Exciting news from Salem! Oregon regulators just finalized nation-leading protections that ensure data centers pay for their own power and infrastructure costs, stopping the burden from being shifted onto regular folks, while supporting the grid’s resilience, affordability, and clean energy transition. This has been a multi-year journey from bill to law to rules. Here’s a rundown of the what, why, and how we got here, as well as what’s next.

Building the grid we need to power our future starts with smart planning. Transmission planning is the process of identifying actions to improve and modernize the grid, including Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs), co-located transmission lines (in existing rights-of-way, such as highways), and, when necessary, new transmission lines. This ensures that energy can be reliably and affordably delivered to homes and businesses. Planning is foundational to building a cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient energy system. Because Oregon’s grid is deeply interconnected with neighboring states, transmission planning requires both state and regional coordination.

Passing a new law is only the first step toward a clean energy future. At Climate Solutions, we stay at the table long after a bill is signed to ensure Oregon’s latest energy policies are turned into real, tangible progress for Oregonians. Our latest blog post explores how we're working with partners and state agencies to build a modern power grid that is affordable, resilient, and fair for everyone.

Explore Oregon's 2026 legislative wins and the lessons learned from the climate policies that fell short. It highlights the missed opportunities for lower energy bills while looking ahead at the work needed to build a more resilient state in 2027.

As the resident Boricua on the Climate Solutions staff, I’m going to have to talk about that Super Bowl halftime show! At our energy-focused organization, all my coworkers were giddy about the spotlight on energy infrastructure; I would be giddy with them if it weren’t for the failure it represented.

Oregon can make our energy grid stronger and more affordable by using virtual power plants to coordinate local tools like home batteries and smart appliances. These smart solutions help lower energy costs for everyone while creating good local jobs in our communities.

In recent rate cases, we have secured big wins for customers and the climate! This spring, we reached an agreement with Avista Gas to reduce climate pollution through an electrification pilot. In our NW Natural rate case, we have an agreement to eliminate gas subsidies for developers, and we are still fighting to improve energy choice for low-income customers.

The grid is the ‘superhighway’ on which electricity travels. It is a vast network of transmission lines and infrastructure that delivers the electricity we need to power our daily lives (i.e., our homes, businesses, and industrial sites). The grid is crucial for maintaining reliable and affordable power for Oregonians. Importantly, the grid must also evolve to accommodate our state’s clean energy transition and to serve our growing population and economy. Two recently passed pieces of legislation will help modernize the grid, relieving congestion and streamlining permitting of new transmission lines.

EPA's new rules, The big "beautiful" bill, The data center boom, and funding impacts on BIPOC farmers and environmental programs

Something is up, and unfortunately, it may be a higher utility bill for Oregon gas customers. In a time when communities are already bracing for Congressional Republicans’ new energy tax hike, NW Natural Gas Company is trying to raise costs on Oregonians as well. Even worse, they aim to raise our gas bills to boost their shareholders’ profits and invest in expensive fuels under the guise of decarbonization, rather than providing lower-income customers with the option to install an energy-efficient heat pump! Climate Solutions does not intervene in every rate case, but when we think there is an opportunity to protect customers and the climate, we enter the ring. This is one of those cases!