The Energy News Digest for July 22, 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

California: Wildfire Survivors Angered as Utility-Funded Group Claims to Represent Them (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_efc5235c-7415-4517-8e4c-e052a3561a16.html

‘A Five-Alarm Fire’: Western Reservoirs That Supply California Fall to Record Low Levels (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/five-alarm-fire-western-reservoirs-193703058.html

OpenAI Model Went Rogue, Hacked Another Company’s System During Testing (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/openai-test-hacks-other-model-9.7279188

A Parasite That Thrives in Warm Conditions Adds to Yukon River Salmon Woes (Alaska Beacon)

Https://Alaskabeacon.Com/2026/07/22/A-Parasite-That-Thrives-In-Warm-Conditions-Adds-To-Yukon-River-Salmon-Woes/

As E-Bikes Surge in Popularity in Oregon, So Do the Safety Issues (Central Oregon Daily News, Bend, OR)

https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/regional/as-e-bikes-surge-in-popularity-in-oregon-so-do-the-safety-issues/article_f2d8946b-e9b2-5c88-ae5b-7ab719c94dbc.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      California: Wildfire Survivors Angered as Utility-Funded Group Claims to Represent Them

2.      Idaho-Wyoming Nuclear Industry Partnership Set to Receive $31 Million Federal Award

3.      Idaho: Could Nuclear Energy Power the Magic Valley? Jerome County Wants to Find Out

4.      Consumer Advocacy Groups Formally Challenge San Diego Gas & Electric’s Proposal to Raise Rates in 2028

5.      Oregon VCP Campaign Builds Strong Grassroots Support for Protecting Hydropower

6.      811 Says Broadband Companies Hold Some Responsibility for Recent Utility Strikes

7.      Toxic Gas Slows Efforts to Rescue 13 Workers Trapped in India Hydropower Tunnel

8.      FERC Commissioners Defend Large-Load Interconnection Orders, Back Hydropower Licensing Streamlining Before Senate Energy Panel

9.      Nevada: Clark County, Nonprofits Launch Effort to Ease Conversion to Solar

10.   A Parasite That Thrives in Warm Conditions Adds to Yukon River Salmon Woes

11.   First Floating Wetland in Seattle Aims to Turn the Tide for Salmon

12.   Idaho’s Brownlee & Hells Canyon Reservoirs Under Health Advisory

13.   Carbon Dioxide Emissions from U.S. Power Sector Rose 4% Last Year

14.   ‘A Five-Alarm Fire’: Western Reservoirs That Supply California Fall to Record Low Levels

15.   Expected Colorado River Pact Seen as Step in Right Direction

16.   Angry Crowd Confronts Oklahoma Water Regulators Over Dams

17.   Stranded Houseboats & Grounded Cruise Ships: Europe’s Rivers Are Shrinking amid Heat & Drought

18.   Following Data Center Boom, Oregon for First Time Considers Charging Use Fees for Undersea Cables

19.   California Approves $74 Million for Rural Broadband Expansion

20.   FCC Revises Broadband Nutrition Label Rules

21.   OpenAI Model Went Rogue, Hacked Another Company’s System During Testing

22.   As E-Bikes Surge in Popularity in Oregon, So Do the Safety Issues

23.   Spokane Police Warn Families After Kids Ride E-Motorcycles

24.   Need Backup Power? Automakers Want You to Look No Further Than Their Vehicles in Your Driveway

25.   B.C. Hydro Aims to Add 2,500 Public Electric Vehicle Charging Ports by 2035

26.   News Release: U.S. Sen. Murkowski & Colleagues Lead Efforts to Bolster Made-In-America Hydropower

27.   New Calif. Law Supported by NCPA Extends Current Policy to Ensure Public Power Customers Receive Full Value of Project

28.   Montana Gov. Gianforte Seeking Applications for Temporary Public Service Commission Appointment

29.   Idaho Has Spent More Than $20 Million on Wildfire Suppression so Far This Year as Conditions Worsen

30.   Tropical Storm Moisture Will Bring Precipitation to the Northwest During the Driest Time of the Year

31.   Second Day of Heat, Hazy Skies Before Cooler Air Moves In

32.   Portland Heat Reaches Triple Digits; Wednesday Another Scorcher

33.   Old Farmer’s Almanac Fall 2026 Forecast: What You Can Expect Where You Live

34.   New GM of Idaho Falls Power Details How New Peaking Plant Will Benefit Utility, Customers

Word of the Day

Frisson \free-SON (ends with kind of a nasally-French pronunciation)\ Noun - A brief moment of emotional excitement: shudder, thrill.

