Big Contribution From Electrical Workers Puts Kotek in a Difficult Spot
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's reelection campaign received a large donation from IBEW Local 48, a union that strongly supports data centers, creating a political dilemma. This comes as Kotek has taken a more critical stance on data centers, supporting local moratoriums and terminating a project near Salem, aligning with growing public opposition. The article highlights the tension between labor interests, political expediency, and community concerns regarding data center development.
Willamette Week reports that Oregon Governor Tina Kotek's reelection campaign, "Friends of Tina Kotek," received a significant $400,000 contribution from IBEW Local 48, the regional electrical workers union. This donation has placed Gov. Kotek in a challenging political situation, as the IBEW is a staunch national and local supporter of data center development, citing the thousands of jobs, particularly for electricians, that these projects create.
The large contribution arrived just after Kotek's Prosperity Council released its roadmap, a set of proposals aimed at boosting the state's economy. However, Gov. Kotek has recently adopted a more critical stance on data centers, backing local moratoriums and having terminated a major data center project near Salem involving state land. This shift aligns with growing public opposition across Oregon, fueled by concerns over energy prices, environmental impact, and tax expenditures.
Kotek's communications director, Federico Araujo, stated the governor believes data centers must "pay their fair share of energy costs, commit to clean energy, and manage their energy and water use better," and should be "held accountable to high labor, environmental, and community standards." Conversely, Kotek's political opponent, State Senator Christine Drazan, while not advocating for arbitrary moratoriums, expressed that data centers should not be placed in communities that oppose them, contrasting a Google data center in her district in The Dalles with opposed projects near Hillsboro. The article also notes that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently imposed a one-year statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, highlighting similar actions by other governors.