Oregon senators call for accountability amid ‘rapid’ data center growth

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have called on Governor Tina Kotek's Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee to prioritize accountability amidst the state's rapid data center expansion. In a letter, the senators highlighted concerns from Oregonians about the financial impact on utility customers and environmental effects, emphasizing the need for a balance between economic opportunities and sustainable utility costs and environmental protection.

Key issues raised by the senators include increasing energy demand, which contributes to rising electricity costs for consumers, and significant water usage by data centers for cooling. They also noted concerns about visual pollution from steam, noise pollution from cooling systems, and land use decisions, particularly the rezoning of agricultural land for data center development. Additionally, the senators stressed the importance of respecting tribal rights. Senator Wyden is also actively involved in legislative efforts, including co-sponsoring the AI Environmental Impacts Act, which would require AI data centers to report their environmental and energy impacts, and developing a bill to ensure data centers contribute their fair share in taxes and address local infrastructure impacts.

The Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee, established by Governor Kotek in January, is tasked with developing policy recommendations to address these challenges. Co-chaired by Margaret Hoffmann of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and Michael Jung of the Oregon Environmental Council, the committee aims to support economic development while safeguarding affordable power and critical water resources. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations by October, focusing on sustainable siting decisions that align with Oregon's climate, clean energy, and natural resource goals.