Energy https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/rss en-us Federal judge orders increased spill from Snake, Columbia dams ty@tcjournal.biz A recent federal ruling that sets how much water must spill from and stay behind the lower Snake and some Columbia River dams is garnering mixed reactions from advocates for the infrastructure that supports agriculture, energy and transportation needs across the Pacific Northwest. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7495 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/federal-judge-orders-increased-spill-from-snake-columbia-dams Ice Harbor Dam WA sues feds for pulling funding for hydrogen hub, WSU ty@tcjournal.biz A lawsuit being co-led by the Washington State Attorney General argues that federal agencies illegally canceled funding for clean energy projects, including the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, to punish Democrat-led states. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7472 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/wa-sues-feds-for-pulling-funding-for-hydrogen-hub-wsu Atlas-Agro-fertilizer-plant-rendering Columbia Generating Station back online ty@tcjournal.biz Energy Northwest’s nuclear power plant north of Richland is once again providing power to the grid after an unplanned shutdown on Feb. 12 to address a problem with its reactor cooling system. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7471 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/7471-columbia-generating-station-back-online PacifiCorp selling its Washington business to Portland General Electric ty@tcjournal.biz The Portland-based utility that provides power to Eastern Washington communities near the Tri-Cities is preparing to exit the state and hand its market share to another Pacific Northwest company. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7468 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/pacificorp-selling-its-wa-biz-to-pge Electric meters BPA projects stronger finances, but challenges with cash reserves Bonneville Power Administration officials are feeling more optimistic about the power provider’s finances for 2026 than at this time last year, but still anticipate challenges ahead. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7462 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/bpa-projects-stronger-finances-but-challenges-with-cash-reserves Turbine Energy Northwest’s nuclear plant in unplanned shutdown ty@tcjournal.biz Columbia Generating Station was shut down early in the morning of Feb. 12 after operators found issues with the pumps circulating water through the reactor’s core. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7457 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:56:28 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/energy-northwests-nuclear-plant-in-unplanned-shutdown Energy-Northwest-Columbia-Generating-Station DOE, nuclear fuel company team up for new mission at Hanford ty@tcjournal.biz A U.S. company that a year ago revealed its plans to potentially make Richland one of its hubs for nuclear fuel production will use a dormant Hanford site facility located southwest of Energy Northwest as part of that effort.

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7414 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/doe-nuclear-fuel-company-new-mission-at-hanford Fuels-and-Materials-Examination-Facility Private sector partnerships propel Richland startup toward large-scale deployment ty@tcjournal.biz Private companies and startups are partnering with this Richland-based company, setting the stage for it to apply its technology at scale.


]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7412 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/ocochem-tech OCOchem How Oasis Freight scaled from mom-and-pop to multistate powerhouse This Kennewick-based company’s small business success story is one that entrepreneurs dream about.

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7392 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/oasis-freight Oasis_BlueTruck Hermiston among communities cited in study on data centers, energy use ty@tcjournal.biz Hermiston is featured in a recent study asserting Amazon’s data centers aren’t negatively affecting energy resources in the communities where they’re located and are instead actually lowering costs for residents and bringing other economic benefits.


]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7381 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/hermiston-data-center-study Fidel Datacenter How WA lawmakers are trying to regulate data centers With data centers expected to become the largest source of electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest, Washington legislators are pressing ahead with a bill aimed at protecting the grid and offsetting potential hikes for utility ratepayers. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7440 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/how-wa-lawmakers-are-trying-to-regulate-data-centers Datacenter State continues studying potential impacts of Snake River dam removal ty@tcjournal.biz The federal government may have pulled out of an agreement that could have led to removal of the four Lower Snake River dams, but the state continues to evaluate how their removal in the future could impact transportation networks. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7435 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/state-continues-studying-snake-river-dam-removal Ice Harbor Dam BPA chief announces retirement John Hairston, who has served as the administrator of Bonneville Power Authority for the past five years and led recent efforts to modernize and expand its transmission infrastructure and operations, has announced his retirement. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7431 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/bpa-chief-announces-retirement John Hairston Feds greenlight $2B renewable energy project on Yakama Nation sacred site Federal energy regulators on Jan. 29 greenlit a roughly $2 billion renewable energy megaproject on a Yakama Nation sacred site overlooking the Columbia River in Klickitat County.

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7385 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/feds-greenlight-2b-renewable-energy-project-on-yakama-nation-sacred-site Goldendale Cascade Natural Gas reaches settlement over fatal fire Kennewick-based Cascade Natural Gas Corp. will pay $2 million to settle violations issued by the state Utilities and Transportation Commission for a 2023 explosion that killed one and injured another. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7378 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/cascade-natural-gas-reaches-settlement-over-fatal-fire WA picks EV charger projects to receive federal funding Five awardees, including Energy Northwest, are on track to receive a combined $12.1 million in federal funding to build and operate electric vehicle charging stations at 14 locations along highways in Washington state.

