The Energy News Digest for August 26, 2026

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors The Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) will deliver breaking news throughout the week so you can stay informed.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest to keep up with the latest updates.

Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits The Energy News Digest.

Get the Early-Bird Rate for the 3 C’s Conference

Join customer service, credit, and collections professionals Oct. 13-15 in Anchorage, Alaska, for NWPPA’s 3 C’s Conference. This year’s conference will help you strengthen your communication skills, build resilience, prevent fraud, create a positive workplace culture, and more. Register by this Saturday, Aug. 29, to receive the early-bird rate and save $100.

To get even more value from your trip to Anchorage, come a day early for the optional pre-conference workshop, “Are You Talking to Me? Team Communication Strategies That Work.” Separate registration is required, and the early-bird deadline for the course ends this Friday, Aug. 28.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Columbia River Basin Drought Threatens Salmon & Power (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/columbia-river-basin-drought-threatens-130128246.html

PacifiCorp to Suspend California Energy Efficiency Programs Under Proposed Settlement (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pacificorp-suspend-california-energy-efficiency-programs/828721/

Bonneville Lock & Dam: How a Nearly 90-Year-Old Project Still Powers the Pacific Northwest (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/bonneville-dam-columbia-river-hydroelectric-power-history-fish-ladder/283-5d4b4f6e-d197-4379-b71d-8ffc8612bbd4

Wave Energy Testing Site Opens Off Oregon, A Green Energy Milestone in the Trump Administration (Associated Press)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/wave-energy-testing-opens-off-130542998.html

U.S.-Canada Trade War Threatens Electricity Imports, Prices (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-canada-trade-war-threatens-electricity-imports-prices/828689/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Columbia River Basin Drought Threatens Salmon & Power

2.      Bonneville Lock & Dam: How a Nearly 90-Year-Old Project Still Powers the Pacific Northwest

3.      Montana: State Energy Task Force Presents Recommendations, Calls for Reform of PSC & Developing Other Energy Sources

4.      Puget Sound Energy: Proposed Municipalization Effort in Kitsap County Could Put Customers at Risk

5.      Why Your Idaho Power Bill May Be Higher This Summer

6.      U.S. Sues California Utility Over 2020 Hobo Fire That Burned in Shasta-Trinity National Forest

7.      The Western Energy Market Must Shift as Power Flows Evolve, Say Experts

8.      Wave Energy Testing Site Opens Off Oregon, A Green Energy Milestone in the Trump Administration

9.      WA State: Grant County is Becoming Washington’s Solar ‘Ground Zero’ — Other Counties Are Taking Note

10.   As Ohio Grapples with Fake Comments on Clean Energy, Some Want Crackdown

11.   Growing Food & Power on the Same Land: California Researchers Test Agrivoltaics

12.   PacifiCorp to Suspend California Energy Efficiency Programs Under Proposed Settlement

13.   British Columbia: New Hatcheries Will See Up To 1 Million More Salmon Raised & Released into Fraser Skeena Rivers Annually

14.   Northern Pike Were Illegally Introduced to the Columbia River Basin Decades Ago: Today, the Invasive Predator Threatens 13 Protected Salmon Runs

15.   The World Inches Toward Catastrophic Climate Events: ‘Bigger Shocks Are on the Way’

16.   FCC Proposal Could Preempt Local Broadband Permitting Authority

17.   Amazon Completes Its Application for a Data Center in Walla Walla County

18.   Bill Gates Warns ‘There Is No Plan’ for the ‘Upheaval’ Artificial Intelligence Will Cause

19.   Mark Zuckerberg Had a Bold Plan to Replace Meta Staff with Artificial Intelligence. Here’s How It Imploded.

20.   In a Divided America, The Left & Right Unite to Oppose Artificial Intelligence Data Centers

21.   Hack of Water Sector Supplier Draws FBI Scrutiny as Iran-Linked Cyber Concerns Grow

22.   Could California’s 1 Million Electric Car Batteries Help Power the State’s Grid?

23.   Meta Reaches $17 Billion Settlement with States in Landmark Trial Over Teen Social Media Addiction

24.   U.S.-Canada Trade War Threatens Electricity Imports, Prices

25.   Northwest Late Summer Days Marred by Historic Drought, Exacerbating Wildfires

26.   The Great Cooling Has Started

27.   Guest Essay: A Dying Fish & Wildlife Commissioner’s Parting Letter to WA’s Governor

Quote of the Day

 “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

     --Dolly Parton

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Columbia River Basin Drought Threatens Salmon & Power (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/columbia-river-basin-drought-threatens-130128246.html

