Data center restrictions tracker · Oregon

Data center moratoriums and restrictions in Oregon (2026)

Data snapshot 2026-08-15 · part of Pricing the Fear of Data Centers

As of August 15, 2026, this tracker documents 1 local government action on data centers in Oregon, across 1 jurisdiction: 1 moratorium. By status: 1 in force.

At the state level, the state has a ratepayer-protection law (enacted) and Portland General Electric (Schedule 96) territory has a large-load tariff (in force, May 7, 2026).

Data centers in Oregon used about 11.0 TWh of electricity in 2024; EPRI, Powering Intelligence 2026 (state-level dashboard) projects 27.4 TWh in its 2030, EPRI medium scenario.

Statewide actions in Oregon

  • Oregon: ratepayer-protection law, enactedPOWER Act (enacted June 2025): separate rate class for 20 MW+ loads with 10-year take-or-pay power agreements; implemented through PGE Schedule 96. Instrument: HB 3546 (POWER Act). Source: NCSL May 2026 deck (Montana Legislature mirror).
  • Portland General Electric (Schedule 96) territory: large-load tariff, in force, May 7, 2026OPUC-approved Schedule 96 (May 7, 2026) under the POWER Act: 90% minimum demand charge, 100% of distribution upgrades paid by the customer, 10-30 year contracts, and a 1 cent/kWh surcharge above 100 MW funding low-income energy programs. Docket OPUC UM 2377; minimum take 90%. Source: Utility Dive / OPUC docket UM 2377.

Local actions in Oregon

Every documented local action in Oregon in the August 15, 2026 snapshot. Documented actions, not a census.
JurisdictionCountyActionStatusDate
HillsboroWashington CountyMoratoriumin forceJuly 27, 2026

What one campus pays a local government

The parent piece's calculator puts a single large campus at $2M to $90M a year in local revenue, depending on the tax regime and abatements. The reference campus (Project Blue scale: $3.6B of capital, 286 MW) pays about $157M to local governments over 10 years. Permanent jobs run around 50 per facility.

Tax regimeReference caseAnnual local revenue, lowAnnual local revenue, high
Aggressive abatementMorrow County OR (enterprise zone)$2M$3M
Partial abatementGeorgia audit representative campus / El Paso Meta$27.8M$56M
Unabated equipment taxVirginia-style rates (Loudoun is the ceiling)$50M$90M

Run your own numbers in the calculator on the parent piece. Jurisdictions in Oregon that say no give up this revenue, not the jobs.

Sources

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