The Energy News Digest for May 20, 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.

Register for Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp 

New to public power, onboarding staff, or interested in learning more about the electric power industry? Then NWPPA’s Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp is for you! Join us or send your staff to the next boot camp, June 1-4, in Eugene, Oregon.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Portland General Electric Contractor Identified After Fatal Workplace Accident at Clackamas County Dam (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/victim-identified-after-fatal-workplace-accident-at-clackamas-county-dam/

New Mexico: Biggest U.S. Wind Project Is Due to Come Online Next Month (Energy Connect)

https://www.energyconnects.com/news/renewables/2026/may/biggest-us-wind-project-is-due-to-come-online-next-month/

How One Oregon City Has Raised a Billion Dollars for Climate Change (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/20/nx-s1-5734498/portland-funding-climate-change-corporations-retail-tax

21 Gray Whales Have Washed Up on WA Shores This Year (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/21-gray-whales-washed-wa-013359246.html

Volvo Group Agrees to $197 Million Settlement with California Over Excess Truck Emissions (U.S. News & World Report)

https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2026-05-18/volvo-group-agrees-to-197-million-settlement-with-california-over-excess-truck-emissions

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Portland General Electric Contractor Identified After Fatal Workplace Accident at Clackamas County Dam

2.      PacificCorp to End Public Access to Swift Dam

3.      PNGC Power Plans State-of-the-Art Natural Gas Plant to Meet Growing Demand

4.      Bonneville Power Administration Officials Cautiously Optimistic Halfway Through Fiscal Year

5.      Can Burying Power Lines Help Prevent More Power Outages?

6.      What’s That Mesh Wrapped Around Power Poles? Meet Portland General Electric’s Solution to Help Protect Infrastructure This Wildfire Season

7.      News Release: INL Leads Testing of Next-Generation Power Lines for a More Resilient Power Grid

8.      Giant U.S. Power Merger Bets on Artificial Intelligence Build-Out, But May Hinge on Power Bills

9.      New Mexico: Biggest U.S. Wind Project Is Due to Come Online Next Month

10.   Avangrid and Puget Sound Energy Sign Contract for Washington Energy Project

11.   Iberdrola Signs a New Long-Term Power Supply Agreement in Washington State

12.   Denver Has a Plan to Heat & Cool Buildings without Fossil Fuels. It Involves … Sewage?

13.   California: Pair Accused of Stripping AC Units at Nine Riverside County Schools

14.   21 Gray Whales Have Washed Up on WA Shores This Year

15.   Oregon Approves Extension of Spring Salmon Season

16.   WA State: Will Controversial Salmon Hatchery Be Cut from Pierce County Culvert Project?

17.   New Brunswick: Change at Mactaquac Dam Sees Millions More Fish Make It Upriver to Spawn

18.   Video: Something Is Happening with Orcas at Sea - The Attacks Are Spreading

19.   WA State: Olympic Peninsula Snowpack Thins ‘Well-Below Normal’

20.   How "Super" El Niño Could Impact Colorado River Water Crisis

21.   How One Oregon City Has Raised a Billion Dollars for Climate Change

22.   California Cap-And-Invest Proposal Would Threaten State Climate Goals

23.   California: To Sell a Home in This Bay Area City, It Must Be Climate Friendly

24.   Canada: Carney Is Starting Talks on a Lower Carbon Price in British Columbia Premier Meeting

25.   FCC Official Warns Against Giving Starlink Too Much Control Over Rural Broadband

26.   Will New Data Centers Rob You of Access to Electricity in WA?

27.   These Five Charts Show How ChatGPT Is Flooding Our Lives

28.   Volvo Group Agrees to $197 Million Settlement with California Over Excess Truck Emissions

29.   U.S. House Lawmakers Propose $130 Annual Electric Vehicle Fee to Pay for Road Repairs

30.   Oregon: Eugene Dealership Sees Surge in Electric Vehicle Purchases

31.   Guest Essay: Cracks Widening in the Lower Snake River Dams

Word of the Day

Zephyr /ZEFF-fer/ Noun – 1a: a breeze from the west b: a gentle breeze 2: any of various lightweight fabrics and articles of clothing.

