Should Clackamas County work to attract data centers?
Clackamas County in Oregon is studying whether to attract data centers and considering potential zoning changes to regulate their placement. This comes amidst a statewide moratorium on enterprise zone incentives for such facilities. The county aims to balance economic development benefits with concerns over high water and electricity usage and potential environmental impacts.
Clackamas County, Oregon, is exploring the possibility of attracting data centers, a move that would distinguish it from neighboring Washington County where such facilities have sparked controversy. Currently, no data centers exist within Clackamas County, and a statewide one-year moratorium on enterprise zones, which offer incentives for corporations to build, is in effect.
During a recent meeting, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners decided to initiate a study into the potential benefits and drawbacks of drawing data center development. They also agreed to contemplate zoning changes that could restrict where these facilities might be built. Commissioners noted that data centers, while offering economic development and an increased tax base, come with significant challenges, including high water consumption (estimated at 5 million gallons per day) for cooling systems, strain on the electricity grid, and potential environmental impacts. Commissioner Diana Helm expressed support for attracting data centers, citing revenue streams, while Commissioner Paul Savas emphasized the need to understand all impacts, cautioning against passing costs to ratepayers. County staff explained that data centers could currently operate in general industrial, light industrial, and business park zones, but no development proposals have been received yet. The board will continue to monitor the issue and discuss it at a future date.