The Energy News Digest for May 28, 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.

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

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Columbia Generating Station Upgrade in Richland to Power 125,000 More Homes by 2031 (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/columbia-generating-station-upgrade-in-richland-to-power-125-000-more-homes-by-2031/article_31b34dd5-25f6-4aff-959a-80da025bb754.html

Solar & Wind Power Curtailments Are Increasing in California (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65364

After Reaching Historic Lows, Hydropower Generation in the Pacific Northwest Expected to Rise In 2025 (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/05/28/after-reaching-historic-lows-hydropower-generation-in-the-northwest-expected-to-rise-in-2025/

California’s Ban on Gas-Powered Cars is Dead (Autoblog)

https://www.autoblog.com/news/californias-ban-on-gas-powered-cars-is-dead

Get Ready for Several Years of Killer Heat, Top Weather Forecasters Warn (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-deadly-record-heat-wildfires-hurricanes-535b4df63b476d0f36ec553a1a78669d

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Columbia Generating Station Upgrade in Richland to Power 125,000 More Homes by 2031

2.      News Release: Energy Northwest & the Bonneville Power Administration Advance Plan to Expand Region’s Nuclear Power

3.      President Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Nuclear Power, Speed Up Approvals

4.      Oregon Groups Rally Against Proposed Nuclear Reactor

5.      After Reaching Historic Lows, Hydropower Generation in the Pacific Northwest Expected to Rise In 2025

6.      California: Edison’s Proposed Rate Hike Angers L.A. Wildfire Survivors

7.      California Utility to Pay $82 Million Settlement in Lawsuit Stemming from Huge 2020 Wildfire

8.      Montana: Without Utility Board Approval, NorthWestern Energy Implements 17% Electricity Rate Increase

9.      California’s New Gold Rush? 31 Transmission Projects Worth $4.8 Billion Approved to Meet Electric Load Growth

10.   Ninth Circuit Revives Tribal Challenge to Energy Transmission Line

11.   Trump Administration Orders Michigan Coal Plant to Stay Open

12.   WA State: Cushman Dams Now Produce More History Than Power for PenLight

13.   Solar & Wind Power Curtailments Are Increasing in California

14.   Tariffs, Congress Set to Shake Up U.S. Solar Industry

15.   Some Columbia Salmon, Steelhead Runs Show Improvement in Latest State Report on ESA Runs

16.   Hanford Nuclear Site Was on the Brink of Layoffs. Then This Happened in D.C.

17.   California Turns on Water to Create New Wetlands on the Shore of the Shrinking Salton Sea

18.   Get Ready for Several Years of Killer Heat, Top Weather Forecasters Warn

19.   Oregon Lawmakers Are Now Considering a ‘Cap-And-Trade’ Program to Fund Roads, Wildfire Prevention

20.   Hawaii to Become First State to Charge Visitors a Climate Fee

21.   AT&T Has $6 Billion Deal to Buy CenturyLink Fiber Broadband Business

22.   Growing Urban/Rural Broadband Gap

23.   Biggest California Utility Sees More Than 40% Jump in Data Center Interest, Executive Says

24.   California’s Ban on Gas-Powered Cars is Dead

25.   Is Washington State Falling Out of Love with Tesla?

26.   Electric Vehicles Died a Century Ago. Could That Happen Again?

27.   Search Is About to Change as Google Adds More Artificial Intelligence Options. Here’s What to Watch Out For.

28.   Trade Group Asking WA Supreme Court for Direct Appeal of Ruling Against Natural Gas Initiative

29.   Washington Lawmakers Urge Trump to Reconsider Disaster Funds After Bomb Cyclone

30.   Clean Energy Cash Gushing into Red States Puts GOP Senators in a Bind

31.   Fire Restrictions in Effect in Oregon & Washington

32.   Oregon Could Be Headed for a Hot, Dry Summer

33.   Gov. Kotek Says Oregon Is Ready for Fire Season, But Federal Help Is Uncertain

34.   Why Is the Columbia River at a Crossroads? Here Are Some of the Biggest Questions

35.   Yum! You Can Now Take Some Roadkill Home to Eat in Southwest WA

36.   Guest Essay: Wind & Solar Are Bad Climate Change Solutions for Tri-Cities

37.   Columnist: Here’s What We Stand to Lose from NOAA Funding Cuts

Word of the Day

Foment \FOE-ment\ Verb - To promote the growth or development of: rouse, incite.

