The Energy News Digest for March 9, 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

Seattle City Light, Tribes Reach $4 Billion Relicensing Deal for Skagit River Dams (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/2026-03-06/seattle-city-light-tribes-relicensing-deal-skagit-river-dams

Puget Sound Energy Wants 30% Rate Increase; Clean Energy Mandates Behind Request (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_1fc7710f-ee8b-4dbe-87a4-b1e41c861b64.html

Are Other Killer Whales Eating Washington’s Southern Resident Orcas? (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/local/southern-resident-orcas-biggs/4212558

Rad Power Bikes Gets a New Owner, Pledge to Build Bikes in the U.S. (Engadget – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/rad-power-bikes-gets-a-new-owner-pledge-to-build-bikes-in-the-us/ar-AA1XFk4e

Winter Weather Alerts Along Oregon & Washington Cascades (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/09/oregon-washington-cascades-winter-weather-alert/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Seattle City Light, Tribes Reach $4 Billion Relicensing Deal for Skagit River Dams

2.      Seattle City Light to Pay Nearly $1 Billion for Fish Passage on Skagit River Under Proposed Agreement

3.      Puget Sound Energy Wants 30% Rate Increase; Clean Energy Mandates Behind Request

4.      Alberta & the U.S. Have Been Arguing Over Electricity — But a ‘Win-Win’ May Be in Sight

5.      WA State: With Fewer Applicants for Service, Grant PUD Trying to Fill What’s Left

6.      Artificial Intelligence Is Spurring a Big Expansion of High-Voltage Power Lines. Landowners & Locals Are Fighting Back

7.      Cuba Claims Huge Power Plant Fix After Massive Blackout Chaos

8.      U.S. Electricity Generation in 2025 Hit a Record, Again

9.      Utilities Lack Tools to Guard Power Grid from Drone Attacks

10.   DOE Nuclear Energy Launch Pad ‘Extends & Expands’ Pilot Programs

11.   United Kingdom: ‘I Fiddled the Meter for a Mate & the Shop Burnt Down’

12.   Controversial Hydroelectric Project Above Miracle Mile Earns Wyoming Water Quality Certificate

13.   Inside One Michigan Town’s Fight Against Solar Expansion

14.   Oregon Pushes New Homes to Install Heat Pumps Over Air Conditioners

15.   Verify Before You Electrify: Best Practices for Planning an Electrification Journey

16.   Are Other Killer Whales Eating Washington’s Southern Resident Orcas?

17.   Spillover: The Battle Over Fish & Power in the Columbia River Basin

18.   Sign of Spring on Columbia with Salmon Seasons Set

19.   Reclamation: Water Demands Will Not Be Met This Season

20.   Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Sign Water Rights Pact

21.   U.S. Supreme Court Should Decide Energy Policy Framework Over Climate Lawsuits

22.   Idaho: 620-Acre Data Center Planned for Kuna Sparks Concerns Over Power Rates

23.   Temporarily Banning Data Centers Draws More Interest from State, Local Officials

24.   Anthropic Sues Trump Administration Seeking to undo ‘Supply Chain Risk’ Designation

25.   Rad Power Bikes Gets a New Owner, Pledge to Build Bikes in the U.S.

26.   When Was Hydropower Invented?

27.   A Company Plans 4,000 Orbiting ‘Sky Mirrors’ to Shine Sunlight on Earth After Dark, Worrying Astronomers

28.   Oregon: Key Climate, Energy Bills Fail to Advance in Legislative Session

29.   Oregon Legislature Approves One-Year Moratorium on Key Data Center Tax Break

30.   FEMA Ordered to Restore Disaster Mitigation Funding

31.   Montana U.S. Senator Mocked ‘Green Energy Crap.’ His House Runs on It.

32.   Winter Weather Alerts Along Oregon & Washington Cascades

33.   Last Pacific Northwest Alcoa Smelter Shutters – Ending Washington Aluminum Era

34.   Guest Essay: Comprehensive Energy Permitting Reform Is Essential for Meeting Washington’s Clean-Energy Goals

Day of the Day

National Napping Day

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/march/national-napping-day-day-after-return-of-daylight-saving-time

