Data centers in Oregon

📜 State laws

POWER Act (HB 3546): big data centers get their own electric rates · June 16, 2025
Oregon's POWER Act became law in June 2025. It tells the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to put data centers that use 20 megawatts or more into their own rate class, with their own price list. Their rates must cover the cost of serving them, so homes and small businesses do not pay for it. Utilities must sign contracts of at least 10 years with them, with a minimum payment even if they use less power. It applies only to the investor-owned utilities: Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power and Idaho Power. Electric co-ops and public utilities are not covered. The PUC must report to lawmakers every even-numbered year. The law ends January 2, 2035 unless lawmakers renew it. Source

HB 4084: pause on enterprise zone tax breaks for new data centers · June 5, 2026
HB 4084 (2026), the governor's 'Prosperity Roadmap' bill, made enterprise zone tax breaks bigger for other businesses but shut data centers out. From June 5, 2026, no new data center project can be approved for an enterprise zone property tax break until 90 days after the 2027 legislative session ends. Data centers also cannot get the longer, extended tax break periods the bill created for other companies. Data centers that were already approved keep their tax breaks. The pause section is repealed on January 2, 2029. Source

Statewide data center pause: not a law; the governor wants one in 2027 · Sept 8, 2026
Oregon has no statewide pause (moratorium) on data centers. The governor's office says she does not have the power to order one on private land without the Legislature. In September 2026 Governor Kotek said she wants lawmakers to pass a statewide data center moratorium in the 2027 session. Her Republican challenger also called for a statewide moratorium. Source

Governor's pause on state land for data centers (until July 1, 2027) · Sept 8, 2026
On July 30, 2026, Governor Kotek ordered the state to cancel the sale of 32 acres of state land in Salem's Mill Creek Corporate Center to Verrus for a data center. On September 8, 2026, she ordered all state agencies to stop acting on data center requests to use state land (sales, leases, easements, rights-of-way, land use permits) until July 1, 2027, unless the governor or Legislature acts sooner. This is an executive order, not a law, and does not cover private land. Source

💡 Who pays for the power

PGE data center rates (Schedule 96) · May 7, 2026
On May 7, 2026, the PUC created a new rate class for big data centers served by PGE (Order 26-154, case UM 2377), the first use of the POWER Act. Data centers must pay for at least 90% of the power capacity they sign up for, pay the full cost of new local power lines they need, sign contracts of 10 years (for 20 megawatts) up to 30 years (220 megawatts or more), and pay exit fees if they leave early. Data centers using 100 megawatts or more pay an extra 1 cent per kilowatt-hour, which pays for energy help for people with low incomes. A new data center can only be connected once there is enough clean power for it. Source

PGE bills changed July 8, 2026: data centers up, homes down · July 10, 2026
The PUC approved PGE's new rates on July 10, 2026 (Order 26-239); they apply from July 8. PGE data centers pay on average 29% more. Homes pay on average 1.3% less, businesses 2.1% less and other industrial customers 1.4% less. A typical home using 780 kilowatt-hours a month saves about $1.91 a month. About 963,000 PGE customers are affected. Source

Pacific Power data center rates: decision expected late 2026 · Sept 2026
Pacific Power already had large-customer rules approved in 2024 (extra charges for customers of 50 megawatts or more). The PUC is now deciding how to apply the POWER Act to Pacific Power in case UE 463. The PUC expects a decision in late 2026. Idaho Power is covered by the law but has no data centers of 20 megawatts or more in Oregon. Source

How much of the big utilities' power goes to data centers · Sept 2026
The PUC estimates data centers use about 15% of the power sold by Oregon's investor-owned utilities today, and 25% by 2030. Their use grew about 36% a year since 2021. The PUC says it cannot see data center growth in areas served by co-ops, public utilities or the Bonneville Power Administration, where most new Northwest data center load is expected. Source

