The REAL Reason US Sanctioned UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese

Happy Monday, runner friends! Today's edition, of course, is heavily focused on this past weekend's Western States 100-mile race. Let's get right to the highlights: In my post-race analysis, I offer u...

The 2025 Western States race was an epic showdown, with first-time winners on both the men's and women's sides. There were many story lines before the big day, and now there are many more. Here are so...

iRunFar's live coverage of the 2025 Western States 100.

Gordy Ainsleigh made his iconic run on the Western States Trail 50 years ago on August 3-4, 1974. He finished the 89-mile trail in under 24 hours

I just passed the CFedS program this month and am curious if any other CFedS have a western state they would recommend getting licensed in? I have a 2 year A.A.S. degree and currently licens...

Rod Farvard is on a Western States quest this year as he returns to Western States, following his breakout performance in 2024 when he finished second overall with the third-fastest time ever at the h...

Heather Jackson, a HOKA-sponsored athlete, made a successful transition from elite triathlon to ultra running champion.

Le fondateur de l’UTMB sera au départ de l’ultra-trail californien ce samedi, après trois mois passés à voyager sur quatre continents. Un périple majoritairement effectué par voie terrestre, au cours ...

I just passed the CFedS program this month and am curious if any other CFedS have a western state they would recommend getting licensed in? I have a 2 year A.A.S. degree and currently licens...

The 2025 Western States boasts a highly competitive men's field and strong women runners battling for the top spots. Here's a look at the top competitors, story lines to watch and more in a Q&A with r...

En marge de la prochaine édition de Western States 100 sera présenté le tout premier ouvrage consacré à l’histoire de l’ultra trail californien. Un travail minutieux réalisé par John Trent, ancien pré...

À moins d’un mois du principal rendez-vous ultra-trail du calendrier américain, le quadruple vainqueur de l’épreuve, Jim Walmsley, a annoncé son forfait aux organisateurs. Troisième l’an passé, Hayden...

Turlock Irrigation District (TID) recently approved a significant move, voting to join the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) set to launch next spring by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). This expansion builds upon TID's existing success within the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM), which the district joined in 2021. Participation in the WEIM has already yielded substantial savings, totaling $28 million to date. EDAM represents an evolution of CAISO’s day-ahead trading, extending its reach beyond California and enabling greater collaboration among western states. PCI Energy Solutions anticipates the market's launch in May 2026, aiming to optimize electricity trading and grid coordination across a broader geographical area. Several other utilities are already on board, including PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the Balancing Authority of Northern California. BHEMontana, PNM, and NV Energy have expressed intentions to join, while Idaho Power is leaning towards EDAM and Arizona G&T Cooperatives is evaluating its potential benefits. The structure of EDAM is based on the successful model of the WEIM, which since 2014 has delivered approximately $7 billion in cost savings for its 22 participants across 11 Western states. This market has also contributed to avoiding over one million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and is expected to grow further with additional participants joining in 2026. According to TID General Manager Brad Koehn, joining EDAM is a logical progression, promising increased economic, reliability, and environmental advantages for the district and its customers.

Xcel Energy is currently seeking approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to participate in "Markets+", a regional day-ahead electricity market. The utility argues this move will enhance efficiency and potentially reduce costs by enabling them to buy and sell power within a larger geographic area. However, the proposal is facing considerable debate and scrutiny from various interested parties. A central point of contention revolves around cost considerations. While Xcel Energy maintains that Markets+ will prove more cost-effective in the long run, concerns have been raised about the substantial upfront collateral requirements. Furthermore, an analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund suggests that joining CAISO's Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) could yield $4.2 million in additional annual savings for Xcel Energy compared to Markets+. While CAISO's EDAM does have higher administrative costs than Markets+, the potential savings remain a significant factor in the discussion. The debate has broadened into a larger discussion about Colorado’s energy future: should the state look eastward to join Markets+ or westward to connect with other Western states through EDAM? Xcel Energy champions Markets+, asserting it is "the most cost-effective day-ahead market." Conversely, organizations like Advanced Energy United argue that a Western EDAM would offer greater long-term cost savings, with Brian Turner stating, "All the scenarios it was more cost-effective for (Xcel Energy) to participate in a larger market with more participants in the West.” A major impediment to either option is the limited transmission capacity linking the Eastern and Western power grids. This infrastructural challenge complicates the cost-benefit analysis and underscores the difficulties of integrating these disparate systems. Key stakeholders involved include Xcel Energy, advocating for Markets+; the Colorado Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate, who will likely closely examine the plan's financial implications; the Environmental Defense Fund, supporting EDAM; Advanced Energy United, favoring a Western RTO and EDAM; and various entities like the Climax Mine, indicating broader interest in Colorado’s energy policy. Xcel Energy has already filed an application to join Markets+, as Taylor, representing Xcel, stated, "Markets+ is the most cost-effective day-ahead market.”