     Quiet afternoon

     A sleepy world lays to rest

     Napping Day sets in

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Seattle City Light, Tribes Reach $4 Billion Relicensing Deal for Skagit River Dams (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/2026-03-06/seattle-city-light-tribes-relicensing-deal-skagit-river-dams

2.      Seattle City Light to Pay Nearly $1 Billion for Fish Passage on Skagit River Under Proposed Agreement (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/mar/06/seattle-utility-to-pay-nearly-1b-for-fish-passage-on-skagit-river-under-proposed-agreement/

3.      Puget Sound Energy Wants 30% Rate Increase; Clean Energy Mandates Behind Request (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_1fc7710f-ee8b-4dbe-87a4-b1e41c861b64.html

4.      Alberta & the U.S. Have Been Arguing Over Electricity — But a ‘Win-Win’ May Be in Sight (Yahoo! News)

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/alberta-u-arguing-over-electricity-120000715.html

5.      WA State: With Fewer Applicants for Service, Grant PUD Trying to Fill What’s Left (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/mar/09/with-fewer-applicants-grant-pud-trying-to-fill-whats-left/

6.      Artificial Intelligence Is Spurring a Big Expansion of High-Voltage Power Lines. Landowners & Locals Are Fighting Back (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/ai-trump-energy-transmission-lines-f1c6b1251054d2a7e193297e4111b8d1

7.      Cuba Claims Huge Power Plant Fix After Massive Blackout Chaos (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/cuba-claims-huge-power-plant-fix-after-massive-blackout-chaos/ar-AA1XLDXC

8.      U.S. Electricity Generation in 2025 Hit a Record, Again (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67284

9.      Utilities Lack Tools to Guard Power Grid from Drone Attacks (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/utilities-power-grid-drone-attacks-nerc-iran/813873/

10.   DOE Nuclear Energy Launch Pad ‘Extends & Expands’ Pilot Programs (Nuclear Newswire)

https://www.ans.org/news/article-7827/doe-nuclear-energy-launch-pad-extends-and-expands-pilot-programs/

11.   United Kingdom: ‘I Fiddled the Meter for a Mate & the Shop Burnt Down’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm246kdxjr7o

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12.   Controversial Hydroelectric Project Above Miracle Mile Earns Wyoming Water Quality Certificate (WyoFile)

https://wyofile.com/controversial-hydroelectric-project-above-miracle-mile-earns-wyoming-water-quality-certificate/

13.   Inside One Michigan Town’s Fight Against Solar Expansion (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_fc5f43ce-6b03-4f2f-aaed-62dd69602adb.html

Conservation & Efficiency

14.   Oregon Pushes New Homes to Install Heat Pumps Over Air Conditioners (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/09/oregon-pushes-new-homes-to-install-heat-pumps-over-acs/

15.   Verify Before You Electrify: Best Practices for Planning an Electrification Journey (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brynncooksey/2026/03/08/verify-before-you-electrify-best-practices-for-planning-an-electrification-journey/

Fish & Wildlife

16.   Are Other Killer Whales Eating Washington’s Southern Resident Orcas? (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/local/southern-resident-orcas-biggs/4212558

17.   Spillover: The Battle Over Fish & Power in The Columbia River Basin (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2026/03/06/spillover-the-battle-over-fish-and-power-in-the-columbia-river-basin/

18.   Sign of Spring on Columbia with Salmon Seasons Set (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, WA)

https://www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2026/mar/05/sign-of-spring-on-columbia-with-salmon-seasons-set/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

19.   Reclamation: Water Demands Will Not Be Met This Season (Pacific NW Ag Network)

https://pnwag.net/water-demands-yakima-march/

20.   Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Sign Water Rights Pact (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/mar/08/coeur-dalene-tribe-idaho-sign-water-rights-pact/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

21.   U.S. Supreme Court Should Decide Energy Policy Framework Over Climate Lawsuits (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_65048756-b6df-4755-a380-ad3595da36c7.html

HAL’s Internet Café

22.   Idaho: 620-Acre Data Center Planned for Kuna Sparks Concerns Over Power Rates (KIVI-TV, Nampa, ID)

https://www.kivitv.com/kuna/620-acre-data-center-planned-for-kuna-sparks-concerns-over-power-rates