Alfred knew before even sitting down at his drawing board that his new plan for reorganizing the tiddlywinks professional circuit would foment his frothing fans to a frenzy. Really, moving Schenectady, New York’s franchise, to a conference including Poughkeepsie? “Regional, competitive integrity my foot,” he mused, smoke from his smoldering cigarette curling into the green glass shade of his desk lamp. “I just want to avoid that twice annual trip to Rochester, especially in the winter.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Columbia Generating Station Upgrade in Richland to Power 125,000 More Homes by 2031 (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/columbia-generating-station-upgrade-in-richland-to-power-125-000-more-homes-by-2031/article_31b34dd5-25f6-4aff-959a-80da025bb754.html

2.      News Release: Energy Northwest & the Bonneville Power Administration Advance Plan to Expand Region’s Nuclear Power (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20250522-energy-nw-and-bpa-advance-plan-to-expand-region-nuclear-power

3.      President Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Nuclear Power, Speed Up Approvals (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/new-nuclear-reactors-trump-e7394fe688d2132a73f67f59bdbe792a

4.      Oregon Groups Rally Against Proposed Nuclear Reactor (Kiowa County Press, CO)

https://kiowacountypress.net/content/oregon-groups-rally-against-proposed-nuclear-reactor

5.      After Reaching Historic Lows, Hydropower Generation in the Pacific Northwest Expected to Rise In 2025 (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/05/28/after-reaching-historic-lows-hydropower-generation-in-the-northwest-expected-to-rise-in-2025/

6.      California: Edison’s Proposed Rate Hike Angers L.A. Wildfire Survivors (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/l-wildfires-edison-faces-blowback-100000124.html

7.      California Utility to Pay $82 Million Settlement in Lawsuit Stemming from Huge 2020 Wildfire (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfire-2020-utility-settlement-damage-edison-fc48840edfa594e069595ca3378cb97b

8.      Montana: Without Utility Board Approval, NorthWestern Energy Implements 17% Electricity Rate Increase (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2025/05/23/northwestern-energy-implements-17-percent-electricity-rate-increase/

9.      California’s New Gold Rush? 31 Transmission Projects Worth $4.8 Billion Approved to Meet Electric Load Growth (Factor This)

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/power-grid/transmission/californias-new-gold-rush-31-transmission-projects-worth-4-8b-approved-to-meet-electric-load-growth/

10.   Ninth Circuit Revives Tribal Challenge to Energy Transmission Line (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/ninth-circuit-revives-tribal-challenge-to-energy-transmission-line/

11.   Trump Administration Orders Michigan Coal Plant to Stay Open (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/michigan-power-plant-coal-trump-aa6244ce5e7cca4326e582c849e0bc98

12.   WA State: Cushman Dams Now Produce More History Than Power for PenLight (Gig Harbor Now, WA)

https://www.gigharbornow.org/news/business/penlight-power-outages-tacoma-public-utility-cushman-dam/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

13.   Solar & Wind Power Curtailments Are Increasing in California (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65364

14.   Tariffs, Congress Set to Shake Up U.S. Solar Industry (E&E News/Politico)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/3500-tariffs-cloud-outlook-for-us-solar-industry/

Fish & Wildlife

15.   Some Columbia Salmon, Steelhead Runs Show Improvement in Latest State Report on ESA Runs (Northwest Sportsman)

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/some-columbia-salmon-steelhead-runs-show-improvement-in-latest-state-report-on-esa-runs/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

16.   Hanford Nuclear Site Was on the Brink of Layoffs. Then This Happened in D.C. (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hanford-nuclear-brink-layoffs-then-120000325.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Water, Water, Anywhere?