My cat leaped onto my lap – in a tense pose of frisson – looking for the bird she thought was hiding in my mouth.  The one that was just whistling the guitar solo from “Sultans of Swing.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      California: Wildfire Survivors Angered as Utility-Funded Group Claims to Represent Them (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_efc5235c-7415-4517-8e4c-e052a3561a16.html

2.      Idaho-Wyoming Nuclear Industry Partnership Set to Receive $31 Million Federal Award (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/idaho-wyoming-nuclear-industry-partnership-set-to-receive-31m-federal-award/

3.      Idaho: Could Nuclear Energy Power the Magic Valley? Jerome County Wants to Find Out (KIVI-TV, Nampa, ID)

https://www.kivitv.com/jerome/could-nuclear-energy-power-the-magic-valley-jerome-county-wants-to-find-out

4.      Consumer Advocacy Groups Formally Challenge San Diego Gas & Electric’s Proposal to Raise Rates in 2028 (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/quality-of-life/2026/07/21/consumer-advocacy-groups-formally-challenge-sdg-es-proposal-to-raise-rates-in-2028

5.      Oregon VCP Campaign Builds Strong Grassroots Support for Protecting Hydropower (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/oregon-vcp-campaign-builds-strong-grassroots-support-for-protecting-hydropower

6.      811 Says Broadband Companies Hold Some Responsibility for Recent Utility Strikes (WFMJ-TV, Youngstown, OH)

https://www.wfmj.com/news/local-news/811-says-broadband-companies-hold-responsibility-for-recent-utility-strikes/article_e7c8f48c-f6a9-49c5-9c3f-0d70bd96c161.html

7.      Toxic Gas Slows Efforts to Rescue 13 Workers Trapped in India Hydropower Tunnel (Courthouse News Service)

https://courthousenews.com/toxic-gas-slows-efforts-to-rescue-13-workers-trapped-in-india-hydropower-tunnel/

8.      FERC Commissioners Defend Large-Load Interconnection Orders, Back Hydropower Licensing Streamlining Before Senate Energy Panel (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/hearing-summaries/53142-ferc-commissioners-defend-large-load-interconnection-orders-back-hydropower-licensing-streamlining-before-senate-energy-panel/

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      Nevada: Clark County, Nonprofits Launch Effort to Ease Conversion to Solar (Nevada Current)

https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/07/21/clark-county-nonprofits-launch-effort-to-ease-switch-to-solar/

Fish & Wildlife

10.   A Parasite That Thrives in Warm Conditions Adds to Yukon River Salmon Woes (Alaska Beacon)

Https://Alaskabeacon.Com/2026/07/22/A-Parasite-That-Thrives-In-Warm-Conditions-Adds-To-Yukon-River-Salmon-Woes/

11.   First Floating Wetland in Seattle Aims to Turn the Tide for Salmon (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/first-floating-wetland-seattle-saltwater-aims-turn-the-tide-for-salmon/281-b7872ef8-4978-4354-a733-515554c0d38e

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

12.   Idaho’s Brownlee & Hells Canyon Reservoirs Under Health Advisory (Idaho Capital Sun)

https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/idahos-brownlee-and-hells-canyon-reservoirs-under-health-advisory/

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

13.   Carbon Dioxide Emissions from U.S. Power Sector Rose 4% Last Year (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/carbon-dioxide-emissions-electric-power-eia/825805/

Water, Water Anywhere?

