Wednesday, July 29, 2026

The Energy News Digest for July 29, 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

WA State: Kitsap Voters to Decide on Public Power Authority This Fall (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/kitsap-voters-decide-public-power-003653548.html

Five states – Including Idaho & Utah – Offer to Accept Nuclear Waste in Exchange for Help Developing Nuclear Energy (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/civilian-nuclear-energy-waste-states-campus-93d014e414bed86765e26d4572448a15

Oregon: Salem Residents Rage Against Proposed Data Center & City NDA That Kept Plans Secret (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2026/07/salem-residents-rage-against-proposed-data-center-and-city-nda-that-kept-plans-secret.html

Willamette River Reservoirs Are Low, Leaving Managers with Fewer Options on How to Manage Them (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/28/oregon-willamette-river-valley-basin-reservoirs-low/

Oregon on Track for Record Fire Year After Wildfire Total Hits Grim Milestone (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2026/07/oregon-on-track-for-record-fire-year-after-wildfire-total-hits-grim-milestone.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      WA State: Kitsap Voters to Decide on Public Power Authority This Fall

2.      Five states – Including Idaho & Utah – Offer to Accept Nuclear Waste in Exchange for Help Developing Nuclear Energy

3.      Antares Raises $470 Million to Build Nuclear Reactors for the U.S. Military

4.      As Winter Approaches, Southcentral Alaska Utilities Are Worried About Running Short of Gas

5.      Fall River Electric Announces Partnership on New Power Plant

6.      Utah: ‘The Pipeline Is Gone’: Beaver City Looks to Rebuild Hydroelectric System Destroyed by Flood

7.      Arizona: Groups Formally Oppose Pumped Storage Proposal Targeting Black Mesa

8.      WA State: Badger Mountain Solar Project Withdrawn After Colville Tribes Opposition

9.      Leaders in Northeast British Columbia Push Back Against Province’s Plan to Fast Track New Wind Farms

10.   Montana: Missoula Government Officials Approve Clean Energy Program Agreement

11.   WA State: Pierce County Is Creating a Solar Array on An Old Landfill on the Key Peninsula

12.   Podcast: Bringing Solar Energy to the Wind River Reservation

13.   The U.S. Clean Energy Boom Will Continue to 2030. Then Things Get Hazy.

14.   75 of These Whales Remain. A New West Coast Pipeline Would Be ‘Devastating’ for Them, Experts Say

15.   The EPA Halted a Study on Gas Stoves & Asthma. But Even Partial Results Were Striking.

16.   Willamette River Reservoirs Are Low, Leaving Managers with Fewer Options on How to Manage Them

17.   Army Corps of Engineers Uses Released Water from Dworshak Reservoir to Cool River Temperature

18.   Oregon: Salem Residents Rage Against Proposed Data Center & City NDA That Kept Plans Secret

19.   Hillsboro Bans New Data Centers in Surprise City Council Meeting

20.   Pro-Data Center Industry Group Behind Ad Campaign in Oregon, Six Other States

21.   OpenAI’s Rogue Agent Compromised a Customer at a Second Tech Firm, Executive Says

22.   Electric Vehicle Sales Lag as Hybrid Cars Becoming Top-Sellers in California

23.   Here’s Where Trump Has Canceled Wind Farms – And How States Are Pushing Back

24.   Trump Administration Bans Foreign-Made Robots & Power Gear Amid Fears of Chinese Influence

25.   Oregon on Track for Record Fire Year After Wildfire Total Hits Grim Milestone

26.   Hurricane Genevieve to Bring Massive Swells, Life-Threatening Surf, Rip Currents to SoCal

Word of the Day – The Homeric Edition

Theoxenia /thee-oh-ZEE-nee-yah/ Noun – Hospitality towards a god who visits as a guest. Also known as Zeus’ Law.

