The Energy News Digest for September 30, 2026

Sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association, edited by Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus.

Get the Early-Bird Rate for the NWPPA/APA Alaska Electric Utility Conference

Don’t miss your chance to secure the early-bird rates for the 2026 Alaska Electric Utility Conference and pre-conference classes! The deadline is Oct. 2 for pre-conference classes and Oct. 4 for the AEUC.

Held every two years in Anchorage, the AEUC features educational sessions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and a trade show with more than 100 exhibitors. Explore topics ranging from cybersecurity and operations to emerging technologies and utility management. This year’s conference will be Nov. 18-19, with pre-conference classes offered Nov. 16-17.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

WA State: Puget Sound Energy Customers Pack Hearing to Voice Concerns Over Proposed Rate Hikes (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/money/consumer/puget-sound-energy-customers-weigh-in-proposed-rate-hikes/281-062fc7e6-dddc-4b6d-92c4-5c0bbd9b0095

WA Attorney General’s Office Opposes Bonneville Power Administration Plan to Raise Electric Rates for Private Utility Customers (Office of the WA Attorney General)

https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-s-office-opposes-bonneville-power-administration-plan-raise-electric-rates

PacifiCorp’s Sale of Washington Assets May Not Be in Utah’s Public Interest, Experts Say (Utah News Dispatch)

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/09/29/pacificorp-sale-of-washington-assets-may-not-be-in-utah-public-interest/

Utah: In Global First, a Next-Gen Geothermal Plant Goes Live at Utility Scale (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/geothermal/global-first-next-gen-geothermal-fervo

Water Level Changes May Impact Hells Canyon Reservoir Users, Idaho Power Warns (Elkhorn Media Group, Lagrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/water-level-changes-may-impact-hells-canyon-reservoir-users-idaho-power-warns/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      WA State: Puget Sound Energy Customers Pack Hearing to Voice Concerns Over Proposed Rate Hikes

2.      WA State: Puget Sound Energy Seeks $1.5 Billion Rate Increase

3.      WA Attorney General’s Office Opposes Bonneville Power Administration Plan to Raise Electric Rates for Private Utility Customers

4.      PacifiCorp’s Sale of Washington Assets May Not Be in Utah’s Public Interest, Experts Say

5.      FEMA Approves Nearly $43 Million for Disaster Recovery, Includes Eugene Water & Electric Board

6.      With Copper Theft Surging, King County Prosecutor Wants Lawmakers to Make Selling It Harder

7.      Washington State’s Fusion Power Future

8.      U.S. NRC Approves Tennessee Valley Authority’s Construction of Nation’s First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor

9.      Utah: In Global First, a Next-Gen Geothermal Plant Goes Live at Utility Scale

10.   Lawsuit Alleges USDA Illegally Slashed Rural Solar Development Program

11.   Solar Microgrids Going Up in North Carolina to Help Storm Prep

12.   WA State: Lacey Home Energy Score Proposal Causes a Divide

13.   Alaska’s Bristol Bay Salmon Return About Average This Year, with Higher Prices Paid to Fishers

14.   Already Record-Low Columbia River Basin Steelhead Forecast Downgraded

15.   Experts Warn of Bee Colony Decline, Economic Impacts

16.   Water Level Changes May Impact Hells Canyon Reservoir Users, Idaho Power Warns

17.   Verizon’s Copper Retirement Plan Hits a Snag as State Officials Protest

18.   WA State: Utility Drives Broadband Expansion into Rural Jefferson County

19.   Utopia: A City Can Own the Fiber Without Becoming Your ISP

20.   President Trump Says Top Tech Firms Have Signed Accord to ‘Self-Police’ Artificial Intelligence Development

21.   OpenAI Delays Latest Model Over Security Concerns, as Industry Faces New Safety Pressures

22.   Data Centers Proposed on Federal Land in Eastern Oregon, Western States

23.   Washington’s Electric Vehicle Efforts Continue to Face Logistical Challenges

24.   One Year After the End of the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit, Is the Future Still Electric?

