Cascadia today: OR data centers use one quarter of state power + Seattle passes polyam civil rights bill + Portland Book Festival ditches bank sponsor

OR data centers consume one quarter of state's power

OPB writes about a new report from ECOnorthwest that finds that Oregon has 111 data centers, 32 new ones in the pipeline, and that the existing centers consume nearly 25% of all the state's electric power. The report's authors speculate that by 2030 Oregon could need 25 terawatt hours for new data centers – the equivalent of 2.5 million homes.

This needs to stop. Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia all need to pass bills placing limits on news data centers. Our region needs to find funding to upgrade our power transmission system. And we need to accelerate development of wind and solar energy now.

Seattle passes civil rights protections for polyamorous people

KNKX reports that the Seattle city council unanimously passed legislation protecting polyamorous, pansexual, and asexual people from discrimination in employment and housing. Seattle joins Olympia, Portland, Berkeley, and Oakland in protecting people in non-traditional relationships. Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck said of the bill she sponsored:

“This update reflects how people actually live. It ensures that all residents can participate fully in civic, economic and community life without fear of discrimination.”

Polyamory rights bills on the horizon in Olympia, Portland & Seattle💘

Cascadia has always been at the forefront of protecting the rights of individuals to live their sexuality authentically. Seattle was one of the first cities in the US to expand protections for employment discrimination to sexual orientation in 1973 and for housing discrimination in 1975. Washington state was one of

Cascadia JournalAndrew Engelson

Small WA town misses its "mayor," detained by ICE

Demonstrating that ICE's cruel mass deportation effort isn't about deporting dangerous criminals but instead a racist effort to remove non-white people from the country, KUOW reports on how residents of the small town of Conway in Washington's Skagit River valley are missing the town's informal "mayor" detained by ICE. A beloved employee of a gas station, Juan Martinez chatted with nearly everyone who came in. He's currently being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma and is threatened with deportation for a few minor civil offenses on his record. Meanwhile, Washington State Standard reports that state health officials are fighting to get access to the privately owned NWDC after numerous orporate bank Wells Fargocomplaints of inadequate food and medical care and abuse by staff.

A note to Washington state authorities: enforce the laws. Push the envelope. Demand inspections NWDC and shut off the power if they refuse. Fine them. Cite ICE agents for illegally hiding their identities. Book them them for driving without license plates. Don't let them get away with breaking local laws.

Will NDP call early BC legislative election?

British Columbia premier David Eby has not dismissed the possibility of calling an early legislative election, the Tyee reports. His centrist party, the NDP, is doing well in the polls while the BC Conservatives are imploding, with at least 5 legislator leaving the MAGA-style party. Elections are currently scheduled for fall of 2028, but Eby could decide to take advantage of his party's current popularity. That popularity is a bit of mystery considering BC is facing a massive $13.8 billion budget deficit, that the province is all-in on clear cut logging despite increased flood risks, and during record drought and wildfires, BC is failing to meet its climate targets.

If the NDP does call an election, vote for the BC Greens.

orporate bank Wells FargoIdaho is running out of water

Columbia Insight reports that due to increased agricultural irrigation needs and record droughts (and the draining of the eastern Snake plain aquifer) Idaho is quite simply running out of water. "We must address the underlying issues regarding Idaho’s water levels and how it is managed now, or this difficult, low-water year will become the norm we have to live with going forward," writes Dan Davidson.

Portland Book Festival ditches bank sponsors

Willamette Week notes that the Portland Book Festival, which takes place in November, has listened to critics of its sponsors and ditched corporate bank Wells Fargo. The Literary Portland for Palestine campaign successfully convinced the festival to remove the bank – known for its financing of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza – and that the Eberwein family, a longtime supporter of the arts in Oregon, will be the headline sponsor.

Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. -Andy