Data centers

Lawmakers wrapped up their legislative session in Sacramento this week following tumultuous debates and last-minute proposals.

The Northwest needs to generate as much new electricity by 2032 as the state of Oregon currently uses.

Oregon would join 15 other states that have proposed data center pauses in the last year.

The State Lands Department is updating rules for companies that run cables through Oregon’s territorial sea and proposing higher fees to go to the Common School Fund.

Humboldt County supervisors directed staff to draft a ban on ICE detention facilities and a one-year moratorium on new data centers.

People showed up to the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors meeting to oppose an AI data center near Mount Shasta, despite the topic not being on the agenda.

Mount Shasta officials say they'll reject a proposed AI data center at the former Crystal Geyser site, citing concerns about water use and limited economic benefits.

Oregon has more than 120 data centers, and is among a handful of states that are creating laws to protect ratepayers from higher electric bills as more come online.

Recent studies show that data centers are creating uncertainty for the Pacific Northwest’s power grid, potentially creating massive gaps in energy leading to blackouts.

The committee will deliver a report to the governor no later than October.

A new report estimates that California’s data centers are driving increases in electricity use, water demand and pollution even as lawmakers stall on oversight.

Nuclear is mostly absent from a new energy strategy outlining how the state will meet growing power demand, reduce greenhouse gas pollution.