Oct 8, 2026 · 11 min · 7 segments
Plus, a new program gives low-income households a zero-down, zero-interest home loan. Odds and ends on wildfires in Washington, including the damage assessments.
Audrey NelsonHostEmber Braun
Eric Bengel
They're being asked to create more power to satisfy big customers, such as data centers.
They've also had to develop strategies to protect their infrastructure from wildfire and other natural disasters.
At a summit in Spokane Valley yesterday, the Spokane-based Novara Energy Alliance held a discussion to address those issues.
Novara's chief executive, Nathan South, says the situation will require creative problem solving in a climate where that hasn't always been encouraged.
The problem is a lack of innovation in general in this industry.
This is an industry that has had no significant growth for 30 years.
And so you've lost an entire generation of workers and people in the industry that actually don't know what growth looks like.
So we're almost having to rebuild that muscle.
He says the Northwest produces some wind and hydro, but isn't a national leader in either.
They're being asked to create more power to satisfy big customers, such as data centers.
They've also had to develop strategies to protect their infrastructure from wildfire and other natural disasters.
At a summit in Spokane Valley yesterday, the Spokane-based Novara Energy Alliance held a discussion to address those issues.
Novara's chief executive, Nathan South, says the situation will require creative problem solving in a climate where that hasn't always been encouraged.
The problem is a lack of innovation in general in this industry.
This is an industry that has had no significant growth for 30 years.
And so you've lost an entire generation of workers and people in the industry that actually don't know what growth looks like.
So we're almost having to rebuild that muscle.
He says the Northwest produces some wind and hydro, but isn't a national leader in either.
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