[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6629823,"mediaKeyId","2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d","parentId",2702548,"title","Senate committee hears Curry County carve‑out for Port Orford development, water cap and permit fast‑track","audioSeconds",1672,"startMs",3104000,"endMs",4776000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d&start=3104&end=4776","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d/thumbnail_3104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629823/Oregon/Senate-committee-hears-Curry-County-carveout-for-Port-Orford-development-water-cap-and-permit-fasttrack","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629823-4bb71bdbfab21648deab55e8e81160a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770890347&Signature=GTQLY1gZ20VztmP5GC5kYmaigU2AxFZAegLdoFIwcySbwnSNrmOyaP-4ZmNzzd-zmpVg3bhdJpujaYi9EWGEgUClQd83HAp9pEB7zI2CQ8OBfh0cJegSknmMXuEi8r7zIAQF8nILvImIAw-3N7srJz0lSeit-QFKY4j-QSovQgHywUSvOkixRtDpNc2PyCt~TB6Dpfsg4s7uay5xiTJC3cgL00ll-0bLQQkjimhoqFprufkOkxkvXlWhHuuvTxK4EWYaLL8xl5ZaPgV28bQEvtCHj02JtLIzW3Xo2X3HFBcmvdjSi9FjMrvH2p4IlqamUDXefNaQrhrEpRx4Icz1qA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 10 47, as replaced by a dash-2 amendment, would require Curry County to expedite permits related to operation or land use for specified development north of Port Orford and authorize the county to waive fees or take other reasonable actions to accelerate review, the committee heard on March 19.

The amendment also allows water supply wells to be sited on the tract of land and establishes water use as an exempt category with a total withdrawal cap of 600 gallons per minute, subject to monitoring and reporting, committee staff explained at the hearing.

Senator David Brock Smith, whose district includes Curry and Coos counties, framed the measure as an economic development carve‑out for a long‑planned development near Port Orford. “This is my community that I live in,” Senator Brock Smith said, describing local declines in school enrollment and the project’s potential to bring jobs and workforce housing.

Multiple local residents and former county officials testified in support of the bill and described prolonged permitting delays in Curry County. Becky Crockett, Curry County’s former planning director, said the county currently lacks staff and has had “cases of lost applications, erroneous zoning interpretations” and permit delays of “up to a year.” She and others said the project has more than a decade of local planning, secured financing and could provide workforce housing.

Supporters also offered technical testimony on groundwater testing. Jonathan Williams, owner of Alpine Environmental Consultants, summarized a recent hydrogeologic evaluation based on two new on‑site wells and constant‑rate aquifer tests. Williams reported pumping rates of “137 gallons per minute in one well and 211 gallons a minute in another well,” and said his monitored observation wells, located about 1,000 feet away, showed no measurable drawdown during eight hours of pumping. Williams concluded the data do not suggest significant impacts to nearby wells or to adjacent wetlands.

Opponents did not appear on the record during the March 19 hearing; Senator Golden raised an equity concern about using statewide general fund resources for a county with low property tax rates. “As an equity issue,” Golden said, he questioned whether the state should prioritize special projects for one county when other counties face similar economic distress.

Committee chair and staff reminded members that written testimony remains open through the Friday filing deadline; the bill attracted extensive local verbal support at the March 19 hearing and proponents indicated they would submit maps and additional materials for the record.

No committee vote was taken on SB 10 47 at the March 19 hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Energy and Environment 03/19/2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","SB 10 47 (dash-2) would let Curry County expedite permitting and site water supply wells for a proposed development north of Port Orford and sets a 600 gpm total groundwater withdrawal cap with monitoring.","taxTitle","Energy and Environment, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17629,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629827,"Senate panel hears plan to let gas utilities pilot shared thermal energy networks",757,770000,1527000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d&start=770&end=1527","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d/thumbnail_770000.jpg","/articles/6629827/Oregon/Senate-panel-hears-plan-to-let-gas-utilities-pilot-shared-thermal-energy-networks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629827-3b8988f5fa9e4c9e3a65966ab64136b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770890347&Signature=WKJHYhkbxr9sx1YtaN7vt3Tm5vqKMq311I0DpfNW3G9bVjaGH07yz0uMc9nb7CZHgsa0hOeL8kE7hpWMwdDBV2QW2r4cbZIrvemKx3lkfK40HdpE5voJ0R68JUmTShJQoYQ5CkfSkYU3LevbhGUYSzOu3iMWmajG8IV-a3EUkaJJ999NxQyLJopi4AMgtKVBUe1jb5jyEbGOFxE8Kr33jyMlCsYyQTnVVMmibQzQ08SQH-ZONz3DC9sB4tj5PXqNTnzb7C4i6hZ7YRrEBlhEmfa6KNe-6xyaZO45bBM2LWgrKjhY3EdBPAQ1DvlFizjqDeh8~zsMQXK3L~Xyh-cUcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 1143 would direct the Public Utility Commission to establish a pilot program allowing each natural gas company to develop utility-scale thermal energy network projects to provide heating and cooling services to customers, Senator Kate Lieber told the Senate Energy and Environment Committee on March 19.