Word Origin: There are gods wandering the Earth disguised as humans, and therefore we have an obligation to treat others – particularly strangers or people we don’t know or understand – as we would want to be treated ourselves. With compassion, honor, and generosity.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      WA State: Kitsap Voters to Decide on Public Power Authority This Fall (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/kitsap-voters-decide-public-power-003653548.html

2.      Five states – Including Idaho & Utah – Offer to Accept Nuclear Waste in Exchange for Help Developing Nuclear Energy (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/civilian-nuclear-energy-waste-states-campus-93d014e414bed86765e26d4572448a15

3.      Antares Raises $470 Million to Build Nuclear Reactors for the U.S. Military (Tech Crunch)

https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/27/antares-raises-470m-to-build-nuclear-reactors-for-the-u-s-military/

4.      As Winter Approaches, Southcentral Alaska Utilities Are Worried About Running Short of Gas (Juneau Independent, AK)

https://www.juneauindependent.com/post/as-winter-approaches-southcentral-alaska-utilities-are-worried-about-running-short-of-gas

5.      Fall River Electric Announces Partnership on New Power Plant (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

https://localnews8.com/news/top-stories/2026/07/27/fall-river-electric-announces-partnership-on-new-power-plant/

6.      Utah: ‘The Pipeline Is Gone’: Beaver City Looks to Rebuild Hydroelectric System Destroyed by Flood (KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.abc4.com/utah-weather/utah-flooding/beaver-city-rebuild-hydroelectric-system/

7.      Arizona: Groups Formally Oppose Pumped Storage Proposal Targeting Black Mesa (Tó Nizhóní Ání)

https://tonizhoniani.org/groups-formally-oppose-pumped-storage-proposal-targeting-black-mesa/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      WA State: Badger Mountain Solar Project Withdrawn After Colville Tribes Opposition (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/badger-mountain-solar-project-withdrawn-after-colville-tribes-opposition/article_a4b1d7c1-63e6-4778-bd8f-a27c1d6e7215.html

9.      Leaders in Northeast British Columbia Push Back Against Province’s Plan to Fast Track New Wind Farms (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/peace-region-bcer-wind-projects-cumulative-impacts-9.7286326

10.   Montana: Missoula Government Officials Approve Clean Energy Program Agreement (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-officials-approve-clean-energy-program-agreement

11.   WA State: Pierce County Is Creating a Solar Array on An Old Landfill on the Key Peninsula (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/local/2026-07-28/pierce-county-is-creating-a-solar-array-on-an-old-landfill-on-the-key-peninsula

12.   Podcast: Bringing Solar Energy to the Wind River Reservation (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2026-07-29/bringing-solar-energy-to-the-wind-river-reservation

13.   The U.S. Clean Energy Boom Will Continue to 2030. Then Things Get Hazy. (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/us-clean-energy-boom-rhodium

Fish & Wildlife

14.   75 of These Whales Remain. A New West Coast Pipeline Would Be ‘Devastating’ for Them, Experts Say (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/southern-resident-killer-whales-alberta-bc-oil-pipeline-9.7282483?cmp=rss

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

15.   The EPA Halted a Study on Gas Stoves & Asthma. But Even Partial Results Were Striking. (Washington Post – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/general/the-epa-halted-a-study-on-gas-stoves-and-asthma-but-even-partial-results-were-striking/ar-AA28Y6fu

Water, Water Anywhere?

16.   Willamette River Reservoirs Are Low, Leaving Managers with Fewer Options on How to Manage Them (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/28/oregon-willamette-river-valley-basin-reservoirs-low/

17.   Army Corps of Engineers Uses Released Water from Dworshak Reservoir to Cool River Temperature (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/07/27/army-corps-of-engineers-uses-released-water-from-dworshak-reservoir-to-cool-river-temperature/

HAL’s Internet Café

18.   Oregon: Salem Residents Rage Against Proposed Data Center & City NDA That Kept Plans Secret (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2026/07/salem-residents-rage-against-proposed-data-center-and-city-nda-that-kept-plans-secret.html

19.   Hillsboro Bans New Data Centers in Surprise City Council Meeting (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/hillsboro-bans-new-data-centers-in-surprise-city-council-meeting/ar-AA28OIWx

20.   Pro-Data Center Industry Group Behind Ad Campaign in Oregon, Six Other States (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/07/28/repub/pro-data-center-industry-group-behind-ad-campaign-in-oregon-six-other-states/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

21.   OpenAI’s Rogue Agent Compromised a Customer at a Second Tech Firm, Executive Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/openais-rogue-agent-compromised-an-account-second-tech-firm-sources-say-2026-07-28/

I Sing the Car Electric

22.   Electric Vehicle Sales Lag as Hybrid Cars Becoming Top-Sellers in California (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/electric-vehicle-sales-lag-as-hybrid-cars-becoming-top-sellers-in-california/

