Gov. Kotek’s 2025 Environmental Agenda: Why Water Conservation is the Top Priority

By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is prioritizing water quality and availability in this year’s legislative session. Together with her natural resources adviser, Geoff Huntington, they are eager to tackle challenges like overused water basins and contaminated groundwater, especially in eastern Oregon.

Kotek also highlighted the need for effective wildfire funding strategies. Additionally, there’s an urgent conversation about rising energy demands and the costs involved in powering data centers.

Kotek expressed that updating water management laws is a critical step for Oregon. She described this initiative as a “long overdue conversation” and affirmed her commitment to progress.

Currently, all of Oregon’s surface water is allocated, and many groundwater basins are overused. Some areas lack clear records of water availability. In May, Kotek gathered top water attorneys to discuss better water policies and rights laws.

Huntington noted that new legislative proposals would grant state agencies greater authority to manage water allocations. These proposals are largely backed by Representatives Ken Helm and Mark Owens, who chair the House agriculture and water committee. He pointed out that the current management system is outdated, dating back to the 1800s.

Both Kotek and Huntington are also focusing on Oregon’s Groundwater Quality Protection Act to help prevent contamination and enhance data collection on water resources. These updates could empower the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Department of Environmental Quality to combat pollution more effectively.

One area of concern is the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area, known for severe nitrate contamination from fertilizers and livestock waste. Huntington emphasized that more authority would help state agencies improve the situation. Recently, a study revealed that nitrate pollution in Morrow and Umatilla counties has continued to worsen.

A critical challenge in this area is the Port of Morrow, which has recently been allowed to exceed pollution limits under an emergency order from Kotek. This has raised concerns about prioritizing the port’s operations over safe drinking water for residents.

While Huntington works on securing federal loans to improve the Port’s wastewater systems, there’s currently no funding in place to help connect homes with contaminated well water to a safer municipal supply. Kotek indicated that her budget supports immediate needs, like providing bottled water in affected counties.

Regarding wildfire funding, Kotek convened lawmakers to discuss long-term solutions. She expects a committee to propose politically viable funding options soon. Some ideas include increasing a lodging tax and investing the state’s revenue surplus into wildfire funding. However, no proposals involve new money from electric utilities, which have faced scrutiny over their role in past wildfires.

Kotek is concerned that without limits on wildfire liability for these utilities, rates for consumers could rise to cover future disaster costs. She emphasized the importance of accountability and collaboration to prevent future tragedies.

Another pressing issue is energy demand, especially related to data centers. Kotek and lawmakers are advocating for clearer communication from the Public Utilities Commission regarding recent electricity rate hikes. Data centers have dramatically increased energy needs, affecting costs for residential customers. Proposed legislation, such as Senate Bill 553, aims to examine these impacts and formulate protective policies for Oregonians.

Kotek argued for a discussion about economic development criteria relating to data centers, as their expansion could strain local water supplies and energy grids. The growth of data centers presents challenges that need careful consideration by both legislators and state officials.