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Joel Myer, Communicator Emeritus, edits the Energy News Digest.
Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories
Portland General Electric Spends Nearly $2 Billion to Expand
in Washington, Acquiring 140,000 Customers from PacifiCorp (Oregon Public
Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/17/portland-general-electric-pacificorp-oregon-washington/
Columbia Generating Station Back Online (Energy Northwest)
https://www.energy-northwest.com/news-releases/columbia-generating-station-back-online/
Public Health, Green Groups Sue EPA Over Repeal of Rule
Supporting Climate Protections (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/trump-climate-change-epa-clean-air-act-27a69e8e349bd8cc7091af202b81517c
The Colorado River Crisis Is Here – States Fail to Reach a
Deal; Lake Powell Deadpool Appears Imminent (Land Desk)
https://www.landdesk.org/p/the-colorado-river-crisis-is-here
WA State: 5,700 Acre (Nine Sq. Miles) Grant Co. Solar
Projects Moving Forward (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/feb/18/grant-co-solar-projects-moving-forward/
News
Highlights (See Stories Below)
1.
Portland General Electric Spends Nearly $2
Billion to Expand in Washington, Acquiring 140,000 Customers from PacifiCorp
2.
PacifiCorp to Sell Its Washington Power Plants,
Wind Farms — A ‘Divorce’ Cheered by Utah Leaders
3.
Columbia Generating Station Back Online
4.
PacifiCorp Tries To Trim Potential Losses as
Oregon Wildfire Litigation Grinds On
5.
Oregon: Judge – Feds Can’t Be Sued Over Power
Line Decision Before Holiday Farm Fire
6.
The Bonneville Power Administration Releases
First Official Forecast of Expected Financial Performance for FY 2026
7.
Lawmakers Push for Federal Nuclear Innovation
Campus in Tri-Cities Region
8.
The Future of American Nuclear Energy Just
Touched Down in Utah
9.
U.S. Natural Gas Production to Reach Record
Highs in 2026 & 2027
10.
What’s Behind Your Eye-Popping Power Bill? We
Broke It Down, Region by Region.
11.
News Release: Western Energy Imbalance Market
Surpasses $8 Billion in Total Benefits Since Inception
12.
WA State: 5,700 Acre (Nine Sq. Miles) Grant Co.
Solar Projects Moving Forward
13.
Fear of Farmland Loss Slows Solar & Wind
Development
14.
California Lawmakers Eye 'Plug-In Solar' to Help
Renters Cut Energy Costs
15.
Lawmakers Say ‘Virtual Power Plants’ Could Help
Oregon. Utilities Say They’re Already Here
16.
Southern California Air Board Rejected Pollution
Rules After Artificial Intelligence-Generated Flood of Comments
17.
The Colorado River Crisis Is Here – States Fail
to Reach a Deal; Lake Powell Deadpool Appears Imminent
18.
Can Washington State Recover from Its 'Abysmally
Low' Mountain Snowpack?
19.
Public Health, Green Groups Sue EPA Over Repeal
of Rule Supporting Climate Protections
20.
As U.S. Abandons Climate Fight, Washington State
Feels the Heat to Do More
21.
Amazon's $5 Billion Data Center in Walla Walla
Region to Boost Economy & Job Market
22.
Data Center Growth Has Helped Pacific Gas &
Electric Cut Rates 11% Since 2024, CEO Says
23.
As Electricity Costs Rise, Everyone Wants Data
Centers to Pick Up Their Tab. But How?
24.
Data Centers: Your New Neighbor?
25.
Ford Unveils New Details on Its Cheaper Electric
Vehicle Platform. First Up, a Midsize Pickup.
26.
Washington State Launches New Program to
Encourage Trucking Companies to Switch to Electric
27.
Is Social Media Over for Creatives? Or Have We
Just Woken Up to What It Is?
28.
California, Colorado & Washington Sue Trump
Administration to Unlock Funding for Clean Energy Projects
29.
Meta to Spend $65 Million in 2026 to Boost
Politicians Who Favor Artificial Intelligence – Report
30.
Washington House Approves Bill to Give Spokane’s
Energy-Generating Trash Incinerator More Time to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
31.
WA Fish & Wildlife Saga Deepens with Claims
of Collusion
32.
Another Storm Arrives in Southern California,
Bringing Fierce Wind, Rain & Heavy Snow
33.
Guest Essay: Washington’s Competitive Edge Is
Eroding
34.
Guest Essay: A New Space Race—The U.S. Looks to
Lunar Nuclear Power
35.
Editorial: Set Deadline for Chemical in Tires
That’s Killing Coho Salmon
Word of the Day
Contumacious \conn-too-MAY-shush\ Adjective - Stubbornly disobedient: rebellious.
Contumacious: the terrible twos and the terrifying teens. ‘Nuff said.
Energy
& Utility Issues
1.
Portland General Electric Spends Nearly $2 Billion
to Expand in Washington, Acquiring 140,000 Customers from PacifiCorp (Oregon
Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/17/portland-general-electric-pacificorp-oregon-washington/
2.
PacifiCorp to Sell Its Washington Power Plants,
Wind Farms — A ‘Divorce’ Cheered by Utah Leaders (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2026/02/18/utah-applauds-pacificorps-energy/
3.
Columbia Generating Station Back Online (Energy
Northwest)
https://www.energy-northwest.com/news-releases/columbia-generating-station-back-online/
4.
PacifiCorp Tries To Trim Potential Losses as Oregon
Wildfire Litigation Grinds On (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
5.
Oregon: Judge – Feds Can’t Be Sued Over Power
Line Decision Before Holiday Farm Fire (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, OR)
6.