2.      Bonneville Lock & Dam: How a Nearly 90-Year-Old Project Still Powers the Pacific Northwest (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/bonneville-dam-columbia-river-hydroelectric-power-history-fish-ladder/283-5d4b4f6e-d197-4379-b71d-8ffc8612bbd4

3.      Montana: State Energy Task Force Presents Recommendations, Calls for Reform of PSC & Developing Other Energy Sources (KTMF-TV, Missoula, MT)

https://www.montanarightnow.com/helena/state-energy-task-force-present-recommendations-call-for-reform-of-psc-and-developing-other-energy/article_39fa1c39-73b3-4b98-a2f0-3c84f5d235b7.html

4.      Puget Sound Energy: Proposed Municipalization Effort in Kitsap County Could Put Customers at Risk (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/53529-proposed-municipalization-effort-in-kitsap-wash-could-put-customers-at-risk-says-pse/

5.      Why Your Idaho Power Bill May Be Higher This Summer (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/general/why-your-idaho-power-bill-may-be-higher-this-summer/ar-AA2aQVyH

6.      U.S. Sues California Utility Over 2020 Hobo Fire That Burned in Shasta-Trinity National Forest (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/hobo-fire-trinity-public-utility-district-lawsuit/73523018

7.      The Western Energy Market Must Shift as Power Flows Evolve, Say Experts (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/the-western-energy-market-must-shift-as-its-flows-evolve-say-experts/828263/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      Wave Energy Testing Site Opens Off Oregon, A Green Energy Milestone in the Trump Administration (Associated Press)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/wave-energy-testing-opens-off-130542998.html

9.      WA State: Grant County is Becoming Washington’s Solar ‘Ground Zero’ — Other Counties Are Taking Note (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/grant-county-is-becoming-washington-s-solar-ground-zero-and-other-counties-are-taking-notes/article_68488926-f93d-4d87-beda-860310e880fa.html

10.   As Ohio Grapples with Fake Comments on Clean Energy, Some Want Crackdown (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/ohio-fake-comments-clean-energy

11.   Growing Food & Power on the Same Land: California Researchers Test Agrivoltaics (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2026/08/25/growing-food-and-power-on-the-same-land-california-researchers-test-agrivoltaics

Conservation & Efficiency

12.   PacifiCorp to Suspend California Energy Efficiency Programs Under Proposed Settlement (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pacificorp-suspend-california-energy-efficiency-programs/828721/

Fish & Wildlife

13.   British Columbia: New Hatcheries Will See Up To 1 Million More Salmon Raised & Released into Fraser Skeena Rivers Annually (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-hatcheries-prince-george-williams-lake-gitanyow-9.7320530?cmp=rss

14.   Northern Pike Were Illegally Introduced to the Columbia River Basin Decades Ago: Today, the Invasive Predator Threatens 13 Protected Salmon Runs (Dario AS)

https://en.as.com/latest_news/northern-pike-were-illegally-introduced-to-the-columbia-river-basin-decades-ago-today-the-invasive-predator-threatens-13-protected-salmon-runs-f202608-n/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

15.   The World Inches Toward Catastrophic Climate Events: ‘Bigger Shocks Are on the Way’ (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-disaster-big-one-threat-5b062254250a759483c94376d32ae478

London Calling –Telecommunications

16.   FCC Proposal Could Preempt Local Broadband Permitting Authority (Conduit Street – Maryland Association of Counties)

https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2026/08/26/fcc-proposal-could-preempt-local-broadband-permitting-authority/

HAL’s Internet Café

17.   Amazon Completes Its Application for a Data Center in Walla Walla County (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/governments/amazon-completes-its-application-for-a-data-center-in-walla-walla-county/article_4eb06547-c4bb-4d28-9bd6-d4a695930154.html

18.   Bill Gates Warns ‘There Is No Plan’ for the ‘Upheaval’ Artificial Intelligence Will Cause (CNBC News)

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/26/bill-gates-ai-jobs-economic-upheaval.html

19.   Mark Zuckerberg Had a Bold Plan to Replace Meta Staff with Artificial Intelligence. Here’s How It Imploded. (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/investigations/mark-zuckerberg-had-bold-plan-replace-meta-staff-with-ai-heres-how-it-imploded-2026-08-26/

20.   In a Divided America, The Left & Right Unite to Oppose Artificial Intelligence Data Centers (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/data-centers-bipartisan-opposition-trump-democrats-a419be82fb6b32a8fc048ac7ffbd1de3

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

21.   Hack of Water Sector Supplier Draws FBI Scrutiny as Iran-Linked Cyber Concerns Grow (Reuters – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/cybersecurity/exclusive-hack-of-water-sector-supplier-draws-fbi-scrutiny-as-iran-linked-cyber-concerns-grow/ar-AA2aX9i8

