The Energy News Digest for March 4, 2026

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors The Energy News Digest. 

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

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

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Federal Regulators Approve NorthWestern Proposal for New Colstrip Shares

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21.   Rising Costs of Broadband Construction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

30.   Solar Power’s Newest Friends: MAGA Influencers

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

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

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

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

Word of the Day

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

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

Energy & Utility Issues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fish & Wildlife

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

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

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

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

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

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

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

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

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

London Calling –Telecommunications

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

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

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

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

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

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

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

HAL’s Internet Café

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

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

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

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

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

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

I Sing the Car Electric

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

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

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

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

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

Politics, Governance, and Management

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Things to Know About Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

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

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

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Song of the Day

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

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

Links & Paywall Advisory

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

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

The Energy News Digest for March 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

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