17.   California Turns on Water to Create New Wetlands on the Shore of the Shrinking Salton Sea (Phys.Org)

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-california-wetlands-shore-salton-sea.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

18.   Get Ready for Several Years of Killer Heat, Top Weather Forecasters Warn (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-deadly-record-heat-wildfires-hurricanes-535b4df63b476d0f36ec553a1a78669d

19.   Oregon Lawmakers Are Now Considering a ‘Cap-And-Trade’ Program to Fund Roads, Wildfire Prevention (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/22/oregon-lawmakers-cap-and-trade-salem-pollution-greenhouse-gas-emissions-bridge/

20.   Hawaii to Become First State to Charge Visitors a Climate Fee (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/hawaii-to-become-first-state-to-charge-visitors-a-climate-fee/

London Calling –Telecommunications

21.   AT&T Has $6 Billion Deal to Buy CenturyLink Fiber Broadband Business (Ars Technica)

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/05/att-has-6-billion-deal-to-buy-centurylink-fiber-broadband-business/

22.   Growing Urban/Rural Broadband Gap (Pots & Pans)

https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2025/05/27/growing-urban-rural-broadband-gap/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

23.   Biggest California Utility Sees More Than 40% Jump in Data Center Interest, Executive Says (Reuters)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biggest-california-utility-sees-more-204119962.html

I Sing the Car Electric

24.   California’s Ban on Gas-Powered Cars is Dead (Autoblog)

https://www.autoblog.com/news/californias-ban-on-gas-powered-cars-is-dead

25.   Is Washington State Falling Out of Love with Tesla? (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/05/washington-state-falling-out-love-tesla

26.   Electric Vehicles Died a Century Ago. Could That Happen Again? (NY Times – Via DNYUZ)

https://dnyuz.com/2025/05/26/electric-vehicles-died-a-century-ago-could-that-happen-again/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

27.   Search Is About to Change as Google Adds More Artificial Intelligence Options. Here’s What to Watch Out For. (Washington Post – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/search-is-about-to-change-as-google-adds-more-ai-options-here-s-what-to-watch-out-for/ar-AA1F95lg

Politics, Governance, and Management

28.   Trade Group Asking WA Supreme Court for Direct Appeal of Ruling Against Natural Gas Initiative (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_8a0e2b0b-a6ab-458c-b0e9-027cea80d4bc.html

29.   Washington Lawmakers Urge Trump to Reconsider Disaster Funds After Bomb Cyclone (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/washington-lawmakers-urge-trump-to-reconsider-disaster-funds-after-bomb-cyclone/ar-AA1Fw8Gi

30.   Clean Energy Cash Gushing into Red States Puts GOP Senators in a Bind (Washington Post – Via MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/clean-energy-dollars-are-gushing-to-red-states-now-gop-senators-are-in-a-bind/ar-AA1Fl3au

Other Things to Know About Today

31.   Fire Restrictions in Effect in Oregon & Washington (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/24/oregon-fire-restrictions-washington-wildfire-bureau-land-management/

32.   Oregon Could Be Headed for a Hot, Dry Summer (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2025/05/oregon-could-be-headed-for-a-hot-dry-summer.html

33.   Gov. Kotek Says Oregon Is Ready for Fire Season, But Federal Help Is Uncertain (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/21/oregon-tina-kotek-fire-wildfire-season-medford-press-conference/

34.   Why Is the Columbia River at a Crossroads? Here Are Some of the Biggest Questions (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/state/washington/seattle/article307228626.html

35.   Yum! You Can Now Take Some Roadkill Home to Eat in Southwest WA (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/yum-you-can-now-take-some-roadkill-home-to-eat-in-southwest-wa/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

