Join us to hear about the growing concerns around the proliferation of data centers.

Data center growth is exploding across the region, threatening farmland, habitat, clean water, and our climate goals. Enticed by abundant water, energy and tax breaks from cash strapped local communities, Big Tech companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have made the Pacific Northwest their mark. At this Rumble, we’ll hear the latest on the growing concerns about the conflict between the spread of data centers and the protection of farms,  forestland, water, and clean energy goals. 

• What: Rumble on the River #28: What’s the Deal with Data Centers?
•  Date: January 7, 2026
• Time: Doors and Info Tables at 5:30 p.m., Panel at 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Havurah Shalom – 825 NW 18th, Portland, Oregon 
• Cost: Free!

Panelists include:

• Sarah Wochele, Equity Analyst & Advocate at Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board
• Nellie McAdams, Executive Director at Oregon Agricultural Trust
• Kelly Campbell, Policy Director at Columbia Riverkeeper
• Kaleb Lay, Director of Research & Policy at Oregon Rural Action
• Dr. Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Data & Society Research Institute

GETTING TO RUMBLE #28

• Bikes welcome.
• Car parking: Park at metered parking spots. On street parking is free after 7 PM.
• Public transportation: Havurah Shalom is located along a few bus lines, and north of the MAX.
  • Bus Lines: 24, 77, 15, 20, & 63. Lines 24 & 77 run near the site. Lines 15, 20 & 63 run just south with an estimated 13 minute walk from the Burnside & 18th bus stop. 
  • Max lines: Red, Blue. A 13 minute walk from Providence Park stops. 
  • Streetcar: NS. A 2 minute walk from the NW 18th & Lovejoy stop. The NS line can be reached with the A & B Loops

• ADA accessibility limitations: None 

BACKGROUND

Since 2022, Rumble On The River has presented 27 community forums in neighborhoods throughout Portland and at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, University of Oregon. Rumbles bring together expert voices to discuss a range of environmental and social topics. These have included the Columbia & Willamette River ecosystems, transportation, false climate solutions, urban forestry, shade equity, risk-bonding, salmon restoration, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund and the Western Hemisphere’s most toxic site–Hanford. A recurring Rumble focus has been the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub and the potential hazards of having 90 percent of Oregon’s fuel and a dangerous mix of chemicals stored within Portland’s city limits on a riverside seismic liquefaction zone.

RUMBLE CO-SPONSORS

• 350 PDX 
• Alliance for Democracy 
• Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association
• Bird Alliance of Oregon 
• Braided River Campaign 
• Breach Collective 
• Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association 
• Columbia Riverkeeper 
• Community for Earth/First Unitarian Portland 
• Cully Association of Neighbors 
• EcoFaith Recovery 
• Economic Justice Action Group/First Unitarian Portland
• Extinction Rebellion-PDX 
• Frog Ferry 
• Havurah Climate Action Team 
• Human Access Project 
• KBOO Radio 90.7 
• Kenton Neighborhood Association 
• Linnton Neighborhood Association 
• Mosquito Fleet 
• Mt Tabor Neighborhood Association 
• Neighbors for Clean Air 
• No More Freeways 
• OPAL, Environmental Justice Oregon 
• Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club 
• Oregon Conservancy Foundation 
• Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility 
• Pearl District Neighborhood Association 
• P.E.S.T. Projection 
• Portland Committee on Human Rights in the Philippines 
• Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group 
• Portland Harbor Community Coalition 
• Portland Jobs with Justice 
• Portland Raging Grannies 
• Portland Youth Climate Strike 
• Portsmouth Neighborhood Association 
• St. Johns Neighborhood Association 
• Sauvie Island Community Association 
• Sunrise Movement PDX
• Tank The Tanks
• Third Act Oregon 
• Willamette Riverkeeper