The Energy News Digest for August 31, 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.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Nepal Teams Seek Hundreds Trapped in Hydropower Tunnels After Deadly Floods (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/31/nepal-tibet-floods-rescuers-hundreds-trapped-hydropower

Wildfire in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Is Now Top Priority in the Nation (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/fire-okanogan-wenatchee-national-forest-top-priority/281-a7d68459-1578-4555-89cf-0aaf5dc0debb

President Trump Declares Emergency, Moves to Block Some Foreign-Made Equipment from Grid (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/trump-declares-emergency-moves-to-block-some-foreign-made-equipment-from-g/828959/

U.S. Says Chinese Hackers Broke into Justice Department, NASA, Federal Reserve, Senate (Reuters – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/us-says-chinese-hackers-broke-into-justice-department-nasa-federal-reserve-senate-224727358.html

Oregon: E-Bike Injuries Up 250% in Eugene Area as Popularity, Complaints Surge (Eugene Register-Guard, OR – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/e-bike-injuries-250-eugene-110110251.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Nepal Teams Seek Hundreds Trapped in Hydropower Tunnels After Deadly Floods

2.      President Trump Declares Emergency, Moves to Block Some Foreign-Made Equipment from Grid

3.      Montana: NorthWestern Customers Report ‘Significant Increase’ in Bills; PSC Reviewing Complaints

4.      ‘I Saw the Dust Kick Up’: Worker Says He Was Inches from Bullet After Man Allegedly Shot at Tree Removal Crew

5.      WA State: City of Lacey Underestimates Power Bill by $1.7 Million. What Caused the Spike?

6.      Army to Spend $2 Billion to Build Nuclear Microreactors at 5 Bases as U.S. Seeks to Ramp Up Nuclear Power

7.      The Northwest Power & Conservation Council Requests Public Comment on Its Draft Ninth Power Plan by October 16.

8.      Collaboration Could Be a Win-Win for Cascading Hydropower

9.      Engineers Sent Robotic ‘Sensor Fish’ Through a Columbia River Dam, Then Subjected 5,767 Young Salmon to the Same Pressure Drop — Revealing That Turbine Blades Are Rarely What Kill Them

10.   Quagga Mussels Detected Again in Idaho, But Numbers Are Down as Ag Department Makes Eradication Push

11.   Yellowstone National Park to Conduct Invasive Species Removal to Preserve Cutthroat Trout

12.   WA State: ‘This Event Looks to Be Extreme’: Low Oxygen Linked to ‘Extensive’ Hood Canal Fish Kill

13.   Skagit PUD Program Shares Surplus Water Rights with Farmers. Should It Continue?

14.   California Lawmakers Reach Deal in High-Stakes Fight Over Regulating Data Centers

15.   U.S. Says Chinese Hackers Broke into Justice Department, NASA, Federal Reserve, Senate

16.   Artificial Intelligence Agents Are Hacking Without Human Oversight. How Did We Get Here?

17.   Tim Cook Shares Emotional Farewell on Final Day as Apple CEO

18.   Oregon: E-Bike Injuries Up 250% in Eugene Area as Popularity, Complaints Surge

19.   British Columbia: Electric Vehicle Charger Thefts on the Rise as Value of Copper Reaches Record High

20.   Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks Will Be Able to Run from Baja to Canada, West Coast Leaders Pledge

21.   California Sues Trump Administration Over Offshore Wind Payments

22.   California Lawmakers Strike Wildfire Deal That Leaves Out Most of Newsom’s Big Demands

23.   Thousands of State Workers Set to Walk Out Monday as Contract Talks Stall

24.   Wildfire in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Is Now Top Priority in the Nation

25.   With Cool/Wet Weather Ahead, The Wildfire Threat Will Rapidly Decline over the Pacific Northwest

26.   Old Farmer’s Almanac 2026 Forecasts ‘Mostly Mild’ Winter

27.   Wooden versus Metal Poles

Word of the Day

Sangfroid \sawn-FWAH\ Noun – Self-possession or imperturbability, especially under strain – Etymology: French sang-froid, literally, cold blood

“Watch what happens when I open this breaker,” cackled the scientist. Instantly, the entire eastern seaboard went dark, sparking a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission study into the hiring of “mad scientists with sangfroid tendencies.” Unfortunately, it also spawned 250 new regulations as part of the National Energy Reliability Corporation’s rule-making activities.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Nepal Teams Seek Hundreds Trapped in Hydropower Tunnels After Deadly Floods (The Guardian, UK)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/31/nepal-tibet-floods-rescuers-hundreds-trapped-hydropower

2.      President Trump Declares Emergency, Moves to Block Some Foreign-Made Equipment from Grid (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/trump-declares-emergency-moves-to-block-some-foreign-made-equipment-from-g/828959/

3.      Montana: NorthWestern Customers Report ‘Significant Increase’ in Bills; PSC Reviewing Complaints (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2026/08/27/northwestern-customers-report-significant-increase-in-bills-psc-reviewing-complaints/

4.      ‘I Saw the Dust Kick Up’: Worker Says He Was Inches from Bullet After Man Allegedly Shot at Tree Removal Crew (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/i-saw-the-dust-kick-up-worker-says-he-was-inches-from-bullet-after-man-allegedly-shot-at-tree-removal-crew/

5.      WA State: City of Lacey Underestimates Power Bill by $1.7 Million. What Caused the Spike? (The Olympian, WA – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/lacey-underestimates-power-bill-by-1-7-million-what-caused-the-spike/ar-AA2b7R1L

