The Energy News Digest for January 6, 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

Winter Storm Live Updates: Multiple Deaths Reported as Snow Slams Mid-Atlantic Region; Over 1,900 Flight Cancellations (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/winter-storm-live-updates-multiple-deaths-reported-as-snow-slams-mid-atlantic-region-over-1900-flight-cancellations-141753939.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Says Rates Will Stabilize Next Year After a Record 2024 of California Rate Increases (Sacramento Bee, CA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/general/pg-e-says-rates-will-stabilize-next-year-after-a-record-2024-of-california-rate-increases/ar-AA1wJl13

REC Silicon Announces Closure of Moses Lake Operation (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2024/dec/31/rec-silicon-announces-closure-of-moses-lake-operation/

Only About Half of Southern Resident Orca Calves Survive. Here’s Why (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/orcas/why-half-southern-resident-orca-calves-survive/281-7c535d96-3cde-4046-9da5-97ad3f0d0bf6

Net Neutrality Is Struck, Ending a Long Battle to Regulate ISPs Like Public Utilities (KJZZ-Radio, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.kjzz.org/npr-top-stories/2025-01-03/net-neutrality-is-struck-ending-a-long-battle-to-regulate-isps-like-public-utilities

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Says Rates Will Stabilize Next Year After a Record 2024 of California Rate Increases

2.      Montana Failed to Consider Pollution from New Power Plant, But State Supreme Court Won’t Stop It

3.      Arizona: Mohave Retirees Claim Victory After County Reverses Vote on Power Plant Site Near Homes

4.      Texas, Utah, Last Energy Challenge NRC’s ‘Overburdensome’ Microreactor Regulations

5.      Constellation Inks $1 Billion Deal to Supply U.S. Government with Nuclear Power

6.      German Power Prices Turn Negative as Supply Outpaces Demand Amid Expansion in Renewables

7.      Lots of Demand, Too Little Grid: The State of the U.S. Power Sector

8.      Is Releasing Balloons Harmless Fun? Utility Officials Say No

9.      REC Silicon Announces Closure of Moses Lake Operation

10.   Finalized Tax Credit for Cleaner Hydrogen Gets a Cautious OK from Some Environmental Groups

11.   Only About Half of Southern Resident Orca Calves Survive. Here’s Why

12.   New Law in Effect to Protect Endangered Southern Resident Orcas

13.   Angler Paid Record $164,000+ for Fishing the Columbia & Snake Rivers for Northern Pikeminnow in 2024

14.   WA State: Transfer of Klickitat Hatchery to Yakama Nation Is Now a Done Deal

15.   Snail Darter - Fish at Center of Key Conservation Fight Not a Distinct Species After All

16.   WA State: Reservoirs Levels Way Below Average at End of 2024---Even Despite Winter’s Strong Start

17.   WSU Researchers Taking Steps to Protect Apples from Climate Change

18.   Net Neutrality Is Struck, Ending a Long Battle to Regulate ISPs Like Public Utilities

19.   Arizona Wins Third & Final Federal Semiconductor Research Hub, Dashing Oregon’s Hopes

20.   2025 Marks the Start of a New Generation. Here’s What to Know About ‘Gen Beta.’

21.   Here’s Your 2025 Guide to the Night Sky & Other Celestial Wow Moments

22.   President Biden to Create New National Monuments Protecting Tribal Land in California

23.   Canada’s Trudeau Resigns as Liberal Party Leader, Spelling End to Time in Power

24.   Winter Storm Live Updates: Multiple Deaths Reported as Snow Slams Mid-Atlantic Region; Over 1,900 Flight Cancellations

25.   New Public Zone Map Aims to Enhance Accuracy of Weather Warnings in Western Washington

26.   Paywall Advisory – Editorial: Lawmakers Must Blackout-Proof Washington’s Energy Transition

27.   From Code to Current: How to Keep Artificial Intelligence Data Centers in Check for a Sustainable Grid

Word of the Day

Zeitgeist /ZITE-gyste/ Noun - The general beliefs, ideas, and spirit of a time and place.