💵 Tax breaks

Enterprise zones: property tax breaks, closed to new data centers for now · June 5, 2026
Oregon's enterprise zone program lets businesses skip property taxes on new buildings and equipment for several years. Cities and counties that sponsor a zone approve each deal. Data centers got about two-thirds of the $68 million in standard enterprise zone tax breaks in the most recent tax year, though they were less than 10% of the 155 companies using it. Since June 5, 2026, new data center projects cannot be approved for enterprise zone breaks until 90 days after the 2027 session ends (HB 4084). Source

Strategic Investment Program: a separate tax break still open to data centers · June 12, 2026
The Strategic Investment Program (SIP) is a separate state property tax break for very large projects, negotiated with the local government. A law firm notes that the HB 4084 pause does not apply to it, so new data centers can still seek SIP deals. Source

🤐 Secret deals and public records

Oregon's public records law · 2025
Every person has the right to see public records in Oregon (ORS 192.314); you do not have to live in Oregon or say why. The agency must confirm it got your written request within 5 business days, and finish or give an estimated date within 10 business days after that. Some records can be held back, such as trade secrets. If a state agency says no, you can ask the Attorney General to review it; for a city, county or other local body, ask the county district attorney. If they do not answer within 7 days, it counts as a denial and you can go to court. Source

Secret deals (NDAs) are legal in Oregon · Sept 28, 2026
No Oregon law stops cities from signing secret deals (NDAs) with data center developers. Salem's city manager signed an NDA with Verrus in March 2025; council members and the public learned about the project only in summer 2026. In September 2026 a Portland City Council committee advanced a resolution asking city leaders not to sign data center NDAs. It is a statement of policy, not a ban. Source

Data center water use can be public: The Dalles case · Dec 14, 2022
In 2021 The Oregonian asked The Dalles how much city water Google's data centers use. The city sued to keep it secret as a 'trade secret'. In December 2022 the city gave up and agreed to release 10 years of Google water use and yearly numbers after that. Source

💧 Water

Who approves the water a data center uses · March 27, 2026
Water in Oregon is shared by 'first in time, first in right' water rights, run by the Water Resources Department (OWRD). New water rights are hard to get, and many basins are fully used in summer, especially in eastern Oregon. So most data centers buy water from a city, which holds larger water rights and can grow into them. That means the city council or water utility usually decides. OWRD says the state has little data on data center water use because of how it is reported. Source

Cooling wastewater: city and DEQ · March 27, 2026
Cooling water can come back out warm and with added chemicals. When a data center sends it into a city sewer, the city and the data center must agree on pretreatment and limits; the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reviews water quality permits. DEQ says some data centers are slow to share details it needs. Source

Examples of data center water use · June 7, 2026
A state-requested study (June 2026) lists Google in The Dalles at about 361 million gallons of water in 2024 and Meta in Prineville at about 70 million gallons. It suggests steering data centers to places with less water stress and making them offset new water use. Source

🌫️ Air and generators

Air permits for backup generators (DEQ) · July 31, 2026
DEQ issues air permits (Air Contaminant Discharge Permits) for data center diesel backup generators. In July 2026 Oregon had 39 permitted data center campuses (16 in Hillsboro, 16 around Boardman, Hermiston and Umatilla, 3 in The Dalles, 4 in Bend/Prineville) with 2,482 large generators. Testing and other non-emergency use is limited to 100 hours a year, often less. DEQ does not limit emergency use. New sites must pass a Cleaner Air Oregon health risk check. Since 2025 there is a faster permit for sites that add full pollution controls, but none had been issued by July 2026. Source

Power plants and big power lines: Energy Facility Siting Council · 2025
A state board, the Energy Facility Siting Council (staffed by the Oregon Department of Energy), must approve power plants of 25 megawatts or more and high-voltage lines (230,000 volts or more, longer than 10 miles, crossing more than one city or county), with some exceptions. That would cover a large gas plant built to power a data center. Source

