Clean Energy Blog
Stay up to date on the latest news related to clean energy in our region and beyond.

2023 Columbia Basin/Lower Snake River Dams Settlement Agreement Withdrawn
Ice Harbor Dam, Bonneville Power Administration Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would withdraw from the 2023 Federal Columbia River Power System settlement, known as the “12/14 Agreement.” The agreement was reached by the Biden Administration and...
Timberland Regional Library- Summer Library Program Going on Now!
Your library is the place to be this summer! Discover new books, take part in hands-on and science-based programs, explore the outdoors with StoryTrails, and enjoy exciting FREE events happening across all TRL locations and throughout the community. Can’t make it to a...
Seattle-Area Fusion Companies Discuss the Future of Fusion
Zap Energy’s FuZE-Q fusion device. (Zap Photo) Three Seattle-area fusion companies served on a panel together to discuss the path to commercial power last week at the Technology Alliance Seattle Investor Summit+Showcase event. Fusion, which powers the sun and the...
NREL Leading Research to Boost Performance of Solar Cells
A gloved hand holds a perovskite solar cell. The performance of the perovskite solar cell improved with the addition of an ionic salt. (NREL photo) Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are using an ionic salt to replace the fullerene layer in...
Fusion in Washington- Companies Have Big Plans
The proposed site for Helion Energy’s first fusion plant, located in Malaga, Wash., on property that includes the Rock Island Dam. (Helion Photo) Earlier this year Avalanche, a Seattle startup, announced plans to open a first-of-its-kind facility for commercial-scale...
New Executive Orders Set to Boost Nuclear Energy
Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant (Credit: U.S. Dept. of Energy) Late last week, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders intended to increase domestic production of nuclear power within the next 25 years. The orders come as demand for electricity...
Grid Reliability a Concern Ahead of Summer Months Amid Load Growth and Heat Risks
High-voltage wire tower at dusk The North American Electric Reliability Corporation recently published the 2025 Summer Reliability Assessment, showing load growth that is expected to drive higher peak demand this summer and could strain resources in some areas during...
Columbia Basin Dams, Fears Grow as Employees are Lost
Construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington began in 1933 and was completed in 1942. It is the largest hydropower producer in the U.S. and also part of the federal Columbia River Power System. (Courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation) Grand Coulee Dam is among the...
TVA First to Submit Construction Permit for SMR
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 SMR. Image credit: GE Vernova. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced May 20 that it is the first utility in the U.S. to submit a construction permit application (CPA) for the GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) small...
Google and Elementl Working on Advanced Nuclear Project Development
Photo by Jelena83 from Getty Images. Google and Elementl Power have announced a strategic agreement to accelerate the development of clean, reliable energy. Elementl Power, an advanced nuclear project developer, will receive early-stage capital to help prepare three...