Residents rally against data centers in Hillsboro: 'This is not okay'
Residents in Hillsboro, Oregon, rallied against data centers, citing concerns over increased electricity bills, water usage, and local impacts. The protest also targeted tax breaks for existing data centers. State leaders recently enacted a one-year moratorium on data center tax breaks, and the City of Hillsboro has paused accepting new data center applications.
Hillsboro, Oregon residents gathered for a rally in Washington County, protesting both new data center developments and existing tax breaks. Protestors, including Hillsboro resident Barbara Haines, voiced concerns about data centers increasing electricity bills, consuming water, and negatively impacting local communities. Myrna Muñoz, a candidate for Oregon State Senate District 15, criticized local leadership for allowing tax breaks for data centers, highlighting cuts to local school funding while "billionaires make more money."
In response, incumbent state Sen. Janeen Sollman, Muñoz's opponent, stated her commitment to the POWER Act to hold data centers accountable and called for an end to statewide tax breaks for data centers. The article notes that state leaders passed a one-year moratorium on data center tax breaks, effective June 6, after which Hillsboro received 17 applications. The City of Hillsboro website has also announced a pause in accepting new data center applications, with the Hillsboro City Council scheduled to hold a work session on data centers on June 2.