     Soft breeze on the ridge

     A zephyr slips through the pines,

     Brings forest fragrance

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Portland General Electric Contractor Identified After Fatal Workplace Accident at Clackamas County Dam (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/victim-identified-after-fatal-workplace-accident-at-clackamas-county-dam/

2.      PacificCorp to End Public Access to Swift Dam (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/19/pacificcorp-to-end-public-access-to-swift-dam/

3.      PNGC Power Plans State-of-the-Art Natural Gas Plant to Meet Growing Demand (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/pngc-power-plans-state-of-the-art-natural-gas-plant-to-meet-growing-demand

4.      Bonneville Power Administration Officials Cautiously Optimistic Halfway Through Fiscal Year (Tri-Cities Area Journal Of Business)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/bpa-officials-cautiously-optimistic-halfway-through-fiscal-year

5.      Can Burying Power Lines Help Prevent More Power Outages? (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5734497/can-burying-power-lines-help-prevent-more-power-outages

6.      What’s That Mesh Wrapped Around Power Poles? Meet Portland General Electric’s Solution to Help Protect Infrastructure This Wildfire Season (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/pge-protect-power-poles-oregon-counties-wildfires/283-c50dddf0-198e-44a6-9817-1d7dfe3737c2

7.      News Release: INL Leads Testing of Next-Generation Power Lines for a More Resilient Power Grid (Idaho National Laboratory)

https://inl.gov/news-release/inl-leads-testing-of-next-generation-power-lines-for-a-more-resilient-power-grid/

8.      Giant U.S. Power Merger Bets on Artificial Intelligence Build-Out, But May Hinge on Power Bills (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/giant-us-power-merger-bets-ai-build-out-may-hinge-power-bills-2026-05-20/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      New Mexico: Biggest U.S. Wind Project Is Due to Come Online Next Month (Energy Connect)

https://www.energyconnects.com/news/renewables/2026/may/biggest-us-wind-project-is-due-to-come-online-next-month/

10.   Avangrid and Puget Sound Energy Sign Contract for Washington Energy Project (Yahoo! News)

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/avangrid-puget-sound-energy-sign-170600520.html

11.   Iberdrola Signs a New Long-Term Power Supply Agreement in Washington State (News Release: Iberdrola)

https://www.iberdrola.com/press-room/news/detail/iberdrola-signs-new-long-term-power-supply-agreement-washington-state

12.   Denver Has a Plan to Heat & Cool Buildings without Fossil Fuels. It Involves … Sewage? (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/20/nx-s1-5734477/denver-geothermal-network-sewage

Conservation & Efficiency

13.   California: Pair Accused of Stripping AC Units at Nine Riverside County Schools (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/news/inland-empire/ac-units-targeted-9-riverside-county-schools/

Fish & Wildlife

14.   21 Gray Whales Have Washed Up on WA Shores This Year (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/21-gray-whales-washed-wa-013359246.html

15.   Oregon Approves Extension of Spring Salmon Season (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/05/oregon-approves-extension-of-spring-salmon-season.html

16.   WA State: Will Controversial Salmon Hatchery Be Cut from Pierce County Culvert Project? (Tacoma News-Tribune, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-news/article315758990.html

17.   New Brunswick: Change at Mactaquac Dam Sees Millions More Fish Make It Upriver to Spawn (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/change-dfo-mactaquac-dam-sees-millions-of-more-fish-make-it-upriver-to-spawn-9.7199190

18.   Video: Something Is Happening with Orcas at Sea - The Attacks Are Spreading (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/something-is-happening-with-orcas-at-sea-the-attacks-are-spreading/vi-AA1VOl95

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19.   WA State: Olympic Peninsula Snowpack Thins ‘Well-Below Normal’ (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

https://ptleader.com/articles/local-news/olympic-peninsula-snowpack-thins-well-below-normal/

20.   How "Super" El Niño Could Impact Colorado River Water Crisis (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/how-super-el-ni%C3%B1o-could-impact-colorado-river-water-crisis/ar-AA23DlG4

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

21.   How One Oregon City Has Raised a Billion Dollars for Climate Change (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/20/nx-s1-5734498/portland-funding-climate-change-corporations-retail-tax

22.   California Cap-And-Invest Proposal Would Threaten State Climate Goals (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/emissions-reduction/california-cap-and-invest-proposal

