The Energy News Digest for March 5, 2025

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.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Including Bonneville Offices – Three Federal Buildings in Portland Appear on ‘For Sale’ List by Trump Administration (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/bpa-edith-green-wedell-wyatt-buildings-appear-on-for-sale-list-by-trump-administration

The U.S. Supreme Court Confronts a National Headache: What to Do with the Growing Pile of Nuclear Waste (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-nuclear-waste-texas-new-mexico-a426602c562f3a43696f0a2a9760ffde

U.S. Supreme Court Makes It Harder for EPA to Police Sewage Discharges (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-san-francisco-water-pollution-6874dc505a394d9181b17a0aef41406f

Montana: Bill to Allow Community Solar Projects Clears Senate (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2025/03/04/bill-to-allow-community-solar-projects-clears-senate/

Canadian Province Leader Threatens to Cut Off Energy to Three U.S. States, Imposes 25% Surcharge (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/04/ontario-canada-tariff-retaliation-energy-states/81350351007/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      The U.S. Supreme Court Confronts a National Headache: What to Do with the Growing Pile of Nuclear Waste

2.      ‘Get the Junk Out of Our Rates’ Bill Could Limit How Oregon Utilities Pay for Lobbying, Ads

3.      Western Wyoming Electric Utility Again Proposes Using Jackson Lake Dam for Hydropower

4.      Wyoming: Meier, Gray Believe Land Purchase in Washington Could Open Way for Coal Exports

5.      Ice Harbor Lock & Dam Honored as Infrastructure Project of the Year – American Shotcrete Association

6.      Focus on Workforce Development – Features Insights from Foundation for Water and Energy Education Leader

7.      Including Bonneville Offices – Three Federal Buildings in Portland Appear on ‘For Sale’ List by Trump Administration

8.      Federal Office in Boise Stewards Idaho Water, Hydropower. Under Trump, It Might Lose Lease

9.      Trump Administration Releases List of Federal Properties It Could Close. Here Are the Washington Locations

10.   Northwest Energy Experts Say Trump ‘Plays with Fire’ with Cuts to Bonneville Power Administration

11.   Trump Administration Dramatically Cuts Staff at Water Agency in California

12.   Montana: Bill to Allow Community Solar Projects Clears Senate

13.   Institute for Northwest Energy Futures to Demonstrate Dual-Use Capability of Solar Panels in Apple Production

14.   Battle of the Thermostat: The Science Behind Your Central Heating Arguments

15.   Killer Whales Amaze Seattle Onlookers with a Rarely Seen Bird Hunt

16.   U.S. Supreme Court Makes It Harder for EPA to Police Sewage Discharges

17.   Almost 90% of Climate Commitment Act-Funded Projects in Washington Don’t Reduce Carbon Emissions

18.   Killing Hot Spots for Students

19.   Los Alamos DPU Conducts Student Essay Contest as Part of Effort Organized by UAMPS

20.   Mass Firings Across National Weather Service, NOAA Ignite Fury Among Scientists Worldwide

21.   Canadian Province Leader Threatens to Cut Off Energy to Three U.S. States, Imposes 25% Surcharge

22.   The Obscure State Agency That Referees WA’s Green Energy Battles

23.   Millions in Path of Deadly Storm Bringing Fierce Winds, Blizzard Conditions & Tornado Warnings

Word of the Day

Panoply \pan-uh-PLEE\ Noun – 1a: a full suit of armor b: ceremonial attire 2: something forming a protective covering 3a: a magnificent or impressive array b: a display of all appropriate appurtenances.

