AGP Executive Report

Oregon Labor Watch: SEIU Local 503, which represents University of Oregon classified staff, is calling for a strike vote next week over pay, seniority step freezes, health plan costs, and contract length after seven months of bargaining. Oregon Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports midgrade prices in Yamhill County hit a low of $4.95 for the week ending Sept. 5, while Oregon’s statewide midgrade average rose to $5.13. Oregon Housing & Growth: Discovery West in northwest Bend held its second annual PorchFest, with local bands, vendors, and an open house for newly built homes. Oregon Agriculture: Oregon State University highlights how fall grazing missteps—overgrazing, short rest, and overstocking—can cut forage growth next season by disrupting root rebuilding and spring shoot formation. Tech & Manufacturing: Intel says its Hillsboro, Oregon high-NA EUV tools have processed over one million wafers, surpassing other chipmakers using the same technology.

Health Insurance Shake-Up: Oregon workers are facing another hit as Health Net exits Oregon’s commercial employer market, with coverage ending Feb. 28, 2027—on top of other carrier pullbacks that are already reshaping ACA and employer coverage choices. Workplace Safety: Oregon OSHA says wildfire smoke and extreme heat drove worker safety complaints to record levels, with allegations that employers kept people working outside and didn’t provide adequate protection. Energy & Industry: Hexagon Energy secured geothermal rights on about 145,000 acres of Weyerhaeuser timberland across Oregon and Washington, aiming for carbon-free power potential of more than 3 gigawatts. Semiconductors: Intel says its Oregon high-NA EUV fabs have processed over 1 million wafers—surpassing competitors combined—highlighting a push to regain advanced manufacturing leadership. Local Housing: OHCS helped open 45 new affordable homes in Bend, adding capacity as Central Oregon grapples with recruitment and retention pressures from high housing costs. Labor & Aerospace: Boeing’s union talks move forward after SPEEA received a final contract offer following rejection of an earlier proposal. Policy & Privacy: Oregon’s Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Warren Davidson pressed the UK’s encryption tribunal for more transparency in Apple’s iCloud access dispute.

Affordable Housing Push: Oregon Housing and Community Services opened Nine Peaks in Bend, adding 40+ new affordable homes with about $10M in state investment (including $1M in LIHTC), as Central Oregon struggles to keep workers housed. Local Governance & Housing Supply: Cannon Beach is weighing a cap on short-term rentals—proposed limits at 165 licenses, tighter clustering rules, and exclusion zones east of Highway 101—after concerns about neighborhood impacts and housing availability. City Operations & Real Estate: Bend may buy a Conners Avenue office building for about $18M to serve as a new administrative headquarters, potentially reducing the need for a much larger City Hall project. Hospitality Labor: Unionized Embassy Suites workers in Seattle ended a long strike after reaching a contract covering year-round healthcare, workload protections, and higher pay for housekeepers. Legal/Regulatory Watch: A federal court move puts Oregon’s packaging Recycling Modernization Act enforcement on hold in a challenge brought by industry groups, signaling more fights ahead for EPR rules. Public Lands & Industry: The Forest Service extended the comment period on rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule to Oct. 6, keeping pressure on how Oregon’s forests are managed. Energy/Tech & Policy: Oregon’s governor ordered a statewide pause on new data center construction on state land, as communities and lawmakers debate power, water, and local impacts.

Healthcare Policy: The White House says it will issue $500 Obamacare “refund” checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Oregon, arguing Biden-era federal exchange “user fees” were higher than needed. Oregon Agriculture: A review of dairy pricing shows August Federal order Class III milk at $16.64/cwt (+$1.12 from July), while margins are pressured by rising feed costs. Rogue Valley Water & Irrigation: Medford, Talent, and Rogue River Valley irrigation districts say drought conditions are forcing earlier curtailments, but point to years of conservation and modernization as they plan for a resilient water future. Oregon Jobs Watch: Coos County cut about 450 jobs over the past year, with manufacturing and food production hit hardest, while unemployment stays relatively low. Pharma Manufacturing: Lonza will add large-scale spray-drying capacity at its Bend site, targeting completion in 2029 and initially creating 80+ jobs. Energy & Transportation Costs: Diesel prices are climbing fast in Oregon, with AAA reporting the statewide average near $6.35 and some communities setting new records. Infrastructure: Southbound I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter is closed for up to five weeks starting Sept. 11, with detours via I-405 and I-205.

Data Centers Pause: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek ordered a statewide pause on new data center development on state land, halting unapproved easements, leases and permits through July 1, 2027 while the state evaluates impacts on water, energy, infrastructure, jobs and communities. Legal/Service Funding: AG Nick Brown and a coalition of states reached a settlement blocking further Trump administration attempts to dismantle AmeriCorps, protecting FY2026 funding and participants after earlier reinstatements and releases of hundreds of millions. Healthcare Refunds: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Oregon, will get one-time $500 Obamacare exchange “user fee” refunds starting in October. Outdoor Retail Leadership: Columbia Sportswear named Peter Rauch president of Mountain Hardwear, with Troy Sicotte moving to global vice president, sales. Energy/Power Policy: Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council will meet Sept. 18 online, including decisions tied to large solar projects and battery storage transfers. Tech/HPC Talent: ACM and IEEE CS awarded Oregon State’s Xuan Wu a 2026 George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowship. Local Economy/Infrastructure: ODOT scheduled intermittent paving work on OR 126E from Sept. 14 to Oct. 1 with flaggers and pilot car. Agriculture/Animal Health: A reminder for sheep and goat producers: official tagging helps records and supports scrapie eradication efforts, with Oregon recently confirming a scrapie case.

Defense & Construction: Conti Federal won a $55.4M U.S. Army contract to build a new Special Tactics Complex in Portland, consolidating the Oregon Air National Guard’s 125th Special Tactics Squadron functions and adding simulation and vehicle workshop space, with completion targeted for May 2029. Workforce & Compliance: Oregon BOLI released its 2026 State of the Worker Report, highlighting more than $20M returned to workers since Jan. 2023, faster dispute resolution through its Alternative Dispute Resolution program, and staffing increases after years of underinvestment. Local Infrastructure: Scappoose Airport reopened its runway after a $4M rehabilitation, funded by federal, state, and port contributions, restoring pavement, lighting, and safety upgrades ahead of schedule. Clean Energy & Jobs: Bend will host a green career day Sept. 19 at Central Oregon Community College, focused on sustainable construction trades, training pathways, and scholarships. Food Economy: Central Oregon Locavore launched a push to raise $100,000 to finish its Discovery West marketplace and open before Thanksgiving. Public Safety: Newberg installed a solar-powered RRFB pedestrian crossing with integrated crosswalk lighting to improve visibility and driver awareness. Policy & Environment: States sued the Trump administration over changes to endangered species protections, arguing the rules weaken the Endangered Species Act. Wildlife & Livestock: A new look at wolf restoration shows how predator recovery is colliding with ranching economics and trust across the West.

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.