23.   California: To Sell a Home in This Bay Area City, It Must Be Climate Friendly (East Bay Times, Walnut Creek, CA)

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/05/19/to-sell-a-home-in-this-california-city-it-must-be-climate-friendly/

24.   Canada: Carney Is Starting Talks on a Lower Carbon Price in British Columbia Premier Meeting (Global News)

https://globalnews.ca/news/11857187/mark-carney-carbon-pricing-energy-bc/

London Calling –Telecommunications

25.   FCC Official Warns Against Giving Starlink Too Much Control Over Rural Broadband (PC Magazine)

https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-official-warns-against-giving-starlink-control-over-rural-broadband

HAL’s Internet Café

26.   Will New Data Centers Rob You of Access to Electricity in WA? (KONA Radio, Pasco, WA)

https://610kona.com/ixp/1135/p/data-centers-electricity-impact-washington/

27.   These Five Charts Show How ChatGPT Is Flooding Our Lives (Washington Post – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/5-charts-show-chatgpt-flooded-090000075.html

I Sing the Car Electric

28.   Volvo Group Agrees to $197 Million Settlement with California Over Excess Truck Emissions (U.S. News & World Report)

https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2026-05-18/volvo-group-agrees-to-197-million-settlement-with-california-over-excess-truck-emissions

29.   U.S. House Lawmakers Propose $130 Annual Electric Vehicle Fee to Pay for Road Repairs (CNBC News)

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/18/house-lawmakers-propose-130-annual-ev-fee-to-pay-for-road-repairs.html

30.   Oregon: Eugene Dealership Sees Surge in Electric Vehicle Purchases (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/video/tech/science/environment/eugene-dealership-sees-surge-in-ev-purchases/283-77718bd3-0bea-4302-a4b3-07a1365bfdb3

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

31.   Guest Essay: Cracks Widening in the Lower Snake River Dams (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/may/20/linwood-laughy-cracks-widening-in-the-lower-snake-/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

‘Smallest Statue in the World’: Irish Councilor Proposes Monument for Mosquito That Killed Cromwell

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/smallest-statue-in-the-world-irish-councillor-proposes-monument-for-mosquito-that-killed-cromwell/ar-AA23xXAt

A Portland Tiny Home’s Toilet Smells So Bad, Neighbors Say They’re Forced to Wear Masks

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-portland-tiny-home-s-toilet-smells-so-bad-neighbors-say-they-re-forced-to-wear-masks/ar-AA23BSsL

Texas Man Arrested After Intentionally Driving Cybertruck into Lake to Test ‘Wade Mode,’ Police Say

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/texas-man-arrested-intentionally-driving-222455936.html

World’s Largest Bowl of Guacamole Mixed Up in Mexico

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/20/mexico-Guinness-World-Records-largest-serving-guacamole/4461779285802/

Song of the Day

Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20

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 May 18, 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.

Register for Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp 

New to public power, onboarding staff, or interested in learning more about the industry? Then NWPPA’s Flipping the Switch: A Public Power Boot Camp is for you! Join us or send your staff to the next boot camp, June 1-4 in Eugene, Oregon.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

U.S. Annual Electricity Consumption to Grow 55% by 2050 (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-annual-electricity-consumption-data-centers-nema/820112/

As Electric Bills Rise, Some States Are Focusing on the Growing Profits of Utilities (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/electric-bills-utilities-artificial-intelligence-data-centers-4d09ba20e41fcc8ba68834ffae031c96

California Launches a $1 Billion Rebate Program for Electric Trucks — Up to $120,000 per Vehicle (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/california-launches-a-1-billion-rebate-program-for-electric-trucks-up-to-120000-per-vehicle/ar-AA23b33J

Lawmaker Wants Sea Lions Killed to Protect Endangered Salmon (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/lawmaker-wants-sea-lions-killed-163328336.html

Jury Rules Against Elon Musk in His Feud with OpenAI, Saying He Filed His Lawsuit Too Late (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/musk-openai-trial-verdict-0b9b0bfaffe96f2c930341f52dfe4f8c

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      U.S. Annual Electricity Consumption to Grow 55% by 2050