‘Before we get started on this root canal,’ said the dentist, ‘please allow me to show you the panoply of tools I will be shoving into your mouth.’ All Francine could think about was how the inquisitors began their business during the Dark Ages.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      The U.S. Supreme Court Confronts a National Headache: What to Do with the Growing Pile of Nuclear Waste (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-nuclear-waste-texas-new-mexico-a426602c562f3a43696f0a2a9760ffde

2.      ‘Get the Junk Out of Our Rates’ Bill Could Limit How Oregon Utilities Pay for Lobbying, Ads (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/03/04/get-the-junk-of-out-rates-bill-could-limit-how-oregon-utilities-pay-for-lobbying-ads/

3.      Western Wyoming Electric Utility Again Proposes Using Jackson Lake Dam for Hydropower (Jackson Hole News & Guide, Jackson, WY)

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/western-wyoming-electric-utility-again-proposes-using-jackson-lake-dam-for-hydropower/article_dab97506-f941-11ef-a14c-47dff6b3ca21.html

4.      Wyoming: Meier, Gray Believe Land Purchase in Washington Could Open Way for Coal Exports (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/03/04/meier-gray-believe-land-purchase-in-washington-could-open-way-for-coal-exports/

5.      Ice Harbor Lock & Dam Honored as Infrastructure Project of the Year – American Shotcrete Association (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20250304-in-the-news-ice-harbor-lock-dam-honored-as-infrastructure-project-of-the

6.      Focus on Workforce Development – Features Insights from Foundation for Water and Energy Education Leader  (Hydro Leader Magazine – Links to online edition)

https://hydroleadermagazine.com/volume-6-issue-3-march/

As the World Turns

7.      Including Bonneville Offices – Three Federal Buildings in Portland Appear on ‘For Sale’ List by Trump Administration (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

https://katu.com/news/local/bpa-edith-green-wedell-wyatt-buildings-appear-on-for-sale-list-by-trump-administration

8.      Federal Office in Boise Stewards Idaho Water, Hydropower. Under Trump, It Might Lose Lease (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID - Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/federal-office-boise-stewards-idaho-230932413.html

9.      Trump Administration Releases List of Federal Properties It Could Close. Here Are the Washington Locations (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/trump-administration-list-federal-properties-closure-sale-washington-state/281-c5a5e901-5f0d-4566-ad9b-b227253b48f5

10.   Northwest Energy Experts Say Trump ‘Plays with Fire’ with Cuts to Bonneville Power Administration (Yachats News, OR)

https://yachatsnews.com/northwest-energy-experts-say-trump-plays-with-fire-with-cuts-to-bonneville-power-administration/

11.   Trump Administration Dramatically Cuts Staff at Water Agency in California (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-dramatically-cuts-staff-011618202.html

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12.   Montana: Bill to Allow Community Solar Projects Clears Senate (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2025/03/04/bill-to-allow-community-solar-projects-clears-senate/

13.   Institute for Northwest Energy Futures to Demonstrate Dual-Use Capability of Solar Panels in Apple Production (Morning Ag Clips)

https://www.morningagclips.com/institute-for-northwest-energy-futures-to-demonstrate-dual-use-capability-of-solar-panels-in-apple-production/

Conservation & Efficiency

14.   Battle of the Thermostat: The Science Behind Your Central Heating Arguments (British Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250228-battle-of-the-thermostat-the-science-behind-your-central-heating-arguments

Fish & Wildlife

15.   Killer Whales Amaze Seattle Onlookers with a Rarely Seen Bird Hunt (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/killer-whales-seattle-bird-hunt/281-27041efa-6e3f-4b23-bd7f-fa4d9ffcb241

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

16.   U.S. Supreme Court Makes It Harder for EPA to Police Sewage Discharges (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-san-francisco-water-pollution-6874dc505a394d9181b17a0aef41406f

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

17.   Almost 90% of Climate Commitment Act-Funded Projects in Washington Don’t Reduce Carbon Emissions (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_5c1270c4-f91c-11ef-8f88-0b9b529e3f03.html

London Calling –Telecommunications

18.   Killing Hot Spots for Students (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2025/03/05/killing-hot-spots-for-students/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

19.   Los Alamos DPU Conducts Student Essay Contest as Part of Effort Organized by UAMPS (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/los-alamos-dpu-conducts-student-essay-contest-part-effort-organized-uamps

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

20.   Mass Firings Across National Weather Service, NOAA Ignite Fury Among Scientists Worldwide (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mass-firings-across-noaa-national-021405929.html