“This is just GREAT,” moaned 66-year-old Abernathy to his aging bar pals. “The 40’s had the Greatest Generation; the 60’s had the Summer of Love. What is MY generation’s Zeitgeist? – Disco!”

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      Pacific Gas & Electric Says Rates Will Stabilize Next Year After a Record 2024 of California Rate Increases (Sacramento Bee, CA – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/general/pg-e-says-rates-will-stabilize-next-year-after-a-record-2024-of-california-rate-increases/ar-AA1wJl13

2.      Montana Failed to Consider Pollution from New Power Plant, But State Supreme Court Won’t Stop It (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2025/01/03/montana-failed-to-consider-pollution-from-new-power-plant-but-supreme-court-wont-stop-it/

3.      Arizona: Mohave Retirees Claim Victory After County Reverses Vote on Power Plant Site Near Homes (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2024/12/28/mohave-county-reverses-decision-on-power-plant-site-near-homes/77179695007/

4.      Texas, Utah, Last Energy Challenge NRC’s ‘Overburdensome’ Microreactor Regulations (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-utah-last-energy-nrc-overburdensome-microreactor-nuclear-regulation/736545/

5.      Constellation Inks $1 Billion Deal to Supply U.S. Government with Nuclear Power (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/constellation-secures-1-bln-contracts-supply-us-government-with-nuclear-power-2025-01-02/

6.      German Power Prices Turn Negative as Supply Outpaces Demand Amid Expansion in Renewables (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/german-power-prices-turn-negative-020708634.html

7.      Lots of Demand, Too Little Grid: The State of the U.S. Power Sector (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/transmission/lots-of-demand-too-little-grid-the-us-power-sector-in-2024

8.      Is Releasing Balloons Harmless Fun? Utility Officials Say No (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/releasing-balloons-bad-for-the-environment-mylar-nonbiodegradable-litter-wildlife-pollution-tacoma-public-utilities-balloon-bouquets

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

9.      REC Silicon Announces Closure of Moses Lake Operation (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2024/dec/31/rec-silicon-announces-closure-of-moses-lake-operation/

10.   Finalized Tax Credit for Cleaner Hydrogen Gets a Cautious OK from Some Environmental Groups (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/hydrogen-climate-biden-treasury-fossil-fuels-f34986ee580c9b208ce9a97865693a18

Fish & Wildlife

11.   Only About Half of Southern Resident Orca Calves Survive. Here’s Why (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/orcas/why-half-southern-resident-orca-calves-survive/281-7c535d96-3cde-4046-9da5-97ad3f0d0bf6

12.   New Law in Effect to Protect Endangered Southern Resident Orcas (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/4024785/new-law-in-effect-to-protect-endangered-southern-resident-orcas/

13.   Angler Paid Record $164,000+ for Fishing the Columbia & Snake Rivers for Northern Pikeminnow in 2024 (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/news/angler-paid-record-164-000-130000126.html

14.   WA State: Transfer of Klickitat Hatchery to Yakama Nation Is Now a Done Deal (KNDO & KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/transfer-of-klickitat-hatchery-to-yakama-nation-is-now-a-done-deal/article_c249a6da-c98f-11ef-aa31-a743a3b84ed2.html

15.   Snail Darter - Fish at Center of Key Conservation Fight Not a Distinct Species After All (YaleNews)

https://news.yale.edu/2025/01/03/fish-center-key-conservation-fight-not-distinct-species-after-all

Water, Water, Anywhere?

16.   WA State: Reservoirs Levels Way Below Average at End of 2024---Even Despite Winter’s Strong Start (KAPP-TV, Yakima, WA)

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/reservoirs-levels-way-below-average-at-end-of-2024---even-despite-winters-strong/article_db025b9a-c7cd-11ef-945b-1726b81beff2.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

17.   WSU Researchers Taking Steps to Protect Apples from Climate Change (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/4025789/wsu-researchers-taking-steps-protect-washington-apples-climate-change/

