Category Environment & Agriculture
Oregon’s first large-scale solar park and farm hinges on 50-year-old land use laws
A Willamette Valley farmer behind the state’s first “agrovoltaic” farm says critics cannot stop ‘an idea whose time has come.’
Hundreds of fruit packers in Washington and Oregon take union vote this week
Employees of three Mount Adams Fruit packing facilities in the Columbia River Gorge say they want safer conditions, better treatment and pay.
Raw sewage spills near Claggett Creek
The city of Salem said a blocked sewer line caused a spill of about 1,350 gallons of sewage Thursday.
Oregon ramps up testing for “forever chemicals” in a regulatory vacuum
EPA officials have ordered states to test water for 29 ‘forever chemicals’ and lithium, but the agency lacks regulations on what states should do with most results.
Plan to protect threatened and endangered species in Western state forests could face new delay
The chair of the state forestry board is proposing experts revise the Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan.
Oregon attorney general joins Democratic peers calling for strategy to curb new plastic production
Democratic attorneys general want an aggressive EPA strategy to reduce new plastic production, but their Republican peers want EPA to step aside.
Oregon cherry growers ask governor for disaster declaration after third bad season in a row
Climate change has not only limited Oregon’s cherry growing season but delayed California’s, leading the market to be flooded and prices to drop.
Electric truck charging depot planned for Salem
A California company aims to build a corridor of charging stations along Interstate 5 to power electric trucks and help the industry shift toward zero emissions. Their plans include a Salem facility expected to open in 2025.
Raw sewage overflows into Labish Ditch
The city of Salem said a buildup of rags and grease in the sewer line led to a spill of about 12,000 gallons of sewage Monday.