Report finds Oregon data centers used electricity equal to over 70% of all homes in state
A new report from ECOnorthwest and the University of Virginia found that data centers in Oregon used electricity equivalent to over 70% of all homes in the state last year. Consumption has quadrupled since 2020 and is projected to reach one-third of the state's total electricity demand by 2030, highlighting a significant strain on the grid.
A new report from ECOnorthwest and the University of Virginia highlights the significant electricity consumption by data centers in Oregon. The report indicates that the state's 111 data centers consumed 14 terawatt hours of electricity last year, an amount equivalent to about 71% of all electricity sold to Oregon homes combined.
Data center power consumption has nearly quadrupled since 2020, and projections suggest it could account for roughly one-third of Oregon's entire electricity demands by 2030. The report also notes that an additional 32 data centers are already planned or under construction across the state, which will further strain the existing grid. Researchers conclude that Oregon's energy system will require new generation and transmission infrastructure to meet these escalating demands.