25.   Facebook’s New Two-Link Limit: What Utilities Need to Know

26.   What Is a Kelvin Wave? How Underwater Phenomena Impacts Sea Levels During El Niño

27.   ‘Eastern Washington Solutions for Eastern Washington Problems’: Ferguson Backs Sales Tax Rebate, Energy Flexibility for Those Rebuilding from Spokane Fires

28.   Earthquake Felt Across Kitsap Peninsula Near Gig Harbor

29.   Editorial: Power Rate Increase Becomes Issue in Oregon Governor’s Race

Word of the Day

Raconteur \raw-conn-TERR\ Noun - A person who excels in telling anecdotes.

Barney was considered the neighborhood’s informal historian. While he felt he was the community’s most spellbinding booster, his neighbors were a bit less complimentary of his self-promotion as a raconteur of the first order. “More of the neighborhood’s favorite soporific experience,” yawned one resident during that year’s homeowners’ association meeting.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      WA State: Puget Sound Energy Customers Pack Hearing to Voice Concerns Over Proposed Rate Hikes (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/money/consumer/puget-sound-energy-customers-weigh-in-proposed-rate-hikes/281-062fc7e6-dddc-4b6d-92c4-5c0bbd9b0095

2.      WA State: Puget Sound Energy Seeks $1.5 Billion Rate Increase (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/topics/business/2026-09-28/puget-sound-energy-seeks-1-5b-rate-increase

3.      WA Attorney General’s Office Opposes Bonneville Power Administration Plan to Raise Electric Rates for Private Utility Customers (Office of the WA Attorney General)

https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-s-office-opposes-bonneville-power-administration-plan-raise-electric-rates

4.      PacifiCorp’s Sale of Washington Assets May Not Be in Utah’s Public Interest, Experts Say (Utah News Dispatch)

https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/09/29/pacificorp-sale-of-washington-assets-may-not-be-in-utah-public-interest/

5.      FEMA Approves Nearly $43 Million for Disaster Recovery, Includes Eugene Water & Electric Board (KMTR-TV, Eugene, OR)

https://nbc16.com/news/local/fema-approves-nearly-43m-for-disaster-recovery-includes-eugene-water-electric-board-lane-county-oregon

6.      With Copper Theft Surging, King County Prosecutor Wants Lawmakers to Make Selling It Harder (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/economy/2026-09-28/with-copper-theft-surging-king-county-prosecutor-wants-lawmakers-to-make-selling-it-harder

7.      Washington State’s Fusion Power Future (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/ixp/1135/p/washington-fusion-energy-companies/

8.      U.S. NRC Approves Tennessee Valley Authority’s Construction of Nation’s First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-nrc-approves-construction-nations-first-small-modular-nuclear-reactor-2026-09-29/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Utah: In Global First, a Next-Gen Geothermal Plant Goes Live at Utility Scale (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/geothermal/global-first-next-gen-geothermal-fervo

10.   Lawsuit Alleges USDA Illegally Slashed Rural Solar Development Program (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/usda-rural-solar-reap-program-lawsuit-earthjustice/831614/

11.   Solar Microgrids Going Up in North Carolina to Help Storm Prep (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/09/29/nx-s1-5979877/solar-micro-grids-going-up-in-north-carolina-to-help-storm-prep

Conservation & Efficiency

12.   WA State: Lacey Home Energy Score Proposal Causes a Divide (JOLT News)

https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/lacey-home-energy-score-debate-divides-real-estate-agents-climate-advocates,32183

Fish & Wildlife

13.   Alaska’s Bristol Bay Salmon Return About Average This Year, with Higher Prices Paid to Fishers (States Newsroom)

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/alaskas-bristol-bay-salmon-return-about-average-year-higher-prices-paid-fishers

14.   Already Record-Low Columbia River Basin Steelhead Forecast Downgraded (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/sep/30/already-record-low-steelhead-forecast-downgraded/

15.   Experts Warn of Bee Colony Decline, Economic Impacts (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/local/bee-colony-decline-economic-impacts/4281291

Water, Water Anywhere?