36.   Guest Essay: Wind & Solar Are Bad Climate Change Solutions for Tri-Cities (Tri-City Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article306761346.html

37.   Columnist: Here’s What We Stand to Lose from NOAA Funding Cuts (Columbia Insight)

https://columbiainsight.org/heres-what-we-stand-to-lose-from-noaa-funding-cuts/

Diversions – The Lizard King

Jim Morrison’s Stolen Grave Bust Found After 37 Years

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/style/jim-morrison-grave-bust-found-intl-scli

The Penny Costs Nearly Four Cents to Make. Here’s How Much the U.S. Spends on Minting Its Other Coins

https://apnews.com/article/cost-of-a-penny-nickel-dime-e38975c6811ad38ac0a986c8fccf3a4a

Nepali Sherpa Scales Mount Everest for a Record 31st Time

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/nepali-sherpa-scales-mount-everest-record-31st-time-2025-05-27/

Woman Transforms Her NYC Stoop with Vibrant Display of LEGO Flowers

https://mymodernmet.com/kristi-hemric-lego-flowers/?

Song of the Day

The Doors – Riders on the Storm

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

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations frequently update their websites, which can 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 May 21, 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.

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

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Bonneville Power Administration Financials Improve, May Stave Off Rate Increase (Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/bpa-financials-improve-may-stave-off-rate-increase

Oregon: Groups Rally Against Bill That Would Exempt Umatilla County from Statewide Nuclear Ban (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/20/groups-rally-against-bill-that-would-exempt-umatilla-county-from-statewide-nuclear-ban/

‘Rapid Snowmelt’ Increases Fire Danger Across the West (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/rapid-snowmelt-increases-fire-danger-across-west/COR5WNX4JBBU7C7DUNV3EWKVMY/

Idaho Power Faces Pushback Over Proposed Solar Energy Compensation Rate Slash (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/public-opposes-idaho-powers-proposal-reduce-solar-energy-compensation-rates/277-5dcea55c-f00f-4f6a-9864-bbe5b3ecd92c

U.S. Senate to Vote to Overturn California Gas Car Ban, Overriding Parliamentarian (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_ecd10e2c-a08f-416b-96e4-ae3b3363e22a.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Bonneville Power Administration Financials Improve, May Stave Off Rate Increase