Politics, Governance, and Management

23.   Here’s Where Trump Has Canceled Wind Farms – And How States Are Pushing Back (Christian Science Monitor)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2026/0729/wind-farms-energy-power-trump

24.   Trump Administration Bans Foreign-Made Robots & Power Gear Amid Fears of Chinese Influence (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/trump-administration-bans-foreign-made-robots-and-power-gear-amid-fears-of-chinese-influence-01013995

Other Things to Know About Today

25.   Oregon on Track for Record Fire Year After Wildfire Total Hits Grim Milestone (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2026/07/oregon-on-track-for-record-fire-year-after-wildfire-total-hits-grim-milestone.html

26.   Hurricane Genevieve to Bring Massive Swells, Life-Threatening Surf, Rip Currents to SoCal (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/big-waves-hurricane-genevieve-bring-170849437.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

TSA Finds Civil War-Era Cannonballs in Checked Bag at Alabama Airport

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/tsa-finds-civil-war-era-180410787.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Video: Divers Clean Christ of the Abyss Statue on Seabed Off Coast of Italy

https://apnews.com/video/divers-clean-christ-of-the-abyss-statue-on-seabed-off-coast-of-italy-83ecbd4b2b4e4731a9a2a21c4ed65881

‘The Wallet That Came Home’: Lowell High Renovation Uncovers Wallet Lost in 1972

https://www.wcvb.com/article/the-wallet-that-came-home-lowell-high-school/73289691

KFC Founder Colonel Sanders’ Home, Memorabilia Set for Auction in Kentucky

https://www.wlwt.com/article/colonel-sanders-kfc-auction-memorabilia-home-kentucky/73171326

Song of the Day

Steely Dan – My Old School

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK7239PSOs8

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.

Monday, July 27, 2026

The Energy News Digest for July 27, 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.

Build Your Leadership Skills in Spokane

If you are a supervisor or manager, or planning to step into a leadership role, it’s time to plan to attend NWPPA’s Leadership Skills Series. Starting in September, NWPPA will offer four Leadership Skills Series courses in Spokane, Washington: Challenging Communication (Sept. 15-16), HR Basics and Building a More Effective Workplace (Oct. 6-7), Understanding SLII Work Styles (Nov. 3-4), and Supervising Union Employees (Dec. 8-9). The early-bird rate for Challenging Communication ends Aug. 1, so don’t wait to register.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Blackout Fears Erupt as 17 U.S. States Are Placed Under Power Emergency (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/general/blackout-fears-erupt-as-17-us-states-are-placed-under-power-emergency/ar-AA28NIEA

White House Expands Data Center Electricity Cost Pledge to Utilities, States (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5984187-white-house-data-center-electricity-cost/

OpenAI Didn't Realize Its Agent Was Responsible for Hack for a Week: Report (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/openai-didnt-realize-its-agent-was-responsible-hack-week-report

Heat Dome to Deliver Extreme Temperatures, High Wildfire Risk to West (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/heat-dome-deliver-extreme-temperatures-163703998.html

A Long-Term Water Supply Forecast Predicts Shortages, Droughts in Washington's Columbia Basin (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/local/2026-07-22/a-long-term-water-supply-forecast-predicts-shortages-droughts-in-washingtons-columbia-basin

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Blackout Fears Erupt as 17 U.S. States Are Placed Under Power Emergency

2.      News Release: Energy Secretary Secures Grid Across 17 States Amid Period of Hot Weather

3.      White House Expands Data Center Electricity Cost Pledge to Utilities, States

4.      APPA Signs White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Corwin Attends Related Event – PNW Signatories include Public Power Council, Snohomish County PUD, and Northern Wasco County PUD

5.      Seattle City Light Customers Hit with Rate Hikes

6.      Oregonians Can Comment on a Proposed Pacific Power Rate Increase

7.      FERC Eyes ‘Grid-Enhancing Technology’ Incentives: Chairman Swett

8.      Washington State’s Clean-Energy Bottleneck Leads to Calls for Reform

9.      Scalable Geothermal Plants Are Coming to Northern Utah

10.   Canada Is Turning Forgotten Reservoirs & Toxic Mining Ponds into Floating Solar “Power Plants” That Could Generate Electricity without Using New Land