The bill would set processes for filing and evaluating proposals and clarifies that prudently incurred costs could be eligible for regulatory recovery; a dash-1 amendment on file adds certain labor requirements.

The measure drew broadly aligned testimony from utilities, climate and labor groups and independent researchers. “One of the most efficient means of providing heating and cooling is through through what's called a thermal energy network or a TENS,” Senator Kate Lieber said, describing TENS as “a shared network of pipes that make use of local thermal resources or stable temperature of the earth to deliver affordable, efficient, and clean thermal energy.”

Alan Spector, external affairs manager for Cascade Natural Gas, said Cascade supports SB 1143 and views TENS as “a great tool for decarbonization pathways and for business diversification opportunities.” Spector described Washington State’s recent legislation as a working example and said Cascade has hired a dedicated thermal energy network manager to pursue pilot opportunities.

Speakers described several technical approaches to TENS. Emily Moore, director of climate and energy at Sightline Institute, explained the most common approach is distributed ground-source systems: “If you go just 30 feet below the Earth, the temperature stays at a constant 50 to 60 degrees all year round across the entire United States,” she said, adding that the stable subsurface temperature can be used as a seasonal thermal store for both heating and cooling.

Witnesses outlined potential customer, workforce and climate benefits. Claire Prejota of Climate Solutions said TENS are “highly efficient” and can leverage waste heat from commercial operations. Nels Johnson of Northwest Natural and Fran Villatoro of BlueGreen Alliance said the technology could create clean‑energy jobs while using utility expertise in pipe networks. Chris Carpenter of UA Local 290 Plumbers and Steamfitters emphasized the labor amendment and said the unions want to ensure trained apprentices and certified journey workers participate under OSHA‑30 and registered training programs.

Witnesses and senators also discussed unanswered questions that pilots are intended to address: appropriate project scale (multifamily, campuses, small neighborhoods), how far networks can economically transport thermal energy, sources for heat and cold (ground, wastewater, industrial waste heat, abandoned mine water), and how costs and long‑term ownership would be handled by regulators.

Committee members asked technical and equity questions about cost recovery and long‑term rate impacts. Senator Golden cautioned that pilot approvals that allow regulatory cost recovery merit careful discussion about who ultimately pays for infrastructure. Senator Kate Lieber and witnesses responded that uncertainty about recovery is a key barrier to utility investment and that SB 1143 is intended to create a clear path for pilots so those technical and ratemaking questions can be answered by the Public Utility Commission and through pilot experience.

No committee vote was taken on SB 1143 during the March 19 hearing. Sponsors and supporters said they would provide additional technical details and follow up with committee members.","Senate Bill 1143 would direct the Public Utility Commission to establish a pilot program allowing natural gas utilities to propose thermal energy network projects that provide heating and cooling.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629812,"Work session advances bill to fund ODFW smallmouth bass monitoring and eradication program",736,2000000,2736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d&start=2000&end=2736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d/thumbnail_2000000.jpg","/articles/6629812/Oregon/Work-session-advances-bill-to-fund-ODFW-smallmouth-bass-monitoring-and-eradication-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629812-84131bb0b9d4978100f30fe6fcbd904f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770890347&Signature=RvYNGQ1RsesBe0PFvxYSZFi4UzuVdbTEHTMdYPsUJBbBsj39einls9~2cWGQaqAetJL4CGEmbc96T~lE44ikKKs90BTgCMUYVOpOHUEtCWHwD2GMgmg3zsGXKpQS50eOI9GqXVpGjXy5l0xHnRT1O62wcP7b-IzYK1RH9Uzkh-Vm5xq7Mro2whEsaaQnQ0ryb2Flha-D8T9~WgIYk2BIRxJNuP1qrHhDZkqhrxeA2jiCIIaK3C5tDlkEh~7vQucFXuun7fL3pYo-z1-R7HNktoxfbEcLcz1-XdQyJ3hFvTg5bpEvYC08ZnguMtcK9PQHiRTRCA2H28~0JaccQKEM6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee staff summarized a dash-1 amendment to Senate Bill 222 during a work session on March 19 that would require the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to establish a program to monitor introductions of smallmouth bass and support eradication efforts in rivers that drain to the Pacific Ocean (excluding the Columbia River basin).

