AGP Executive Report

Data Centers Under Pressure: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek ordered a one-year pause on approvals for new data center requests on state land and in state buildings, while local fights continue over where facilities can go and what they cost communities. Local Land-Use Clash: Eugene said data centers aren’t allowed at the former Hyundai/Hynix site in West Eugene, after a zone-questions inquiry from a contractor. Regional Ripple Effects: Pasco, Wash., approved a six-month moratorium on new data centers to study strain on power, water, and quality of life. Wildlife & Public Input: A federal rangelands rules overhaul could cut Oregonians out of public input, and multiple states are suing over Endangered Species Act rollbacks. Oregon Policy Pushback: Oregon joined 48 states urging the FCC to tighten robocall rules, backing “Know Your Upstream Provider” enforcement to stop scam calls and texts. Agriculture & Community: Portland City Council renamed Cesar Chavez Boulevard to Campesinos Boulevard, honoring farmworkers’ role in Oregon’s agricultural economy. Construction Workforce: Rogue Community College’s Build Rogue Valley program is training students for construction careers. Business & Tech: NLM Photonics added investors to scale organic photonic tech aimed at reducing power needed to move data between chips.

Data Centers & Land Use: Gov. Tina Kotek ordered a pause on unapproved data-center requests tied to state land and buildings, running through July 1, 2027, as advocates push for a longer moratorium. Battery Storage Zoning: Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals ruled that standalone battery energy storage qualifies as a “utility facility necessary for public service” in EFU zones, overturning Marion County’s denial of a 199 MW project. Recycling Policy Upheld: A federal court upheld Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, clearing the way for the state’s packaging EPR program after a challenge by wholesaler-distributors. Wildlife & Federal Land Management: A judge blocked livestock grazing in Oregon sage grouse research areas after finding the BLM’s 2025 plan violated environmental laws. Industrial & Energy Signals: GE Aerospace agreed to buy Consolidated Precision Products for $11.75B, expanding precision casting capacity for engines and turbines. Workforce Incentives: Oregon opened applications for a Qualified Job Creation Tax Credit for employers creating new jobs in targeted industries like advanced manufacturing, bioscience, clean tech, forestry/wood products, and food processing.

Data Centers Clash in Salem: Gov. Tina Kotek ordered all Oregon agencies to immediately pause unapproved requests tied to new data centers on state land—easements, rights-of-way, leases, permits, and property sales—through July 1, 2027, as protesters push for a longer statewide moratorium. Wildlife & Forestry Pressure: A new OSU/Forest Service study says northern spotted owls are approaching “functional extinction” in parts of the Pacific Northwest, while Portland-area advocates launched “Hoot, Don’t Shoot” billboards urging the federal government to halt barred owl lethal removal plans. Oregon Infrastructure & Jobs: Umatilla County advanced a $5.6 million ODOT-funded Umatilla River trail project, with construction expected next spring/summer and a Sept. 9 volunteer cleanup. Workplace Safety: Oregon OSHA is developing proposed workplace violence rules for healthcare employers, with an October adoption target and a tentative Jan. 2027 effective date. Education & Agriculture Pathways: Payette River Regional Technical Academy added new agriculture and animal/veterinary science teachers to expand career and technical education through FFA.

Oregon Workplace Safety: Oregon OSHA says employee complaints about extreme heat and wildfire smoke hit an all-time high, with 44+ complaints logged between June 1 and Aug. 18 as the state’s record wildfire season scorched millions of acres. Housing Affordability: An Arlington nonprofit says the math still doesn’t work for building homes for the poorest renters—units aimed at 60% of area median income can’t pencil out without major subsidy, leaving some “affordable” apartments vacant while families face homelessness. Wildfire & Forest Policy: Environmental groups are pushing back on the proposed Roadless Rule rollback, warning it could raise fire risk and harm wildlife, drinking water, and recreation across millions of acres in the West, including Oregon. Central Oregon Health Care: St. Charles unveiled a new 53,000-square-foot cancer center in Redmond, now fully operational and built to bring radiation, surgery, and oncology services closer to home for up to 300 patients a day. Tech & Jobs: A strong national jobs report masks tech weakness, with information-industry employment down in August—an issue Oregon high-tech workers are watching closely. Agriculture & Food Innovation: Heritage apples are making a comeback in cider competitions, with Northwest Cider Cup entries showing a surge in single-varietal ciders that highlight orchard diversity. Energy & Costs: Oregon diesel prices have climbed above $6.25, adding pressure to shipping and the cost of goods as fuel costs rise. Data Centers Backlash: A growing voter revolt against data center development is reshaping political races, with communities citing concerns over water, air quality, power bills, and property values.

