Kotek Pauses Data Centers On State Property
Oregon is putting the brakes on new data center projects on state-owned land. On Tuesday, Governor Tina Kotek ordered state agencies to immediately pause unapproved requests involving easements, leases, land-use permits and property transfers for data centers. The pause runs through July 1st, 2027 — or until the governor or lawmakers take further action.
The move follows her decision to halt a proposed sale of 32 acres of state land in Salem for a data center.
“Data center corporations are asking communities to absorb enormous demands on our water, energy, infrastructure, and natural resources, and we need to know what that means for Oregonians,” Kotek said. “I am taking this action because the state should not be moving forward with new data center projects on public land while we are still working to understand and address those impacts. Oregonians deserve a statewide approach that protects our communities, respects our natural resources, and makes sure state government is acting in the public interest.”
In January, Governor Kotek convened the Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee to develop policy recommendations to address growth in data centers and keep utility costs, infrastructure upgrades, and environmental impacts sustainable for all Oregonians, particularly low-income and working households and ratepayers. The Advisory Committee will provide their final recommendations to the Governor by the end of the year to inform legislation she will be introducing for the 2027 legislative session.
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