ATLANTA, Dec.

By Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash. Jul. 24--The Department of Energy has agreed in principle with a proposal that could mean continued use of Rattlesnake Mountain for emergency and other radio communication and possible limited operation of the Rattlesnake Mountain Observatory.

By David Postman and Emily Heffter, Seattle Times May 14--Republican John McCain said he understands Washington's skepticism about nuclear energy, given the contamination at Hanford, the worst bond default in history and nuclear power plants left unfinished.

Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA-' rating to the following issuances for Energy Northwest (ENW): --$72,310,000 Project 1 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-D; --$127,955,000 Columbia Generating Station Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-D; --$64,540,000 Project 3 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-D; --$2,170,000 Project 1 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-E(Taxable); --$3,685,000 Columbia Generating Station Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-E (Taxable); --$2,610,000 Project 3 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-E (Taxable).

Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA-' rating to the following 2008 Energy Northwest's (ENW) issuances: --$295,405,000 Project 1 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-A; --$235,275,000 Columbia Generating Station Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-A; --$76,010,000 Project 3 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-A; --$5,020,000* Project 1 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-B (Taxable); --$18,555,000 Columbia Generating Station Electric revenue and refunding Bonds, Series 2008-B (Taxable); --$2,215,000 Project 3 Electric revenue refunding bonds, series 2008-B (Taxable); --$34,795,000 Columbia Generating Station Electric revenue bonds, series 2008-C.