The Energy News Digest for March 2, 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

Judge Orders Changes to Columbia & Snake River Dam Operations to Help ‘Disappearing’ Salmon (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/snake-columbia-rivers-dams-salmon-trump-d9e5f824be812d3f86539060272c234a

Why California is Reconsidering Nuclear Energy After 50-Year Ban (Bloomberg News – Via Yahoo!)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-california-reconsidering-nuclear-energy-110006703.html

Qatar Halts LNG Production, Knocks 20% Of Global Output as Gas Prices Spike (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gauravsharma/2026/03/02/qatar-halts-lng-production-knocks-off-20-of-global-output-as--gas-prices-spike/

U.S. Senators Demand Answers About Utility Companies’ ‘Secret Contracts’ with Tech Giants: ‘Forcing Local Communities to Sign Nondisclosure Agreements’ (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-senators-demand-answers-utility-072000175.html

$1 Billion for WA Broadband Gets Trump Administration Approval (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/1b-for-wa-broadband-gets-trump-administration-approval/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Qatar Halts LNG Production, Knocks 20% Of Global Output as Gas Prices Spike

2.      Why California is Reconsidering Nuclear Energy After 50-Year Ban

3.      New Advanced Nuclear Energy Simulator Completed to Train Regional Workforce

4.      Copper Theft Spurs New Calls for Tougher Crackdown, Including from WA Attorney General

5.      Grant County PUD, Tacoma Power Commit to Join SPP’s Markets+

6.      Xcel Posts Nearly $1 Billion Operating Profit from Colorado as the Utility Seeks Rate Increases for Gas, Electric Customers

7.      Portland General Electric Announces Its Biggest-Ever Addition of Renewable Energy Sources

8.      Bird Infestation Is Emerging as a Hidden Threat to California’s $30 Billion Residential Solar Market

9.      Balcony Solar Is Taking State Legislatures by Storm

10.   U.S. Energy Department Announces $171 Million for Geothermal Expansion

11.   WA State: Despite Federal Rollbacks, Agencies in Clark County Strive for Clean Energy

12.   U.S. House Passes Bills to Weaken DOE’s Appliance Efficiency Program, Repeal Home Rebates

13.   Judge Orders Changes to Columbia & Snake River Dam Operations to Help ‘Disappearing’ Salmon

14.   Federal Judge Orders Protective Measures for Columbia River Salmon After Trump Canceled Historic Deal

15.   Federal Ruling on Columbia River Dams Could Impact Montana Electric Utilities

16.   DOE/EA-2277: Select Area Fisheries Enhancement Program Finding of No Significant Impact

17.   Trump Administration Ends Protections for Rare Dancing Prairie Bird

18.   $1 Billion for WA Broadband Gets Trump Administration Approval

19.   U.S. Senators Demand Answers About Utility Companies’ ‘Secret Contracts’ with Tech Giants: ‘Forcing Local Communities to Sign Nondisclosure Agreements’

20.   Moody’s Flags $662 Billion Risk at the Heart of the Data Center Build-Out by Just Five Companies

21.   U.S. Artificial Intelligence Boom Faces Electric Shock

22.   Washington Lawmakers Move Forward with Guardrails on Artificial Intelligence Detection,

23.   For Rivian & Lucid, Path Finally Emerges for Direct-To-Consumer Car Sales in WA

24.   California GOP Lawmakers Are Incensed Over a Gas Tax Study. Rural Groups Say They Need It

25.   An Ohio Newspaper Has a New Star Writer. It Isn’t Human.

26.   HD Fowler Chairman Steps Down After Testifying in Favor of WA Income Tax Bill

27.   WA Lawmakers Advancing Bill Restricting Employers from Microchipping Workers

28.   What You Should Expect to Pay for Gas as the War with Iran Continues

29.   Northwest RiverPartners’ Statement on Columbia River System Operations Ruling

30.   Your Utility Bills Keep Going Up. Here’s Everyone You Can Blame—Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Included

31.   Pounds & Pounds of Stripped Copper Wire Insulation Recovered from Seattle Homeless Camp Cleanups

32.   Guest Essay: Renewable Energy Is Paying Off for Rural Utah — And the Numbers Prove It

Word of the Day

Gelid \JELL-id\ Adjective – Extremely cold: icy.

