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Amazon appears to be the highest bidder for the largest planned solar and battery storage project in Oregon.

OPB’s Monica Samayoa reports this morning on the sale of Sunstone Solar and what we know about how Amazon would use the additional power.

In other news, more than two decades ago “Oregon Field Guide” reported on a tree fungus that threatened to wipe out Crater Lake’s whitebark pine forests. Today, we look at the scientific development that may save the trees.

Here’s your First Look at Thursday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

Amazon buys site of Oregon’s largest planned solar and energy storage project

One of the world’s largest and most valuable companies is one step closer to being the owner of the biggest proposed solar array and battery storage project in Oregon. And all that energy may go toward powering data centers in the eastern part of the state.

After outbidding regional utilities with an $83 million offer in January, Amazon acquired the site of a planned 1,200-megawatt solar project and up to 7,200-megawatt battery storage capacity development late last month, according to the Portland Business Journal.

But the $2.3 trillion tech company still has state regulatory hurdles to clear before it can begin construction, and a tight timeline if the company plans to take advantage of expiring federal solar tax credits. (Monica Samayoa)

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3 things to know this morning

• A flood watch is in effect through Friday night for much of Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington due to widespread heavy rain in the region. (OPB staff)
• Federal immigration arrests soared across the Pacific Northwest last year, nearly reaching historic levels, according to new data released yesterday by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights. (Conrad Wilson)
• Rain did not deter hundreds of Portland Community College faculty, staff and students who rallied across four Portland-area campuses yesterday morning to show support for a historic strike at the state’s largest higher education institution. (Tiffany Camhi)

Oregon lawmakers head home as 2026 legislative session ends

The 2026 short legislative session is over. If you missed the action, we’re here to bring you up to speed. (Dirk VanderHart, Bryce Dole, Lauren Dake and Andrew Theen)

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Headlines from around the Northwest

• Oregon judge declines to block May gas tax election (Dirk VanderHart)
• Phil Knight donates $1 million to Chris Dudley’s gubernatorial bid (Dirk VanderHart)
• Another round of senior staffers depart Gov. Tina Kotek’s office (Lauren Dake)
• Hundreds of Oregonians sign up to run for statewide seats, Congress, Legislature (Julia Shumway)
• Bandon School Board dismisses series of complaints, forwards 2 for investigation (Jane Vaughan)
• Oregon DEQ issues record-breaking $3 million fine against Coffin Butte landfill (Nathan Wilk)
• Oregon bike advocates concerned over proposed cuts to state grant program (Nathan Wilk)
• Legislature OKs bonds that would set up future expansion at OSU-Cascades (Zac Ziegler)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks in front of high school students

How Oregon scientists are solving the problem of Crater Lake’s dying trees

In 2002, Crater Lake National Park ecologist Michael Murray thought the park’s majestic whitebark pine trees were as good as gone.

An invasive fungus called white pine blister rust was killing the rugged, long-needle pines that line the rim of Mount Mazama’s crater and frame its gleaming blue lake. And there was nothing he could do to stop it.

“The way I see it now, the extinction of whitebark pine in the park is imminent,” he told OPB’s “Oregon Field Guide” back then. “I expect us to lose about 90% of the whitebark pine in this park — at least.”

The blister rust fungus has wiped out millions of whitebark pine trees across the western U.S. and threatened the survival of the species.

But Oregon scientist Richard Sniezko saw a way to save these trees from extinction using a method that can also help protect other species. (Cassandra Profita)

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FROM THE ARCHIVE

Scientists fight to save Crater Lake’s whitebark pine forests

Watch the original “Oregon Field Guide” report from 2002 on white pine blister rust on our YouTube channel. (Ed Jahn)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/12/amazon-solar-energy-oregon-first-look/