I Sing the Car Electric

22.   Could California’s 1 Million Electric Car Batteries Help Power the State’s Grid? (KQED Radio, San Francisco, CA)

https://www.kqed.org/science/2001775/could-californias-1-million-electric-car-batteries-help-power-the-states-grid

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

23.   Meta Reaches $17 Billion Settlement with States in Landmark Trial Over Teen Social Media Addiction (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/meta-trial-instagram-settlement-97d342f2a33d835eda2356c5e1af9e37

Politics, Governance, and Management

24.   U.S.-Canada Trade War Threatens Electricity Imports, Prices (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-canada-trade-war-threatens-electricity-imports-prices/828689/

Other Things to Know About Today

25.   Northwest Late Summer Days Marred by Historic Drought, Exacerbating Wildfires (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/08/25/repub/northwest-late-summer-days-marred-by-historic-drought-exacerbating-wildfires/

26.   The Great Cooling Has Started (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-great-cooling-has-started.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

27.   Guest Essay: A Dying Fish & Wildlife Commissioner’s Parting Letter to WA’s Governor (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/08/25/a-dying-fish-and-wildlife-commissioners-parting-letter-to-was-governor/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Country Music Legend Dolly Parton Dies at 80 After 'Brief Battle with Cancer'

https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/dolly-parton-country-music-legend-cultural-icon-dead/story

Tim Curry, Famous for Roles in Rocky Horror Picture Show, It & Annie, Dies at 80

https://people.com/tim-curry-dead-obituary-8549935

Man Dons 17 T-Shirts While Continuously Heading a Soccer Ball

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/08/25/kosovo-Guinness-World-Records-T-shirts-soccer-ball/7621787677548/

Wisconsin Cat Born with Record-Breaking 29 Toes

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/08/24/Guinness-World-Records-most-toes-cat/6971787582316/

Song of the Day

Dolly Parton – Stairway to Heaven

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

Links & Paywall Advisory

The links in The Energy News Digest point to current news stories. Since media websites are updated often, some links might stop working over time.

I try to select stories that you can read without a subscription. Your experience may be different. The news source will let you know if there might be a paywall. Clearing your browser history and cookies can sometimes help you access these sites.

The Energy News Digest for August 24, 2026

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors The Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) will deliver breaking news throughout the week so you can stay informed.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest to keep up with the latest updates.

Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits The Energy News Digest.

Get the Early-Bird Rate for the 3 C’s Conference

Join customer service, credit, and collections professionals Oct. 13-15 in Anchorage, Alaska, for NWPPA’s 3 C’s Conference. This year’s conference will help you strengthen your communication skills, build resilience, prevent fraud, create a positive workplace culture, and more. Register by this Saturday, Aug. 29, to receive the early-bird rate and save $100.

To get even more value from your trip to Anchorage, come a day early for the optional pre-conference workshop, “Are You Talking to Me? Team Communication Strategies That Work.” Separate registration is required, and the early-bird deadline for the course ends this Friday, Aug. 28.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

As Colorado River Reservoirs Plummet, The Trump Administration Orders Water Cuts (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/colorado-river-reservoirs-plummet-trump-160111429.html

Conservation Group Speaks Out Against TransAlta Centralia Gas Plant, Claims It’s An ‘Expensive Retreat from Clean Energy Progress’ (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://chronline.com/stories/conservation-group-speaks-out-against-transalta-centralia-gas-plant-claims-its-an-expensive,406903

FCC Considers Cuts to Funds for Internet Access at Schools & Libraries (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0820/fcc-e-rate-libraries-schools

What We Know So Far About the Hacking Campaign Against U.S. Water Systems (Cybersecurity Dive)

https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-hacking-campaign-against-us-water-systems/828374/

Tesla Is Pulling the Plug on Its Solar Roof Tiles (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/tesla-is-pulling-the-plug-on-its-solar-roof-tiles-2000801552

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Conservation Group Speaks Out Against TransAlta Centralia Gas Plant, Claims It’s An ‘Expensive Retreat from Clean Energy Progress’

2.      Fall River Electric Backs New Power Plant to Keep Eastern Idaho’s Lights On

3.      Idaho Power to Sell Its Oregon Service Territory for $154 Million to Eastern Oregon Utility

4.      Thousands in Truckee, North Lake Tahoe Region Lost Power Due to Hawk Fire in Nevada

5.      America’s Hydropower Challenge Goes Beyond the West

6.      Protecting the Grid from Wildfires

7.      Tesla Is Pulling the Plug on Its Solar Roof Tiles

8.      WA State: Quincy Solar Energy Center – Tapping into the Sun

9.      Let There Be Sunlight: Vatican Plans Solar & Agriculture Plant to Cover Its Electricity Needs

10.   Hot Bites Bring Buoy 10 Rule Change, Offshore Salmon Closure

11.   Fall-Run Chinook Salmon Return to Olympia’s Deschutes River, Viewable from 5th Ave Bridge

12.   Record Gray Whale Deaths Hit Close to Home for Makah Tribe

13.   Osprey Nests: When a Conservation Success Story Literally Catches Fire, The Utilities Caught in the Middle Have to Choose Between Power & Wildlife.

