Published 6:00 am Thursday, May 28, 2026 Oregon State University-Cascades launched its Energy Innovation Center with a grand opening on Tuesday. It’s a space where students, companies and entrepreneurs can research and work on energy-related projects. The new center, located on Potts Court, is “phase zero” of the campus’s multi-year innovation district , said executive director Zachary Taie. This is the university’s upcoming 24-acre research hub focused on energy, outdoor products and biotech. The university subleased 11,000 square feet from Bend energy company Generac, which includes lab, meeting and conferencing space. The center will combine research with private sector businesses, said Taie, who is a professional faculty member with OSU-Cascades. Researchers will receive external funding to come up with new technologies and solutions, and ideally spend that funding on the companies who use space at the center, he said.…