Catch up on current developments in Oregon business.
Japanese company to build solar crucible plant
Ferrotec will open a Portland-area plant in mid-2010 and will be producing quartz crucibles to support Oregon’s established and rapidly growing solar manufacturing. Read more in the Portland Business Journal.
PGE ranks among highest in nation in solar power generation
PGE was recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association as a utility leader in the integration of solar power into its generation portfolio.
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Oregon in running for Norwegian car plant
Norwegian company, Think, is considering Oregon for electric-car manufacturing. The Oregonian quotes Brendan Prebo, a Think North America spokesman, “There’s a number of things that appeal to Think about Oregon… They’ve also shown their interest in terms of supporting electric vehicle sales.”
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PGE joins with state of Oregon and Mitsubishi to promote zero-emission vehicles
PGE joins in a new partnership with the state of Oregon and Mitsubishi toward the development of an electric vehicle charging network to promote the use of zero-emission vehicles.
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Governor and PGE welcome Mitsubishi and its all-electric vehicle to Oregon
Oregonians got a sneak peek at Mitsubishi’s stylish four-passenger mini-car — the i MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) — when Mitsubishi brought the all-electric vehicle to Oregon for a two-day visit as part of its zero-emission vehicle partnership with the state of Oregon and PGE. Read the Oregonian article on the i MiEV and our news release to learn more.
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PGE’s residential green power program No. 1 nationally for fourth year
For the fourth year in a row, Portland General Electric sold more renewable power to residential customers than any other utility in the United States.
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Nation’s first solar highway generating power in “rainy” Oregon
The nation’s first solar highway installation is up and running in Tualatin, Oregon, putting the myth to rest that rainy Oregon doesn’t produce enough sunshine to successfully generate solar power.
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Sanyo breaks ground in Salem
An article (PDF) in Fortune 500 magazine discusses how PGE is partnering with companies in the solar manufacturing industry, like Sanyo, to bring those firms to Oregon. To meet the anticipated power demand at Sanyo and other nearby plants, PGE is developing a new substation. Fortune 500 says, “Sanyo’s interest in the location, and PGE’s willingness to develop the substation, could pave the way for future green manufacturing.”
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State of Oregon, PGE and Renault-Nissan form electric vehicle partnership
The Renault-Nissan Alliance announced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show that Nissan and the state of Oregon are forming a partnership to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of an electric vehicle charging network. PGE is working with the state and the auto manufacturer toward the development of an easily accessible and reliable network of charging stations.
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Oregon, top green state
Business Facilities’ 2008 annual look at the top-ranked localities for economic development placed Oregon as the No. 1 “greenest state.” In addition, Portland is the third “greenest city,” and Oregon is fourth best in sales tax environment and tenth best in overall tax climate among states.
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Oregon economic development receives national recognition
Site Selection magazine has named the SolarWorld site development project among the top 2007 North American economic development deals. Important factors for the SolarWorld move included the facility, the State of Oregon property and business energy tax credits and availability of highly skilled workers.
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California solar company chooses Portland
Rec Solar, a California company that installs solar energy systems, has opened an Oregon sales office, joining the fast-growing list of solar companies that have pumped more than $470 million into the Oregon economy in the past few years.
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Popular Science ranks Portland ‘America’s Greenest City’
According to the Popular Science magazine, Portland is “America’s Greenest City” with half of its power coming from renewable energy resources. The survey evaluates cities with populations greater than 100,000 across four broad “green” categories.
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Portland named among Fast Company’s 2007 ‘Fast Cities’
Portland has been listed as a top Green Leader in Fast Company’s “Fast Cities 2007.” Lauded for having the most buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, Portland also receives praise for its savvy urban planning, “eat local” revolution, farmers markets and world-class vineyards.
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Solaicx announces 48 MW solar facility in Portland, Ore.
Solaicx, a manufacturer of mono-crystalline silicon ingots and wafers for solar photovoltaic applications, has selected Portland, Oregon, as the location for its new silicon manufacturing facility.
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Solarworld AG to move largest U.S. solar-wafer and cell factory to Hillsboro, Ore.
Solarworld AG, a German company with locations in Sweden, Germany and the United States, will move its solar-wafer and cell production facility from Vancouver, Wash., to Hillsboro, Ore. Solarworld plans to invest $397 million to double its solar-cell and wafer production by 2010 and add 1,000 new jobs.
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Business news archive
See our news archive for previously published business news releases.