Oregon Sports: Oregon opened the 2026 season with a 34-27 rally win over Boise State, overcoming a slow start and costly mistakes at Autzen Stadium. Renewables & Energy: PacWave South, Oregon State University’s grid-connected wave energy test site off Newport, officially opened—aimed at speeding development of wave power and tapping the U.S. wave resource. Local Infrastructure: Portland drivers should brace for major I-5 delays starting Sept. 11 as southbound lanes near the Rose Quarter close for up to five weeks for repaving and bridge repairs. Work & Economy: A Labor Day explainer traced the holiday to late-1800s labor organizing for safer, fairer work—plus coverage of Oregon workers’ role in shared prosperity. Industry & Jobs: A new Oregon packaging EPR law was upheld in a first-of-its-kind trial, with takeaways for producers. Community & Culture: Bend’s 500 Motors announced “KEVORKIAN,” a new snowboard film premiering Oct. 1, filmed on 16mm/35mm and built around Central Oregon riders.

Fuel Costs Hit Oregon Hard: AAA says Oregon’s diesel average jumped to $6.2547 a gallon as the national diesel record hit $5.9015—another pressure point for Oregon trucking, farming, and construction. Labor Power in Oregon: A Eugene hospice workers’ union won its first contract, lifting wages sharply (one worker from $29 to $43 an hour) and boosting benefits—an example of how organized labor is changing paychecks. Wildlife + Water Quality Win in Southern Oregon: Near Klamath Falls, a farmer converted 70 acres of barley into a managed wetland, cutting phosphorus runoff and creating habitat for tens of thousands of birds and federally endangered fish. Energy + Industry Watch: PacWave South, a grid-connected wave energy test facility off Newport, opened with DOE and OSU involvement, aiming to speed up marine power testing. Local Planning for Post-Fire Recreation: Agencies are seeking public input on a recreation management plan for the North Fork/Opal Creek corridor as reopening work ramps up. Community Events: Central Oregon LandWatch’s Livable Future Forum returns to OSU-Cascades in Bend Oct. 15–29 with speakers focused on sustainable, economically viable futures.

Port & Logistics: US Capital Global Securities is offering $41M in convertible notes for Willamette Intermodal Group’s planned inland rail transfer facility near Woodburn, aiming to move more Oregon agricultural exports and manufactured goods by rail instead of long-haul trucking. Energy & Rates: Oregon’s SAFE salmon program got a one-year reprieve after BPA reversed plans to end funding, protecting Lower Columbia fisheries tied to Buoy 10. Power Planning: A draft Northwest Power Plan could ripple into McKenzie Valley electricity costs as utilities face big new demand from data centers and other high-tech loads. Construction & Water Infrastructure: North Unit Irrigation District’s fish-screen replacement is set to trigger lane closures on Bend’s Division Street starting Sept. 8, with work continuing into 2027. Local Governance & Industry: Willamette Falls is moving into a new era of public access with multiple major development projects, including tumwata village and riverwalk efforts, despite cleanup and land-cost hurdles. Fraud Watch: Oregon-adjacent scam reporting continues to show steady online-purchase losses, underscoring ongoing consumer risk.

Energy & Cost of Living: Oregon’s POWER Act is cutting some electricity rates for Portland General Electric customers (PGE residential down 1.3%; commercial down 2.1%; industrial down 1.4%), while data centers see average costs jump about 29.7% as their load keeps climbing. Grid & Renewables Buildout: Pacific Power narrowed preferred routes for its Blueprint South transmission project, including a preliminary preferred 500-kilovolt line route through Central/Southern Oregon and a connection east of Bend, after public pushback. Flood Resilience: A new USGS study finds beaver dams along Portland-area creeks (Fanno and Bronson) store significantly more stormwater than the same creeks without dams—buying time even if floods still happen. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Oregon’s broader fraud problem continues, with national losses topping $12.5B in 2024, up 25% year over year. Local Business & Industry: Oregon’s Extended Producer Responsibility packaging law was upheld in a first-of-its-kind trial, a key signal for producers planning compliance costs. Healthcare Infrastructure: Ocean Beach Health Foundation launched a $500,000 push to fund a permanent MRI system, aiming to end reliance on a mobile unit and reduce long-distance travel for imaging.

