Oregon Data Center Watch

The Numbers Don't Lie

316%

Increase in Google's water use (104M → 434M gallons/year)

$450M+

Property tax breaks to data centers (up from $330M in one year)

6 GW

Diesel generator capacity permitted for data centers in Oregon

$150M

K-12 education funding lost annually to data center tax breaks

Key Players

Allies & Movement

Ally
CTUIR (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla)
Treaty rights, water sovereignty, co-management agreements
Ally
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
"Water is life" — fighting data center land grab
Ally
Neighbors for Clean Air
Exposing diesel generator emissions from data centers
Ally
Oregon Just Transition Alliance
Climate & environmental justice coalition
Ally
Tax Fairness Oregon
Exposing corporate tax breaks and public subsidies
Ally
SEIU Local 49
Security officers: poverty wages, 50% turnover, training risks

The Opposition

Industry
IBEW Local 48 (Electricians Union)
Supporting data centers for construction jobs
Industry
Technology Association of Oregon
Tech industry lobby: "data centers are necessary"
Industry
Oregon Business for Climate
Greenwashing org: comfortable with status quo

Timeline

Feb 27, 2026

Economic Development & Workforce Meeting
JB Tubby (CTUIR) exposed tax fairness, water, NDA concerns

Mar 27, 2026

Water Issues Meeting
Deep dive on aquifer depletion and tribal water rights

Apr 17, 2026

Public Listening Session
900+ testified on SB586. Health impacts, air quality, tax breaks revealed

May 2026

Energy and Affordability
Upcoming meeting

Jun-Jul 2026

Tax Policy + Listening Sessions
CRITICAL: Push for ending tax abatements

Oct 2026

Report to Governor
Final recommendations due

Key Quotes for Organizing

"The industry won't stop until you stop it... it's like asking Elon Musk, 'Haven't you made enough money, man?'" — Jeff Melchuk, former Infrastructure Masons executive

"We natives are the stewards of this land. And we all are not happy regarding these data centers because they take so much large volume of water. Water is life." — Hannah Shooting Bear, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

"It's not okay to let those people decide the health of Oregonians." — Charlie Rosco, Environmental Epidemiologist, OSU

"We're cutting 27 licensed teacher positions in Forest Grove while giving tax abatements to big tech companies." — Mna Munoz, State Senate Candidate

"The benefits of data centers are largely accumulating in the hands of a few wealthy billionaire tech industry owners." — Alia Cother, Portland State University

The Issues at a Glance

💧 Water Depletion 💰 Corporate Tax Avoidance 🏥 Health Impacts 🗣️ Lack of Transparency ⚡ Diesel Emissions 🏭 Dead Infrastructure 📚 K-12 Funding Cuts 🌍 Climate Backslide ⚖️ Treaty Rights 🏠 Displacing Farmland

What's At Stake

By 2030, air pollution from data centers could cause 600,000 asthma cases and 1,300 premature deaths annually nationwide.

A single data center uses up to 5 million gallons of water per day — equivalent to a 50,000-person town.

Take Action

📧 Submit Public Comment

The Data Center Advisory Committee is accepting written testimony. Demand:

• End all property tax breaks to data centers
• Require health impact assessments
• Mandate water usage disclosure
• Prohibit NDAs blocking local government disclosure

Email the Committee

📢 Attend Listening Sessions

Show up, speak out. These sessions are your chance to be heard before the Governor's deadline.

Check Meeting Schedule

🤝 Join the Coalition

Connect with allied organizations working on this issue:

Oregon Just Transition Alliance Neighbors for Clean Air

Quick Reference

Topic	Key Demand	Who to Contact
Water Rights	Mandatory water impact assessments; tribal consultation requirements	Data Center AC; CTUIR
Tax Fairness	End 3-year property tax breaks; fix global income taxation	Legislature; Governor's office
Health Impacts	Add epidemiologist to committee; mandate health assessments	Data Center AC; OHA
Air Quality	6 GW diesel capacity must be addressed; cumulative emissions accounting	DEQ; Data Center AC
Transparency	Prohibit NDAs; public notice before site selection	Local governments; Legislature
Dead Infrastructure	Bonding requirements for decommissioning; land use restrictions	Data Center AC; Land Use