2.      Oregon: Groups Rally Against Bill That Would Exempt Umatilla County from Statewide Nuclear Ban

3.      Fears Over Columbia Basin Dams, Hydroelectricity Grow as Agencies Lose Hundreds of Employees

4.      California: Edison Executives Made False Statements on Wildfire Risks, Lawsuit Claims

5.      Tennessee Valley Authority: First U.S. Utility Seeks Permit for a Small Nuclear Reactor

6.      B.C. Hydro Put to the Test Over Rising Energy Needs, Drought & Trade Uncertainty

7.      Nevada: NV Energy CEO Leaving Amid Utility Overcharging Episode

8.      Pennsylvania: Electric Transmission Upgrades at Crucial Turning Point

9.      Idaho Power Faces Pushback Over Proposed Solar Energy Compensation Rate Slash

10.   Pacific Northwest Leaders Set Renewable Energy Goals, But Neglected a Key Element Required to Achieve Them

11.   Oregon’s Wind Sector Sees Regulatory Changes—Are Developers Ready?

12.   Report: World’s Supply of Critical Minerals for Clean Energy Is Concentrated in Fewer Countries

13.   Columbia River Salmon Restoration Hit Hard by $1.5B Cut to Army Corps of Engineers

14.   ‘Rapid Snowmelt’ Increases Fire Danger Across the West

15.   Amid Dry, Warm Spring, Idaho May Need to Tap into Water Reservoirs

16.   Lake Mead in for a Painful Summer After Dry Winter

17.   A Fraction of Proposed Data Centers Will Get Built. Utilities Are Wising Up.

18.   Elon Musk Says Artificial Intelligence Could Run into Power Capacity Issues by Middle of Next Year

19.   Digital Gold Rush Could Drive Demand for Wyoming’s Growing ‘Low-Carbon’ Natural Gas Industry

20.   U.S. Senate to Vote to Overturn California Gas Car Ban, Overriding Parliamentarian

21.   Japan's Honda to Scale Back on Electric Vehicles, Focus on Hybrids

22.   Shoreline’s Answer to Offset Carbon Emissions? Free E-Bikes

23.   Where Does Your Weather Forecast Come From?

24.   How Space Weather Impacts Us: A Look at Some of the Worst Solar Storms in History

25.   FEMA Needs Fixes but Is ‘Essential’ to Co-ops, NRECA Says

26.   More Severe Weather Pummels the Central U.S. as Thousands Recover from Deadly Tornadoes

27.   Commentary: Artificial Intelligence Power Demand Is Generating Hallucinations

Word of the Day

Amalgamate \uh-MAL-guh-mayt\ Verb - To unite in or as if in a mixture of elements; especially: to merge into a single body.

“This is awful,” Mandrake mumbled to himself. Halfway through his experimental amalgamated accordion/ukulele/banjo rendition of “Stairway to Heaven,” he realized it was an unmitigated cacophonic disaster. The neighborhood kennel club’s residents, meanwhile, would never be the same.

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Bonneville Power Administration Financials Improve, May Stave Off Rate Increase (Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/bpa-financials-improve-may-stave-off-rate-increase

2.      Oregon: Groups Rally Against Bill That Would Exempt Umatilla County from Statewide Nuclear Ban (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/20/groups-rally-against-bill-that-would-exempt-umatilla-county-from-statewide-nuclear-ban/

3.      Fears Over Columbia Basin Dams, Hydroelectricity Grow as Agencies Lose Hundreds of Employees (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/05/20/fears-over-columbia-basin-dams-hydroelectricity-grow-as-agencies-lose-hundreds-of-employees/

4.      California: Edison Executives Made False Statements on Wildfire Risks, Lawsuit Claims (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/edison-executives-made-false-statements-100000233.html

5.      Tennessee Valley Authority: First U.S. Utility Seeks Permit for a Small Nuclear Reactor (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/first-us-utility-seeks-permit-for-a-small-nuclear-reactor/

6.      B.C. Hydro Put to the Test Over Rising Energy Needs, Drought & Trade Uncertainty (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hydro-electricity-demand-increase-1.7539106

7.      Nevada: NV Energy CEO Leaving Amid Utility Overcharging Episode (Nevada Current)

https://nevadacurrent.com/briefs/nv-energy-ceo-leaving-amid-utility-overcharging-episode/

8.      Pennsylvania: Electric Transmission Upgrades at Crucial Turning Point (The Center Sqaure)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_31c1eec7-02c8-4848-a725-eca52f38e43d.html

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Idaho Power Faces Pushback Over Proposed Solar Energy Compensation Rate Slash (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/public-opposes-idaho-powers-proposal-reduce-solar-energy-compensation-rates/277-5dcea55c-f00f-4f6a-9864-bbe5b3ecd92c

10.   Pacific Northwest Leaders Set Renewable Energy Goals, But Neglected a Key Element Required to Achieve Them (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/17/renewable-energy-oregon-washington-wind-solar/

11.   Oregon’s Wind Sector Sees Regulatory Changes—Are Developers Ready? (Environment & Energy)

https://environmentenergyleader.com/stories/oregons-wind-sector-sees-regulatory-changesare-developers-ready,77635

12.   Report: World’s Supply of Critical Minerals for Clean Energy Is Concentrated in Fewer Countries (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/critical-minerals-supply-world-report-3dbee35f17823656b75939305bbd0512

Fish & Wildlife

13.   Columbia River Salmon Restoration Hit Hard by $1.5B Cut to Army Corps of Engineers (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/may/20/columbia-river-salmon-restoration-hit-hard-by-1-5b-cut-to-army-corps-of-engineers/

Water, Water, Anywhere?