London Calling –Telecommunications

18.   Net Neutrality Is Struck, Ending a Long Battle to Regulate ISPs Like Public Utilities (KJZZ-Radio, Phoenix, AZ)

https://www.kjzz.org/npr-top-stories/2025-01-03/net-neutrality-is-struck-ending-a-long-battle-to-regulate-isps-like-public-utilities

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

19.   Arizona Wins Third & Final Federal Semiconductor Research Hub, Dashing Oregon’s Hopes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/06/oregon-hopes-dashed-federal-semiconductor-research-hub-arizona/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

20.   2025 Marks the Start of a New Generation. Here’s What to Know About ‘Gen Beta.’ (Huffington Post)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/generation-beta-2025_l_6776c0a2e4b0e0a5ca2e9ceb

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

21.   Here’s Your 2025 Guide to the Night Sky & Other Celestial Wow Moments (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/here-s-your-2025-guide-to-the-night-sky-and-other-20009986.php

Politics, Governance, and Management

22.   President Biden to Create New National Monuments Protecting Tribal Land in California (The Hill – Via AOL)

https://www.aol.com/biden-create-national-monuments-protecting-191620910.html

23.   Canada’s Trudeau Resigns as Liberal Party Leader, Spelling End to Time in Power (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/06/justin-trudeau-resign/

Other Things to Know About Today

24.   Winter Storm Live Updates: Multiple Deaths Reported as Snow Slams Mid-Atlantic Region; Over 1,900 Flight Cancellations (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/winter-storm-live-updates-multiple-deaths-reported-as-snow-slams-mid-atlantic-region-over-1900-flight-cancellations-141753939.html

25.   New Public Zone Map Aims to Enhance Accuracy of Weather Warnings in Western Washington (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/new-public-zone-map-aims-to-enhance-accuracy-of-weather-warnings-in-western-washingtonnational-weather-service-nws-climate-check-severe-event-snowfall-storm-mountains-flooding-accurate

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

26.   Paywall Advisory – Editorial: Lawmakers Must Blackout-Proof Washington’s Energy Transition (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/lawmakers-must-blackout-proof-the-states-energy-transition/

27.   From Code to Current: How to Keep Artificial Intelligence Data Centers in Check for a Sustainable Grid (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ai-data-centers-sustainable-renewable-energy-demand-response/736387/

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Are Medals Awarded During the Paris 2024 Olympics Losing Their Luster?

https://sports.yahoo.com/medals-awarded-during-paris-2024-225828933.html

Chinese Man Throws Playing Cards to Slice Cucumbers, Light Matches

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/01/06/Guinness-World-Records-playing-cards-cucumbers-matches/7501736186000/

California Surfer Catches Possible World Record Wave

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/01/03/Guinness-World-Records-largest-wave-surfed-Half-Moon-Bay-California/6951735926539/

Toilet Maker Warns Customers Not to Wipe the Seats with Toilet Paper

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/01/03/japan-Toto-toilet-paper-seats-wipe/8651735929051/

Song of the Day

Gustav Holst – The Planets, ‘Mars’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXOanvv4plU

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 December 31, 2024

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.

Call for Nominations for NWPPA Awards

The Northwest Public Power Association asks you to consider nominations for individuals and/or organizations that should be recognized for their contributions to the industry and their community. Check out the various awards, nomination criteria, and the nominating process for each of NWPPA’s awards. We urge you to participate in making the NWPPA awards program as meaningful as possible by bringing our attention to those individuals who most deserve recognition for their work on behalf of public power. You can bring recognition to a deserving individual or organization. All it takes is a few minutes of your time.