16.   Water Level Changes May Impact Hells Canyon Reservoir Users, Idaho Power Warns (Elkhorn Media Group, Lagrande, OR)

https://elkhornmediagroup.com/water-level-changes-may-impact-hells-canyon-reservoir-users-idaho-power-warns/

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   Verizon’s Copper Retirement Plan Hits a Snag as State Officials Protest (Fierce Telecom)

https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/verizons-copper-retirement-plan-hits-snag-state-officials-protest

18.   WA State: Utility Drives Broadband Expansion into Rural Jefferson County (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

https://ptleader.com/articles/haven/utility-drives-broadband-expansion-into-rural-jefferson-county/

19.   Utopia: A City Can Own the Fiber Without Becoming Your ISP (Fierce Network)

https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/utopia-city-can-own-fiber-without-becoming-your-isp

HAL’s Internet Café

20.   President Trump Says Top Tech Firms Have Signed Accord to ‘Self-Police’ Artificial Intelligence Development (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-ai-anthropic-musk-595796511f110fc006cca0d01329733e

21.   OpenAI Delays Latest Model Over Security Concerns, as Industry Faces New Safety Pressures (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/open-ai-artificial-intelligence-altman-trump-astra-5afb865b2cddc439efdcf31ebdc406a5

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

22.   Data Centers Proposed on Federal Land in Eastern Oregon, Western States (States Newsroom)

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/data-centers-proposed-federal-land-eastern-oregon-western-states

I Sing the Car Electric

23.   Washington’s Electric Vehicle Efforts Continue to Face Logistical Challenges (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_1ea217dc-34fe-4963-a3f2-25826bde03eb.html

24.   One Year After the End of the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit, Is the Future Still Electric? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/30/one-year-after-the-end-of-the-ev-tax-credit-is-the-future-still-electric/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

25.   Facebook’s New Two-Link Limit: What Utilities Need to Know (Pioneer Utility Resources)

https://pioneer.coop/facebooklinklimit/

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

26.   What Is a Kelvin Wave? How Underwater Phenomena Impacts Sea Levels During El Niño (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/kelvin-wave-underwater-phenomena-impacts-201504483.html

Other Things to Know About Today

27.   ‘Eastern Washington Solutions for Eastern Washington Problems’: Ferguson Backs Sales Tax Rebate, Energy Flexibility for Those Rebuilding from Spokane Fires (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/sep/28/eastern-washington-solutions-for-eastern-washingto/

28.   Earthquake Felt Across Kitsap Peninsula Near Gig Harbor (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/earthquake-felt-across-kitsap-peninsula-near-gig-harbor/article_419f44b6-d55e-4d6a-bc5c-56eaee80f598.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   Editorial: Power Rate Increase Becomes Issue in Oregon Governor’s Race (The Bend Bulletin, OR)

https://bendbulletin.com/2026/09/29/power-rate-increase-becomes-issue-in-oregon-governors-race/

Diversions – Puppies in the Pumpkin Patch

A Sea of Golden Retrievers, A Field of Pumpkins & One Very Huggable Legacy

https://www.hereisoregon.com/experiences/2026/09/a-sea-of-golden-retrievers-a-field-of-pumpkins-and-one-very-huggable-legacy.html

People Are Showing Off Their Garden Harvests — and They’re Hilariously Tiny

https://www.today.com/food/trends/hilariously-tiny-garden-harvests-rcna600507

Shark Stranded in South Korean Canal Draws 600,000 Visitors as Rescue Bid Fails

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/shark-stranded-south-korean-canal-draws-600000-visitors-rescue-bid-fails-2026-09-30/

‘Heavy Is the Bear That Wears the Crown. Like Really Heavy’: Backpack Declared Winner of Fat Bear Week

https://www.kcra.com/article/backpack-wins-fat-bear-week-katmai-national-park/73951111

Song of the Day

Henry Gross – Shannon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Wpn3dFrEs

Roll the Credits… 

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The Energy News Digest for September 28, 2026

Sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association, edited by Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus.

Get the Early-Bird Rate for the NWPPA/APA Alaska Electric Utility Conference

Don’t miss your chance to secure the early-bird rates for the 2026 Alaska Electric Utility Conference and pre-conference classes! The deadline is Oct. 2 for pre-conference classes and Oct. 4 for the AEUC.

