What are Kotek's and Drazan's stances on data centers in Oregon?
Data center development has become a significant political issue in Oregon's gubernatorial race, with candidates Governor Tina Kotek and Senator Christine Drazan presenting differing approaches. Governor Kotek recently enacted a one-year pause on data center development on state land, while Senator Drazan advocates for a broader, immediate statewide moratorium. Both candidates acknowledge public concerns regarding data centers' water, land, and electricity usage, as well as the existing tax incentive policies.
The Oregon gubernatorial race is intensely focused on data center development, which has emerged as a central campaign issue for both Governor Tina Kotek and Senator Christine Drazan. Public sentiment in Oregon indicates widespread opposition to data centers, primarily driven by concerns over their substantial consumption of water, land, and electricity, particularly in light of the growing demand for AI infrastructure. This shift in public opinion has prompted both candidates, who historically supported data center expansion, to adopt more critical stances.
Senator Drazan has criticized Governor Kotek's legislative record, specifically her votes in 2012 and 2015 to grant tax breaks to data centers through expanded enterprise zones. Conversely, Kotek has highlighted Drazan's opposition to the Power Act, a 2025 law intended to increase energy rates for tech companies to offset the high energy demands of data centers. Despite these criticisms, both candidates supported a bill in February that introduced new restrictions on data center development.
Recently, Governor Kotek implemented a one-year pause on the approval of data center development on state-owned land or in state buildings, citing public pressure. However, Senator Drazan argues this measure is insufficient and has called for an immediate, comprehensive statewide moratorium on all data center development, including on private land, to facilitate a thorough investigation into their environmental and economic impacts. Lewis and Clark Law professor Ed Sullivan, a land use expert, concurs with Kotek's assessment that a broader pause would necessitate an emergency declaration, which he doubts would be applicable.
A data center advisory committee, established by Governor Kotek, has released preliminary findings identifying strained land use and water systems in Oregon, as well as a lack of centralized oversight for data center tax incentives. The task force is currently soliciting public comments to inform its ongoing work.