The new year begins during a time of uncertainty and anxiety about the state of the economy, both nationally and at the state level.Inflation has been rising at worrying rates for the last year, driving up costs for consumers and employers. The Federal Reserve’s attempts to bring it under control...

In 2023 one of the most significant shifts America needs is to return to an “all of the above” strategy to expand our energy options rather than restricting them.That strategy was incorporated in the 2005 Energy Policy Act signed into law by President George W. Bush. It was inclusive and...

Remember, we aren’t calling your plan for 2023 a “New Year’s Resolution.”You have made a bona fide strategic plan for your business or team, and you have established some clearly-defined, compelling objectives and goals to make that plan happen.But have you noticed that as soon as you get started on...

Couples are often wary to bring up the dreaded P word when discussing their nuptials.After all, who wants to ostensibly discuss a divorce and prenuptials when there is an impending marriage to consider.Oftentimes the desire to avoid the topic is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of the use and benefit...

Recent population leaps in the greater Tri-City region show no signs of abating.That’s the takeaway from the demographers of the Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM). In its Growth Management (GMA) forecast released before Christmas, OFM now puts the likely total headcount of the two counties in 2025 at nearly...

The La Niña weather pattern is delivering adequate precipitation going into 2023 for some of Washington state’s leading crops, say some industry experts.The 12-month forecast for some of the state’s leading agricultural products, including hay, cherries, potatoes, and wine have profitable outlooks, according to a report from Northwest Farm Credit...

Demand for electric vehicles (EV) is soaring, accelerated by climate change concerns.EVs reduce tailpipe emissions from cars, trucks and buses which are responsible for 30% of our greenhouse gas pollutants.The switch to EVs is worldwide and growing. The Simply Insurance website projects by 2040, 58% of global vehicle sales will...

For more than 80 years, the Bonneville Power Administration has supported local economies and regional growth by providing affordable, clean energy to consumer-owned utilities such as Benton Public Utility District, Benton Rural Electric Association, the city of Richland, Franklin PUD and Columbia REA.Today, BPA is taking steps to meet the...

Every day there is a new article or study proclaiming an urgent need for climate action, with myriad proposed solutions praising renewables as the cure-all.However, the realities of decarbonizing the electric grid are often far more complicated and nuanced than portrayed.Wind, solar and battery storage technologies are important, and deployment...

Research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has contributed for decades to the region’s leading role in clean energy technology development and deployment. The laboratory, based in Richland, has made advancements in energy storage, energy efficiency, clean energy and chemical production and electricity grid innovation. Today, our region has the potential to...