23.   Temporarily Banning Data Centers Draws More Interest from State, Local Officials (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/03/09/repub/temporarily-banning-data-centers-draws-more-interest-from-state-local-officials/

24.   Anthropic Sues Trump Administration Seeking to undo ‘Supply Chain Risk’ Designation (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/anthropic-trump-pentagon-hegseth-ai-104c6c39306f1adeea3b637d2c1c601b

I Sing the Car Electric

25.   Rad Power Bikes Gets a New Owner, Pledge to Build Bikes in the U.S. (Engadget – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/rad-power-bikes-gets-a-new-owner-pledge-to-build-bikes-in-the-us/ar-AA1XFk4e

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

26.   When Was Hydropower Invented? (U.S. Dept. of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/cmei/water/history-hydropower

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

27.   A Company Plans 4,000 Orbiting ‘Sky Mirrors’ to Shine Sunlight on Earth After Dark, Worrying Astronomers (Daily Galaxy)

https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/03/a-company-plans-4000-orbiting-sky-mirrors-to-shine-sunlight-on-earth-after-dark-worrying-astronomers/

Politics, Governance, and Management

28.   Oregon: Key Climate, Energy Bills Fail to Advance in Legislative Session (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2026/03/key-climate-energy-bills-fail-to-advance-in-legislative-session.html

29.   Oregon Legislature Approves One-Year Moratorium on Key Data Center Tax Break (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2026/03/oregon-legislature-approves-one-year-moratorium-on-key-data-center-tax-break.html

30.   FEMA Ordered to Restore Disaster Mitigation Funding (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/fema-ordered-to-restore-disaster-mitigation-funding/

31.   Montana U.S. Senator Mocked ‘Green Energy Crap.’ His House Runs on It. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/08/gop-senator-mocked-green-energy-crap-his-home-runs-on-it-00791293

Other Things to Know About Today

32.   Winter Weather Alerts Along Oregon & Washington Cascades (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/09/oregon-washington-cascades-winter-weather-alert/

33.   Last Pacific Northwest Alcoa Smelter Shutters – Ending Washington Aluminum Era (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/alcoa-wenatchee-smelter-closure-aluminum/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

34.   Guest Essay: Comprehensive Energy Permitting Reform Is Essential for Meeting Washington’s Clean-Energy Goals (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/mar/07/alex-amonette-and-poonam-medberry-comprehensive-en/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Seat 11A: The Windowless Inside Joke at 30,000 Feet

https://dnyuz.com/2026/03/07/seat-11a-the-windowless-inside-joke-at-30000-feet/

Claims of ‘Rediscovered’ Michelangelos Unsettle Renaissance Experts

https://courthousenews.com/claims-of-rediscovered-michelangelos-unsettle-renaissance-experts/

Oddest Unclaimed Luggage Items of 2025 Include Robot, Meteorite

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/03/09/Unclaimed-Baggage-oddest-lost-luggage-2025/2161773070054/

Blindfolded Woman Identifies 19 Barbie Dolls in Three Minutes

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/03/09/germany-Guinness-World-Records-identifying-Barbie-dolls-blindfolded/6791773064059/

Song of the Day

Paul Pena - Jet Airliner (Original Version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-aRbGA7uvg

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, which can cause broken links.

Although I choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookies may help you access certain paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for March 4, 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

Iranian Strikes on Amazon Data Centers Highlights Industry’s Vulnerability to Physical Disasters (Associated Press)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/iranian-strikes-amazon-data-centers-173946690.html

Federal Regulators Approve NorthWestern Proposal for New Colstrip Shares (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/03/02/federal-regulators-approve-northwestern-proposal-for-new-colstrip-shares/

PacifiCorp Begins Sale of Washington Operations to Portland General Electric Company (KIMA-TV, Yakima, WA)

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/pacificorp-begins-sale-of-washington-operations-to-portland-general-electric-company/article_313d8ae8-4b51-43f7-a726-8b59519aef23.html

