Federal regulators approved a new energy storage project in the eastern Gorge last week that was years in the making and continues to face local resistance.

Why it matters: Energy storage is key to moving away from fossil fuels, but area tribes argue no climate benefit justifies damage to culturally and spiritually significant land.

How it works: The Goldendale Energy Storage Project will operate on privately owned land east of Biggs Junction on the Washington side of the Columbia River.

• It will consist of two 60-acre reservoirs — one next to the river on the site of a former aluminum smelter, the other 2,000 feet up on a ridgetop.
• A tunnel through the hillside connects the two reservoirs with a turbine in the middle.
• When excess energy is produced from wind and solar projects, it's used to pump water into the upper reservoir.

When that energy is needed, water is released back downhill, spinning the turbine and creating energy, essentially acting as a large gravity-based battery that developers say can power a city the size of Seattle for up to 12 hours.

The latest: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday issued a 40-year license for Rye Development to operate the project.

• "With electricity demand and energy costs on the rise, this license represents a huge step toward a more reliable grid and affordable energy prices for the region," Erik Steimle, chief development officer for the company, said in a statement.

Yes, but: The upper reservoir will be near Juniper Point, or Pushpum in the Yakama language, the highest peak for miles and a sacred site to Indigenous people in the area.

• More than a dozen tribal governments have opposed the project since its inception, saying it will destroy important cultural artifacts, imperil access to traditional first foods and violate agreements between Native people and the federal government.
• "This decision threatens the constitutional power of long-held treaties between the United States and Tribal nations," Alyssa Macy, CEO of Washington Conservation Action and a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, said in a statement.
• "We will not stand idly by as the Yakama Nation and our environment are sold to the highest bidder."

Tribes plan to appeal

Now that we know which films are up for an Academy Award this year, here's where you can stream the Best Picture nominees.

"Bugonia" on Peacock

• At just 37, Emma Stone is the youngest woman to earn seven Oscar nominations. Here, she reunites with director Yorgos Lanthimos, who helped her to score Best Actress for "Poor Things."

"F1" on Apple TV

• This is the fourth Best Picture nomination for star and producer Brad Pitt. He was also nominated for "12 Years a Slave," "Moneyball" and "The Big Short."

"Frankenstein" on Netflix

• Guillermo del Toro's interpretation of Mary Shelley's Gothic novel is tied for the third-most nominations with nine.

"One Battle After Another" on HBO Max

• This year's frontrunner is Paul Thomas Anderson's fourth Best Picture nomination and first since 2021's "Licorice Pizza."

"Sentimental Value" on digital and in theaters

• Distributor du jour Neon returns with a Norwegian film about a pair of sisters reuniting with their estranged filmmaker father.
• Cost: $14.99 to rent on VOD.

"Sinners" on HBO Max

• This film about a vampire invasion in the Mississippi Delta is the most-nominated film of all time.

"Train Dreams" on Netflix

• This drama, following the life of a 20th-century logger and railroad worker in the Pacific Northwest, is based on Denis Johnson's novella.

Only in theaters: "Hamnet," "Marty Supreme" and "The Secret Agent."

Best animated films and docs

Federal immigrations agents arrested and detained a family — including a 7-year-old girl — earlier this month as they were seeking medical care for the child at a Portland hospital.

• The family, who immigrated from Venezuela, had applied for asylum in the U.S. and were taken to a detention facility in Texas. (The Oregonian)

🌲 Gov. Tina Kotek has selected Kacey KC to lead the Oregon Department of Forestry. If approved, KC would be the first woman to lead the department. (OPB)

🗳️ State Democratic leaders are looking to move a voter referendum on transportation funding to the May primary election, instead of November, when high-profile positions like Governor will also be on the ballot. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

❤️ Staff at the DoveLewis Animal Hospital used CPR and electric shocks to resuscitate a family dog that had eaten human medication after the animal was without a heartbeat for 17 minutes. (KGW)

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Welcome to day one of Wiener Week, the latest addition to the Portland Mercury's dizzyingly delicious lineup of food-specific celebrations throughout the year.

• Today through Sunday, more than 40 locations across the city are offering up all manner of hot dogs, frankfurters and other savory cylindrical foodstuffs, all for just $8.

If you need me, I'll be in Montavilla trying out the honey-mustard tahini weenies at Ya Hala.