BOARDMAN, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 2, 2026--
Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, today announced that it has completed construction of its Tower Solar project in Morrow County, Oregon and connected it to the regional electric grid. Avangrid expects to achieve commercial operation this summer.
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The 166 Megawatt-dc (120 MWac) project utilizes more than 250,000 solar panels assembled by SEG Solar at its Houston manufacturing facility. Once commissioning activity is complete, the project will deliver energy to Portland General Electric (PGE) and help support QTS operations in the region.
“As demand for electricity continues to grow across the United States and in the Pacific Northwest, projects like Tower Solar are essential to delivering new generation at scale,” said Avangrid CEOJose Antonio Miranda. “Furthermore, this project demonstrates how investment in America’s electrical infrastructure contributes to our domestic economy, supports union workers, and delivers reliable electricity to support the region’s growth.”
"As a leading American solar manufacturer, SEG Solar is proud to support Tower Solar with high-performance, US-manufactured modules," said Jim Wood, CEO of SEG Solar. "This project aligns with our mission to strengthen the domestic energy supply chain. By providing fully compliant, traceable, and reliable solar solutions, we are meeting energy demands while driving American manufacturing and creating local jobs."
Tower Solar is located west of Boardman, Oregon and sits on about 900 acres of industrially zoned land owned by the Port of Morrow. Avangrid created approximately 200 construction jobs in building this project, most of them filled by regional union labor.
“IBEW Local 112 members bring unmatched skill, safety, and productivity to projects like the Tower Solar project located in Eastern Oregon,” said Travis Sellers, Business Manager for IBEW Local 112. “We are delighted that our partnership with Avangrid and its contractors has produced another energy project that will power communities for generations.”
Tower Solar is expected to pay about $20 million in combined PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes) and property taxes which will directly support the local community, helping to pay for public services like education.
Tower Solar will deliver electricity to PGE’s grid through Green Future Impact (GFI), a voluntary program designed to help large municipal, commercial, and industrial customers meet their ambitious sustainability and carbon reduction ambitions through the development of new clean energy facilities in the region. PGE’s GFI program lets large customers choose non-emitting energy without increasing costs for other customers. All customers benefit from the energy, but program participants pay the extra cost of the clean energy they select.
Avangrid operates over 11 GW of installed capacity across its 25-state portfolio, which includes nearly 100 energy projects.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has corporate offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Oregon, and operations across 25 states with approximately $50 billion in assets. Avangrid owns and operates seven electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. It also owns and operates nearly 100 energy generation facilities across the United States with a capacity of more than 11 Gigawatts, enough to power over 3 million homes. Avangrid employs approximately 8,500 people and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2026 for the eighth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the Iberdrola Group. For more information, visit http://www.avangrid.com.
Aerial photo of Tower Solar project, showing solar array and substation. Credit: Avangrid
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a shaky first term framed by a devastating wildfire and an ongoing struggle with widespread homelessness, Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is looking for a return trip to city hall Tuesday while facing challenges from both ends of the political spectrum.
Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former star of the reality television show “The Hills,” accuses Bass of letting the fires get out of control and failing to make enough progress on the homeless crisis. His candidacy has drawn national attention as a barometer for dissatisfaction with liberal urban governance and because of viral videos that supporters created with artificial intelligence.
And Democrat Nithya Raman, a former Bass ally and progressive city council member who was elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, is campaigning on promises to reduce inequality, revive the slumping entertainment industry and build more housing.
Bass, a former member of Congress and the first Black woman to serve as mayor, has lined up most of the Democratic establishment behind her, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with the city’s powerful labor unions.
If Bass or another candidate does not win a majority of the vote, the race will go to a runoff in November. Political observers say that's likely because there are 14 names on the ballot, including tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and community activist Rae Huang.
The race is unfolding at an unsettled time for LA.
The mayor is still trying to overcome fallout from her absence when the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history ignited in a wealthy seaside neighborhood in January 2025. Bass was on a trip to Ghana as part of a presidential delegation. Pratt lost his home in the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people. And some say the recovery is happening too slowly.
While statistics suggest that Bass has made headway on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain commonplace across the city. Complaints about the rising cost of living — whether for rent, taxes or groceries — are a constant refrain. Dirty, pocked streets and sidewalks abound.
Meanwhile Hollywood jobs have been decamping for years to more affordable filming locales. Trump administration immigration raids also shook the city.
Population in the once-booming region is falling — Los Angeles County lost about 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the largest numeric population drop in the nation, according to federal figures.
Crime statistics are down, but public safety is still an issue. World Cup games begin in Southern California in June, and Los Angeles is readying to host the 2028 Olympics. The federal government spearheads security at the Olympics, but there are already concerns that the Los Angeles Police Department will not have adequate funding or personnel to hold up its end of the job.
Bass has acknowledged making missteps but argued that a drop in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate show she is making progress. “I'll keep fighting for LA,” she said.
Pratt has focused his campaign on reducing homelessness and boosting police ranks, arguing that an outsider is needed to shake up city hall. Looking to tap into voter frustration, he says he is “an Angeleno who’s had enough” and rails against “homeless drug zombies” on the streets.
He received a nod of approval — if not an actual endorsement — from President Donald Trump, who recently said, “I heard he’s a big MAGA person.”
That remark could haunt Pratt in a city where Trump is widely unpopular beyond his conservative base and Republicans account for less than 15% of registered voters.
Nithya Raman, a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, waves after a news conference Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt poses for a selfie during a campaign event Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, center, poses for a group photo during a campaign event at SEIU 721 headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at the Connect Los Angeles Conference on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Spencer Pratt appears on "Fox & Friends" at Fox News headquarters on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Mayor Karen Bass speaks at the Connect Los Angeles Conference on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Spencer Pratt appears on "Fox & Friends" at Fox News headquarters on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at the Connect Los Angeles Conference on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