‘Strong’ to ‘Severe’ Marine Heatwave Growing Off the California Coast (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/weather/strong-to-severe-marine-heatwave-growing-off-the-california-coast/

NRECA Fights Postal Service Plan, Warning of ‘Significant, Negative Impact’ on Co-ops (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/nreca-fights-postal-service-plan-warning-of-significant-negative-impact-on-co-ops

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Federal Regulators Approve NorthWestern Proposal for New Colstrip Shares

2.      PacifiCorp Begins Sale of Washington Operations to Portland General Electric Company

3.      Court Ruling Delivers Win for Columbia River Salmon, but Raises Public Power Concerns for Western Montana Electric Utilities

4.      WA Coal Plant DOE Ordered to Stay Online Unlikely to Run Given ‘Flush’ Power Supplies: CEO

5.      Oregon: Bonneville Power Administration-Provided Witness for Holiday Farm Deposition Knew Almost Nothing

6.      Puget Sound Energy Proposes Rate Increase Plan for Electric, Gas Bills by 2029

7.      Want More Solar, Natural Gas Development, Are Less Interested in New Coal Plants

8.      Seattle’s Missing‑Middle Housing Slammed by Power Pole Gridlock

9.      New Seattle City Light CEO Plans to Stay Up to Two Years Despite City Council Opposition

10.   EPRI: Surging Data Center Growth Could Transform U.S. Power Demand by 2030

11.   Bipartisan REWIRE Act Aims to Reduce Permitting Delays, Modernize Grid

12.   Blackout Hits Most of Cuba Amid U.S. Oil Chokehold

13.   Quaise Looks to Advance ’Superhot’ Geothermal Power Plant in Oregon

14.   See How Much of Its Wind Energy Potential Idaho Uses

15.   WA State: Spokane Offers Free Solar-Powered Residential Lights to Property Owners

16.   Alaska Natives, Advocates Hail State’s New Restrictions Aimed at Helping Chum Salmon Recover

17.   ‘Strong’ to ‘Severe’ Marine Heatwave Growing Off the California Coast

18.   Alaska Native Villages Have Few Options & Little U.S. Help as Climate Change Devours Their Land

19.   News Release: Washington, California & Québec Take the Next Step Towards Linking Carbon Markets by Releasing Draft Agreement

20.   WA State: Jefferson County Closes Broadband Gap with $7.3 Million Award

21.   Rising Costs of Broadband Construction

22.   ‘No Longer a Priority’: Xbox Being Sunsetted as Microsoft Shifts Focus to Artificial Intelligence, Co-Founder Says

23.   Iranian Strikes on Amazon Data Centers Highlights Industry’s Vulnerability to Physical Disasters

24.   It’s Lights Out for WA Legislature’s Effort to Regulate Data Centers

25.   Oregon’s Data Center Tax Break Moratorium Would Be Narrower Than Initially Described

26.   Oregon Sees Sharp Rise In E-Scooter Injuries as the Zippy Rides Grow More Popular

27.   NRECA Fights Postal Service Plan, Warning of ‘Significant, Negative Impact’ on Co-ops

28.   Oregon AG Lawsuit Over Morrow County Broadband Deal Moves Forward

29.   How Puget Sound Energy’s CEO Went from Living Off the Grid to Leading Washington’s Largest Utility

30.   Solar Power’s Newest Friends: MAGA Influencers

31.   Severe Storms to Rumble Over Central U.S. from Wednesday Through the Weekend

32.   Oregon: Copper Thieves Leave I-84 in the Dark After Stripping Light Poles

33.   British Columbia Adopts Permanent Daylight-Saving Time, Influenced by ‘Recent Actions from the U.S.’

34.   Governors Are Promising Lower Power Bills. Here’s The Only Credible Path to Deliver.

Word of the Day

Rectitudinous /rek-tuh-TOO-duh-nus/ Adjective – 1: characterized by the quality of being honest & morally correct. 2: piously self-righteous.

