Salem wants your thoughts on data centers. How to participate
Salem, Oregon, is hosting a series of town halls to gather community input on data center development, following significant local opposition to a proposed Verrus data center. The City Council has already passed a temporary moratorium on AI data centers and begun updating zoning and land-use regulations to manage future projects.
Salem, Oregon, leaders are initiating a series of three town halls to engage residents in discussions about data center development. The first town hall is scheduled for September 15, and a community survey will also be open until October 9 to collect public input for the Data Center Task Force.
The creation of the Data Center Task Force and these public outreach efforts stem from strong community opposition to the proposed Verrus data center in southeast Salem. While the proposed Verrus project, which includes two 600,000 square-foot buildings, is not subject to the new restrictions, the Salem City Council voted on July 27 to enact a temporary moratorium on AI data centers city-wide. Simultaneously, the council adopted a resolution to revise existing zoning codes and land-use regulations to safeguard the city's water resources, environmental health, and electricity infrastructure from the impacts of large data centers.
City leaders stated that the Task Force aims to develop a balanced approach to managing data center growth, considering economic benefits, environmental protection, and community interests. The town halls will focus on various concerns including water usage, noise, job creation, and electricity consumption. Following the public engagement series, the Task Force will draft its recommendations, which are slated for presentation at the Salem City Council meeting on December 7.