But the market’s success, experts agree, depends heavily on which states and utilities decide to opt in. As energy issues have become increasingly politicized, it’s uncertain whether Western leaders can buy into a common vision for meeting the region’s power needs. 

The city of Hermiston is making more bets that artificial intelligence and big data could transform its economy.

A Dutch company planning a sustainable aviation fuel production facility southeast of the Tri-Cities has cleared an important regulatory hurdle for the project.

“The support for the nuclear industry and the need for power has never been greater.”

Apart from the dramatic increase in energy production, the Hub would bring thousands of new jobs in engineering, construction, and manufacturing that will boost economic development and investments in local communities in the PNW.

A large solar farm proposed in eastern Washington appears on course to clear a critical regulatory hurdle this month, despite opposition from the Yakama Nation. 

State officials are proposing to largely allow the developer of a wind farm in the Horse Heaven Hills to proceed with construction, though not to the extent desired by the developer. 

The future of a $1 billion fertilizer plant in Richland is in doubt after the Trump administration on Oct. 1 nixed funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub and other federally-subsidized clean energy projects in Democratic-led states. 

Washington state lawmakers are toying with possible solutions to discuss in the 2026 legislative session set to begin in January. 

Northwest states, tribes and environmental groups will resume suing the federal government over its hydroelectric dam operations in the Columbia River Basin that have harmed endangered native fish species.