Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai discusses data center debate and campaign for county chair

Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, a candidate for Washington County Chair, addressed the contentious issue of data center expansion within the county during an appearance on "Eye on Northwest Politics." Fai, who made history as the first Black woman, Muslim, and immigrant refugee on the Washington County Board of Commissioners, expressed the frustrations of residents regarding the rapid growth of data centers, citing concerns over increasing water and electricity rates and the perceived lack of community benefits from tax abatements granted to these facilities.

Fai revealed that she recently proposed a data center moratorium for the unincorporated areas of Washington County, a request that stemmed directly from community input. Although the board decided to pursue a different approach, Fai emphasized the need for a "common sense approach" and "guardrails" to regulate data center development, suggesting a framework that ties tax abatements to community benefits and allows for the rejection of projects not yielding taxpayer return on investment. She also noted that Hillsboro, a city within Washington County, has already enacted a 120-day moratorium on new data center permits.

The commissioner also discussed Lam Research's $620 million expansion in Tualatin for AI semiconductor R&D, highlighting its positive impact on economic growth, job creation, and infrastructure development in Washington County. She expressed excitement for the 445 high-paying jobs this investment would create, reaffirming Washington County's role as Oregon's economic engine. Fai reiterated her commitment to strong public safety, infrastructure, and housing production to support the county's workforce and ensure sustainable growth.