It’s Laird’s job to woo large, viable companies to set up shop in Oregon. For the last four years, he has focused on renewable power businesses — semiconductors, biotech, solar, wind, wave, battery and biomass.

A coordinated effort
The PGE Economic Development team is also dedicated to recruiting, growing and retaining businesses in Oregon through partnerships, outreach, events, trade shows, conferences and research.

Laird and PGE often partner to help companies do everything from meeting fast-paced project deadlines and finding project-ready sites to understanding power availability and developing an energy plan.

Among their recent achievements are several manufacturing plants that have located in the Portland-metro area: SolarWorld and biotech firm Genentech in Hillsboro, SoloPower in Wilsonville and Sanyo Solar in Salem.

“Oregon is now considered the number one solar manufacturing location in the country,” Laird says. “We wouldn’t have that distinction without our collaboration with PGE.”

Coordinated effort between the state, private businesses, non-profits and utilities is crucial in a global marketplace where products aren’t tied to any one country. In the old days, Laird says, our biggest competitors were other states. Now, companies that turn Oregon down locate in places like Malaysia.

Quality power at reasonable cost
But for each loss, there are many successes. Two of the biggest deciding factors, Laird says, are power quality and cost.

Key for many manufacturing plants is a consistent stream of power with no “dips or sags.” Momentary drops in power can cause big problems when plants are creating devices as delicate as solar cells.

“PGE has the robust ability to deliver the kind of quality power that can support a high-tech industry,” Laird says, “and that’s a real selling point when I’m talking to businesses.”

Value is just as important, especially in today’s economy. “There is an absolute understanding from PGE about the need for affordability,” he says, “and making sure these companies are getting the value they need.”

Laird says there are 110 state employees dedicated to business development, 18 of which are in his downtown Portland office. He describes the group as “passionate about job creation.”

“We really work hard and do everything we can to attract companies and jobs to Oregon,” he says. “It’s something we are very committed to, and I know PGE feels the same way.”