2.      As Electric Bills Rise, Some States Are Focusing on the Growing Profits of Utilities

3.      After a Century Powering Its Growth with Dams, Seattle Settles with Tribes That Lost Their River

4.      Wildfire Survivors Ask Oregon Supreme Court to Take on PacifiCorp Case

5.      Trends from Initial FY 2026 Financial Forecast Continued into the Second Quarter for the Bonneville Power Administration

6.      WSU Announces New Initiative to Strengthen Workforce in Nuclear Energy Sector

7.      City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., Educational Video Explains Challenges of Undergrounding Transmission Lines

8.      Canada Aims to Double Its Electric Grid by 2050 with Clean Energy & Lower Costs for Users

9.      ‘The Landowners’ Right’: As Costs Rise, Some Utah Ranchers Are Leasing Fields Out for Solar Projects ‘Rather Than Alfalfa’

10.   Richland Officials Considering Solar Expansion at Horn Rapids Site

11.   China's Solar Exports Jump 60% on the Year in April

12.   Lawmaker Wants Sea Lions Killed to Protect Endangered Salmon

13.   High Fuel Costs Are Testing Washington & Oregon's Fishing Industry

14.   How the Humpback Whale Made a Massive Comeback in the Salish Sea

15.   How Montana Tribes Are Using Sovereignty to Restore Their Waterways

16.   Jury Rules Against Elon Musk in His Feud with OpenAI, Saying He Filed His Lawsuit Too Late

17.   Snohomish County PUD Plans for Potential Large-Load Customers

18.   California Launches a $1 Billion Rebate Program for Electric Trucks — Up to $120,000 per Vehicle

19.   Rising Gas Prices Push Drivers Toward Electric Vehicles: 'It's Really Worth It'

20.   Lime Scooter Hopes to Expand in Spokane, Making Promises but Asking for Concessions

21.   ‘The Power of Mother Nature’: A First-Hand Account of the Mount St. Helens Eruption by KOIN 6 Meteorologist Steve Pierce

22.   New USDA Conditions Are Hampering State & Local Wildfire Services. Northwest Fire Officials Warn of Dire Consequences

23.   An Alarming Weather Pattern Is Emerging. NOAA Doesn’t Know What to Make of It Yet

24.   Editorial: Data centers must pay their own way in Washington

Word of the Day

Craven \KRAY-vun\ Adjective – Lacking the least bit of courage: contemptibly fainthearted.

Flavius stood undefeated in the arena; his blood-stained sword glinting in the sharp, angled glow of the setting, golden sun. No craven bone in his body had he…except for his uncharacteristic fear of chickens. Whether by suspicion or a childhood incident involving the family rooster, he would quake in fear at the mere mention of any poultry dish or the appearance of a feathered opponent.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      U.S. Annual Electricity Consumption to Grow 55% by 2050 (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-annual-electricity-consumption-data-centers-nema/820112/

2.      As Electric Bills Rise, Some States Are Focusing on the Growing Profits of Utilities (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/electric-bills-utilities-artificial-intelligence-data-centers-4d09ba20e41fcc8ba68834ffae031c96

3.      After a Century Powering Its Growth with Dams, Seattle Settles with Tribes That Lost Their River (Inside Climate News)

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13052026/seattle-tribes-skagit-river-dam-settlement/

4.      Wildfire Survivors Ask Oregon Supreme Court to Take on PacifiCorp Case (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/14/oregon-wildfire-pacificorp-settlement-lawsuit/

5.      Trends from Initial FY 2026 Financial Forecast Continued into the Second Quarter for the Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20260514-trends-from-initial-fy-2026-financial-forecast-continued-into-q2-for-bpa

6.      WSU Announces New Initiative to Strengthen Workforce in Nuclear Energy Sector (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/wsu-announces-new-initiative-to-strengthen-workforce-in-nuclear-energy-sector/article_1296d2f3-c728-4263-8f20-4439f47e000f.html

7.      City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., Educational Video Explains Challenges of Undergrounding Transmission Lines (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/city-utilities-springfield-mo-educational-video-explains-challenges-undergrounding-transmission

8.      Canada Aims to Double Its Electric Grid by 2050 with Clean Energy & Lower Costs for Users (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/canada-doubles-down-on-clean-energy-commitment-a22259664

