NWPPA Morning Brief

NWPPA Morning Brief — Monday, October 05, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• DOE Opens Comment Window on Foreign-Sourced Bulk-Power Equipment Restrictions — Final Rule Due December 24 — https://mondaq.com/unitedstates/oil-gas-electricity/1850640/department-of-energy-issues-request-for-information-with-a-deadline-of-october-9-2026-as-first-step-of-rulemaking-process-for-restrictions-on-foreign-sourced-bulk-power-equipment
• FERC Approves Mandatory Ride-Through Standard for Inverter-Based Resources — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/ferc-approves-nerc-reliability-standard-frequency-and-voltage-ride-through-requirements-ibrs

Top Regional / State Developments

• PUCN Staff Recommends Rejecting NV Energy Large-Load Contract, Proposes Data-Center Service Queue — https://w4news.org/pucn-staff-reject-nv-energy-large-load-contract-data-center-queue/
• Platte River Power Authority Brings 324 MW Black Hollow Sun Solar Complex Online — Four Months Early — https://now.solar/2026/10/04/contourglobal-completes-construction-at-324mw-solar-pv-complex-in-colorado-pv-tech-org/
• Washington Statewide Day of Action Calls for Data Center Moratorium — https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/anti-data-center-events-planned-across-washington-sunday/CHTOEWIWWRF4DCXQ2KUY5WWUMQ/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• Bipartisan Permitting Bill Would Create "Exempt Transmitting Utility" Category for Cooperatives and Government Utilities — https://mcguirewoods.com/client-resources/alerts/2026/10/bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act-of-2026-proposes-sweeping-reform-for-energy-and-infrastructure-projects

Western Federal Power Programs Scan

• Torrington City Council Weighs Passing $800,000 Transmission Cost Spike to Residents — https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/10/02/torrington-to-decide-whether-to-have-residents-pay-for-massive-electricity-spike/

Worth Knowing

• U.S. utilities filed a record $9.2 billion in electric and gas rate increase requests in Q2 2026 — 26 percent… — https://gcn.com/rate-increase-requests-utilities-filed-record/22116/

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Friday, October 02, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• Bipartisan Senate Permitting Reform Bill Text Released — 417 Pages Touching Hydropower, Transmission, and Judicial Review — https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2026/10/bipartisan-senate-committee-leaders-release-permitting-reform-text
• Solar for All Grantees Sue EPA for Damages After Courts Vacate Termination — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-for-all-funding-ep-court-uncertainty/831144/
• States and Cities Sue EPA Over Repeal of Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule — https://apnews.com/article/d8ab79989f8b021d79c58105d23ee461

Top Regional / State Developments

• California Signs SB 913 and SB 905 — Aggregated DERs Must Count as Resource Adequacy by June 2028 — https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/california-governor-signs-bills-approving-virtual-power-plants/
• Wyoming Consumer Advocate Recommends 2.9% Rate Cut Against Rocky Mountain Power's 8.8% Hike Request — https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/10/01/forget-8-8-increase-advocacy-group-wants-rocky-mountain-power-to-lower-rate/
• APS Extends Four Corners Coal Plant Operations Beyond 2031 — https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aps-extends-four-corners-power-plant-operations-beyond-2031-302896425.html
• Southern California Utilities Warn Nearly 45,000 Customers of Possible Weekend Shutoffs — https://energynewsbeat.co/electrical-generation/southern-california-utilities-prep-shutoffs-as-fire-risk-surges/

Western Federal Power Programs Scan

• BPA Completes 43rd Consecutive Treasury Payment — $894.6M Principal, $272.2M Interest — https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20261001-bpa-makes-43rd-consecutive-us-treasury-payment

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Thursday, October 01, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Rejects Core Elements of PJM Data-Center Backstop Auction — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-delays-backstop-procurement-ferc-data-center/831751/
• FERC Orders All Six RTOs to Justify or Revise Large-Load Interconnection Rules — https://gcn.com/ferc-orders-large-load-interconnection-grid/22060/
• Bipartisan Senate Permitting Reform Bill Introduced — https://www.benton.org/newsletter/daily-digest-1012026-news-fcc

Top Regional / State Developments

• Washington AG Opposes BPA Residential Exchange Program Formula Change — https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-s-office-opposes-bonneville-power-administration-plan-raise-electric-rates
• Rocky Mountain Power Files $375 Million Variable Energy Charge Decrease in Utah — https://www.deseret.com/environment/2026/09/30/rocky-mountain-power-shows-how-to-keep-rates-down/
• California Wildfire Liability Reform Bill Fails — https://www.ai.rockthejvm.com/virtual-library/2c6a53/ed845f/california-wildfire-liability-bill-collapses-amid-utility-pushback.pdf