“Eeee! This creeps me out!” Howled Norberto as he bit into the old, rubbery Jello that he fished from the back of the refrigerator. The gelid, gelatinous mass was the last “edible” scrap of food in the confirmed bachelor’s icebox, and he was determined not to let it go to waste, regardless of what his gag reflex told him.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Qatar Halts LNG Production, Knocks 20% Of Global Output as Gas Prices Spike (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gauravsharma/2026/03/02/qatar-halts-lng-production-knocks-off-20-of-global-output-as--gas-prices-spike/

2.      Why California is Reconsidering Nuclear Energy After 50-Year Ban (Bloomberg News – Via Yahoo!)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-california-reconsidering-nuclear-energy-110006703.html

3.      New Advanced Nuclear Energy Simulator Completed to Train Regional Workforce (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

https://keprtv.com/news/local/new-advanced-nuclear-energy-simulator-completed-to-train-regional-workforce

4.      Copper Theft Spurs New Calls for Tougher Crackdown, Including from WA Attorney General (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/copper-theft-spurs-new-calls-tougher-crackdown-including-wa-attorney-general/6JFI3SNN5ZGAJMC2VTC3WMMBD4/

5.      Grant County PUD, Tacoma Power Commit to Join SPP’s Markets+ (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/grant-county-pud-tacoma-power-commit-join-spps-markets

6.      Xcel Posts Nearly $1 Billion Operating Profit from Colorado as the Utility Seeks Rate Increases for Gas, Electric Customers (The Colorado Sun)

https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/27/xcel-psco-profits-rate-hikes-marshall-fire-settlements/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

7.      Portland General Electric Announces Its Biggest-Ever Addition of Renewable Energy Sources (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/27/pge-renewable-energy-sources-addition/

8.      Bird Infestation Is Emerging as a Hidden Threat to California’s $30 Billion Residential Solar Market (Reno Gazette-Journal, NV)

https://www.rgj.com/press-release/story/133151/bird-infestation-is-emerging-as-a-hidden-threat-to-californias-30-billion-residential-solar-market/

9.      Balcony Solar Is Taking State Legislatures by Storm (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/balcony-solar-taking-state-legislatures-by-storm

10.   U.S. Energy Department Announces $171 Million for Geothermal Expansion (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/51350-energy-department-announces-171m-for-geothermal-expansion/

Conservation & Efficiency

11.   WA State: Despite Federal Rollbacks, Agencies in Clark County Strive for Clean Energy (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/mar/02/despite-federal-rollbacks-agencies-in-clark-county-strive-for-clean-energy/

12.   U.S. House Passes Bills to Weaken DOE’s Appliance Efficiency Program, Repeal Home Rebates (Utility Dive)

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

Fish & Wildlife

13.   Judge Orders Changes to Columbia & Snake River Dam Operations to Help ‘Disappearing’ Salmon (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/snake-columbia-rivers-dams-salmon-trump-d9e5f824be812d3f86539060272c234a

14.   Federal Judge Orders Protective Measures for Columbia River Salmon After Trump Canceled Historic Deal (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/judge-orders-protective-measures-for-columbia-river-salmon-after-trump-canceled-historic-deal

15.   Federal Ruling on Columbia River Dams Could Impact Montana Electric Utilities (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

https://www.kpax.com/news/montana-politics/federal-ruling-on-columbia-river-dams-could-impact-montana-electric-utilities

16.   DOE/EA-2277: Select Area Fisheries Enhancement Program Finding of No Significant Impact (U.S. Dept. of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeea-2277-finding-no-significant-impact-february-2026

17.   Trump Administration Ends Protections for Rare Dancing Prairie Bird (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lesser-prairie-chicken-endangered-species-threatened-23c6694e0d4759f1ac09ac5125ed7865

London Calling –Telecommunications

18.   $1 Billion for WA Broadband Gets Trump Administration Approval (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/1b-for-wa-broadband-gets-trump-administration-approval/

HAL’s Internet Café

19.   U.S. Senators Demand Answers About Utility Companies’ ‘Secret Contracts’ with Tech Giants: ‘Forcing Local Communities to Sign Nondisclosure Agreements’ (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-senators-demand-answers-utility-072000175.html

20.   Moody’s Flags $662 Billion Risk at the Heart of the Data Center Build-Out by Just Five Companies (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/moody-flags-662-billion-risk-081000616.html

21.   U.S. Artificial Intelligence Boom Faces Electric Shock (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-ai-boom-faces-electric-shock-2026-02-25/

22.   Washington Lawmakers Move Forward with Guardrails on Artificial Intelligence Detection, Chatbots (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/government/2026-02-28/washington-lawmakers-guardrails-artificial-intelligence-detection-chatbots

