Where do Oregon politicians stand on a data center moratorium?
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and her political opponent, Senator Christine Drazan, have both called for a statewide moratorium on new data centers. This marks a shift in their previous stances, coming after public polls showed strong support among Oregonians for such a measure and for ending data center tax breaks. The Governor's data center task force, however, avoided direct recommendations on moratoriums and tax breaks, instead suggesting policy reforms for energy and water use.
In an eventful week for Oregon data center politics, Governor Tina Kotek joined an anti-data center rally at the capital, announcing her support for a statewide moratorium on new data centers. Her rationale was to safeguard air, water, and energy issues. This represents a reversal for Governor Kotek, who had previously advocated waiting for recommendations from her data center task force, expected in late 2026.
Shortly after Kotek's announcement, Senator Christine Drazan, her opponent in the upcoming gubernatorial election, also called for a moratorium. Drazan asserted that the state needs an immediate moratorium and that the Governor possesses the authority to implement it unilaterally, though she did not specify how. This also marks a reversal for Drazan, who as recently as July had opposed a moratorium.
Both politicians are seen as responding to strong public sentiment, with polls indicating two-thirds of Oregonians support a moratorium on new data centers and three-quarters want to end new data center tax breaks. Meanwhile, the Governor's data center task force issued its report, intentionally sidestepping the controversial issues of tax breaks and moratoriums. Instead, the task force recommended policy reforms and safeguards for energy and water usage, along with increased transparency, leaving the relevance of their report uncertain given the rapid political and public shifts.