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Microsoft and Avangrid Sign PPA for Bluebird Solar Project in Washington State

LCG, May 27, 2026--Avangrid, Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, today announced the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Microsoft for the 140 MWdc (100 MWac) Bluebird Solar project in Klickitat County, Washington. Bluebird is located near four other energy projects owned and operated by Avangrid in Klickitat County and represents another $300 million investment in the community. The Bluebird Solar project is expected to achieve commercial operation in 2028.

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ERCOT Summer 2026: What’s Driving the Next Wave of Market Risk?

LCG, May 27, 2026--ERCOT enters Summer 2026 with healthy near-term reserve margins, but rapidly growing data center demand, persistent West Texas congestion, and the rollout of RTC+B are reshaping market dynamics faster than ever.

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Industry News

SMUD Considers Pumped Storage

LCG, September 4, 2003—Sacramento MunicipalUtility District is considering building a pumped storage plant to supply electricity during peak demandhours.

SMUD may apply for a federal license for pumpedstorage along with a renewal application for its 11dams and eight power plants along the American River.The plant would pump water uphill during times ofoff-peak demand and use the water’s potentialenergy to generate electricity during peak demand.

While pumped storage is, after all, energy-inefficient (since energy is always lost in the process), it can serve as a sort of giant battery togive an energy provider greater flexibility whenpower is produced. Cheap electricity produced at nightcan be stored by using that electricity to pump wateruphill, and then the same water can be allowed to falldownhill and through turbines during peak demand hoursto provide electricity.

The project will require extensive environmentalreview because it will affect fish and wildlife, aswell as recreation. So far, SMUD engineers havecontemplated blasting out a hillside next to theAmerican River in order to construct part of theplant; this underground network would connect to thesummit of Iowa Hill, where a new lake would becreated.

Several government agencies have warned SMUD thatthere is not sufficient time between now and the 2005deadline to fully investigate the project, and SMUD issure to meet opposition from local fisherman,residents, and farmers, who already feel SMUD has toomuch control over the American River’s water.

If the project passes environmental review andmakes it past local opposition, it willtake about four years to construct. The plant isexpected to generate 400 megawatts.

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