What to know about St. Helens’ data center, industrial development resolution
The St. Helens City Council has adopted a resolution to establish new rules for large industrial developments, including data centers, in response to community concerns. While no specific data center project is currently planned, the resolution directs city staff to review and update city codes to evaluate potential impacts like electricity and water usage. The Armstrong Property, a potential site, was purchased by Upland Data Center, LLC (RestorCap), but no specific company has committed to developing a data center there.
The St. Helens City Council unanimously approved a resolution on September 16, 2026, aimed at establishing a framework for evaluating large industrial developments, including potential data centers, in response to heightened community concerns. The resolution directs city staff to review and update existing city codes to ensure comprehensive impact assessments for future projects. Mayor Jennifer Massey emphasized that the resolution provides a framework, with the "actual work" involving code modification.
While no specific data center development is currently planned for St. Helens, community apprehension arose from rumors regarding the former Armstrong World Industries tile manufacturing facility at 1645 Railroad Ave. This property was acquired in 2024 by Upland Data Center, LLC, a company associated with RestorCap, which specializes in remediating contaminated industrial sites for redevelopment. Michael Halaburda, a technical advisor with RestorCap, clarified that while a data center is one potential use for the site, no specific company has been selected to occupy it post-cleanup. RestorCap President Rob Marinai reiterated this stance in a letter to Mayor Massey, stating that any claims of a committed project are premature.
The resolution sets standards for evaluating potential impacts on electricity and water availability, environmental pollution, emergency services, and community well-being, stipulating that developers should bear the cost of identifying and mitigating these effects. Concerns about power capacity were also highlighted, with Michael Sykes, General Manager of Columbia River People's Utility District, noting that many data centers seeking to locate in the area require more power than currently available. RestorCap is reportedly collaborating with CRPUD, Bonneville Power Administration, and Portland General Electric to address power plans for the Armstrong Property.
The article also contextualizes St. Helens' actions within broader Oregon trends, mentioning Governor Tina Kotek's one-year pause on data center development on state land and the Oregon Legislature's House Bill 4084, which imposed a one-year pause on new data center tax exemptions in certain areas. This state legislation led to controversy in Hillsboro, where the city council approved tax abatements for future data centers just before the moratorium, prompting public outcry and a subsequent development pause in Hillsboro. St. Helens, however, is not currently considering data center applications and thus has not enacted a moratorium.