Oregon Ducks vs. Boise State: Oregon opened the 2026 season with a 34-27 win over No. 2-ranked Boise State at Autzen, but the Ducks’ ground game (119 rushing yards) and late-game execution left plenty to fix. Local Sports Spotlight: Boise State’s trip to Eugene was disrupted by weather and runway construction, forcing a detour to Portland before the game. State Health Access: Gov. Tina Kotek announced an Oregon Health Authority standing order to keep recommended vaccines accessible and affordable for the 2026-27 cold and flu season. Energy & Costs: Labor Day gas prices are headed toward record highs, with Oregon near or above $4.90 a gallon in recent reporting. Housing Watch: Realtor.com data shows Portland among major metros seeing year-over-year listing price declines (down 2.4% in August). Nonprofit Music Industry: MusicOregon is expanding statewide after a listening tour found independent musicians still feel isolated from collaborators, venues, and business opportunities. Local Infrastructure: ODOT will close ramps at two Beltline interchanges for overnight repaving and traffic-signal work starting Sept. 8 through Sept. 22. Business & Logistics: DHL received its first converted Boeing 777 freighter, part of a broader push to add widebody cargo capacity.

Energy & Permitting: A new analysis of 2026 renewable energy siting bills finds many proposals aimed at restricting projects, but most enacted measures still lean permissive—researchers expect 2027 to be the “biggest year yet” for state energy siting fights as data centers and affordability concerns keep pressure on. Power Storage: Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals overturned Marion County’s denial of a 15-acre battery energy storage system on farmland, saying the county misapplied rules and the project qualifies as a utility facility. Geothermal Push: The U.S. Department of Energy opened a Geothermal Center of Excellence in Golden to help companies drill hot rock and scale next-gen geothermal methods. Workforce & Corrections: An Oregon prison construction training program that feeds inmates into union apprenticeships faces an uncertain future as its grant expires—organizers are seeking new funding. Public Safety & Fraud: The U.S. military disabled advertising location trackers on government devices after lawmakers raised concerns that data brokers’ location info could be used to target troops. Local Oregon Watch: Oregon’s packaging EPR law cleared another legal hurdle in federal court, reinforcing compliance expectations for producers. Food Safety: Washington and Montana health officials are investigating a Salmonella outbreak tied to broccoli sprouts, with no recall issued yet.

Energy & Industry: The U.S. Department of Energy opened a Geothermal Center of Excellence at the National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, aiming to help companies drill hot rock and scale engineered geothermal power. Elections & Logistics: Oregon AG Nick Brown and a coalition of 25 states won a preliminary injunction blocking USPS from imposing new, hard-to-meet requirements tied to vote-by-mail operations. Food Safety: A Salmonella outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts is under investigation in Washington, Montana, and Idaho, with 16 illnesses reported and no recall issued yet. Land Use & Power Storage: Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals overturned Marion County’s denial of a 15-acre battery energy storage system on farmland, clearing the way for Remington BESS. Wildfire Costs: A report highlights how wildfire-related grid liability is driving utilities to spend heavily on mitigation, with costs increasingly flowing to customers. Environment & Health: An OSU/Portland State study found lead levels in moss near Portland-area airports up to 7 times higher than elsewhere, traced largely to leaded aviation fuel. Fisheries: Gov. Kotek secured a one-year reprieve for Oregon salmon fisheries after BPA reversed a plan to end SAFE program funding. Housing: Rent hikes at an American Canyon mobile home park are paused while mediation plays out under Oregon-style rent-stabilization rules.

Local Governance: Washington County, Oregon, won’t impose a formal data-center moratorium, but commissioners adopted a “de facto moratorium” via rural land rules and a resolution acknowledging public concerns. Energy & Utilities: Washington’s attorney general urged the state utilities commission to reject PacifiCorp’s proposed sale of Pacific Power operations to PGE, warning of higher costs and uncertainty for customers. Finance & Consumer Protection: Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation says tax-relief firms must register as debt management service providers under the DMSP Act, effective immediately. National Security & Data: The U.S. military disabled advertising trackers on phones and computers after concerns that commercial location data was used to target forces in the Middle East. Broadband & Construction: Louisiana is targeting early 2027 to finish BEAD broadband construction to 15,000 serviceable locations across 23 parishes. Business & Trade: Tariffs are pushing a Canadian Muskoka chair maker to consider moving production to the U.S. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows ongoing losses from online purchase scams and other fraud patterns.

