cloud Business, Artificial Intelligence (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/microsoft-sued-by-shareholders-over-expenses-cloud-business-ai-2026-06-15/

HAL’s Internet Café

15. Spokane Council Delays Data Center Moratorium Until at Least Next Week (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/jun/15/spokane-council-delays-data-center-moratorium-unti/

16. Artificial Intelligence Firms Are Getting Creative as They Scramble for Energy (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/data-centers/ai-energy-gas-turbines-space-underwater

17. Insight: Fast-Tracked Power Plants Fuel Artificial Intelligence Boom, With Little Public Scrutiny (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/fast-tracked-power-plants-fuel-ai-boom-with-little-public-scrutiny-2026-06-16/

I Sing the Car Electric

18. Eugene Water & Electric Board Puts the Brakes on Its E-Bike Rebate Program (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/14/eweb-e-bike-rebate-program/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

19. Grant PUD Considers Rounding Customer Bills to Nearest Dollar After Penny Discontinued (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/grant-pud-considers-rounding-customer-bills-to-nearest-dollar-after-penny-discontinued/article_de7dd55a-f1cf-4396-a77a-eb8025fa34f3.html

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

20. Look Up at the Night Sky on Wednesday for a Mini-Planetary Alignment (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/wednesday-mini-planetary-alignment-northern-california/71616675

Other Things to Know About Today

21. Oregon Wildfire Emergency Declared as Fire Danger Rises (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/oregon-wildfire-emergency-declared-as-fire-danger-rises/article_ef3dbcd6-f8aa-4d95-9cf4-e73e13f61cda.html

22. Idaho Gov. Little Says State Is Preparing for Challenging Wildfire Season as Fund Drops to $0 (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/06/16/idaho-gov-little-says-state-is-preparing-for-challenging-wildfire-season-as-fund-drops-to-0/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Boston Bars Say Scottish Soccer Fans Are Drinking Them Dry

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/06/17/FIFA-World-Cup-Boston-beer-Scottish-fans/4951781718261/

Seattle Debuts Its First-Ever Drone Scoreboard for World Cup Matches

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattle-debuts-its-first-ever-drone-scoreboard-world-cup-matches/OXS3MYVBJFFPNL6GUJ37OYILRY/

Luke’s ‘Empire’ Lightsaber, ‘Wizard of Oz’ Witch Hat & Lebowski Rugs Going Up for Auction

https://apnews.com/article/light-saber-auction-luke-wonka-oz-lebowski-79e15f7e9e5b2ca1915302c5239e9975

German Man Assembles World's Largest Lego Sausage

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/06/16/germany-Guinness-World-Records-Lego-sausage/8101781627006/

Song of the Day

Tom T. Hall – I Like Beer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWLInGb2NhM