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Construction of largest alternative diesel refinery in U.S. faces permitting challenges
An Oregon company hoping to build the largest alternative, or renewable, diesel refinery in the country along the Columbia River faces several new permitting challenges that could challenge the project. In September, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality denied Portland-based Next Renewable Fuels, Inc. a key water permit, and on Oct. 27, the Land Use […]
Oregon’s home-schooling surge during pandemic starting to cool
Oregon’s pandemic home-schooling boom is beginning to cool off, new state data shows. The number of students taught at home this year is down about 7.5% from last year in 14 of the state’s 19 Education Service Districts that responded to Capital Chronicle data requests and that track total home-school enrollment at the beginning of […]
Climate change likely playing role in 40% drop in Pacific gray whale population
Scientists are investigating the causes of a nearly 40% decline in the Pacific gray whales that pass along the Oregon Coast each winter and spring on their way from Baja, Mexico to the Arctic. One primary suspect is food scarcity with Arctic feeding grounds impacted by warming temperatures and the loss of sea ice from […]
Federal energy agency approves plan to remove Klamath River’s dams
A nearly two-decade campaign to remove hydroelectric dams and restore threatened and endangered fish on the lower Klamath River has cleared its final hurdle. On Thursday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the plan to remove four dams on the lower Klamath River, saying it was in the public interest. The commission is made up […]
OSU professor awarded $3 million federal grant to produce a sustainable battery without scarce metals
The metals found in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles could become scarce in the decades ahead as demand increases. So Xiulei “David” Ji, an Oregon State University chemistry professor, and a team of OSU scientists set out to find alternatives. After a decade investigating and experimenting with battery chemistry and storage, including working […]
Oregon environmental commission rules out air pollution regulations for large dairies
Dairies with hundreds of cows won’t face regulations for air pollution for now, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission decided. The five governor-appointed commissioners made the ruling Wednesday in response to an August petition filed by two-dozen environmental, animal welfare and social justice groups that asked the state to regulate harmful emissions from dairies with 700 […]
Stephenson claims victory as Oregon’s labor commissioner
Employment attorney Christina Stephenson held a more than 20-point lead over her competitor in the race to lead the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, leading her campaign to declare victory Tuesday night. Though final results could be days away, by Wednesday morning, polls continued to show Stephenson, who had a huge fundraising advantage, leading […]
Nearly 90% of West depends on national forests, grasslands for drinking water
Western states and cities are more reliant on drinking water from U.S. Forest Service lands than previously known. A first-of-its-kind study by the Forest Service reveals how some of the largest public water systems in the country rely on surface waters from the federal agency’s land. The agency plans to use the new data to […]
Stephenson in the lead for labor commissioner in early results
Employment attorney Christina Stephenson was in the lead for labor commissioner in early results announced Tuesday evening. Stephenson had 60% of the vote according to results released by the Secretary of State’s office by 11:30 p.m. Her opponent, restaurant owner and former Bend Republican House Rep. Cheri Helt, had 39% of the vote. It could […]
Live coverage: Oregon 2022 general election
Oregon voters will decide Tuesday who wins key races that could change the balance of power in the state and nationally. They will pick a new governor, decide who will be in Oregon’s congressional delegation and cast ballots on several ballot measures, including two that would alter the state’s constitution. Some results may not […]
NW Natural scraps plans for blended hydrogen and natural gas project in Eugene
Oregon’s first green hydrogen production project has been shelved after public pushback over potential environmental and health impacts. NW Natural, the state’s largest natural gas provider, had proposed to the Oregon Public Utilities Commission in August a plan to create green hydrogen to blend into its natural gas. The company would have pumped the blended […]
14 Oregon UPS facilities fined for hazardous waste violations as part of nationwide settlement with EPA
More than a dozen UPS distribution and transportation centers in Oregon have been fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for violating federal hazardous waste reporting and disposal rules. The fines, for $4,589 each or just over $64,000 collectively, are part of a nationwide settlement that the global delivery company reached with EPA. In total, United […]