Hillsboro is writing its first rules just for data centers and battery storage (Ordinance 6521, phase 1). The Planning Commission approved them on Sept. 9. They would keep data centers 1,000 feet from schools, allow standalone data centers only in two industrial zones with acreage caps, and require a public hearing for new ones. Council held a first reading Oct. 6; second reading is set for Oct. 20.

Oct 6, 2026Source

📌 Other · Washington County

Washington County commissioners chose not to start a data center pause for unincorporated land. Instead they drafted a resolution noting public concerns. County staff said only eight rural industrial parcels could host a data center and all are already built on. The board may revisit the idea.

Sept 1, 2026Source

⏸️ Pause on new data centers

Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously to pause new land use applications for data centers and big battery storage sites for 120 days (Resolution 2932). Projects that applied before the vote can go ahead. The council can extend the pause for up to six more months.

July 27, 2026Source

⚖️ Court case

1000 Friends of Oregon, the Oregon Education Association, Tax Fairness Oregon and Tualatin Riverkeepers sued Hillsboro and Washington County. They say staff approved 17 data center tax break (enterprise zone) applications in a rush before the June 6 state deadline, without public notice or a vote by elected officials. The city and county say they followed the law.

June 22, 2026Source

🤝 Agreement with the company

Before a new state law paused data center tax breaks on June 6, 2026, Hillsboro and Washington County staff approved 17 enterprise zone tax break applications for data center projects. Companies named include Adobe, CoreWeave, Dropbox, Flexential and Nvidia. These approvals are now being challenged in court.

June 2026Source

Built & runningBeing builtApproved, not built yetProposedStopped or cancelled

What you can do

Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Hillsboro City.
Go to council meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing.
Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.

📣 Report something here

🔔 Get told first

⚡ Your electric company

Portland General Electric Co. (company).

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 Hillsboro's new rules on distance from schools apply to the Wagon data center?
How much power will it use?
When is the public hearing?
Is Aligned's first Hillsboro building finished and running?
When will the second building be built?
Where is NTT's new Hillsboro site?
Has NTT filed a land use application for it?
Was this one of the 17 enterprise zone applications Hillsboro approved in 2026?

How to help →

3 data center projects in Hillsboro City

In Hillsboro City

Wagon data center (Digital Realty) near Liberty High School, Hillsboro

Aligned PDX campus at NE 30th Ave and Evergreen Rd, Hillsboro

NTT DATA new Hillsboro data center site (216 MW)

Nearby (within 15 miles)

Crane PDX01 data center campus, Forest Grove

Local votes and rules

📜 Data center rules