6.      Army to Spend $2 Billion to Build Nuclear Microreactors at 5 Bases as U.S. Seeks to Ramp Up Nuclear Power (ABC News)

https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/army-spend-2b-build-nuclear-microreactors-5-bases-135985595

7.      The Northwest Power & Conservation Council Requests Public Comment on Its Draft Ninth Power Plan by October 16. (Northwest Power & Conservation Council)

https://www.nwcouncil.org/energy/ninthpowerplan/

8.      Collaboration Could Be a Win-Win for Cascading Hydropower (National Laboratory of the Rockies)

https://www.nlr.gov/news/detail/program/2026/collaboration-could-be-a-win-win-for-cascading-hydropower

Fish & Wildlife

9.      Engineers Sent Robotic ‘Sensor Fish’ Through a Columbia River Dam, Then Subjected 5,767 Young Salmon to the Same Pressure Drop — Revealing That Turbine Blades Are Rarely What Kill Them (Space Daily)

https://spacedaily.com/b-engineers-sent-robotic-sensor-fish-through-a-columbia-river-dam-then-subjected-5767-young-salmon-to-the-same-pressure-drop-revealing-that-turbine-blades-are-rarely-what-kill-them-their/

10.   Quagga Mussels Detected Again in Idaho, But Numbers Are Down as Ag Department Makes Eradication Push (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/08/27/repub/quagga-mussels-detected-again-in-idaho-but-numbers-are-down-as-ag-department-makes-eradication-push/

11.   Yellowstone National Park to Conduct Invasive Species Removal to Preserve Cutthroat Trout (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/08/31/repub/yellowstone-national-park-to-conduct-invasive-species-removal-to-preserve-cutthroat-trout/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

12.   WA State: ‘This Event Looks to Be Extreme’: Low Oxygen Linked to ‘Extensive’ Hood Canal Fish Kill (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/low-oxygen-kills-extensive-hood-canal-marine-life/281-79a67d43-5a78-491a-9fe1-1a6b05fbe432

Water, Water Anywhere?

13.   Skagit PUD Program Shares Surplus Water Rights with Farmers. Should It Continue? (Cascadia Daily News)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/aug/27/skagit-pud-program-shares-surplus-water-rights-with-farmers-should-it-continue/

HAL’s Internet Café

14.   California Lawmakers Reach Deal in High-Stakes Fight Over Regulating Data Centers (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/california-lawmakers-reach-deal-high-212527708.html

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

15.   U.S. Says Chinese Hackers Broke into Justice Department, NASA, Federal Reserve, Senate (Reuters – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/us-says-chinese-hackers-broke-into-justice-department-nasa-federal-reserve-senate-224727358.html

16.   Artificial Intelligence Agents Are Hacking Without Human Oversight. How Did We Get Here? (KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA)

https://www.kcra.com/article/ai-agents-hacking-how-did-it-happen/73571406

17.   Tim Cook Shares Emotional Farewell on Final Day as Apple CEO (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/tech/tim-cook-shares-emotional-farewell-final-day-apple-ceo

I Sing the Car Electric

18.   Oregon: E-Bike Injuries Up 250% in Eugene Area as Popularity, Complaints Surge (Eugene Register-Guard, OR – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/e-bike-injuries-250-eugene-110110251.html

19.   British Columbia: Electric Vehicle Charger Thefts on the Rise as Value of Copper Reaches Record High (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ev-charger-thefts-rise-9.7323039

20.   Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks Will Be Able to Run from Baja to Canada, West Coast Leaders Pledge (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/electric-heavy-duty-trucks-able-100000966.html

Politics, Governance, and Management

21.   California Sues Trump Administration Over Offshore Wind Payments (Utility Dive – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/california-sues-trump-administration-over-103856138.html

22.   California Lawmakers Strike Wildfire Deal That Leaves Out Most of Newsom’s Big Demands (States Newsroom)

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/california-lawmakers-strike-wildfire-deal-leaves-out-most-newsoms-big-demands

23.   Thousands of State Workers Set to Walk Out Monday as Contract Talks Stall (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/thousands-state-workers-set-walk-out-monday/3USMAJW5XZBRPBDMBAV6HZO3KQ/

Other Things to Know About Today

24.   Wildfire in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Is Now Top Priority in the Nation (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/fire-okanogan-wenatchee-national-forest-top-priority/281-a7d68459-1578-4555-89cf-0aaf5dc0debb

25.   With Cool/Wet Weather Ahead, The Wildfire Threat Will Rapidly Decline over the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2026/08/with-coolwet-weather-ahead-wildfire.html

26.   Old Farmer’s Almanac 2026 Forecasts ‘Mostly Mild’ Winter (USA Today – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/us-says-chinese-hackers-broke-into-justice-department-nasa-federal-reserve-senate-224727358.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

27.   Wooden versus Metal Poles (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2026/08/28/wooden-versus-metal-poles/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Pope Leo Officially Has a White Sox Pope Hat, And It’s Glorious

https://www.mlb.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-gifted-pope-hat-from-white-sox-giveaway

50,000 Cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon Vanish in Beer Heist

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/50-000-cans-pbr-vanish-222445116.html

Finally, An Economic Indicator You Can Eat – The Humble Corn Dog

https://www.npr.org/2026/08/30/nx-s1-5949338/finally-an-economic-indicator-you-can-eat

Five Pounds & One Crown Heavier: We Have Our First-Ever Fat Marmot Week Winner

https://www.kcra.com/article/fat-marmot-week-2026-winner/73569881

Song of the Day

Marvin Gaye – Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4w6bud1Mag

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 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.