I Sing the Car Electric

23.   For Rivian & Lucid, Path Finally Emerges for Direct-To-Consumer Car Sales in WA (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/03/02/for-rivian-and-lucid-path-finally-emerges-for-direct-to-consumer-car-sales/

24.   California GOP Lawmakers Are Incensed Over a Gas Tax Study. Rural Groups Say They Need It (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2026/03/02/california-gop-lawmakers-are-incensed-over-a-gas-tax-study-rural-groups-say-they-need-it

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

25.   An Ohio Newspaper Has a New Star Writer. It Isn’t Human. (Washington Post – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ohio-newspaper-star-writer-isn-152510947.html

Politics, Governance, and Management

26.   HD Fowler Chairman Steps Down After Testifying in Favor of WA Income Tax Bill (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_2822fb08-e4a1-4a45-a5f7-5c9587dff3d1.html

27.   WA Lawmakers Advancing Bill Restricting Employers from Microchipping Workers (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/wa-lawmakers-bill-microchipping-workers

Other Things to Know About Today

28.   What You Should Expect to Pay for Gas as the War with Iran Continues (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/expect-pay-gas-war-iran-131728064.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   Northwest RiverPartners’ Statement on Columbia River System Operations Ruling (Northwest RiverPartners)

https://www.nwriverpartners.org/news-releases/northwest-riverpartners-statement-on-columbia-river-system-operations-ruling/

30.   Your Utility Bills Keep Going Up. Here’s Everyone You Can Blame—Artificial Intelligence Data Centers Included (Fortune Magazine – Via Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/utility-bills-keep-going-everyone-075800083.html

31.   Pounds & Pounds of Stripped Copper Wire Insulation Recovered from Seattle Homeless Camp Cleanups (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion/seattle-homeless-camp-copper/4209125

32.   Guest Essay: Renewable Energy Is Paying Off for Rural Utah — And the Numbers Prove It (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/02/23/renewable-energy-solar-wind-geothermal-utah-economic-benefits/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Viral Video of Baby Monkey Causes Stuffed Orangutan to Sell Out

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/02/24/japan-Punch-monkey-Ichikawa-Zoo-stuffed-orangutan-Ikea/4891771955707/

Triceratops Skeleton ‘Trey’ to Hit the Auction Block as Dinosaur Market Soars

https://courthousenews.com/triceratops-skeleton-trey-to-hit-the-auction-block-as-dinosaur-market-soars/

Four-Eared Foster Kitten in Alabama Becomes a Viral Star

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/02/23/four-eared-kitten-Dobby-foster/9951771870337/

New York Hospital Delivers Its Biggest Baby on Record as Parents Say They ‘Didn’t Expect This’

https://people.com/new-york-hospital-welcomes-biggest-baby-on-record-11915165

Song of the Day

John Williams - Jurassic Park Theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=affWDOwi2_g

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 February 25, 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

Retirement Delays of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity May Continue in 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67206

Eleven Data Center Developers in Talks with Northwestern, Group Says (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/02/23/eleven-data-center-developers-in-talks-with-northwestern-group-says/

WA State: Douglas PUD Replaces Hydrogen Contractor (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/videos/douglas-pud-replaces-hydrogen-contractor/video_50b48a8d-0193-5436-96cc-6c7afff61c26.html

Mount Baker Geothermal Plant Could Power All of Whatcom County (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/feb/24/mount-baker-geothermal-plant-could-power-all-of-whatcom-county/

State of the Union – Trump's Plan for Rising Energy Costs: Pump Oil, Make Data Centers Pay (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trumps-plan-rising-energy-costs-040157119.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Retirement Delays of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity May Continue in 2026