Programming Note

The Energy News Digest will take January 1, 2025 off. It will return tanned, rested, and relaxed on January 6, 2025

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Artificial Intelligence Development May Be ‘Distorting’ Electricity Flow in U.S.: Report (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/ai-development-may-be-distorting-electricity-flow-in-us-report/ar-AA1wHpTD

Google Datacenters in Nevada to Go Full Steam Ahead with Geothermal Energy (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/google-datacenters-in-nevada-to-go-full-steam-ahead-with-geothermal-energy/ar-BB1ob8WQ

The West Found a Miles-Long Piece of Evidence Backing Its Claim Russia Is Purposely Cutting Undersea Cables (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-west-found-a-miles-long-piece-of-evidence-backing-its-claim-russia-is-purposely-cutting-undersea-cables/ar-AA1wI0W1

How Damming the Columbia River Transformed Central Washington (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/environment/2024/12/how-damming-columbia-river-transformed-central-washington

J Pod Orca Who Pushed Dead Calf for 1,000 Miles Gives Birth to New Baby (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/calf-orca-southern-resident-killer-whale-j-pod-center-cwr-research-tahlequah-j35-j61-puget-sound-endangered

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1.      The West Found a Miles-Long Piece of Evidence Backing Its Claim Russia Is Purposely Cutting Undersea Cables

2.      How Damming the Columbia River Transformed Central Washington

3.      Columbia River Treaty Talks Continue Amid Incoming Trump Presidency

4.      Oregon Lawmakers to Introduce Bill Barring Utility Rate Increases Amid Unresolved Wildfire Lawsuits

5.      Federal Wildfire Relief Act Would Turn Wildfire Mitigation Over to States

6.      Downed Power Line Sparks Fires, Shocks Three Firefighters & Another Person in Vancouver

7.      District of Columbia Residents Can Now Choose 100% Nuclear Power as Energy Debate Intensifies in Maryland

8.      DOE Natural Gas Analysis Draws Disbelief from Republicans, Industry

9.      China to Build World’s Largest Hydropower Dam in Tibet

10.   A Weather Phenomenon Dubbed ‘Dunkelflaute’ Is Causing Havoc in Germany & Pushing Energy Prices to 2-Decade Highs

11.   How Two FERC Orders Revolutionized the Power Utility Industry

12.   Artificial Intelligence Development May Be ‘Distorting’ Electricity Flow in U.S.: Report

13.   Pacific Northwest Power Planners Challenged by Increasing Demand of Data Centers

14.   Central Washington – The Scenic Beauty Spot Tipped to Be the Next Silicon Valley as Artificial Intelligence Firms Flock There

15.   Ireland Embraced Data Centers That the Artificial Intelligence Boom Needs. Now They’re Consuming Too Much of Its Energy

16.   In the Shadows of Arizona’s Data Center Boom, Thousands Live without Power

17.   Google Datacenters in Nevada to Go Full Steam Ahead with Geothermal Energy

18.   Was 2024 a Breakout Year for Next-Generation Geothermal Energy?

19.   Opponents Want to Stop $500 Million Wyoming Wind Farm, Say It Will Kill Eagles & Bats

20.   J Pod Orca Who Pushed Dead Calf for 1,000 Miles Gives Birth to New Baby

21.   WA State: Douglas County PUD Unveils Railroad Bridge PIT Tag Project

22.   ‘It Just Tastes Like Time’: Salmon Are a Sacred Relative to the Nisqually Tribe & Native Americans Across the Pacific Northwest

23.   Oregon Aims to Count Beavers, Change Narrative About Resourceful Rodents

24.   La Niña or ‘La Nada?’ Washington State Starts Winter with Solid Snowpack

25.   Young Activists Take on a Government Agency in a Florida Climate Lawsuit

26.   Gov. Kotek Won’t Designate Rural Land for Chip Industry After All as Oregon’s Hopes for Research Hub Fade

27.   President-Elect Trump Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Delay TikTok Ban So He Can Weigh in After He Takes Office

28.   Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President, Has Died at 100

29.   WA State: Jury Awards Over $3 Million to Former Northshore Utility District Employee in Gender Discrimination Case

30.   Getting There: Columbia River Treaty Updates Could Force Temporary Closures of Inchelium Ferry

31.   Editorial: Don’t Block the Will of Voters on Natural Gas

32.   To Solve Washington’s Problems, The Next Governor Must Learn from Inslee’s Mistakes

Word of the Day – Horrible Haiku Edition

Sizzle /SIZZ-ull/ Transitive Verb – 1: to burn up or sear with or as if with a hissing sound 2: to seethe with deep anger or resentment

Noun – 1: a hissing sound 2: pizzazz, excitement.

