1 data center project in Salem City
Who decides here: the City Council of Salem City votes on zoning. The Marion County may review big projects too.
In Salem City
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
After a public hearing, Salem City Council voted 7-0 (two absent) for a 120-day pause on new data center projects, starting right away. Reports say it covers data centers using more than 2 megawatts and runs to about Jan. 19, 2027, when the council may extend it. Verrus filed its Mill Creek plan before the pause, so city lawyers said current rules apply to it.
📌 Other
After more than four hours of public comment, Salem City Council voted unanimously to start the legal process for a data center pause. State law requires 45 days' notice before a moratorium hearing.
📌 Other
At a long meeting about the Verrus project, Salem councilors unanimously backed looking into a ban on future secret deals (NDAs) with data center companies, and created a nine-member data center task force. The task force is to hold town halls and make recommendations by the end of 2026.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Salem City. - Go to council meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Depending on where you live in Salem City: Bonneville Power Administration (public) or Salem Electric (co-op (owned by its members)).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in Oregon.
🙋 Open tasks here
- Will Salem approve the Verrus site plan?
- How many megawatts will the campus use?
- Will Verrus sign the community benefits agreement it proposed?
- Sources give 75 or 100 acres. Which is right?