14.   ‘Rapid Snowmelt’ Increases Fire Danger Across the West (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/rapid-snowmelt-increases-fire-danger-across-west/COR5WNX4JBBU7C7DUNV3EWKVMY/

15.   Amid Dry, Warm Spring, Idaho May Need to Tap into Water Reservoirs (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/amid-dry-warm-spring-idaho-may-need-to-tap-into-water-reservoirs/

16.   Lake Mead in for a Painful Summer After Dry Winter (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/05/20/lake-mead-in-for-a-painful-summer-after-dry-winter/

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

17.   A Fraction of Proposed Data Centers Will Get Built. Utilities Are Wising Up. (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/a-fraction-of-proposed-data-centers-will-get-built-utilities-are-wising-up/748214/

18.   Elon Musk Says Artificial Intelligence Could Run into Power Capacity Issues by Middle of Next Year (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/20/elon-musk-says-ai-could-run-into-power-capacity-issues-by-middle-of-next-year.html

19.   Digital Gold Rush Could Drive Demand for Wyoming’s Growing ‘Low-Carbon’ Natural Gas Industry (WyoFile)

https://wyofile.com/digital-gold-rush-could-drive-demand-for-wyomings-growing-low-carbon-natural-gas-industry/

I Sing the Car Electric

20.   U.S. Senate to Vote to Overturn California Gas Car Ban, Overriding Parliamentarian (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_ecd10e2c-a08f-416b-96e4-ae3b3363e22a.html

21.   Japan's Honda to Scale Back on Electric Vehicles, Focus on Hybrids (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/japans-honda-scale-back-electric-vehicles-concentrate-hybrids-2025-05-20/

22.   Shoreline’s Answer to Offset Carbon Emissions? Free E-Bikes (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/05/shorelines-answer-offset-carbon-emissions-free-e-bikes

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

23.   Where Does Your Weather Forecast Come From? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/19/where-does-information-for-a-weather-forecast-come-from/

24.   How Space Weather Impacts Us: A Look at Some of the Worst Solar Storms in History (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/solar-flares-geomagnetic-storms-1.7539461

Politics, Governance, and Management

25.   FEMA Needs Fixes but Is ‘Essential’ to Co-ops, NRECA Says (National Rural Electric Cooperative)

https://www.electric.coop/fema-needs-fixes-but-is-essential-to-co-ops-nreca-says

Other Things to Know About Today

26.   More Severe Weather Pummels the Central U.S. as Thousands Recover from Deadly Tornadoes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/20/more-severe-weather-pummels-the-central-us-as-thousands-recover-from-deadly-tornadoes/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

27.   Commentary: Artificial Intelligence Power Demand Is Generating Hallucinations (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/ai-power-demand-is-generating-hallucinations-2025-05-20/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Indy 500 to Host First-Ever Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Race

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/indy-500-oscar-mayer-wienermobile-race-fox#jdxfszcgujexl1vdxkj6ny1fbwu3cb3

Shipment of Thousands of Chicks Left in USPS Truck. Overwhelmed Shelter Needs Help Adopting Them

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicks-usps-truck-delaware-abandoned/

‘It’s the Water’ – Once-Proud WA Beer Brand Making ‘Kitschy’ Comeback in Canada & Texas

https://www.yahoo.com/news/once-proud-wa-beer-brand-150000485.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

George Wendt, Who Played Beloved Barfly Norm on ‘Cheers’ And Found Another Home Onstage, Dies at 76

https://apnews.com/article/george-wendt-dies-55681263ea8b5bddaf1c89e8e9ba8cb1

Song of the Day

Young-Holt Unlimited – Soulful Strut

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

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