Oregon

Data center activity in Oregon

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Regulatory Environment Score
D
-5 pts

Oregon's regulatory environment presents challenges across multiple dimensions, with at least 10 moratoriums enacted and only 1 rejected, at least 4 zoning denials versus 3 approvals, and at least 2 projects blocked with no projects reported as approved despite opposition. At least 6 lawsuits have been filed, adding legal complexity disproportionate to the state's relatively small data center market. Unlike neighboring Washington, where the primary challenge is concentrated in moratorium activity, Oregon faces a more distributed set of obstacles across zoning, opposition, and legal fronts. With 25 active companies and medium confidence based on 221 clips, developer interest persists but the regulatory environment provides little evidence of improvement. The proximity to California's large market and Oregon's renewable energy profile continue to attract companies, but the regulatory path forward remains difficult.

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Varney pitches ban on NDAs, new task force around future data center developments
News ClipSalem Reporter·Salem, Marion County, OR

Varney pitches ban on NDAs, new task force around future data center developments

Salem City Councilor Micki Varney plans to propose a new task force focused on data center developments and a ban on non-disclosure agreements for future projects. This proposal will be addressed at the next Salem City Council meeting. Additionally, the community will have its first chance to publicly comment on a proposed 75-acre data center at the Mill Creek Corporate Center during the same meeting.

7/24/2026
Oregon data centers' reliance on diesel generators raises pollution concerns
News Clip1:23Oregon Public Broadcasting·Umatilla County, OR

Oregon data centers' reliance on diesel generators raises pollution concerns

An investigation reveals that tech companies' data centers in Oregon's Lower Umatilla Basin rely on train car-sized diesel generators for power outages, which could lead to massive pollution emissions. The report highlights the significant environmental risks these generators pose, comparing potential emissions to twice that of all cars and trucks on Oregon roads during a major outage. The video questions whether the economic benefits for rural Eastern Oregon communities outweigh these environmental concerns.

7/22/2026
Anonymous client asks Eugene about data center at former Hynix campus
News Clip2:25KEZI 9·Eugene, Lane County, OR

Anonymous client asks Eugene about data center at former Hynix campus

An anonymous company is seeking to redevelop Eugene's former Hynix campus for potential data center use. The company has submitted a zone verification request to the City of Eugene, asking if a data center is permitted under the current E-1 Campus Employment zoning. The city's Planning and Development Department is currently reviewing the request, which is the first of its kind for this zone.

7/22/2026
Eugene is asked to confirm if data center is allowed at former Hynix site
News ClipLookout Eugene-Springfield·Eugene, Lane County, OR

Eugene is asked to confirm if data center is allowed at former Hynix site$

A land-use lawyer representing an unnamed client with a former Hynix site under contract in Eugene, Oregon, has filed a zone verification request with the city. The request seeks confirmation that a data center and other technology-related uses are permitted under the property's existing E-1 Campus Employment zoning. This indicates a potential major redevelopment of the 200-acre site.

7/20/2026
Salem residents can comment on data center at July 27 Salem City Council meeting
News ClipSalem Reporter·Salem, Marion County, OR

Salem residents can comment on data center at July 27 Salem City Council meeting

Salem residents will have the opportunity to voice their concerns and comment on a proposed data center project at the Mill Creek Corporate Center during an upcoming Salem City Council meeting on July 27. The city manager discussed the events leading up to the public disclosure of the project. This meeting allows for community input on the development.

7/17/2026
Gold mining company sues to re-route portion of $1.5B Oregon transmission line
News ClipHerald and News·Vale, Malheur County, OR

Gold mining company sues to re-route portion of $1.5B Oregon transmission line

Malheur Mining Co. has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to re-route a section of the $1.5 billion Boardman-to-Hemingway electrical transmission line in Oregon. The company claims the line infringes on its gold mining rights on federal land and is seeking significant damages. This legal challenge could impact Oregon's clean energy goals and future data center developments that rely on the transmission line.

7/16/2026
714,000-square-foot data center construction under way in Umatilla
News ClipEast Oregonian·Umatilla County, OR

714,000-square-foot data center construction under way in Umatilla

Sabey Data Centers is constructing a large 714,540-square-foot data center campus in Umatilla, Oregon, designed to support over 150 megawatts of capacity. Local officials and company executives celebrated the project's economic benefits and highlighted its use of a closed-loop cooling system to address water usage concerns. The first data hall is expected to go online in April 2028.

7/16/2026
New 75-acre data center proposed in Salem
News Clip1:17KPTV FOX 12 Oregon·Salem, Marion County, OR

New 75-acre data center proposed in Salem

Salem, Oregon is considering a proposal for a new 75-acre, three-building data center project named Oakline at Millcreek. The project has received mixed community reactions, with the developer promising to mitigate common data center issues like noise, air quality, and water usage, but it has not yet received city approval.

7/16/2026
75-acre data center proposed in Salem
News ClipKPTV·Salem, Marion County, OR

75-acre data center proposed in Salem

Verrus has proposed a 75-acre, three-building data center project named "Oakline at Millcreek" in Salem, Oregon. The proposal generated mixed feedback at a recent City Council meeting, with the developer emphasizing closed-loop cooling and low-noise equipment. The project is currently pending city approval, with an anticipated operational date in 2028 if approved.

7/16/2026
Salem Considers Proposed Data Center Amid Resident Concerns
News Clip9:19NBC16News·Salem, Marion County, OR

Salem Considers Proposed Data Center Amid Resident Concerns

Salem leaders are considering a proposal for the first major data center in the Mid-Willamette Valley, a $5.1 billion, 75-acre campus by California-based Verus. The company claims the facility would use significantly less water and power than traditional data centers, but residents remain skeptical. The city is currently evaluating the proposal, which is in its early stages.

7/15/2026