Did someone say BACON? Happy Bacon Day!

     Crispy, salty kiss,

     Sizzle sings a smoky song

     Bliss in every bite

Energy & Utility Issues

1.      The West Found a Miles-Long Piece of Evidence Backing Its Claim Russia Is Purposely Cutting Undersea Cables (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-west-found-a-miles-long-piece-of-evidence-backing-its-claim-russia-is-purposely-cutting-undersea-cables/ar-AA1wI0W1

2.      How Damming the Columbia River Transformed Central Washington (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/environment/2024/12/how-damming-columbia-river-transformed-central-washington

3.      Columbia River Treaty Talks Continue Amid Incoming Trump Presidency (The Salmon Arm Observer, BC)

https://www.saobserver.net/news/columbia-river-treaty-talks-continue-amid-incoming-trump-presidency-7726372

4.      Oregon Lawmakers to Introduce Bill Barring Utility Rate Increases Amid Unresolved Wildfire Lawsuits (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/oregon-lawmakers-introduce-bill-barring-utility-rate-increases-amid-unresolved-wildfire-lawsuits/CGKJKRZILNHKHNPC67IVIYMFCQ/

5.      Federal Wildfire Relief Act Would Turn Wildfire Mitigation Over to States (Daily Energy Insider)

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/46661-federal-wildfire-relief-act-would-turn-wildfire-mitigation-over-to-states/

6.      Downed Power Line Sparks Fires, Shocks Three Firefighters & Another Person in Vancouver (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/12/downed-power-line-sparks-fires-shocks-three-firefighters-and-another-person-in-vancouver.html

7.      District of Columbia Residents Can Now Choose 100% Nuclear Power as Energy Debate Intensifies in Maryland (WBFF-TV, Baltimore, MD)

https://wjla.com/news/local/dc-residents-can-now-power-homes-with-nuclear-energy-as-energy-debate-intensifies-in-md

8.      DOE Natural Gas Analysis Draws Disbelief from Republicans, Industry (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_a4eb8bbe-be4d-11ef-8da8-93c19cf51b39.html?a

9.      China to Build World’s Largest Hydropower Dam in Tibet (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-build-worlds-largest-hydropower-dam-tibet-2024-12-26/

10.   A Weather Phenomenon Dubbed ‘Dunkelflaute’ Is Causing Havoc in Germany & Pushing Energy Prices to 2-Decade Highs (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-phenomenon-dubbed-dunkelflaute-causing-150502917.html

11.   How Two FERC Orders Revolutionized the Power Utility Industry (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20241219-how-two-ferc-orders-revolutionized-the-power-utility-industry

Data Center Brain Drain

12.   Artificial Intelligence Development May Be ‘Distorting’ Electricity Flow in U.S.: Report (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/ai-development-may-be-distorting-electricity-flow-in-us-report/ar-AA1wHpTD

13.   Pacific Northwest Power Planners Challenged by Increasing Demand of Data Centers (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_3cbd7406-c4a3-11ef-9ad8-2fe5b4cf12f3.html?a

14.   Central Washington – The Scenic Beauty Spot Tipped to Be the Next Silicon Valley as Artificial Intelligence Firms Flock There (The Daily Mail, UK)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14225877/washington-wenatchee-quincy-silicon-valley-ai-firms-data-centers.html

15.   Ireland Embraced Data Centers That the Artificial Intelligence Boom Needs. Now They’re Consuming Too Much of Its Energy (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/ai-data-centers-ireland-6c0d63cbda3df740cd9bf2829ad62058

16.   In the Shadows of Arizona’s Data Center Boom, Thousands Live without Power (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-the-shadows-of-arizona-s-data-center-boom-thousands-live-without-power/ar-AA1wmqvn

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

17.   Google Datacenters in Nevada to Go Full Steam Ahead with Geothermal Energy (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/google-datacenters-in-nevada-to-go-full-steam-ahead-with-geothermal-energy/ar-BB1ob8WQ