14.   ‘A Five-Alarm Fire’: Western Reservoirs That Supply California Fall to Record Low Levels (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/five-alarm-fire-western-reservoirs-193703058.html

15.   Expected Colorado River Pact Seen as Step in Right Direction (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_efc5235c-7415-4517-8e4c-e052a3561a16.html

16.   Angry Crowd Confronts Oklahoma Water Regulators Over Dams (States Newsroom)

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/angry-crowd-confronts-oklahoma-water-regulators-over-dams

17.   Stranded Houseboats & Grounded Cruise Ships: Europe’s Rivers Are Shrinking amid Heat & Drought (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/stranded-houseboats-shrunken-rivers-netherlands-083025958.html

London Calling –Telecommunications

18.   Following Data Center Boom, Oregon for First Time Considers Charging Use Fees for Undersea Cables (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/22/oregon-coast-data-center-boom-undersea-cables-use-fees/

19.   California Approves $74 Million for Rural Broadband Expansion (Inside Towers)

https://insidetowers.com/california-approves-74-million-for-rural-broadband-expansion/

20.   FCC Revises Broadband Nutrition Label Rules (Fierce Network)

https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/fcc-revises-broadband-nutrition-label-rules

HAL’s Internet Café

21.   OpenAI Model Went Rogue, Hacked Another Company’s System During Testing (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/openai-test-hacks-other-model-9.7279188

I Sing the Car Electric

22.   As E-Bikes Surge in Popularity in Oregon, So Do the Safety Issues (Central Oregon Daily News, Bend, OR)

https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/regional/as-e-bikes-surge-in-popularity-in-oregon-so-do-the-safety-issues/article_f2d8946b-e9b2-5c88-ae5b-7ab719c94dbc.html

23.   Spokane Police Warn Families After Kids Ride E-Motorcycles (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-police-warn-families-after-kids-ride-e-motorcycles/article_eb905ce6-bfac-4d99-b82f-ceff10febbd4.html

24.   Need Backup Power? Automakers Want You to Look No Further Than Their Vehicles in Your Driveway (Associated Press)

https://www.seattlepi.com/business/need-backup-power-automakers-want-you-to-look-no-a22355347

25.   B.C. Hydro Aims to Add 2,500 Public Electric Vehicle Charging Ports by 2035 (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/2-500-public-ev-charging-ports-b-c-2035-9.7278520?cmp=rss

Politics, Governance, and Management

26.   News Release: U.S. Sen. Murkowski & Colleagues Lead Efforts to Bolster Made-In-America Hydropower (Sen Lisa Murkowski – AK - News Release)

https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-and-colleagues-lead-efforts-to-bolster-made-in-america-hydropower

27.   New Calif. Law Supported by NCPA Extends Current Policy to Ensure Public Power Customers Receive Full Value of Project (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/new-calif-law-supported-ncpa-extends-current-policy-ensure-public-power-customers-receive-full-value

28.   Montana Gov. Gianforte Seeking Applications for Temporary Public Service Commission Appointment (KTVH-TV, Helena, MT)

https://www.ktvh.com/news/gianforte-seeking-applications-for-temporary-public-service-commission-appointment

Other Things to Know About Today

29.   Idaho Has Spent More Than $20 Million on Wildfire Suppression so Far This Year as Conditions Worsen (States Newsroom)

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/idaho-has-spent-more-20m-wildfire-suppression-so-far-year-conditions-worsen

30.   Tropical Storm Moisture Will Bring Precipitation to the Northwest During the Driest Time of the Year (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2026/07/tropical-storm-moisture-will-bring.html

31.   Second Day of Heat, Hazy Skies Before Cooler Air Moves In (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/heat-advisory-hot-weather-above-90-degrees-western-washington-seattle-forecast-safety-air-quality-alert-smoky-hazy-skies

32.   Portland Heat Reaches Triple Digits; Wednesday Another Scorcher (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2026/07/portland-heat-reaches-triple-digits-wednesday-another-scorcher.html

33.   Old Farmer’s Almanac Fall 2026 Forecast: What You Can Expect Where You Live (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2026/07/old-farmers-almanac-fall-2026-forecast-what-you-can-expect-where-you-live.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

34.   New GM of Idaho Falls Power Details How New Peaking Plant Will Benefit Utility, Customers (American Public Power Association)

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1452280/episodes/19509544

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Wreckage of Pan Am Plane Found in Ocean 74 Years After Crash Off Puerto Rico: "Changed Aviation Forever"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pan-am-plane-crash-wreckage-found-clipper-endeavor-puerto-rico/

Woman Gives Birth to Rare Identical Quadruplet Girls in Australia

https://ktla.com/news/rare-identical-quadruplet-girls-in-australia/

Alberta’s Aquatic Ecosystems Are Being Put at Risk by Illegal Dumping of Goldfish

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-goldfish-dumping-water-9.7277437

Poulsbo, WA Teen Wins $2,000 Scholarship in Duct Tape Dress Contest

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/poulsbo-duct-tape-prom-dress

Song of the Day

Don McLean – Wonderful Baby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuvj1K8X3xo

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.

