Kotek wants data center rules in 60 days. County chair says decisions should stay local
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek plans to introduce statewide data center rules during the first 60 days of the 2027 legislative session, covering water and electricity use, energy sources, transparency and community commitments. Wasco County Commission Chair Scott Hegde argues that local governments should retain control, saying data center revenue supports county investments and that statewide rules could delay upgrades.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is preparing legislation that would establish statewide standards for data centers, including requirements for water and electricity use, energy sourcing, transparency and commitments to local communities. She said consistent rules would help communities understand what companies must do before building additional facilities, while also raising the possibility of a data center moratorium until solutions are developed.
Wasco County Commission Chair Scott Hegde, whose county has hosted Google data centers for about two decades, said local officials should decide which projects proceed. He pointed to data center revenue supporting a planned $15 million long-term county fund and warned that state action could delay investments and upgrades, although he agreed that companies should disclose their water and electricity use and protect local resources. A county data center is being rebuilt to use water and power more efficiently, and it remains unclear whether existing facilities would be subject to any new statewide rules.