18.   Was 2024 a Breakout Year for Next-Generation Geothermal Energy? (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/geothermal/was-2024-a-breakout-year-for-next-generation-geothermal-energy

19.   Opponents Want to Stop $500 Million Wyoming Wind Farm, Say It Will Kill Eagles & Bats (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/12/27/opponents-want-to-stop-500m-wyoming-wind-farm-say-it-will-kill-eagles-and-bats/

Fish & Wildlife

20.   J Pod Orca Who Pushed Dead Calf for 1,000 Miles Gives Birth to New Baby (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/calf-orca-southern-resident-killer-whale-j-pod-center-cwr-research-tahlequah-j35-j61-puget-sound-endangered

21.   WA State: Douglas County PUD Unveils Railroad Bridge PIT Tag Project (Quad City Herald, Wenatchee, WA)

https://www.qcherald.com/stories/douglas-county-pud-unveils-railroad-bridge-pit-tag-project,107099

22.   ‘It Just Tastes Like Time’: Salmon Are a Sacred Relative to the Nisqually Tribe & Native Americans Across the Pacific Northwest (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/12/27/nisqually-tribe-winter-moon-celebration/

23.   Oregon Aims to Count Beavers, Change Narrative About Resourceful Rodents (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Via MSN)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oregon-aims-to-count-beavers-change-narrative-about-resourceful-rodents/ar-AA1wEA1x

Water, Water, Anywhere?

24.   La Niña or ‘La Nada?’ Washington State Starts Winter with Solid Snowpack (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/la-nia-or-la-nada-washington-state-starts-winter-with-solid-snowpack,372608

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

25.   Young Activists Take on a Government Agency in a Florida Climate Lawsuit (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/florida-climate-lawsuit-young-activists-68e32d4bd25bef4991b92a5020c2e35e

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

26.   Gov. Kotek Won’t Designate Rural Land for Chip Industry After All as Oregon’s Hopes for Research Hub Fade (The Oregonian, Portland, WA)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2024/12/kotek-wont-designate-rural-land-for-semiconductor-industry-after-all-as-oregons-hopes-for-research-hub-fade.html

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

27.   President-Elect Trump Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Delay TikTok Ban So He Can Weigh in After He Takes Office (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-supreme-court-trump-b96013a8447e9bdb5508ebe436aadf9a

Politics, Governance, and Management

28.   Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President, Has Died at 100 (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-dies-18c198c20352c835bca3eec276020dd7

29.   WA State: Jury Awards Over $3 Million to Former Northshore Utility District Employee in Gender Discrimination Case (CityBiz)

https://www.citybiz.co/article/638730/jury-awards-over-3-million-to-former-northshore-utility-district-employee-in-gender-discrimination-case/

Other Things to Know About Today

30.   Getting There: Columbia River Treaty Updates Could Force Temporary Closures of Inchelium Ferry (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/dec/30/getting-there-columbia-river-treaty-updates-could-/

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

31.   Editorial: Don’t Block the Will of Voters on Natural Gas (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/other-views-dont-block-the-will-of-voters-on-natural-gas,372571

32.   To Solve Washington’s Problems, The Next Governor Must Learn from Inslee’s Mistakes (Washington Policy Center)

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/to-solve-washingtons-problems-the-next-governor-must-learn-from-inslees-mistakes

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Two Portland Men Die Searching for Sasquatch in Washington Wilderness

https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/two-portland-men-die-searching-for-sasquatch-in-washington-wilderness

Police Identify Vandal Who Did Donuts, Tore Up Leavenworth Park

https://komonews.com/news/local/leavenworth-chelan-county-sheriff-office-police-bavarian-village-christmas-holidays-vandalize-donuts

‘Once in a Lifetime’: Video Captures Mesmerizing ‘Dolphin Stampede’ Off California Coast

https://www.yahoo.com/news/once-lifetime-video-captures-mesmerizing-193140630.html

Young Mammoth Remains Discovered in Siberian Permafrost After Roughly 50,000 Years

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mammoth-remains-siberia-1.7417674?cmp=rss

Song of the Day

John Williams – Hoth Theme (Star Wars Soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF1Ausx-5cQ

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