In humility, the widow’s mite was given. With rectitudinous flair, the rich tossed around gold pieces like manhole covers.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Federal Regulators Approve NorthWestern Proposal for New Colstrip Shares (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/03/02/federal-regulators-approve-northwestern-proposal-for-new-colstrip-shares/

2.      PacifiCorp Begins Sale of Washington Operations to Portland General Electric Company (KIMA-TV, Yakima, WA)

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/pacificorp-begins-sale-of-washington-operations-to-portland-general-electric-company/article_313d8ae8-4b51-43f7-a726-8b59519aef23.html

3.      Court Ruling Delivers Win for Columbia River Salmon, but Raises Public Power Concerns for Western Montana Electric Utilities (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

https://flatheadbeacon.com/2026/03/04/court-ruling-delivers-win-for-columbia-river-salmon-but-raises-public-power-concerns-for-western-montana-electric-utilities/

4.      WA Coal Plant DOE Ordered to Stay Online Unlikely to Run Given ‘Flush’ Power Supplies: CEO (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-earthjustice-sue-doe-centralia-emergency-order-transalta/813754/

5.      Oregon: Bonneville Power Administration-Provided Witness for Holiday Farm Deposition Knew Almost Nothing (Eugene Register-Guard, OR – Via AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/articles/bpa-provided-witness-holiday-farm-120440893.html

6.      Puget Sound Energy Proposes Rate Increase Plan for Electric, Gas Bills by 2029 (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA)

https://mybellinghamnow.com/news/297792-puget-sound-energy-proposes-rate-increase-plan-for-electric-gas-bills-by-2029/

7.      Want More Solar, Natural Gas Development, Are Less Interested in New Coal Plants (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2026/03/03/montanans-want-more-solar-natural-gas-development-are-less-interested-in-new-coal-plants/

8.      Seattle’s Missing‑Middle Housing Slammed by Power Pole Gridlock (Hoodline, Seattle, WA)

https://hoodline.com/2026/03/seattle-s-missing-middle-housing-slammed-by-power-pole-gridlock/

9.      New Seattle City Light CEO Plans to Stay Up to Two Years Despite City Council Opposition (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_a3766652-6beb-42c3-88c4-62f52bf1842c.html

10.   EPRI: Surging Data Center Growth Could Transform U.S. Power Demand by 2030 (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/51339-epri-surging-data-center-growth-could-transform-u-s-power-demand-by-2030/

11.   Bipartisan REWIRE Act Aims to Reduce Permitting Delays, Modernize Grid (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/51380-bipartisan-rewire-act-aims-to-reduce-permitting-delays-modernize-grid/

12.   Blackout Hits Most of Cuba Amid U.S. Oil Chokehold (Reuters – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mass-blackout-cuts-power-across-181428846.html

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

13.   Quaise Looks to Advance ​’Superhot’ Geothermal Power Plant in Oregon (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/geothermal/quaise-superhot-geothermal-power-plant-oregon

14.   See How Much of Its Wind Energy Potential Idaho Uses (Stacker)

https://stacker.com/stories/idaho/see-how-much-its-wind-energy-potential-idaho-uses

15.   WA State: Spokane Offers Free Solar-Powered Residential Lights to Property Owners (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-offers-free-solar-powered-residential-lights-to-property-owners/article_0500ce27-f460-4d3b-9034-6b5252a62187.html

Fish & Wildlife

16.   Alaska Natives, Advocates Hail State’s New Restrictions Aimed at Helping Chum Salmon Recover (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/chum-salmon-fishing-reduction-good-step-forward-says-chief-of-the-village-of-beaver-9.7112077

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

17.   ‘Strong’ to ‘Severe’ Marine Heatwave Growing Off the California Coast (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/weather/strong-to-severe-marine-heatwave-growing-off-the-california-coast/

18.   Alaska Native Villages Have Few Options & Little U.S. Help as Climate Change Devours Their Land (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/alaska-native-villages-typhoon-relocation-27e698619322de1fb8ac14132a58a6a0

19.   News Release: Washington, California & Québec Take the Next Step Towards Linking Carbon Markets by Releasing Draft Agreement (WA Dept. of Ecology)

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2026/march-3-washington-california-and-quebec-take-the-next-step-towards-linking-carbon-markets-by-rel

London Calling –Telecommunications

20.   WA State: Jefferson County Closes Broadband Gap with $7.3 Million Award (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

https://ptleader.com/articles/featured-stories/county-closes-broadband-gap-with-7-3m-award/