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      ‘The Landowners’ Right’: As Costs Rise, Some Utah Ranchers Are Leasing Fields Out for Solar Projects ‘Rather Than Alfalfa’ (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/05/15/utah-ranchers-are-leasing-land/

10.   Richland Officials Considering Solar Expansion at Horn Rapids Site (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/richland-officials-considering-solar-expansion-at-horn-rapids-site/article_0688c8d2-1d0b-4c07-9175-bb20fd18dbee.html

11.   China's Solar Exports Jump 60% on the Year in April (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chinas-solar-exports-jump-60-year-april-2026-05-18/

Fish & Wildlife

12.   Lawmaker Wants Sea Lions Killed to Protect Endangered Salmon (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/lawmaker-wants-sea-lions-killed-163328336.html

13.   High Fuel Costs Are Testing Washington & Oregon's Fishing Industry (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/high-fuel-costs-are-testing-washington-and-oregon-s-fishing-industry

14.   How the Humpback Whale Made a Massive Comeback in the Salish Sea (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/may/17/how-the-humpback-whale-made-a-massive-comeback-in-/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

15.   How Montana Tribes Are Using Sovereignty to Restore Their Waterways (High Country News)

https://www.hcn.org/issues/58-3/how-montana-tribes-are-using-sovereignty-to-restore-their-waterways/

HAL’s Internet Café

16.   Jury Rules Against Elon Musk in His Feud with OpenAI, Saying He Filed His Lawsuit Too Late (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/musk-openai-trial-verdict-0b9b0bfaffe96f2c930341f52dfe4f8c

17.   Snohomish County PUD Plans for Potential Large-Load Customers (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/05/16/snohomish-county-pud-plans-for-potential-large-load-customers/

I Sing the Car Electric

18.   California Launches a $1 Billion Rebate Program for Electric Trucks — Up to $120,000 per Vehicle (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/california-launches-a-1-billion-rebate-program-for-electric-trucks-up-to-120000-per-vehicle/ar-AA23b33J

19.   Rising Gas Prices Push Drivers Toward Electric Vehicles: 'It's Really Worth It' (WTVD-TV, Raleigh, NC)

https://abc11.com/post/rising-gas-prices-push-drivers-electric-vehicles/19109739/

20.   Lime Scooter Hopes to Expand in Spokane, Making Promises but Asking for Concessions (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/may/14/lime-scooter-hopes-to-expand-in-spokane-makes-prom/

Other Things to Know About Today

21.   ‘The Power of Mother Nature’: A First-Hand Account of the Mount St. Helens Eruption by KOIN 6 Meteorologist Steve Pierce (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/the-power-of-mother-nature-a-first-hand-account-of-the-mount-st-helens-eruption-by-koin-6-meteorologist-steve-pierce/

22.   New USDA Conditions Are Hampering State & Local Wildfire Services. Northwest Fire Officials Warn of Dire Consequences (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/may/17/new-usda-conditions-are-hampering-state-and-local-/

23.   An Alarming Weather Pattern Is Emerging. NOAA Doesn’t Know What to Make of It Yet (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/alarming-weather-pattern-emerging-noaa-183000938.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

24.   Editorial: Data centers must pay their own way in Washington (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/in-our-view-data-centers-must-pay-their-own-way-in-wash/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

'Ocean Dream' Blue-Green Diamond Sells for More Than $17 Million at Christie's Auction in Geneva

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/ocean-dream-blue-green-diamond-sells-for-more-a22257333

Owl Found Stuck in a Concrete Mixer Is on the Mend & Flying Free

https://apnews.com/article/owl-concrete-mixer-utah-recovery-885693af8a5e020223c717fe72d1f996

Museum’s ‘Knight Rider’ Replica Car Got a Speeding Ticket. It Hasn’t Gone Anywhere in Years

https://apnews.com/article/knight-rider-car-speeding-ticket-new-york-24d37fa3e975363d8bcef5bbbb7bf089

New York High School Has 21 Valedictorians

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/18/Jericho-High-School-valedictorians-Long-Island/9021779121775/

Song of the Day

Gary Lewis & The Playboys – This Diamond Ring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfEdQUxEh9g

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.