2.      WA Lawmakers Push for State to Embrace Nuclear Energy

3.      WA State: Grant PUD Cuts Power Waiting List, Plans for Future Growth

4.      Montana: Ravalli County Powered by Water

5.      Live Power Pole Theft in Rural Saskatchewan Leaves Local RCMP Stumped

6.      Campers Named in Eviction Complaint Remain on Idaho Power Property, Official Says

7.      WA State: Douglas PUD Replaces Hydrogen Contractor

8.      Mount Baker Geothermal Plant Could Power All of Whatcom County

9.      Country's Biggest Solar Project Moving Ahead in California

10.   Pause on Virginia Offshore Wind Farm Cost Dominion More Than $200M, But Turbines Will Power Up Soon

11.   Renewable Energy Tax Bill Passes in Olympia, Heads to Senate

12.   First Signs of Herring Spawn Spark Excitement on Vancouver Island

13.   Emergency Declaration Made for Yakima-Tieton Irrigation Canal

14.   Northern Wyoming Dam Survives Two Attacks in State Senate

15.   Another Oregon City Plans to Tax Natural Gas Appliances to Reduce Emissions

16.   Appeals Court Questions Shifting Reasons for Trump’s EPA Killing Clean Energy Contracts

17.   The Surprising Oregon Town Where Cable Television Was Born Four Years Before Portland Got TV

18.   Bitcoin Mining Operation Sparks Fire in Wenatchee Building

19.   Eleven Data Center Developers in Talks with Northwestern, Group Says

20.   Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek: Pace of Data Center Growth ‘Is Not Sustainable’

21.   WA State House Passes Data Center Tariff Bill as Quincy Lawmaker Warns That Rural Jobs are at Risk

22.   Data Center Tax Breaks Are on the Chopping Block in Some States

23.   Supreme Court Rules the Postal Service Can't Be Sued, Even When Mail Is Intentionally Not Delivered

24.   How Social Media Killed the Food Festival Stars & Created Others

25.   Swirling Beauty of the Milky Way Galaxy's Heart Is Captured in a New Telescope Picture

26.   State of the Union – Trump's Plan for Rising Energy Costs: Pump Oil, Make Data Centers Pay

27.   Why The Tab for Powering Data Centers Will Keep Rising — Despite Trump’s Pledge

28.   U.S. Senate Must Act to Fix ‘Broken Permitting Process,’ Say 600 Groups

29.   ‘Costs Will Keep Going Up’: WA Policy Center Says Carbon Dioxide Tax Is Driving Energy Bills Higher, Offers Savings Tips

Word of the Day

Nonplussed \NON-plust\ Verb - To cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do: perplex.

Barty’s aggressive questioning during the trial left the hapless defense witness nonplussed. The man had been called as a character witness for the “Burger King.” Barty, however, relentlessly peppered him with questions about “Ronald McDonald,” “Jack in the Box,” and “Wendy Thomas.” “I don’t know any of those guys,” whined the harried witness.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Retirement Delays of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity May Continue in 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67206

2.      WA Lawmakers Push for State to Embrace Nuclear Energy (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/feb/24/wa-lawmakers-push-for-state-to-embrace-nuclear-energy/

3.      WA State: Grant PUD Cuts Power Waiting List, Plans for Future Growth (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/grant-pud-cuts-power-waiting-list-plans-for-future-growth/article_b3967c01-50fe-4638-a0d4-486eac77b8a6.html

4.      Montana: Ravalli County Powered by Water (The Missoulian, MT)

https://missoulian.com/brandavestudios/article_e92ba739-adef-5fe9-af73-617546f7677d.html

5.      Live Power Pole Theft in Rural Saskatchewan Leaves Local RCMP Stumped (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/live-power-pole-theft-in-rural-leaves-local-rcmp-stumped-9.7103725

6.      Campers Named in Eviction Complaint Remain on Idaho Power Property, Official Says (Baker City Herald, OR)

https://bakercityherald.com/2026/02/24/campers-named-in-eviction-complaint-remain-on-idaho-power-property-official-says/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

7.      WA State: Douglas PUD Replaces Hydrogen Contractor (NCW Life, East Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/videos/douglas-pud-replaces-hydrogen-contractor/video_50b48a8d-0193-5436-96cc-6c7afff61c26.html

8.      Mount Baker Geothermal Plant Could Power All of Whatcom County (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/feb/24/mount-baker-geothermal-plant-could-power-all-of-whatcom-county/

9.      Country's Biggest Solar Project Moving Ahead in California (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/nx-s1-5667624/countrys-biggest-solar-project-moving-ahead-in-california

10.   Pause on Virginia Offshore Wind Farm Cost Dominion More Than $200M, But Turbines Will Power Up Soon (WHRO, Norfolk VA)

https://www.whro.org/environment/2026-02-24/pause-on-virginia-offshore-wind-farm-cost-dominion-more-than-200m-but-turbines-will-power-up-soon

11.   Renewable Energy Tax Bill Passes in Olympia, Heads to Senate (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/renewable-energy-tax-bill-passes-in-olympia-heads-to-senate/article_7f0bfbc3-e86e-4527-b699-4850598f601e.html

Fish & Wildlife

12.   First Signs of Herring Spawn Spark Excitement on Vancouver Island (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/herring-spawn-2026-vancouver-island-9.7101843

Water, Water, Anywhere?