Politics, Governance, and Management

21.   Canadian Province Leader Threatens to Cut Off Energy to Three U.S. States, Imposes 25% Surcharge (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/04/ontario-canada-tariff-retaliation-energy-states/81350351007/

22.   The Obscure State Agency That Referees WA’s Green Energy Battles (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/investigations/2025/03/obscure-state-agency-referees-was-green-energy-battles

Other Things to Know About Today

23.   Millions in Path of Deadly Storm Bringing Fierce Winds, Blizzard Conditions & Tornado Warnings (AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/news/millions-path-storm-kills-2-055517978.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Swearing Is Linked with Increased Pain Tolerance & Strength

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/swearing-linked-increased-pain-tolerance-155824036.html

Scientists Genetically Engineer Mice with Thick Hair Like the Extinct Woolly Mammoth

https://apnews.com/article/colossal-biosciences-woolly-mammoth-b381f6f48eeed0828535cf9604263140

Firefly Releases Stunning Footage of Blue Ghost Landing on the Moon

https://gizmodo.com/firefly-releases-stunning-footage-of-blue-ghost-landing-on-the-moon-2000571500

Man Wins Over $200 In Lawsuit Over Movie Theater Showing Too Many Commercials

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/03/03/india-movie-theater-commercials-lawsuit/9531741022863/

Song of the Day

Soundtrack – Hair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovEVQ5g98Pg

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in 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 cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.

The Energy News Digest for March 3, 2025

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.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

World’s First Fusion Power Plant Planned for Chelan County, Aims for 2028 Energy Production Start (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/worlds-first-fusion-power-plant-planned-for-chelan-county-aims-for-2028-energy-production-start/article_233d0cd8-f579-11ef-a234-974986dd71c5.html

WA Is Seeing a Dry Winter, Including Fifth-Driest January on Record. Here’s Why It Matters (Bellingham Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/wa-seeing-dry-winter-including-130000806.html

Most Americans Who Experienced Severe Winter Weather See Climate Change at Work, AP-NORC Poll Shows (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/poll-extreme-cold-climate-change-4899de252a4107ee529e2f134fb68f59

Experts, WA Reps Question Rationale for Bonneville Power Administration & Hanford Layoffs (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/02/experts-wa-reps-question-rationale-bpa-and-hanford-layoffs

RIP: Microsoft Is Officially Killing Skype (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-kills-skype

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      World’s First Fusion Power Plant Planned for Chelan County, Aims for 2028 Energy Production Start

2.      Less Water & Dry Weather Weigh on Bonneville Power Administration’s Bottom Line

3.      KIRO 7 Investigates: Amazon’s Nuclear Gamble

4.      Proposal in 2025 Oregon Legislature Would Create $1 Billion Fund Via Ratepayers to Pay for Utility-Caused Fires

5.      In A Reversal, Plans for U.S. Natural Gas Power Grow, Complicating Progress on Climate

6.      California: San Diego Advances New Projects to Underground Power Lines: Here’s Where

7.      Judge Pulls Plug on Suits Accusing Kansas Utilities of Hiking Rates During Massive Winter Storm

8.      State Department Terminates U.S. Support of Ukraine Energy Grid Restoration

9.      Experts, WA Reps Question Rationale for Bonneville Power Administration & Hanford Layoffs

10.   NOAA, Federal Weather & Research Agency, Is Firing Workers in Oregon & Washington

11.   Arizona: Pumped Hydropower – Salt River Project-Proposed Reservoir Continues to Move Forward Near Apache Lake

12.   $153 Million in Federal Funds for Arizona Air Conditioning Repairs, Energy Efficiency Upgrades Withheld

13.   Washington State’s Costly Salmon Recovery Effort Heads Toward Mediation

14.   Aquaculture Nonprofit Sues Washington Department of Natural Resources Over Ban on Net Pen Fish Farming

15.   WA State: Almost 1,000 Steelhead Caught in Three Months in Okanogan County After Nine-Year Hiatus from Fishing Season