The Bonneville Power Administration Releases
First Official Forecast of Expected Financial Performance for FY 2026 (Bonneville
Power Administration)
7.
Lawmakers Push for Federal Nuclear Innovation
Campus in Tri-Cities Region (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)
8.
The Future of American Nuclear Energy Just
Touched Down in Utah (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2026/02/15/first-small-nuclear-reactor-lands-in-utah/
9.
U.S. Natural Gas Production to Reach Record
Highs in 2026 & 2027 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67166
10.
What’s Behind Your Eye-Popping Power Bill? We Broke
It Down, Region by Region. (Grist Online)
https://grist.org/energy/power-bills-electricity-prices-state-by-state/
11.
News Release: Western Energy Imbalance Market
Surpasses $8 Billion in Total Benefits Since Inception (California ISO)
Renewable
Energy & Self Storage
12.
WA State: 5,700 Acre (Nine Sq. Miles) Grant Co.
Solar Projects Moving Forward (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/feb/18/grant-co-solar-projects-moving-forward/
13.
Fear of Farmland Loss Slows Solar & Wind
Development (Canary Media)
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/food-and-farms/fear-farmland-loss-slows-solar-wind-development
14.
California Lawmakers Eye 'Plug-In Solar' to Help
Renters Cut Energy Costs (KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA)
15.
Lawmakers Say ‘Virtual Power Plants’ Could Help Oregon.
Utilities Say They’re Already Here (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/11/oregon-politics-energy-power-virtual-plants-senate-bill-1582/
Environmental
Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three
16.
Southern California Air Board Rejected Pollution
Rules After Artificial Intelligence-Generated Flood of Comments (Los Angeles
Times, CA – Via MSN)
Water,
Water, Anywhere?
17.
The Colorado River Crisis Is Here – States Fail to
Reach a Deal; Lake Powell Deadpool Appears Imminent (Land Desk)
https://www.landdesk.org/p/the-colorado-river-crisis-is-here
18.
Can Washington State Recover from Its 'Abysmally
Low' Mountain Snowpack? (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)
https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-state-snowpack-february-2026
Climate
Change Sequestration Vault
19.
Public Health, Green Groups Sue EPA Over Repeal of
Rule Supporting Climate Protections (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/trump-climate-change-epa-clean-air-act-27a69e8e349bd8cc7091af202b81517c
20.
As U.S. Abandons Climate Fight, Washington State
Feels the Heat to Do More (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)
HAL’s
Internet Café
21.
Amazon's $5 Billion Data Center in Walla Walla Region
to Boost Economy & Job Market (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)
22.
Data Center Growth Has Helped Pacific Gas &
Electric Cut Rates 11% Since 2024, CEO Says (Utility Dive)
23.
As Electricity Costs Rise, Everyone Wants Data
Centers to Pick Up Their Tab. But How? (Associated Press)
24.
Data Centers: Your New Neighbor? (Politico)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2026/02/13/data-centers-your-new-neighbor-00780829
I
Sing the Car Electric
25.
Ford Unveils New Details on Its Cheaper Electric
Vehicle Platform. First Up, a Midsize Pickup. (Yahoo! News)
26.
Washington State Launches New Program to
Encourage Trucking Companies to Switch to Electric (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)
Public
Relations, Marketing & Media
27.
Is Social Media Over for Creatives? Or Have We
Just Woken Up to What It Is? (Creative Boom)
Politics,
Governance, and Management
28.
California, Colorado & Washington Sue Trump Administration
to Unlock Funding for Clean Energy Projects (Reuters)
29.
Meta to Spend $65 Million in 2026 to Boost
Politicians Who Favor Artificial Intelligence – Report (Seeking Alpha)
30.
Washington House Approves Bill to Give Spokane’s
Energy-Generating Trash Incinerator More Time to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/feb/17/washington-house-approve-bill-to-give-spokanes-ene/
31.
WA Fish & Wildlife Saga Deepens with Claims of
Collusion (Washington State Standard)
Other
Things to Know About Today
32.
Another Storm Arrives in Southern California,
Bringing Fierce Wind, Rain & Heavy Snow (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo!
News)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/night-fierce-winds-rain-another-110000030.html
Soapbox
Serenade – Vox Populi
33.
Guest Essay: Washington’s Competitive Edge Is
Eroding (Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, WA)
https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/johnson-feb-2026
34.
Guest Essay: A New Space Race—The U.S. Looks to
Lunar Nuclear Power (Power Magazine)
https://www.powermag.com/a-new-space-race-the-u-s-looks-to-lunar-nuclear-power/
35.
Editorial: Set Deadline for Chemical in Tires
That’s Killing Coho Salmon (Everett Herald, WA – Paywall Advisory)
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-set-deadline-for-chemical-in-tires-thats-killing-coho/
Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer
Loose Dog Crosses the Finish Line at Olympic Skiing Event
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/02/18/winter-olympics-cross-country-team-sprint-dog/2311771422753/
Home Renovation Reveals Surprising Photo Under the Floor: ‘Hey,
That’s My Mom’
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/home-renovation-reveals-surprising-photo-162126016.html
Famous ‘Lovers’ Arch’ in Italy Collapses into Sea on
Valentine’s Day Following Severe Weather
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/famous-lovers-arch-italy-collapses-211258080.html
'Rhapsody in Blue': After a Century, Gershwin's Musical
Melting Pot Still Resonates
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/12/1230433015/rhapsody-in-blue-gershwin-centennial-jazz-classical
Song of the Day
George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue (Leonard Bernstein)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jVh5cZ_ZvM
Links & Paywall Advisory
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