14.   Earth Is Simmering in Its Hottest Water Temps on Record, and That’s Bad for Fish & Us

15.   World’s Oceans Hit Hottest Temperature on Record in August

16.   As Colorado River Reservoirs Plummet, The Trump Administration Orders Water Cuts

17.   Nevada Files Suit Over Colorado River Plan

18.   NASA Data Feeds River Forecasts as Snow Drought Effects Linger

19.   FCC Considers Cuts to Funds for Internet Access at Schools & Libraries

20.   What We Know So Far About the Hacking Campaign Against U.S. Water Systems

21.   UK Power Facility Disabled for Days After Suspected State-Linked Cyberattack

22.   Are Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Polluting the Air That You Breathe in WA?

23.   Is Vine Coming Back? Here’s What to Know

24.   Near-Total Lunar Eclipse Is Coming Up with the Americas in Prime Position

25.   Ontario’s Doug Ford Says Canada Should Be Ready to Cut Electricity, Critical Minerals to U.S. If Trade Fight Worsens

26.   Why One Highway Exploded This Summer — And Why Many More Are at Risk

27.   Guest Essay: The Future of the Northwest’s Power Grid Is at Risk. Where Is the Leadership?

28.   Guest Essay: The $15 Million Question: How Many Lower Snake River Dam Studies Are Enough?

Days of Our Lives – Today Is Hydropower Day

Cheers to Hydropower Day. Celebrate the water cycle that keeps power flowing every single day!

     Silent snow comes down

     Giver of power, comfort

     Nature’s timeless gift

https://www.sas.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/4576274/us-army-corps-of-engineers-recognizes-national-hydropower-day/

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Conservation Group Speaks Out Against TransAlta Centralia Gas Plant, Claims It’s An ‘Expensive Retreat from Clean Energy Progress’ (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://chronline.com/stories/conservation-group-speaks-out-against-transalta-centralia-gas-plant-claims-its-an-expensive,406903

2.      Fall River Electric Backs New Power Plant to Keep Eastern Idaho’s Lights On (East Idaho News, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://www.newsbreak.com/east-idaho-news-294731909/4845211916416-fall-river-electric-backs-new-power-plant-to-keep-eastern-idaho-s-lights-on

3.      Idaho Power to Sell Its Oregon Service Territory for $154 Million to Eastern Oregon Utility (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/22/idaho-power-sell-oregon-service-territory/

4.      Thousands in Truckee, North Lake Tahoe Region Lost Power Due to Hawk Fire in Nevada (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/truckee-donner-utility-customers-power-outage-hawk-fire/

5.      America’s Hydropower Challenge Goes Beyond the West (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/hydropower/hydropower-drought-west-lake-mead

6.      Protecting the Grid from Wildfires (Idaho National Laboratory)

https://inl.gov/feature-story/protecting-the-grid-from-wildfires/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

7.      Tesla Is Pulling the Plug on Its Solar Roof Tiles (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/tesla-is-pulling-the-plug-on-its-solar-roof-tiles-2000801552

8.      WA State: Quincy Solar Energy Center – Tapping into the Sun (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA – via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/tapping-sun-195400518.html

9.      Let There Be Sunlight: Vatican Plans Solar & Agriculture Plant to Cover Its Electricity Needs (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/vatican-build-100-million-renewable-energy-plant-sources-say-2026-08-22/

Fish & Wildlife

10.   Hot Bites Bring Buoy 10 Rule Change, Offshore Salmon Closure (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/08/hot-bites-bring-buoy-10-rule-change-offshore-salmon-closure.html

11.   Fall-Run Chinook Salmon Return to Olympia’s Deschutes River, Viewable from 5th Ave Bridge (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/salmon-return-to-olympia-deschutes-river-habitat-conservation-clean-water-stream-team-fall-run-chinook-salmon-heritage-park

12.   Record Gray Whale Deaths Hit Close to Home for Makah Tribe (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/makah-tribe-grapples-with-record-gray-whale-deaths/281-a0d041f6-c98f-4818-b66e-ed90b08f3866

