The Columbian

Clark County Business

Crews work to build a wood pellet production facility in February at the Port of Longview. The goal of the UK-based company is to ship pellets to Asia, where they would be burned for energy.

Drax fined for starting on Longview biomass fuel plant without proper permits

September 19, 2024, 5:41pm Business

Global energy giant Drax Group was fined $34,000 in June for starting construction on a $250 million biomass fuel plant in Longview before securing the proper permits. Read story

Construction continues on the Terminal 1 building on West Columbia Way. The building is the future home of Vancouver company ZoomInfo, which is facing a class-action securities lawsuit.

Class-action suit alleges Vancouver’s ZoomInfo misled investors, executives ‘dumped’ stocks

September 17, 2024, 4:36pm Business Subscriber Exclusive

Investors are suing Vancouver software and data company ZoomInfo and two of its executives, alleging the company misled investors and violated securities laws. Read story

Power lines stretch near the Bonneville Lock and Dam from the Washington side of the Columbia River. Connecting a new, large, energy-intensive business to Southwest Washington’s power grid — especially with the shrinking amount of vacant land in the region — can be costly and time consuming, perhaps making Clark County less attractive for such endeavors.

For big businesses, tapping into grid in Clark County is tough

September 16, 2024, 6:06am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Large, energy-intensive businesses like data centers are driving demand for electricity across the Northwest. Read story

Health Inspections for Sept. 2-7, 2024

September 13, 2024, 6:00am Business

Health Inspections for Sept. 2-7, 2024 Read story

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program will publish its draft supplemental environmental impact statement — a critical and long-awaited document — on Sept. 20.

I-5 Bridge replacement environmental impact statement to be published Sept. 20

September 11, 2024, 4:43pm Business Subscriber Exclusive

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program will publish its draft supplemental environmental impact statement — a critical and long-awaited document — on Sept. 20. Read story

Union members and supporters gather for a barbecue at Mill Plain Park during a walkout Tuesday afternoon. Clark College classified union members walked out to raise awareness of stalled bargaining with the state.

Clark College classified staff walk out to protest low wage offers from state

September 10, 2024, 5:35pm Business

Dozens of Clark College employees staged a walkout at noon Tuesday in protest of low wages offered in recent contract proposals from the state. Employees met at Mill Plain Community Park to learn about the ongoing bargaining and vent frustrations with the state. Read story

The Vancouver City Council on Monday voted to approve a land swap for a later expansion of the Vancouver Convention Center.

Vancouver City Council approves ‘strategic exchange of property’ for future convention center expansion

September 10, 2024, 2:10pm Business Subscriber Exclusive

The Hilton Vancouver Washington and adjoining Vancouver Convention Center ushered in a resurgence for the city’s downtown area nearly 20 years ago. Read story

Attorney David McDonald considers himself semi-retired, but the 66-year-old frequently puts in 40-hour weeks of pro bono work for Clark County environmental groups.

Pro bono ‘warrior’: Ridgefield attorney David McDonald fights for the environment in the Northwest

September 7, 2024, 6:14am Business

The last of a dying breed — the pro bono attorney fighting against government corruption, greedy developers and irresponsible business owners. That’s how others might describe Ridgefield attorney David McDonald, but that’s not how he would describe himself. Read story