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Wednesday, September 30, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• NRC Issues First-Ever SMR Construction Permit to TVA — https://electricityinfo.org/news/us-1303/
• Senate Bill Would Require Large Loads to Pay 100 Percent of Interconnection Costs — https://openrepublic.com/bills/119/S/4559/energy-cost-fairness-and-reliability-act-of-2026-db952685/introduced-in-senate/explained/
• Senate Permitting Deal Would Cut Litigation Window to 150 Days, End DOE Transmission Planner Role — https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/29/senate-permitting-deal-150-day-lawsuit-deadline-nepa-capito-heinrich-whitehouse/
• FERC Rejects Oklo Complaint Over PJM Interconnection Queue Removal — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-rejects-oklo-complaint-pjm-interconnection/831357/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Receives $38.1 Million DOE Grid Award — https://www.abqjournal.com/news/department-of-energy-selects-taos-electric-co-op-for-38m-to-update-key-transmission-line-1/3130685

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Tuesday, September 29, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• SPP Market Monitor Asks FERC to Reject SPP's Own Resource Adequacy Plan for the Western Footprint — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/spp-resource-adequacy-western-balancing-area-baa-ferc/831482/
• Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act Signed Into Law — https://mybillboard.org/bill/hr-3657-119

Top Regional / State Developments

• Grant PUD Authorizes Electricity Prepayment Transaction Targeting $4 Million in Annual Savings — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/grant-pud-commissioners-authorize-electricity-prepayment-transaction
• Idaho Power Files to Modify Customer DER Interconnection Rules at Idaho PUC — https://article.wn.com/view-steel/2026/09/28/IDAHO_POWER_COMPANY_Application_for_Modifications_to_the_Com/

Western Federal Power Programs Scan

• NRECA and Cooperatives Secure $87 Million in DOE GRIP Funding for Rural Transmission — https://www.electric.coop/nreca-electric-cooperatives-secure-87-million-to-modernize-rural-transmission-infrastructure

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Monday, September 28, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• DOE Renews Craig Unit 1 Emergency Order Despite D.C. Circuit Setback on Similar Michigan Case — https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-shut-down-coal-power-plant-emergency-order/
• Senate Permitting Overhaul Pushed to November Lame-Duck Session — https://rollcall.com/2026/09/24/permitting-bill-off-until-after-midterms-even-as-talks-close-in/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Mid-Columbia PUDs Settle Columbia River Treaty Payment Litigation — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/mid-columbia-puds-sign-settlement-ending-litigation-over-columbia-river-treaty-payments
• Grant PUD Weighs New Data Center Rate Classes for 2027 — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/grant-pud-commissioners-considering-proposal-create-new-electric-rate-classes-data-centers
• Colorado PUC Develops PSPS Rules After December 2025 Xcel Event — https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/xcel-energy-planned-power-shutoffs-colorado/
• Kitsap PUD Acquisition Study Values PSE Electric Assets at $1.2B–$1.5B — https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/53853-new-study-puts-value-of-pse-electric-system-in-kitsap-wash-at-1-2b-1-5b-excluding-added-takeover-costs/
• Colorado Springs Utilities Approves Net Metering Overhaul and Overall Rate Decrease — https://www.cpr.org/2026/09/25/solar-colorado-springs-electric-bill-net-metering/
• Bannock County, Idaho Advances Repeal of Renewables Ban — https://grist.org/energy/a-rural-idaho-county-banned-renewables-its-having-second-thoughts/

Worth Knowing

• Local opposition blocked or delayed 45 U.S. data center projects worth $68 billion in the second quarter of… — https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/local-opposition-blocked-usd68-billion-worth-of-data-center-projects-in-the-second-quarter-of-2026-data-center-investments-reportedly-still-on-track-to-hit-usd32-trillion-by-2050
• NV Energy filed suit against data center developer Tract in Nevada's Washoe County Second Judicial District… — https://www.jain.com/nv-energy-sues-tract-data-center-power-arbitration-nevada/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Friday, September 25, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Blocks Utility Cancellation of $20 Billion Data Center Transmission Agreement — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-exelon-comed-powerhouse-hillwood-data-center/831127/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Colorado PUC Opens Wildfire Mitigation and Shutoff Rulemaking — https://boulder.thebadger.news/articles/2026-09-24-colorado-puc-wildfire-power-shutoff-rulemaking
• Idaho Power Adjusts Line Protection Settings Ahead of High-Wind Event — https://wisevoter.com/world/us/id/2026/09/23/idaho-power-adjusts-lines-wildfire-risk
• Cowlitz PUD Adopts 2027 Budget With No Rate Increase, Drawing on Reserves — https://www.klog.com/pud-passes-2027-budget-with-no-rate-increase-classic-hits-100-7-klog-news/
• Alaska Officials Warn Railbelt of Potential Winter Conservation — https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/09/25/theres-nothing-tomorrow-cook-inlet-gas-crunch-global-markets-squeeze-alaska-railbelt-grid/
• Hualapai Tribe Enacts Data Center Moratorium in Arizona — https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2026-09-24/tech-companies-want-to-build-data-centers-on-tribal-lands-and-tribes-are-moving-to-stop-them