11.   Hydrostorage Uses Water — And a Lot of It

12.   For Yukon River Residents, Salmon Shortages Have Health Consequences

13.   British Columbia: Evidence Grows for Chinook Spawning in Columbia River

14.   The State of Whale Watching in Washington: What Goes into It & What Could Put It at Risk

15.   Climate Commission Proposes Bigger Goals for Storing Planet-Warming Gas in Oregon Lands, Waters

16.   A Long-Term Water Supply Forecast Predicts Shortages, Droughts in Washington's Columbia Basin

17.   Colorado River Reservoirs Hit Record Lows as Government Threatens Major Cuts

18.   A Desert Town May Run Out of Water. Others Could Face the Same Fate.

19.   OpenAI Didn't Realize Its Agent Was Responsible for Hack for a Week: Report

20.   Where Agriculture Meets Technology: Inside the Small Washington Town That Became a Data Center Hub

21.   Seattle Approves Higher Electricity Rates for New Data Centers

22.   California to Offer a Novel $3,500 Rebate for First-Time Electric Vehicle Buyers

23.   The Pickle Is In, the Squint Is Out: Here Are the Newest Approved Emoji

24.   Trump Administration Admits Grants for Clean Energy Were Canceled Based on Politics

25.   Judge Orders EPA to Fund Climate Grants, Including $20 Million for Tribe in Nevada

26.   Heat Dome to Deliver Extreme Temperatures, High Wildfire Risk to West

27.   United States Wildfires – National Map

28.   Guest Essay: Energy Reliability Is What We Need to Talk About When It Comes to Power

29.   Guest Essay: No Data Center Moratorium for Richland. Here’s Why They Can’t

30.   Guest Essay: People Are Critical Infrastructure, Too. Utilities Must Do More or Lose Talent to Tech.

Word of the Day – Horrible Haiku Edition

Behemoth /bu-HEE-muth/ Noun – 1: Often capitalized: a mighty animal described in Job 40:15-24 as an example of the power of God 2: something of monstrous size, power, or appearance.

     Odd protest puppet

     Behemoth marshmallow man

     Shouts: “S’mores are Murder.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Blackout Fears Erupt as 17 U.S. States Are Placed Under Power Emergency (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/general/blackout-fears-erupt-as-17-us-states-are-placed-under-power-emergency/ar-AA28NIEA

2.      News Release: Energy Secretary Secures Grid Across 17 States Amid Period of Hot Weather (U.S. Dept. of Energy)

https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-secures-grid-across-17-states-amid-period-hot-weather

3.      White House Expands Data Center Electricity Cost Pledge to Utilities, States (The Hill, Washington, DC)

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5984187-white-house-data-center-electricity-cost/

4.      APPA Signs White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Corwin Attends Related Event – PNW Signatories include Public Power Council, Snohomish County PUD, and Northern Wasco County PUD (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/appa-signs-white-house-ratepayer-protection-pledge-corwin-attends-related-event

5.      Seattle City Light Customers Hit with Rate Hikes (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattle-city-light-customers-hit-with-rate-hikes/OHTI6HM24NEEJCOVW7D4RBCZZU/

6.      Oregonians Can Comment on a Proposed Pacific Power Rate Increase (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/25/pacific-power-seeking-rate-increase/

7.      FERC Eyes ‘Grid-Enhancing Technology’ Incentives: Chairman Swett (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-grid-enhancing-technology-incentives-atts-senate-hearing/825992/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

8.      Washington State’s Clean-Energy Bottleneck Leads to Calls for Reform (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-07-23/washington-states-clean-energy-bottleneck-leads-to-calls-for-reform

9.      Scalable Geothermal Plants Are Coming to Northern Utah (KSL Radio)

https://www.ksl.com/article/news/business/scalable-geothermal-plants-are-coming-to-northern-utah/51601539

10.   Canada Is Turning Forgotten Reservoirs & Toxic Mining Ponds into Floating Solar “Power Plants” That Could Generate Electricity without Using New Land (Energies Media)

https://energiesmedia.com/canada-floating-solar-power-plants-energy/

11.   Hydrostorage Uses Water — And a Lot of It (Columbia Gorge News, Hood River, OR)

https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/hydrostorage-uses-water-and-a-lot-of-it/article_d9cdb4b6-7918-4786-a16e-22ff90c24b35.html

Fish & Wildlife

12.   For Yukon River Residents, Salmon Shortages Have Health Consequences (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/07/24/repub/for-yukon-river-residents-salmon-shortages-have-health-consequences/