13.   Emergency Declaration Made for Yakima-Tieton Irrigation Canal (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/emergency-declaration-made-for-yakima-tieton-irrigation-canal/video_07b29d41-6595-5860-b6ca-dcef054d76fe.html

14.   Northern Wyoming Dam Survives Two Attacks in State Senate (WyoFile)
https://wyofile.com/northern-wyoming-dam-survives-two-attacks-in-senate/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

15.   Another Oregon City Plans to Tax Natural Gas Appliances to Reduce Emissions (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2026/02/another-oregon-city-plans-to-tax-natural-gas-appliances-to-reduce-emissions.html

16.   Appeals Court Questions Shifting Reasons for Trump’s EPA Killing Clean Energy Contracts (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/green-bank-climate-epa-trump-zeldin-73af967533040116fe517452ce8f4ca7

London Calling –Telecommunications

17.   The Surprising Oregon Town Where Cable Television Was Born Four Years Before Portland Got TV (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2026/02/the-surprising-oregon-town-where-cable-television-was-born-four-years-before-portland-got-tv.html

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

18.   Bitcoin Mining Operation Sparks Fire in Wenatchee Building (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/bitcoin-mining-fire-wenatchee-building/

HAL’s Internet Café

19.   Eleven Data Center Developers in Talks with Northwestern, Group Says (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/02/23/eleven-data-center-developers-in-talks-with-northwestern-group-says/

20.   Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek: Pace of Data Center Growth ‘Is Not Sustainable’ (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2026/02/gov-tina-kotek-pace-of-oregon-data-center-growth-is-not-sustainable.html

21.   WA State House Passes Data Center Tariff Bill as Quincy Lawmaker Warns That Rural Jobs are at Risk (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/house-passes-data-center-tariff-bill-as-quincy-lawmaker-warns-that-rural-jobs-are-at/article_a84cda4f-b745-4aeb-b393-3c82197a0e15.html

22.   Data Center Tax Breaks Are on the Chopping Block in Some States (States Newsroom)

https://stateline.org/2026/02/24/data-center-tax-breaks-are-on-the-chopping-block-in-some-states/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

23.   Supreme Court Rules the Postal Service Can't Be Sued, Even When Mail Is Intentionally Not Delivered (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/supreme-court-rules-the-postal-service-can-t-be-a21938533

24.   How Social Media Killed the Food Festival Stars & Created Others (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/food-festivals-relevance-south-beach-ea155b815c834b0c16c48c2847ec9822

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

25.   Swirling Beauty of the Milky Way Galaxy's Heart Is Captured in a New Telescope Picture (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/swirling-beauty-of-the-milky-way-galaxys-heart-is-captured-in-a-new-telescope-picture/

Politics, Governance, and Management

26.   State of the Union – Trump's Plan for Rising Energy Costs: Pump Oil, Make Data Centers Pay (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trumps-plan-rising-energy-costs-040157119.html

27.   Why The Tab for Powering Data Centers Will Keep Rising — Despite Trump’s Pledge (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/why-the-tab-for-powering-data-centers-will-keep-rising-despite-trumps-pledge/

28.   U.S. Senate Must Act to Fix ‘Broken Permitting Process,’ Say 600 Groups (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/51269-senate-must-act-to-fix-broken-permitting-process-say-600-groups/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   ‘Costs Will Keep Going Up’: WA Policy Center Says Carbon Dioxide Tax Is Driving Energy Bills Higher, Offers Savings Tips (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/gee-and-ursula/co2-tax-energy-bills-higher/4208003

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

‘Chocolate Theft’ Is on the Rise in the UK; Some Stores Are Taking Action

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3gqr7p0lqo

Ohio Sanitation Worker Surprised to Find Police Suspect in Trash Can

https://apnews.com/article/trash-can-police-chase-ohio-0d8f828e442bce6cb4e6bc07ad124e1c

A Bumper Berry Harvest Has New Zealand's Weird Flightless Parrot in a Rare Mood for Romance

https://courthousenews.com/a-bumper-berry-harvest-has-new-zealands-weird-flightless-parrot-in-a-rare-mood-for-romance/

Canadian Man Escapes Attacking Turkeys by Getting into Stranger's Car

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/02/25/canada-Ottawa-turkeys-chase-man/7251772035813/

Song of the Day

Josh Groban - Pure Imagination

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSXkVh9LmDQ

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.