16.   WA Is Seeing a Dry Winter, Including Fifth-Driest January on Record. Here’s Why It Matters

17.   It’s Been a Warm Winter, & California’s Snowpack Shows It

18.   Most Americans Who Experienced Severe Winter Weather See Climate Change at Work, AP-NORC Poll Shows

19.   Dent’s Ag Exemption Bill for WA’s Climate Commitment Act Costs Moving Forward

20.   RIP: Microsoft Is Officially Killing Skype

21.   Private Lunar Lander Blue Ghost Aces Moon Touchdown with a Special Delivery for NASA

22.   President Trump Says 25% Tariffs on Mexican & Canadian Imports Will Start Tuesday, With ‘No Room’ for Delay

23.   4.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Orcas Island

24.   New Storm Bringing Blizzard Conditions to Heartland, Tornadoes to the South

25.   Why Winter Was Colder Than Average in the U.S., And What Spring Will Bring

26.   California: Determining Cause of Eaton Fire Could Take 12-18 Months, Edison International Says

27.   Guest Essay: Northwest Indigenous Leaders Recommit to Alliance to Bolster Salmon Recovery

Word of the Day

Reprobate \REP-ruh-bait\ Noun - 1: a person foreordained to damnation *2: a depraved person: scoundrel.

“Rooster, you reprobate,” shrilled Miss Hannigan at her hoodlum brother.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      World’s First Fusion Power Plant Planned for Chelan County, Aims for 2028 Energy Production Start (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/worlds-first-fusion-power-plant-planned-for-chelan-county-aims-for-2028-energy-production-start/article_233d0cd8-f579-11ef-a234-974986dd71c5.html

2.      Less Water & Dry Weather Weigh on Bonneville Power Administration’s Bottom Line (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20250227-less-water-and-dry-weather-weigh-on-bpa-bottom-line

3.      KIRO 7 Investigates: Amazon’s Nuclear Gamble (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/local/amazon-nuclear-gamble/4054653

4.      Proposal in 2025 Oregon Legislature Would Create $1 Billion Fund Via Ratepayers to Pay for Utility-Caused Fires (Yachats News, OR)

https://yachatsnews.com/proposal-in-2025-oregon-legislature-would-create-1-billion-fund-via-ratepayers-to-pay-for-utility-caused-fires/

5.      In A Reversal, Plans for U.S. Natural Gas Power Grow, Complicating Progress on Climate (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/reversal-plans-us-natural-gas-power-grow-complicating-119252495

6.      California: San Diego Advances New Projects to Underground Power Lines: Here’s Where (KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA)

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego/city-advances-new-projects-to-underground-power-lines-heres-where/

7.      Judge Pulls Plug on Suits Accusing Kansas Utilities of Hiking Rates During Massive Winter Storm (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-pulls-plug-on-suits-accusing-kansas-utilities-of-hiking-rates-during-massive-winter-storm/

8.      State Department Terminates U.S. Support of Ukraine Energy Grid Restoration (NBC News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/state-department-terminates-u-support-213604436.html

As the World Turns

9.      Experts, WA Reps Question Rationale for Bonneville Power Administration & Hanford Layoffs (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/02/experts-wa-reps-question-rationale-bpa-and-hanford-layoffs

10.   NOAA, Federal Weather & Research Agency, Is Firing Workers in Oregon & Washington (KNKX Radio, Tacoma, WA)

https://www.knkx.org/government/2025-02-28/noaa-federal-weather-and-research-agency-is-firing-workers-in-oregon-and-washington

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

11.   Arizona: Pumped Hydropower – Salt River Project-Proposed Reservoir Continues to Move Forward Near Apache Lake (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/srp-proposed-reservoir-continues-move-231233218.html

Conservation & Efficiency

12.   $153 Million in Federal Funds for Arizona Air Conditioning Repairs, Energy Efficiency Upgrades Withheld (KJZZ-Radio, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.kjzz.org/politics/2025-02-28/153-million-in-federal-funds-for-arizona-ac-repairs-energy-efficiency-upgrades-withheld