13.   British Columbia: Evidence Grows for Chinook Spawning in Columbia River (My Kootenay Now, BC)

https://www.mykootenaynow.com/75344/news/environment/fish-wildlife/evidence-grows-for-chinook-spawning-in-columbia-river/

14.   The State of Whale Watching in Washington: What Goes into It & What Could Put It at Risk (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/the-state-of-whale-watching-in-washington-what-goes-into-it-and-what-could-put-it-at-risk

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

15.   Climate Commission Proposes Bigger Goals for Storing Planet-Warming Gas in Oregon Lands, Waters (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/07/23/climate-commission-proposes-bigger-goals-for-storing-planet-warming-gas-in-oregon-lands-waters/

Water, Water Anywhere?

16.   A Long-Term Water Supply Forecast Predicts Shortages, Droughts in Washington's Columbia Basin (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

https://www.nwpb.org/local/2026-07-22/a-long-term-water-supply-forecast-predicts-shortages-droughts-in-washingtons-columbia-basin

17.   Colorado River Reservoirs Hit Record Lows as Government Threatens Major Cuts (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/colorado-river-reservoirs-hit-record-013342094.html

18.   A Desert Town May Run Out of Water. Others Could Face the Same Fate. (Washington Post – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/desert-town-may-run-water-100000943.html

HAL’s Internet Café

19.   OpenAI Didn't Realize Its Agent Was Responsible for Hack for a Week: Report (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/openai-didnt-realize-its-agent-was-responsible-hack-week-report

20.   Where Agriculture Meets Technology: Inside the Small Washington Town That Became a Data Center Hub (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/jul/26/where-agriculture-meets-technology-inside-the-smal/

21.   Seattle Approves Higher Electricity Rates for New Data Centers (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-07-22/seattle-approves-higher-electricity-rates-for-new-data-centers

I Sing the Car Electric

22.   California to Offer a Novel $3,500 Rebate for First-Time Electric Vehicle Buyers (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electric-vehicles/california-rebate-ev-buyers

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

23.   The Pickle Is In, the Squint Is Out: Here Are the Newest Approved Emoji (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/new-approved-emoji-pickle-cracked-face/

Politics, Governance, and Management

24.   Trump Administration Admits Grants for Clean Energy Were Canceled Based on Politics (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-grants-chris-wright-09d26d615869ce06dd6bb2c047f636cb

25.   Judge Orders EPA to Fund Climate Grants, Including $20 Million for Tribe in Nevada (Nevada Current)

https://nevadacurrent.com/briefs/judge-orders-epa-to-fund-climate-grants-including-20-million-for-tribe-in-nv/

Other Things to Know About Today

26.   Heat Dome to Deliver Extreme Temperatures, High Wildfire Risk to West (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/heat-dome-deliver-extreme-temperatures-163703998.html

27.   United States Wildfires – National Map (Current Wildfires)

https://currentwildfires.com/en/wildfires-united-states/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

28.   Guest Essay: Energy Reliability Is What We Need to Talk About When It Comes to Power (Seattle Times, WA – Via Save Our Wild Salmon)

https://www.wildsalmon.org/news-and-media/opinion/energy-reliability-is-what-we-need-to-talk-about-when-it-comes-to-power-seattle-times-opinion.html

29.   Guest Essay: No Data Center Moratorium for Richland. Here’s Why They Can’t (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/no-data-center-moratorium-richland-120000118.html

30.   Guest Essay: People Are Critical Infrastructure, Too. Utilities Must Do More or Lose Talent to Tech. (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/people-are-critical-infrastructure-too-utilities-must-do-more-or-lose-tal/824765/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Winnipeg Couple Becomes Unwitting Hosts to 'Musical Roommates' as Threatened Chimney Swifts Move In

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/chimney-swifts-winnipeg-protected-habitat-9.7274190

Woman Earns Guinness World Record with 106 Shark Tattoos

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/07/24/Guinness-World-Records-shark-tattoos/6641784906928/

Stuffed Donkey Returned to 5-Year-Old After Social Media Adventure

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/07/23/canada-Ferries-Churro-the-Burro-stuffed-donkey/9921784826162/

Pictures: Annual Mud Festival Opens in South Korea’s Coastal City of Boryeong

https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2026/annual-mud-festival-opens-in-south-koreas-coastal-city-of-boryeong-in-photos/

Song of the Day

Johnny Cash - I've Been Everywhere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoIfglXAbh0

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.