Study on Oregon's data centers finds troubling lack of transparency, some positive effects
Amazon Web Services purchased land in West Richland for a planned data center campus with capacity for 21 buildings near Lewis & Clark Ranch. The article also examines an Oregon study that found data centers can produce economic benefits but raise longer-term questions about jobs, environmental impacts and transparency.
Amazon Web Services has purchased land in West Richland for a planned data center campus that could eventually include 21 buildings near Lewis & Clark Ranch. The project reflects the broader expansion of data center campuses across Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
The article reviews a study of data centers in Oregon, with economic analysis by ECONorthwest and environmental research by University of Virginia researchers. While the study found promising short- and medium-term economic effects, it highlighted uncertainty around long-term employment, environmental impacts and the lack of publicly available information caused in part by nondisclosure agreements. Researchers also said data center developers vary in their transparency and community engagement.