Held every two years in Anchorage, the AEUC features educational sessions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and a trade show with more than 100 exhibitors. Explore topics ranging from cybersecurity and operations to emerging technologies and utility management. This year’s conference will be Nov. 18-19, with pre-conference classes offered Nov. 16-17.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Agreement Reached in Lawsuit by Regional PUDs Against Federal Government Over Columbia River Treaty Payments (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/sep/28/agreement-reached-in-lawsuit-by-regional-puds-against-federal-government/

Utilities Say Upcoming Rate Change by Bonneville Power Administration Likely Means Higher Rates for Customers (KLCC-Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/economy-business/2026-09-23/utilities-say-upcoming-rate-change-by-bonneville-power-administration-likely-means-higher-rates-for-customers

WA State: A Large Data Center Is Proposed for the Former Papermill in Usk. Locals Worry How It Will Fit in ‘Small-Town USA’ (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/large-data-center-proposed-former-020100850.html

Toxic Algae Is Showing Up in the Snake River for the Fourth Year in a Row (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/local/2026-09-25/toxic-algae-is-showing-up-in-the-snake-river-for-the-fourth-year-in-a-row

OpenAI Says Its Models Engaged with U.S. Government Websites in New Model Misbehavior Disclosure (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/openai-government-website-incident-df331b55daffc6d202d8e2f6d0afa264

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Agreement Reached in Lawsuit by Regional PUDs Against Federal Government Over Columbia River Treaty Payments

2.      Mid-Columbia PUDs Sign Settlement Ending Litigation Over Columbia River Treaty Payments

3.      Utilities Say Upcoming Rate Change by Bonneville Power Administration Likely Means Higher Rates for Customers

4.      After Failed Columbia Dam Deal, The Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Electricity Rate Hike

5.      Consumer Reports Warns Puget Sound Energy Rate Proposal Could Add Over $600 a Year to Typical Electric Bill

6.      Two Public Hearings to Focus on Potential Puget Sound Energy Rate Increases

7.      Energy Department Will Spend $2 Billion to Squeeze More Electricity from the Aging Power Grid

8.      Power for Tomorrow: Residential Cost Gap Grows in Regulated vs. Deregulated States

9.      Panelists Debate Future of U.S. Electricity Markets Amid Rising Demand

10.   U.S. Public Power Capital Spending Continues to Accelerate: Fitch Report

11.   New Mexico: Utility Worker Dies After Falling Pole Causes Electrocution in Curry County

12.   Fish Hatchery Celebrates 125 Years of Salmon Spawning

13.   Toxic Algae Is Showing Up in the Snake River for the Fourth Year in a Row

14.   How Dirty Is the Power Generated in Your State?

15.   In Nuclear Campus Talks, Idaho Gov. Brad Little Says Protecting Snake Aquifer Is ‘Nonnegotiable’

16.   Nearly 70% of California Is ‘Abnormally Dry’ as Drought, El Niño Strengthens

17.   What Happens If Lake Mead Drops Below Its Power Intakes

18.   WA State: Sultan Property Owner Fined $20,000 for Reported Dam Safety Violations

19.   Gorgeous Broadband Launches, Bringing Affordable, High-Speed Internet to The Dalles

20.   Washington Grants Awarded to Broadband Providers to Extend Internet to Underserved Communities

21.   The American Public Power Association Files Comments Opposing Expansion of Federal Pole Attachment Regulations

22.   Policy Experts Weigh What Comes After BEAD For Rural Broadband: Benton Institute

23.   OpenAI Says Its Models Engaged with U.S. Government Websites in New Model Misbehavior Disclosure

24.   WA State: A Large Data Center Is Proposed for the Former Papermill in Usk. Locals Worry How It Will Fit in ‘Small-Town USA’

25.   Montana Supreme Court Vacates Decision to Put Butte Data Center Issue to Voters

26.   Microsoft, Google Confront Data Center Fears as Backlash Grows

27.   California Faces Barriers from Feds on the Road to Electric Vehicles

28.   House Passes AM Radio Mandate for All New Cars

29.   ‘100% to 99% Chance’ El Niño Lasts Six Months: What Does That Mean for You?

30.   Hydropower Licensing Needs a Refresh – Could This New Bill Do the Job?

31.   What Will Winter Be Like in the Pacific Northwest? Here’s What the Outlooks Suggest

32.   ‘Not A Viable Plan’: Puget Sound Energy Is Betting Future on Hydrogen-Ready Plants That Don’t Exist Anywhere in Washington

Word of the Day

Horologist \huh-RAWL-uh-jist\ Noun – 1: a person skilled in the practice or theory of horology; 2: a maker of clocks or watches.