Road Safety & Infrastructure: ODOT plans two roundabouts on Highway 126 near Veneta at Huston and Ellmaker roads after deadly crashes, aiming to cut fatal and injury collisions by slowing traffic and reducing right-angle impacts. Construction Disruption: West Linn residents are pushing back on nighttime work tied to the I-205 Abernethy Bridge project, with ODOT saying the schedule slipped to 2027 while neighbors cite noise and property concerns. Workforce Training: Rogue Community College is ramping up wet-weather-ready truck driver training, stressing pre-trip inspections, safe following distances, and stopping-distance skills. Energy & Industry: Cypress Creek Energy’s Ostrea Solar in Washington reached commercial operation, adding new power as regional demand rises. Local Development: Bend City Council moved forward with Caldera Ranch, expanding the urban growth boundary for 700+ homes despite wildfire and traffic worries from nearby residents. Defense Modernization: The Air Force’s F-15EX rollout is prioritizing Air National Guard units as the older F-15C/D fleet faces metal fatigue limits. Consumer Fraud Watch: Oregon officials warn about smartphone payment scams as BBB Scam Tracker data continues to show widespread fraud losses nationwide.

Food & Safety: Horizon Organic recalled 53,760 cases of shelf-stable 1% chocolate milk due to a packaging seal issue that can cause bloating, leakage, and premature spoilage. Public Safety & Education: Prosecutors say an Oregon teacher impersonated Ariana Grande to groom students online, with court records describing thousands of messages and a fake “actor” persona. Energy & Industry: Oregon State University’s PacWave South wave-energy test facility is now officially open, aiming to cut testing barriers for developers and feed power into the grid via BPA. Agriculture & Workforce: Tractor Supply and the Tractor Supply Foundation awarded 146 FFA Future Leaders Scholarships, backing careers from agribusiness and agricultural engineering to welding and diesel mechanics. Environment & Policy: A study finds oil-industry groups are tanking climate Superfund bills in Oregon and 11 states despite public support. Local Business/Tech: Hydrolix is showcasing agentic AI and multi-CDN demos at IBC 2026, pitching real-time data as the backbone for live AI operations.

Data Centers & Oregon Policy: University of Oregon law professor Greg Dotson and computer science professor Jun Li launched an interdisciplinary course on data center expansion, pairing legal and technology perspectives as Oregon debates siting and rules. Port & Energy Planning: The Port of Moses Lake kicked off an industrial symbiosis planning effort with local industry and experts from Washington and Denmark, aiming to find a viable project that could tap climate funding to meet rising power and water needs. Consumer Safety: Federal officials issued two recalls the same day—overheating LED light kits for riding mowers and headphone amplifiers that can become electrified—both with no reported injuries. Fraud Watch: Oregon regulators warned about “payment sent by mistake” scams using Venmo, Cash App, Zelle and PayPal, where victims are pressured to send money back and may later be held responsible. Workforce & Agriculture: Oregon’s Department of Agriculture recognized a Madras sheep rancher as International Year of the Woman Farmer for sheep ranching. Forestry Policy: Protesters gathered at an OSU forestry summit to oppose rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, arguing it would open Oregon forests to more roads and timber harvesting.

Oregon Health Insurance: Oregon is replacing Healthcare.gov with a state-backed marketplace, ExploreHealthOR.gov, starting Nov. 1, after federal approval—aimed at giving the Oregon Health Authority more flexibility for local needs. Packaging Recycling: Oregon’s packaging EPR law cleared another legal hurdle, with a federal court upholding the scheme after constitutional challenges—important for compliance planning across Oregon’s packaging supply chain. Energy & Grid Reliability: Heat is pushing U.S. power systems toward higher blackout risk, with the DOE authorizing PJM to use backup generation as a last resort before emergency alerts. Local Industry & Finance: Summit Wealth Group is expanding into the Pacific Northwest by acquiring Portland-based Financial Investment Team, adding about $224M in client assets and roughly 300 clients. Wildfire & Land Management: Targeted grazing is gaining attention as a wildfire fuel-reduction tool on Western public lands, as agencies weigh costs and limits. Consumer/Business Ops: Oregon DCBS reported a phishing incident that sent emails from an internal address; officials say no further compromises were found and more training is planned. Agriculture Skills Pipeline: Tractor Supply announced 146 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship recipients across 32 states, supporting careers from agribusiness and agricultural engineering to welding and diesel mechanics.