August 29, 2026

West of the Tunnel

Stories of our community

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  • PNW needs a massive upgrade to the power grid, report says ~ Photo by Clinton Carpenter/Bonneville Power Administration August 14, 2026 Washington State Standard | Aspen Ford

    The Pacific Northwest will need a massive buildout of new energy infrastructure over the next six years to meet rising electricity demand, according to a draft regional power plan released Thursday, August 13, 2026.

    Electricity demand could double in the next 20 years in the Pacific Northwest because of data centers, the increase in electric vehicles, and population growth, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council forecast last year.

    The council released a draft of its Ninth Power Plan on Thursday, calling for the addition of 11,000 megawatts to the region’s grid — about a third of the electricity the Northwest uses at peak demand.

    Public comment for the draft is open until Oct. 16.

    Read the full story at the Washington State Standard…

     
  • This Oregon Wildfire Season Has Blazed Past All Records, With No End in Sight Firefighters meet outside the Florence Events Center before heading out to fight the Three Buttes Fire near Florence in this 2023 file photo ~ Photo by Will Yurman August 13, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Khushboo Rathore

    2026 has already broken the Oregon record for acres burned by wildfires, and we are still many weeks away from the fall rainy season.

    As of Aug. 10, more than 1,400 fires of all sizes have consumed more than 2.3 million acres across the state–an area far larger than the once-record 2024 fire season at its completion. That is more acres than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

    Read the full story…
  • Lane Community College receives accreditation warning over governance An undated photo of a sign near the eastern entrance to Lane Community College in Eugene. ~ Photo by Rachael McDonald / KLCC August 13, 2026 KLCC | Rebecca Hansen-White

    Lane Community College has received a warning from the body that oversees community college accreditation over concerns about its governance.

    In a college-wide message Wednesday, LCC President Stephanie Bulger and LCC Board of Education Chair Jesse Maldonado said the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities found the college was out of compliance in a few areas.

    Read More…
  • Sen. Wyden’s wildfire tax relief bill passes just before Congress recesses, goes to White House The 6:30 am briefing for fire fighters at the Three Buttes fire near Florence. ~ 2023 File Photo by Will Yurman August 10, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt

    In the final hours of work before members of Congress went on recess for five weeks, a bill backed by Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden to relieve natural disaster survivors from paying federal income taxes on their recovery settlements and lawyers’ fees passed against unexpected odds.

    The bill also passed the House and will go to the White House for the president’s signature.

    Read More…
  • Governor’s Advisory Committee Won’t Support Moratorium on Data Centers An explosion of data center facilities, including the one pictured here in northeast Oregon on May 18, 2026, have been built along the Columbia River Gorge during the last few years. ~ Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle August 9, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt

    Data center construction in Oregon should be regulated but not stopped, an advisory committee to Gov. Tina Kotek said, according to an article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle.

    “A lack of sales tax, generous property tax incentives for industrial development and relatively cheap electricity over the years has made Oregon a hot spot for data centers,” the Chronicle reported.

    The committee agreed that the state should require more transparency from data companies and local governments regarding tax incentives and other agreements, but that on the whole, the state can benefit economically from the centers.

    Read More…
  • Carl Washburne campground north of Florence closed for a month August 4, 2026 Lincoln Chronicle

    The Carl G. Washburne State Park campground along U.S. Highway 101 between Yachats and Florence is closed for at least a month so a contractor can replace two culverts damaged by a heavy rainfall in December 2023, the Lincoln Chronicle reported.
  • Red Flag Warning Includes Most of Lane County An undated file photo of smoky skies over Eugene. ~ Photo by Karen Richards/KLCC August 3, 2026 KLCC

    Take care if you’re traveling towards Eugene over the next few days.

    The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the southern Willamette Valley for Monday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. The warning area includes Eugene, Albany, Springfield and Cottage Grove.

    The agency said the smoke should arrive by Monday afternoon and linger in the area through at least Wednesday.
  • Department of Transportation facing $200 million shortfall in 2027-29 budget cycle A “closed” sign sits at a counter at the DMV office in Albany. Since Jan. 1, 2026, there have been 34 full day office closures across Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle division offices because of staffing shortages. ~ Photo by Mia Maldonado/Oregon Capital Chronicle August 2, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado

    Inflation and declining gas tax revenues are the primary causes of the predicted $200 million budget gap in Oregon’s Department of Transportation budget, according to this article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle.

    Without new revenue, the agency will need to eliminate almost 550 positions, according to agency deputy director Travis Brouwer. Cuts will be felt in road maintenance, and in DMV offices around the state, the article reports.
  • Oregon 39th out of 50 in New State Ranking The Blue Basin in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, in 2024. ~ Photo by Will Yurman July 29, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman
  • Pro-Data Center Ads in Oregon Funded by Industry Screenshots of similar videos from Connected Ohio, Oregon Connects, Pennsylvania Connects and North Carolina Connects. The groups were founded by leaders at the Data Center Coalition, a nonprofit data center advocacy group backed by large tech companies. (Collage by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) July 28, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt

    Recent ads promoting data centers in Oregon were paid for by Oregon Connects, a non-profit funded by an industry group that includes Microsoft, Google and Meta, the Oregon Capitol Chronicle reported in this story.

    Nearly identical ad campaigns are being run in more than half a dozen states around the country.

    Tax incentives in Oregon will save data centers $85 million in property taxes this year.

More Local News

  • Electricity rates to rise 3% June 30, 2026 Press Release Central Lincoln, which provides electricity to most of our area, is raising its rates 3%, effective July 1. In the press release, they say that even with the increase, the rates are lower than most of the state.
  • The New Website Design June 27, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman
  • New Shop in Old Bike Store June 27, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman A new business on Route 101
  • Dollar Days from LTD June 27, 2026 Press Release During July and August, Lane Transit is offering discounted tickets, including for the Rhody Express.