The Energy News Digest for July 20, 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

Cargill: Washington State Wants Another Dam Study – But It Doesn’t Want an Honest Answer (KTTH Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://seattlered.com/energy/cargill-washington-state-wants-another-dam-study-but-it-doesnt-want-an-honest-answer/4119477

Utility Company Pays $314 Million to Eaton Fire Victims (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_682143d8-b0c0-4a15-8e03-ff40d7034ff5.html

Judge: Lummi Nation Must Be Told of Telecommunications Work at Point Roberts Amid Burial Grounds Lawsuit (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/jul/16/judge-lummi-nation-must-be-told-of-work-at-point-roberts-amid-burial-grounds-lawsuit/

California Threatens Lawsuit Over Federal Offshore Wind Lease Buyouts (KRCR-TV, Redding, CA)

https://krcrtv.com/news/local/california-threatens-lawsuit-over-federal-offshore-wind-lease-buyouts

Renters: Know Your New Portable Air Conditioning Rights as WA Heatwave Approaches (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/renters-know-your-new-portable-air-conditioning-rights-as-wa-heatwave-approaches-washington-heat-temperature-risk-safety-exhaustion-stroke-death-air-conditioning-apartment-unit-renting-landlord-hvac-installation

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Cargill: Washington State Wants Another Dam Study – But It Doesn’t Want an Honest

2.      Request for Proposals: Lower Snake River Energy Replacement Analysis

3.      Utility Company Pays $314 Million to Eaton Fire Victims

4.      Gold Mining Company Sues to Re-Route Portion of $1.5 Billion Oregon Boardman-To-Hemingway Transmission Line

5.      British Columbia First Nations Explore If Nuclear Power Could Meet Province’s Electricity Needs

6.      Natural Gas Supplies ‘Not Looking Good’ for Southcentral Alaska This Winter, Enstar Says

7.      New York Imports More Electricity from Canada After High-Voltage Transmission Line Opens

8.      House, Senate Committees Approve WRDA Bills

9.      FERC Fast-Tracks Reviews to Accelerate Actions at Hydropower Projects

10.   All 50 U.S. States Ranked by Power Consumption in Eye-Opening New Data

11.   California Threatens Lawsuit Over Federal Offshore Wind Lease Buyouts

12.   Central Valley Farmers Reluctantly Turn to Solar as Water Supplies Dry Up

13.   An Old-School Geothermal Giant Rides the Tech’s Newfound Popularity

14.   All That Wildfire Smoke Sent New England’s Solar Production Plummeting

15.   Puget Sound Energy Says Clean Energy Surpassed 50% Of Power Supply in Latest Compliance Report

16.   Renters: Know Your New Portable Air Conditioning Rights as WA Heatwave Approaches

17.   Thieves Stealing Air-Conditioning Units in Pasadena, Police Say

18.   Why Did Energy-Saving Tips Disappear from the U.S. Energy Department Website?

19.   ‘Real Consequences’: Washington Congresswoman Questions Bonneville for Ending Salmon Hatchery Funds