21.   Rising Costs of Broadband Construction (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2026/03/03/rising-costs-of-broadband-construction/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

22.   ‘No Longer a Priority’: Xbox Being Sunsetted as Microsoft Shifts Focus to Artificial Intelligence, Co-Founder Says (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/no-longer-priority-xbox-being-sunsetted-microsoft-shifts-focus-ai-co-founder-says/HGLYFKG64RDLTFW3T2M54U4CHY/

HAL’s Internet Café

23.   Iranian Strikes on Amazon Data Centers Highlights Industry’s Vulnerability to Physical Disasters (Associated Press)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/iranian-strikes-amazon-data-centers-173946690.html

24.   It’s Lights Out for WA Legislature’s Effort to Regulate Data Centers (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/03/02/its-lights-out-for-wa-legislatures-effort-to-regulate-data-centers/

25.   Oregon’s Data Center Tax Break Moratorium Would Be Narrower Than Initially Described (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2026/03/oregons-data-center-tax-break-moratorium-would-be-narrower-than-initially-described.html

I Sing the Car Electric

26.   Oregon Sees Sharp Rise In E-Scooter Injuries as the Zippy Rides Grow More Popular (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/health/2026/03/oregon-sees-sharp-rise-in-e-scooter-injuries-as-the-zippy-rides-grow-more-popular.html

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

27.   NRECA Fights Postal Service Plan, Warning of ‘Significant, Negative Impact’ on Co-ops (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/nreca-fights-postal-service-plan-warning-of-significant-negative-impact-on-co-ops

Politics, Governance, and Management

28.   Oregon AG Lawsuit Over Morrow County Broadband Deal Moves Forward (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/04/oregon-attorney-general-lawsuit-morrow-county-broadband-deal/

29.   How Puget Sound Energy’s CEO Went from Living Off the Grid to Leading Washington’s Largest Utility (Business Journals)

https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2026/03/mary-kipp-puget-sound-energy-ceo.html

30.   Solar Power’s Newest Friends: MAGA Influencers (Politico – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/solar-power-newest-friends-maga-105500467.html

Other Things to Know About Today

31.   Severe Storms to Rumble Over Central U.S. from Wednesday Through the Weekend (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/severe-storms-rumble-over-central-184847146.html

32.   Oregon: Copper Thieves Leave I-84 in the Dark After Stripping Light Poles (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/copper-thieves-damage-light-poles-i-84/283-a1ec6c1c-255b-478d-ae7d-ef3951e78e40

33.   British Columbia Adopts Permanent Daylight-Saving Time, Influenced by ‘Recent Actions from the U.S.’ (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/bc-adopts-permanent-daylight-saving-time-influenced-by-recent-actions-from-the-us-legislation-clock-spring-forward-family-schedule-work-season-spring-disruption-light-sunshine-america-trump-federalsleep

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

34.   Governors Are Promising Lower Power Bills. Here’s The Only Credible Path to Deliver. (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/governors-are-promising-lower-power-prices-Jigar-Shah-Arnab-Pal/813128/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

A Cat Left Paw Prints on the Pages of This Medieval Manuscript When the Ink Was Drying 500 Years Ago

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-cat-left-paw-prints-on-the-pages-of-this-medieval-manuscript-when-the-ink-was-drying-500-years-ago-180987999/

Dutch Museum Makes ‘Needle in a Haystack’ Confirmation of Rembrandt Painting

https://apnews.com/article/rembrandt-amsterdam-rijksmuseum-discovery-9766e3a9d475f26b6c4b4dfbc7a0f169

Sleepy Owl Found Resting Among Items on a New York Antique Store Shelf

https://apnews.com/article/owl-sleeping-antique-store-new-york-oddities-b5d1c494d0369fb0e3c5051b835fb3b2

British Library’s Overdue Books Turn Up at Thrift Store 50 Years Later

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/03/04/Leeds-Central-Library-overdue-books-50-years/4621772645847/

Song of the Day

John Williams – Hedwig’s Theme (Harry Potter Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Li0SWlwe34

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