Fish & Wildlife

13.   Washington State’s Costly Salmon Recovery Effort Heads Toward Mediation (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/washington-states-costly-salmon-recovery-effort-heads-toward-mediation,376186

14.   Aquaculture Nonprofit Sues Washington Department of Natural Resources Over Ban on Net Pen Fish Farming (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/aquaculture-nonprofit-sues-washington-department-of-natural-resources-over-ban-net-pen-fish-farming/281-4357ba97-af63-40e6-9a43-1ebfccc2b462

15.   WA State: Almost 1,000 Steelhead Caught in Three Months in Okanogan County After Nine-Year Hiatus from Fishing Season (Source ONE News, Ephrata, WA)

https://www.yoursourceone.com/almost-1-000-steelhead-caught-in-three-months-in-okanogan-county-after-nine-year-hiatus/article_8383de00-f2fe-11ef-979e-d7c4989e5702.html

Water, Water, Anywhere?

16.   WA Is Seeing a Dry Winter, Including Fifth-Driest January on Record. Here’s Why It Matters (Bellingham Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/wa-seeing-dry-winter-including-130000806.html

17.   It’s Been a Warm Winter, & California’s Snowpack Shows It (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/warm-winter-californias-snowpack-shows-110031540.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

18.   Most Americans Who Experienced Severe Winter Weather See Climate Change at Work, AP-NORC Poll Shows (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/poll-extreme-cold-climate-change-4899de252a4107ee529e2f134fb68f59

19.   Dent’s Ag Exemption Bill for WA’s Climate Commitment Act Costs Moving Forward (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2025/feb/28/dents-ag-exemption-bill-for-cca-costs-moving-forward/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

20.   RIP: Microsoft Is Officially Killing Skype (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-kills-skype

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

21.   Private Lunar Lander Blue Ghost Aces Moon Touchdown with a Special Delivery for NASA (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/nasa-firefly-aerospace-blue-ghost-moon-landing-07b00840da07441e1e24b48509458f3f

Politics, Governance, and Management

22.   President Trump Says 25% Tariffs on Mexican & Canadian Imports Will Start Tuesday, With ‘No Room’ for Delay (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/trump-says-25-tariffs-on-mexican-and-canadian-20200024.php

Other Things to Know About Today

23.   4.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Orcas Island (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/4-5-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-near-friday-harbor-pacific-northwest-seismic-network-no-tsunami-shaking

24.   New Storm Bringing Blizzard Conditions to Heartland, Tornadoes to the South (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/storm-bringing-blizzard-conditions-heartland-144154152.html

25.   Why Winter Was Colder Than Average in the U.S., And What Spring Will Bring (Washington Post – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/the-us-just-experienced-its-coldest-winter-in-more-than-a-decade/ar-AA1A8sEr

26.   California: Determining Cause of Eaton Fire Could Take 12-18 Months, Edison International Says (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/determining-cause-of-eaton-fire-could-take-12-18-months-edison-international/741302/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

27.   Guest Essay: Northwest Indigenous Leaders Recommit to Alliance to Bolster Salmon Recovery (Bellingham Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/opinion/article300602414.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Oscars 2025 Highlights: ‘Anora’ Emerges Triumphant in Unpredictable Awards Season

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/oscars-2025-highlights-anora-emerges-triumphant-in-unpredictable-awards-season-timothee-chalamet-is-hollywoods-sweetheart-and-conan-obrien-is-the-host-with-the-most-045811175.html

Archaeologists Find Message in a Bottle at Viking Site—Here’s What It Says

https://www.newsweek.com/message-bottle-found-archaeologist-viking-site-1992507

Japanese Park Covering Just 2 1/2 Square Feet Is Officially World’s Smallest

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/02/28/japan-Guinness-World-Records-smallest-park/3731740777302/

‘Megalodon’ Goldfish Found in Pennsylvania Waterway

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/03/03/Fish-Wildlife-Service-goldfish/4181741019700/

Song of the Day

Chicago – Saturday in the Park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RBKXDqZgRY

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in 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 cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.