20.   Majority of U.S. Voters Link Extreme Weather to Climate Crisis, Study

21.   Judge: Lummi Nation Must Be Told of Telecommunications Work at Point Roberts Amid Burial Grounds Lawsuit

22.   Data Center Opponents Stage 142 Protests Across 42 U.S. States

23.   Without Tax Credits, EV Sales Are Searching for a

24.   Significant Heat Arrives in Portland This Week: What to Know

25.   Heat Wave Pushes Western Washington into High Wildfire Danger as Temps Near

26.   Montana: Weather Forecast: Hot with Thunderstorm Chances This Week

27.   ‘Long & Dangerous’ Heatwave Forecast for Southern California This Week

28.   Is Portland at Risk for Urban Wildfire? A Local Expert Who Analyzed Los Angeles Fires Thinks So

29.   Guest Essay: Powering Artificial Intelligence – The Bonneville Power Administration Must Play a Critical Role

30.   Guest Essay: Why Data Centers Are Part of the Solution for Our Power

31.   Guest Essay: New BPA Leader Must Find Balance Between Modernization, Conservation

Word of the Day

Surd \SERD\ Adjective - 1: lacking sense: irrational 2: voiceless - used of speech sounds.

Surd – Description of a person afraid of radio waves from Wi-Fi transmitters who calls “Papa Murphy’s” on their cellphone to place a pickup order for a family-sized cowboy pizza on de-light crust. Then spends the next half hour on the cell phone (while driving to the store) talking about their upcoming twentieth tanning session.

Word Origin via Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Both “surd” and its more common cousin “absurd” come from the Latin word “surdus,” meaning “unhearing, deaf, muffled, or dull.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Cargill: Washington State Wants Another Dam Study – But It Doesn’t Want an Honest Answer (KTTH Radio, Seattle, WA)

https://seattlered.com/energy/cargill-washington-state-wants-another-dam-study-but-it-doesnt-want-an-honest-answer/4119477

2.      Request for Proposals: Lower Snake River Energy Replacement Analysis (WA Dept. Of Commerce)

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-proposals-lower-snake-river-energy-replacement-analysis/

3.      Utility Company Pays $314 Million to Eaton Fire Victims (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_682143d8-b0c0-4a15-8e03-ff40d7034ff5.html

4.      Gold Mining Company Sues to Re-Route Portion of $1.5 Billion Oregon Boardman-To-Hemingway Transmission Line (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/15/gold-mining-company-sues-to-re-route-portion-of-oregon-transmission-line/

5.      British Columbia First Nations Explore If Nuclear Power Could Meet Province’s Electricity Needs (Global News, Canada)

https://globalnews.ca/news/11970664/bc-first-nations-explore-nuclear-power/

6.      Natural Gas Supplies ‘Not Looking Good’ for Southcentral Alaska This Winter, Enstar Says (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/alaska-natural-gas-supplies-storage-winter-0fa50ae946943cd55606a4328184bb58

7.      New York Imports More Electricity from Canada After High-Voltage Transmission Line Opens (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67867

8.      House, Senate Committees Approve WRDA Bills (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/house-senate-committees-approve-wrda-bills

9.      FERC Fast-Tracks Reviews to Accelerate Actions at Hydropower Projects (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/ferc-fast-tracks-reviews-accelerate-actions-hydropower-projects

10.   All 50 U.S. States Ranked by Power Consumption in Eye-Opening New Data (Unilad Tech)

https://www.uniladtech.com/news/ai/all-us-states-ranked-power-consumption-data-centers-500912-20260714

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

11.   California Threatens Lawsuit Over Federal Offshore Wind Lease Buyouts (KRCR-TV, Redding, CA)

https://krcrtv.com/news/local/california-threatens-lawsuit-over-federal-offshore-wind-lease-buyouts

12.   Central Valley Farmers Reluctantly Turn to Solar as Water Supplies Dry Up (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/water-restrictions-hit-farmers-solar-100000309.html

13.   An Old-School Geothermal Giant Rides the Tech’s Newfound Popularity (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/geothermal/ormat-next-gen-geothermal-popularity

14.   All That Wildfire Smoke Sent New England’s Solar Production Plummeting (WBUR Radio, Boston, MA)

https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/07/16/wildfire-smoke-climate-change-solar-panels-production-iso-new-england

15.   Puget Sound Energy Says Clean Energy Surpassed 50% Of Power Supply in Latest Compliance Report (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/53093-pse-says-clean-energy-surpassed-50-of-power-supply-in-latest-compliance-report/