13.   Osprey Nests: When a Conservation Success Story Literally Catches Fire, The Utilities Caught in the Middle Have to Choose Between Power & Wildlife. (Science Blog)

https://scienceblog.com/b-osprey-nests-on-american-power-poles-can-weigh-200-pounds-and-set-the-poles-they-sit-on-alight-and-one-burning-nest-in-may-cut-power-to-3500-cape-cod-homes-while-sixth-graders-sat-a-standardized-exa/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

14.   Earth Is Simmering in Its Hottest Water Temps on Record, and That’s Bad for Fish & Us (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/hottest-oceans-climate-change-el-nino-fisheries-9dd6ecf3b358a89d2b3a5468d69dbdbc

15.   World’s Oceans Hit Hottest Temperature on Record in August (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/24/worlds-oceans-hit-hottest-temperature-on-record-in-august

Water, Water Anywhere?

16.   As Colorado River Reservoirs Plummet, The Trump Administration Orders Water Cuts (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/colorado-river-reservoirs-plummet-trump-160111429.html

17.   Nevada Files Suit Over Colorado River Plan (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/nevada-files-suit-over-colorado-river-plan/

18.   NASA Data Feeds River Forecasts as Snow Drought Effects Linger (NASA)

https://science.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/nasa-river-forecasts-snow-drought/

London Calling –Telecommunications

19.   FCC Considers Cuts to Funds for Internet Access at Schools & Libraries (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0820/fcc-e-rate-libraries-schools

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

20.   What We Know So Far About the Hacking Campaign Against U.S. Water Systems (Cybersecurity Dive)

https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-hacking-campaign-against-us-water-systems/828374/

21.   UK Power Facility Disabled for Days After Suspected State-Linked Cyberattack (Cybersecurity Dive)

https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/uk-power-facility-disabled-Iran-cyberattack/828599/

I Sing the Car Electric

22.   Are Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Polluting the Air That You Breathe in WA? (KONA Radio, Pasco, WA)

https://610kona.com/ixp/1135/p/ev-charging-pollution-concerns-wa/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

23.   Is Vine Coming Back? Here’s What to Know (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/vine-coming-back-explained/73509848

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

24.   Near-Total Lunar Eclipse Is Coming Up with the Americas in Prime Position (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/lunar-eclipse-moon-sun-3c47d7a9f1a7f1a5e6c96456e44395b8

Politics, Governance, and Management

25.   Ontario’s Doug Ford Says Canada Should Be Ready to Cut Electricity, Critical Minerals to U.S. If Trade Fight Worsens (Associated Press)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/us--canada-tariffs-144311118.html

Other Things to Know About Today

26.   Why One Highway Exploded This Summer — And Why Many More Are at Risk (Washington Post – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/why-one-highway-exploded-this-summer--and-why-many-more-are-at-risk-090000195.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

27.   Guest Essay: The Future of the Northwest’s Power Grid Is at Risk. Where Is the Leadership? (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/08/21/the-future-of-the-northwests-power-grid-is-at-risk-where-is-the-leadership/

28.   Guest Essay: The $15 Million Question: How Many Lower Snake River Dam Studies Are Enough? (Cascade Policy Institute)

https://cascadepolicy.org/economic-opportunity/chelsea-martin-the-15-million-question-how-many-lower-snake-river-dam-studies-are-enough/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

How More Than 1,000 Artifacts Were Found in a Dumpster, Then Returned to Mexico

https://www.npr.org/2026/08/21/nx-s1-5939849/how-more-than-1-000-artifacts-were-found-in-a-dumpster-then-returned-to-mexico

Buc-ee’s Chain Draws Outcry in Ohio for Launching Fight Over a Mini Mart’s Beaver Logo

https://apnews.com/article/bucees-ohio-trademark-lawsuit-beaver-mini-mart-7aceb65a23ffdf0514df67fbe3cc6b91

German Finger Wrestling Championships Held in Bavaria

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/08/24/germany-german-finger-wrestling-championships/3481787591764/

World's Fastest Motorized Clog Shoe Exceeds 70 MPH

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/08/21/netherlands-Guinness-World-Records-fastest-motorized-clog-shoe/7791787326752/

Song of the Day

James Taylor – Mexico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcBvOH5Zv1w

Links & Paywall Advisory

The links in The Energy News Digest point to current news stories. Since media websites are updated often, some links might stop working over time.

I try to select stories that you can read without a subscription. Your experience may be different. The news source will let you know if there might be a paywall. Clearing your browser history and cookies can sometimes help you access these sites.