Now is your chance to speak up about the massive increase in data centers in Oregon.
By: Kate Murphy, Senior Community Organizer
Oregon is seeing an unprecedented rise in data centers, resulting in a massive increase in demand for energy, water, and land. This is a critical moment to stand up to protect Oregon’s precious natural resources.
Governor Kotek convened the Data Center Advisory Committee with the purpose of developing recommendations for a comprehensive regulatory framework to strategically pursue economic development opportunities, while ensuring utility costs, infrastructure investments, and environmental impacts remain sustainable and equitable for all residents, especially low-income and working families.
The Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee is holding monthly meetings as well as three public listening sessions, and they need to hear from you! This is an opportunity for members of the public to express their concerns and questions directly to the Committee.
Written comment deadline October 24th at 5 p.m.
This is your last chance to submit written comments to the Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee.
What: Submit written comments to Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee
Deadline: October 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
How to submit comments:
- Please use this form to submit your comments
- Reference: Preliminary Learnings and Questions Guide
- Suggested Talking Points: (put in your own words)
- Protection: Water resources and quality must be protected. Regulations must include consideration of water availability, water quality impacts, impacts on the local water system, discharges into municipal water systems, and impacts on salmon and other fish.
- Accountability: Data center expansion must not raise electricity costs for PNW families and businesses as other ratepayers are forced to fund discounts for data centers.
- Responsible energy use: Data centers should rely on properly sited renewable energy sources, not dirty fossil fuels or nuclear.
- Oversight: While data center development has gone largely unchecked in the PNW, with closed-door negotiations between elected officials and tech companies and virtually zero public input, state oversight and local review is needed to evaluate impacts on neighboring communities, clean water, and climate priorities. Non-disclosure agreements should not be a part of the development process.
- Transparency: Regular reporting on energy and water use and job creation is necessary for responsible, sustainable, and equitable development.
- Moratorium: The Governor’s pause on permits is a good start, but we need a three-year moratorium to give legislators time to pass comprehensive data center legislation that puts Oregonians first.
Public Listening Sessions
The Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee is holding public listening sessions.
Public Listening Session 1
April 17, 2026 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Watch the recording.
Public Listening Session 2:
June 2, 2026 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
(Meeting recording not available.)
Public Listening Session 3:
September 26, 2026 from 4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Join online via Zoom
The Data Center Advisory Committee will taking comments on its preliminary findings report. Attendees will have 3 minutes to share their perspectives on a first-come, first-served basis.
Monthly Meetings
The Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee is holding monthly meetings that are open to the public and include an opportunity to make public comments.
Meeting 1: Economic Development and Workforce
February 27, 2026 from 9 a.m.
View recording here.
Meeting 2: Water
March 27, 2026 at 9 a.m.
View recording here.
Meeting 3: Land Use
April 24, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
View recording here.
Meeting 4: Data Centers and Energy
May 29, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
View recording here.
Meeting 5: Data Centers, Energy Affordability, Revenue, and Incentives
June 26, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
View recording here.
Meeting 6: Additional Considerations and Deliberations
July 31, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Join online via Zoom.
Meeting 7: Committee Discussion and Deliberation of Draft Report
August 4, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Attend online via Zoom. (Note: there will be no Q&A or public comments)
Public Comments During Monthly Meetings
The Committee will dedicate 30 minutes at the end of each meeting (except for Meeting 7 on August 4) for public comment. The Committee co-chairs also plan to hold another listening session dedicated entirely to public comments on September 26.
Comments during meetings should be specific to the topic area and on the State’s interests relative to that topic for each meeting. Non- or multi-topical comments will be welcomed at the general listening sessions.
Individuals wishing to participate in topical public comments must request a 2-minute time slot via email to datacenter.ac@oregon.gov.
Please include:
- Name
- Meeting Date and Topic
- A Brief Summary of Comments (that focus on the State interests in the topic).
Fifteen slots will be booked on a first-come-first-served basis and a balancing of comments received that the facilitator will announce. Priority may be given to those who have not spoken at prior meetings to assure the Committee hears many voices.