“Tic-toc, look at my clocks,” announced the wizened horologist to his assembled guests. Albert jumped a foot when they all started to chime at once. “Golly,” he thought. “This is just like the ‘Time’ track on ‘Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon!’”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Agreement Reached in Lawsuit by Regional PUDs Against Federal Government Over Columbia River Treaty Payments (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/sep/28/agreement-reached-in-lawsuit-by-regional-puds-against-federal-government/

2.      Mid-Columbia PUDs Sign Settlement Ending Litigation Over Columbia River Treaty Payments (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/mid-columbia-puds-sign-settlement-ending-litigation-over-columbia-river-treaty-payments

3.      Utilities Say Upcoming Rate Change by Bonneville Power Administration Likely Means Higher Rates for Customers (KLCC-Radio, Eugene, OR)

https://www.klcc.org/economy-business/2026-09-23/utilities-say-upcoming-rate-change-by-bonneville-power-administration-likely-means-higher-rates-for-customers

4.      After Failed Columbia Dam Deal, The Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Electricity Rate Hike (Seattle Times – Via The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/after-failed-columbia-dam-deal-bpa-seeks-electricity-rate-hike,408874

5.      Consumer Reports Warns Puget Sound Energy Rate Proposal Could Add Over $600 a Year to Typical Electric Bill (Consumer Reports)

https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/consumer-reports-warns-puget-sound-energy-rate-proposal-could-add-over-600-a-year-to-typical-electric-bill/

6.      Two Public Hearings to Focus on Potential Puget Sound Energy Rate Increases (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA)

https://mybellinghamnow.com/news/297792-two-public-hearings-to-focus-on-potential-pse-rate-increases/

7.      Energy Department Will Spend $2 Billion to Squeeze More Electricity from the Aging Power Grid (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/energy-electricity-wright-power-grid-trump-447c7d80c93928712750710769a8ca43

8.      Power for Tomorrow: Residential Cost Gap Grows in Regulated vs. Deregulated States (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/53898-power-for-tomorrow-residential-cost-gap-grows-in-regulated-vs-deregulated-states/

9.      Panelists Debate Future of U.S. Electricity Markets Amid Rising Demand (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_c553eac2-c17a-435b-b744-946507cd211f.html

10.   U.S. Public Power Capital Spending Continues to Accelerate: Fitch Report (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/us-public-power-capital-spending-continues-accelerate-fitch-report

11.   New Mexico: Utility Worker Dies After Falling Pole Causes Electrocution in Curry County (KFDA-TV, Amarillo, TX)

https://www.newschannel10.com/2026/09/26/utility-worker-dies-after-falling-pole-causes-electrocution-curry-county/

Fish & Wildlife

12.   Fish Hatchery Celebrates 125 Years of Salmon Spawning (Columbia Gorge News, Hood River, OR)

https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/fish-hatchery-celebrates-125-years-of-salmon-spawning/article_752dd598-aca5-4d4b-914d-40e7804635c6.html

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

13.   Toxic Algae Is Showing Up in the Snake River for the Fourth Year in a Row (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/local/2026-09-25/toxic-algae-is-showing-up-in-the-snake-river-for-the-fourth-year-in-a-row

14.   How Dirty Is the Power Generated in Your State? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/fossil-fuels/how-dirty-is-power-generated-states

Water, Water Anywhere?

15.   In Nuclear Campus Talks, Idaho Gov. Brad Little Says Protecting Snake Aquifer Is ‘Nonnegotiable’ (States Newsroom)

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nuclear-campus-talks-idaho-gov-brad-little-says-protecting-snake-aquifer-nonnegotiable%C2%A0

16.   Nearly 70% of California Is ‘Abnormally Dry’ as Drought, El Niño Strengthens (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/sep/24/nearly-70-of-california-is-abnormally-dry-as-droug/

17.   What Happens If Lake Mead Drops Below Its Power Intakes (World Atlas)

https://apnews.com/article/energy-electricity-wright-power-grid-trump-447c7d80c93928712750710769a8ca43

18.   WA State: Sultan Property Owner Fined $20,000 for Reported Dam Safety Violations (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/unpermitted-dam-sultan-property-owner-fined-twenty-thousand-dollars-safety-violations-flood-concerns-severe-weather-flooding-neighborhoods-ecology-washington-state