🙋 How to have your say

Who decides a data center near you · 2026
In Oregon, cities decide land use inside city limits, and counties decide for land outside cities. Growing a city's urban growth boundary needs both the city and the county. Power plants of 25 megawatts or more go to the state Energy Facility Siting Council. Tax breaks are signed by the city or county that sponsors the enterprise zone. Water usually comes from the city. Source

Land use hearings: notice and 'raise it or lose it' · 2025
For many land use decisions, nearby owners get a mailed notice at least 20 days before the hearing (ORS 197.763). The notice says that if you do not raise an issue at the hearing, in person or by letter, you cannot appeal on that issue later. So send a letter or speak at the hearing. Source

Appeals go to the Land Use Board of Appeals (21 days) · 2025
Local land use decisions are appealed to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). You must file a notice of intent to appeal within 21 days after the decision becomes final (ORS 197.830). Source

How a city or county can pause data centers · Sept 2026
A city or county can pause (moratorium) new building under ORS 197.520 if it shows a real need. Such a pause can last up to 120 days, and can be extended after a hearing for up to 6 months at a time. The state land agency (DLCD) must be told before. Hillsboro (July 27, 2026) and Salem (August 2026) started pauses; Woodburn and Clackamas County filed notices. Source

How to ask for records · 2025
Send a written request to the city, county or agency's records officer. Anyone can ask. They must confirm within 5 business days and answer or give a date within 10 business days after that. They may charge fees; you can ask for a fee waiver. If refused, petition the Attorney General (state agencies) or the district attorney (local bodies). Source

How to comment at the Public Utility Commission · 2026
Each PUC case (docket) page on the PUC's eDockets site has a 'Submit Public Comment' link. The Pacific Power data center rate case is UE 463; the PGE case was UM 2377. Source

Comment to the governor's Data Center Advisory Committee by October 24, 2026 · Sept 10, 2026
On September 10, 2026 the governor's Data Center Advisory Committee released its 'Preliminary Learnings and Questions' and opened a 45-day public comment period. Written comments are taken through an online form until 5 p.m. on October 24, 2026. The committee's ideas will feed the governor's 2027 bills. Source

🧾 Help with your bills

Energy bill help (LIHEAP and OEAP) · 2026
Oregon Housing and Community Services funds two bill-help programs, run by local Community Action Agencies: LIHEAP (federal heating help, paid to your utility) and OEAP (help for Pacific Power and PGE electric customers to avoid shutoffs). Find your local agency on the OHCS page or call 1-800-453-5511, option 1. Source

New money for energy help from big PGE data centers · July 10, 2026
Since July 2026, PGE data centers using 100 megawatts or more pay an extra 1 cent per kilowatt-hour. The money goes to energy efficiency, repairs and other help to lower energy costs for the most vulnerable customers. Source

📞 Who to contact

Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) · Oct 7, 2026
Sets rates and rules for PGE, Pacific Power and Idaho Power, including data center rates under the POWER Act. Takes public comments and complaints. Source

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) · Oct 7, 2026
Air permits for backup generators; water quality and wastewater permits. Source

Water Resources Department (OWRD) · Oct 7, 2026
Manages water rights and transfers. Source

Oregon Department of Energy / Energy Facility Siting Council · Oct 7, 2026
Runs the governor's Data Center Advisory Committee and staffs the council that approves big power plants and power lines. Source

Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) · Oct 7, 2026
State land use agency; gets notice of local moratoria and plan changes. Source

Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) · Oct 7, 2026
Hears appeals of local land use decisions (21-day deadline). Source

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) · Oct 7, 2026
Funds energy bill help (LIHEAP, OEAP) through local Community Action Agencies. Source

Office of the Governor · Oct 7, 2026
Ordered a pause on state land for data centers through July 1, 2027; will propose data center bills for 2027. Source

Oregon State Legislature (OLIS) · Oct 7, 2026
Bill text, status and hearings; the 2027 session will take up data center bills. Source