The amendment would appropriate $1,000,000 to ODFW from the general fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and declares an emergency effective on passage; staff also noted a fiscal statement and a statement of no revenue impact for the dash-1 language.

Committee members adopted the dash-1 amendment without objection and moved SB 222, as amended, to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation and referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.

No public testimony was taken in the work session portion of the record; the committee recorded the amendment’s adoption and the referral.","Senate Bill 222 (dash-1) would require the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a program to monitor introductions and support eradication of smallmouth bass in rivers that drain to the Pacific Ocean outside the Columbia basin, and appropriates $1,000,000 for the 2025–27 biennium.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629818,"Committee advances sudden oak death funding bill, changes task force convenor to nonprofit",285,1080000,1365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d&start=1080&end=1365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702548-5386f17d3844bcfcdb1f41bdf4bf935d/thumbnail_1080000.jpg","/articles/6629818/Oregon/Committee-advances-sudden-oak-death-funding-bill-changes-task-force-convenor-to-nonprofit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629818-10eeed9aafe244167db6fb63a3d7e89d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770890347&Signature=WQn9OzU1-Wf69uhXDpOA6i8bvsVo3A01vHlE0J7zs03nyAFgoYBVFvOg6T13vaq1Fa2gCrVg8zHSoEl5usL3o-Rel5TKrRIOcOy~LDiCTcc0YZGQ7UNdIr8wkT8378adOIwc-O9Be3bh99gftAqlEKl52j6EWYpfYy3f~j~Abfy-1tx16lGDTgWpxp~tO3V7CydI6ATOdkj0sv0~8737DZuNgPruUzshNVhplLd4UT0Te8oKu0HKs-oQDFV6HNhbfpN3i5jWUgwcjXR0Q2B6K3dm4KhRDbaIN7KhQpGk2-rVHyibyJ2tlthfuIm4EpLobcq-McqYMbFeZZVW48tscg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 339, as amended, would appropriate $3,100,000 from the general fund to the State Forestry Department to carry out an integrated pest management program to combat the plant disease sudden oak death, the committee heard on March 19.

The dash-1 amendment sets aside $50,000 as a block grant for a task force on integrated pest management (IPM) programs to combat sudden oak death and replaces the Association of Oregon Counties with a nonprofit, EyeSource Solutions, as the entity responsible for establishing and operating the task force.

Senator Brock Smith explained the reason for the change: when the sudden oak death task force was created in 2017 he and former U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley had the Association of Oregon Counties serve as convener; the association “no longer care[s] to facilitate because they don't have county solutions anymore,” he said. “Former county solutions director Greg Wolf has a nonprofit called EyeSource Solutions, who was the facilitator of the sudden oak death task force back then. And so ... he is willing to take on the facilitation of the task force that's critically important to the work that is occurring.”

Senator Smith and other sponsors emphasized the economic stakes: he cited the disease’s damage in southwest Oregon and said the potential impact “is in the ultimate billions of dollars,” language he used in committee remarks.

There was no recorded objection to adoption of the dash-1 amendment and the committee moved the bill, as amended, to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means with a due‑pass recommendation.

Committee remarks included discussion about the timing and process for appropriations bills; one senator expressed concern that funding items routed through policy committees rather than budget subcommittees can complicate Ways and Means planning but said he would support the measure.

The committee recorded the motion and indicated the amendment “carried.”","The committee adopted a dash-1 amendment to Senate Bill 339 to appropriate $3.1 million from the general fund for an integrated pest management program to combat sudden oak death and to create a task force. The amendment replaces the Association of Oregon Counties with EyeSource Solutions as the task force convener.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee hears Curry County carve‑out for Port Orford development, water cap and permit fast‑track

Senate panel hears plan to let gas utilities pilot shared thermal energy networks

Work session advances bill to fund ODFW smallmouth bass monitoring and eradication program

Committee advances sudden oak death funding bill, changes task force convenor to nonprofit