London Calling –Telecommunications

19.   Gorgeous Broadband Launches, Bringing Affordable, High-Speed Internet to The Dalles (Columbia Community Connection, The Dalles, OR)

https://columbiacommunityconnection.com/the-dalles/gorgeous-broadband-launches-bringing-affordable-high-speed-internet-to-td

20.   Washington Grants Awarded to Broadband Providers to Extend Internet to Underserved Communities (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/washington-grant-awarded-to-broadband-providers-to-extend-internet-to-underserved-communities/article_63c8e9a1-471d-559e-817e-5905caeeaf19.html

21.   The American Public Power Association Files Comments Opposing Expansion of Federal Pole Attachment Regulations (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-files-comments-opposing-expansion-federal-pole-attachment-regulations

22.   Policy Experts Weigh What Comes After BEAD For Rural Broadband: Benton Institute (Telecompetitor)

https://www.telecompetitor.com/policy-experts-weigh-what-comes-after-bead-for-rural-broadband-benton-institute/

HAL’s Internet Café

23.   OpenAI Says Its Models Engaged with U.S. Government Websites in New Model Misbehavior Disclosure (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/openai-government-website-incident-df331b55daffc6d202d8e2f6d0afa264

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

24.   WA State: A Large Data Center Is Proposed for the Former Papermill in Usk. Locals Worry How It Will Fit in ‘Small-Town USA’ (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/large-data-center-proposed-former-020100850.html

25.   Montana Supreme Court Vacates Decision to Put Butte Data Center Issue to Voters (Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/09/25/montana-supreme-court-vacates-decision-to-put-butte-data-center-issue-to-voters/

26.   Microsoft, Google Confront Data Center Fears as Backlash Grows (Financial Post)

https://financialpost.com/technology/microsoft-google-confront-data-centre-fears-backlash-grows

 

I Sing the Car Electric

27.   California Faces Barriers from Feds on the Road to Electric Vehicles (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_228c8cae-a95c-408d-9ac8-de92634ae63b.html

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

28.   House Passes AM Radio Mandate for All New Cars (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/house-passes-am-radio-mandate-195857057.html

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

29.   ‘100% to 99% Chance’ El Niño Lasts Six Months: What Does That Mean for You? (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/news/california/100-to-99-chance-el-nino-lasts-6-months-what-does-that-mean-for-you/

Politics, Governance, and Management

30.   Hydropower Licensing Needs a Refresh – Could This New Bill Do the Job? (Renewable Energy World)

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydro-power/hydropower-licensing-needs-a-refresh-could-this-new-bill-do-the-job/

Other Things to Know About Today

31.   What Will Winter Be Like in the Pacific Northwest? Here’s What the Outlooks Suggest (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/weather/what-will-winter-be-like-in-the-pnw-heres-what-the-outlooks-suggest/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

32.   ‘Not A Viable Plan’: Puget Sound Energy Is Betting Future on Hydrogen-Ready Plants That Don’t Exist Anywhere in Washington (KVI-Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://seattlered.com/energy/pse-draft-plan-power-gap-kevin-wallace-warning/4120424

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

1,289-Year-Old Whitebark Pine, Oldest on Record, Found in Grand Teton National Park

https://wyofile.com/1289-year-old-whitebark-pine-oldest-on-record-found-in-grand-teton-national-park/

Fat Bear Week Is Here — And Alaska’s Chonkiest Bears Are Sending the Internet into a Frenzy

https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/fat-bear-week-is-here--and-alaskas-chonkiest-bears-are-sending-the-internet-into-a-frenzy-202136413.html

Adam Vinatieri Kicks a Field Goal at 11,317 Feet to Set World Record

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/09/23/switzerland-Guinness-World-Records-Adam-Vinatieri-fild-goal/9571790186297/

A Stranger Left a Bucket of Dollar Coins at a Missoula Dollar Tree to Pay for Shoppers’ Purchases

https://www.kpax.com/news/a-stranger-left-a-bucket-of-dollar-coins-at-a-missoula-dollar-tree-to-pay-for-shoppers-purchases

Song of the Day

Phil Harris - The Bare Necessities (Jungle Book Soundtrack)

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

Roll the Credits… 

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