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• Montana Supreme Court Reverses Itself on Butte Data Center Ballot Initiative — https://montanafreepress.org/2026/09/24/butte-silver-bow-data-center-initiative-will-miss-november-ballot/

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• New York PSC Launches Formal Audit of Utility AI Use — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-york-audits-utility-ai-use-cites-risk-in-growing-dependency/831242/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Thursday, September 24, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Regional / State Developments

• BPA Rate Increase Reaching Customer Bills — https://www.klcc.org/economy-business/2026-09-23/utilities-say-upcoming-rate-change-by-bonneville-power-administration-likely-means-higher-rates-for-customers
• San Francisco Advances Municipalization of PG&E Distribution Grid — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/san-francisco-board-supervisors-affirms-environmental-review-proposed-public-power-expansion
• California Announces Move Toward Linking Carbon Market With Washington — https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/23/during-climate-week-nyc-governor-newsom-announces-major-development-for-californias-carbon-market-deepens-cooperation-with-australia-signs-new-finland-partnership/
• GridLiance West Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Nevada Transmission Project — https://americanindustryreport.com/gridliance-west-breaks-ground-on-1-billion-nevada-transmission-build-eyes-utah-extension/
• Alaska Power Company Files Tariff to Waive Post-Disaster Reconnection Charges — https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=225244

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• Boise Mayor Opposes Proposed Mega Data Center on Federal Land — https://www.aol.com/articles/boise-mayor-blasts-shortsighted-push-191313000.html

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Wednesday, September 23, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• BPA files $250M rate increase tied to Snake River salmon court order — https://statelibraryeclips.wordpress.com/2026/09/22/bpa-citing-fish-litigation-proposes-250m-rate-hike/
• New England states press FERC to end the 0.5% RTO membership adder — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-england-maine-rto-adder-complaint-ferc/830999/
• DOE awards Fervo Energy ~$20 million for enhanced geothermal in Idaho and Nevada — https://www.stockwatch.com/News/Item/U-z9831387-U%21FRVO-20260922/U/FRVO
• EPA finalizes tighter lead cleanup standard at Butte Superfund site — https://www.epa.gov/publicnotices/record-decision-amendment-bpsou-released

Top Regional / State Developments

• Wyoming Consumer Advocate will oppose Rocky Mountain Power's 8.8% rate request — https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/09/22/advocacy-group-to-intervene-again-as-rmp-customers-brace-for-a-third-rate-hike/
• Matanuska Electric issues RFP for new power supply, opens door to Lower 48 developers — https://www.mea.coop/news/mea-seeking-new-power-supply-opportunities
• Washington appeals court upholds Columbia River hydro certification with expanded monitoring — https://www.law360.com/articles/2528626
• California delivers $886 million in Climate Credit relief tied to Cap-and-Invest revenues — https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/22/governor-newsom-delivers-886-million-in-utility-bill-relief-with-millions-of-households-receiving-an-average-of-75-this-summer/

Worth Knowing

• APPA announced the inaugural cohort of designees under its Public Power Cybersecurity Accelerator Program, a… — https://www.publicpower.org/cyber-and-physical-security

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Tuesday, September 22, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• DOE Orders Two More Indiana Coal Units to Stay Online Through December — https://www.21alivenews.com/2026/09/21/indiana-coal-retirements-delayed-again-utilities-seek-recover-costs/
• Sen. Heinrich Introduces GRID Savings Act as Senate Alternative on Data Center Cost Allocation — https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-offers-his-grid-savings-act-to-force-ai-data-centers-to-pay-for-grid-upgrades-highlights-how-husted-backed-bill-falls-short
• BLM Reviews Proposed 4 Million-Square-Foot Data Center on Federal Land South of Boise — https://boisedev.com/news/2026/09/21/large-scale-data-center-that-could-dwarf-metas-proposed-on-federal-land-south-of-boise/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Newsom Signs Seven-Bill Data Center Package — https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/21/governor-newsom-signs-most-comprehensive-data-center-laws-in-the-nation-providing-communities-more-control-on-water-electricity-and-land-use/
• Court Sends Goldendale Pumped Storage Water Certification Back for Rewrite — https://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/2026/court-order-delays-destruction-of-sacred-tribal-resources/
• Newsom Vetoes California PUC Inspector General Bill — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/newsom-vetoes-california-puc-bill/830864/
• Nevada PUC Approves 360+ MW of Temporary Gas for Fleet Data Centers — https://centralintelligence.co/datacenters/briefings/20260921
• TDPUD Board Approves 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Plan — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/tdpud-board-advances-utility-capital-projects-invests-electric-system-reliability-and-wildfire
• Bannock County, Idaho Prepares Vote to Reverse 2024 Wind and Solar Ban — https://us247.viralstory.biz/article/idaho-county-moves-to-reconsider-its-wind-and-solar-ban-zdqs9r

Worth Knowing

• Colorado Springs City Council voted 7-2 on September 17 to postpone its decision on the proposed Project… — https://www.cpr.org/2026/09/17/project-taurus-data-center-postponed-colorado-springs/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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