Conservation & Efficiency

16.   Renters: Know Your New Portable Air Conditioning Rights as WA Heatwave Approaches (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/renters-know-your-new-portable-air-conditioning-rights-as-wa-heatwave-approaches-washington-heat-temperature-risk-safety-exhaustion-stroke-death-air-conditioning-apartment-unit-renting-landlord-hvac-installation

17.   Thieves Stealing Air-Conditioning Units in Pasadena, Police Say (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/thieves-stealing-air-conditioning-units-in-pasadena-police-say/

18.   Why Did Energy-Saving Tips Disappear from the U.S. Energy Department Website? (Grist Online)

https://grist.org/politics/energy-department-saving-disappear-website/

Fish & Wildlife

19.   ‘Real Consequences’: Washington Congresswoman Questions Bonneville for Ending Salmon Hatchery Funds (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/real-consequences-washington-congresswoman-questions-224117245.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

20.   Majority of U.S. Voters Link Extreme Weather to Climate Crisis, Study Finds (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/majority-us-voters-extreme-weather-110026917.html

London Calling –Telecommunications

21.   Judge: Lummi Nation Must Be Told of Telecommunications Work at Point Roberts Amid Burial Grounds Lawsuit (Cascadia Daily)

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/jul/16/judge-lummi-nation-must-be-told-of-work-at-point-roberts-amid-burial-grounds-lawsuit/

HAL’s Internet Café

22.   Data Center Opponents Stage 142 Protests Across 42 U.S. States (Reuters – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/us-data-center-protests-national-100647987.html

I Sing the Car Electric

23.   Without Tax Credits, EV Sales Are Searching for a Spark (Inside Climate News)

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16072026/inside-clean-energy-us-ev-sales/

Whither the Weather

24.   Significant Heat Arrives in Portland This Week: What to Know (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/weather/significant-heat-arrives-in-portland-this-week-what-to-know/

25.   Heat Wave Pushes Western Washington into High Wildfire Danger as Temps Near 90 (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/heat-wave-pushes-western-washington-into-high-wildfire-danger-as-temps-near-90-noaa-temperature-fire-smoke-risk-evacuation-house-camping-outdoors-recreation-summer-weather-forecast

26.   Montana: Weather Forecast: Hot with Thunderstorm Chances This Week (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

https://www.kpax.com/weather/weather-forecast-hot-with-thunderstorm-chances-this-week

27.   ‘Long & Dangerous’ Heatwave Forecast for Southern California This Week (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/weather/long-and-dangerous-heatwave-forecast-for-southern-california-this-week/

28.   Is Portland at Risk for Urban Wildfire? A Local Expert Who Analyzed Los Angeles Fires Thinks So (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2026/07/is-portland-at-risk-for-urban-wildfire-a-local-expert-who-analyzed-los-angeles-fires-thinks-so.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

29.   Guest Essay: Powering Artificial Intelligence – The Bonneville Power Administration Must Play a Critical Role (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/opinion/article_1b3a1d4c-5857-443a-8fe8-2e1d5d767729.html

30.   Guest Essay: Why Data Centers Are Part of the Solution for Our Power Grid (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/why-data-centers-part-solution-120000902.html

31.   Guest Essay: New BPA Leader Must Find Balance Between Modernization, Conservation (Seattle Times, WA – Via Save Our Wild Salmon)

https://www.wildsalmon.org/news-and-media/opinion/bpa-must-balance-modernization-conservation.html

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Viral Seattle Raccoon ‘Jimothy’ Inspires Mural, Tattoos & Seattle Proclamation

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/viral-raccoon-jimothy-inspires-mural-tattoos-and-seattle-proclamation/281-647f5fc4-fc95-4bfd-b90b-7aa39feb859b

Portland Secures Guinness World Record for Largest E-Bike Ride

https://www.koin.com/positivelyportland/photos-portland-secures-guinness-world-record-for-largest-e-bike-ride/

Inflatable Dinosaurs Race at Emerald Downs, in Photos

https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/trex-races-photos-948e4e7a95dbc254bf86710da684e1fd

Face-to-Face with Ancient Rome: Exhibition in Hungary Brings Forgotten Faces to Life

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/face-to-face-with-ancient-rome-exhibition-in-a22345881

Song of the Day

The Beatles – Rocky Raccoon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqA4ZiQaGtU

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