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7376 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/wa-picks-ev-charger-projects-to-receive-federal-funding PNNL publishes interactive data center map A new map of data centers and related infrastructure across the U.S. developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is being touted as a way to help utilities and communities anticipate and prepare for the potential impacts of the resource-hungry facilities. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7359 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/pnnl-publishes-interactive-data-center-map Data-Center-Map X-energy inks deal for SMR components The company designing the small modular nuclear reactors planned near Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station has signed a contract that will provide components for the state-of-the-art facility. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7358 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/x-energy-inks-deal-for-smr-components Cascade Advanced Energy Facility. Report: Trump administration proposing to steer investments to states that take nuclear waste President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to unveil a new initiative to send the country’s nuclear waste from future power plants to states that sign up for it in exchange for extensive economic investment. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7348 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/report-trump-administration-proposing-to-steer-investments-to-states-that-take-nuclear-waste Hanford-ERDF-Aerial-2023-11-07.jpg Hanford 2024 State Supreme Court to hear challenge to natural gas initiative The Washington State Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments this week in a case challenging the constitutionality of Initiative 2066, a voter-approved measure that protects natural gas as an energy option in the state. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7341 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/state-supreme-court-to-hear-challenge-to-natural-gas-initiative Meter install Richland raises its electricity, ambulance fees The city of Richland has raised its electricity utility rates by 8.5% as of Jan. 1. Ambulance Service Utility fees have increased as well. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7339 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/richland-raises-its-electricity-ambulance-fees Richland City Hall WSU researchers among key partners in sustainable aviation fuel incubator Washington State University’s leadership in research and development of sustainable aviation fuel, particularly at the Richland campus, is making it one of the main players at a recently unveiled facility in Everett aimed at wider adoption and production of the fuel. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7338 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/wsu-researchers-among-key-partners-in-sustainable-aviation-fuel-incubator WSU sustainable aviation fuel incubator U.S. Senate passes funding bills for Hanford, PNNL A three-bill package that will pay for the cleanup at the Hanford site and research activity at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7335 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/us-senate-passes-funding-bills-for-hanford-pnnl US Capitol Delay pushes back decision on appeal for wind farm project ty@tcjournal.biz The wheels of progress on a proposed wind farm project that would stretch across dozens of miles southwest of the Tri-Cities are grinding slower after a judge recently delayed deadlines in lawsuits challenging the project.

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7287 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/wind-farm-decision-delay Scout Energy Turbines.jpeg New BPA power purchase agreements aim to improve rate stability ty@tcjournal.biz All three of the public electric utilities serving the Tri-Cities have signed new long-term power purchase agreements with Bonneville Power Administration, a move the utilities say will provide some certainty for their operations and their customers’ future energy bills.

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7285 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/bap-power-purchase-agreements Power Pole Solgen files for bankruptcy, ceases operations ty@tcjournal.biz

The once fast-growing solar installation company that started in a Pasco garage less than a decade ago has declared bankruptcy and is shutting down all operations. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7328 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/solgen-files-for-bankruptcy-ceases-operations Corps seeks public comment on planned high-voltage cable beneath Columbia River A plan to embed a high-voltage cable 10 to 15 feet beneath the Columbia River to better transfer the renewable energy generated east of the Cascades to the west side is now open to public comment. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7306 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/corps-seeks-public-comment-on-planned-cable-beneath-columbia-river Cascade Renewable Transmission Washington state pumps more tax dollars toward green jet fuel A new eco-fuel development nonprofit, dubbed the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator, in Snohomish County is the state’s latest effort to support sustainable aviation fuel. That effort includes a proposed green jet fuel production facility south of the Tri-Cities. 

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7290 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/state-pumps-more-tax-dollars-toward-green-jet-fuel Project-Wigeon-2025-layout-v2 Nuclear power ventures heat up around Washington state Washington is once again trying to become a hub for nuclear power. But instead of monster-size reactors, the state is now home to multiple ventures involving smaller reactors – all using technologies unheard of in the 1970s and 1980s.

]]> http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7291 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/nuclear-power-ventures-heat-up-around-washington-state AmazonSMR_Landscape.jpg $126M incentive program for zero-emission trucks nears launch in WA jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/7271 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500 https://tricitiesbusinessnews.epublishing.net/articles/incentive-program-for-zero-emission-trucks-nears-launch Zero emission trucks