Editor’s Note: The 6 Democratic Leaders stepping forward are setting the tone for what many expect as plans for the next legislative session take shape. Springing from Hillsboro’s Moratorium, Salem and other cities are jumping in. This appears to be exactly what a majority of Oregonians want to see. This proposal will be one of many. The question is, will Tina Kotek join in the call, or will she continue to ride the fence?
PRESS RELEASE: Democratic Legislators and Candidates Call for 3-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
SALEM, OR – Today, 6 Democratic legislators and candidates called for a three-year moratorium on large-scale data center development in Oregon and pledged to bring legislation to that effect in 2027. They insist that this is critical for allowing time to develop regulations and standards to protect Oregonians’ land, air, and water, to ensure the integrity of our energy grid, and to keep costs down for utility ratepayers.
The leaders include: Senators Neron Misslin and Jeff Golden, Representatives Lesly Muñoz and Farrah Chaichi, and Democratic Candidates Myrna Muñoz and Dr. Tammy Carpenter.
Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to rapidly accelerate AI data center construction, Americans are increasingly opposed to building these facilities in their own communities. (1, 2). On July 14, New York became the first state to adopt a moratorium on data centers. Shortly after, on July 27th, Hillsboro became the first city in Oregon to enact a short-term moratorium on data centers.
Less than 100 miles South, in Salem, Oregon, community members are fighting a proposed $5.1 billion dollar data center slated for development on behalf of the global firm, Verrus. Nearly 9,000 people have signed onto a petition opposing the data center. The Salem City Council is set to consider a data center moratorium on August 3rd in a special meeting.
“Oregon should be leading the nation in healthcare education and housing, not in data center construction. That is why I support a moratorium on new data centers and I’m working to move that conversation forward. Our priorities must be people, not big tech.” – Representative Lesly Muñoz, House District 22 (Woodburn)
In this year’s elections, data centers have been a major issue for Democratic voters. Washington County residents helped two opponents of data centers win their primaries this May – Dr. Tammy Carpenter and Myrna Muñoz. Both candidates signed a petition in Washington County calling for a temporary moratorium that received over 4,500 signatures. Dr. Carpenter later joined a lawsuit seeking to invalidate tax breaks associated with 17 data center applications.
“It is a fundamental problem in Oregon if data centers are opening and schools are closing. As a Beaverton School Board Member and future Oregon State Representative, I cannot in good conscience let my students and my constituents suffer while we give massive tax breaks to data centers and their corporate investors.” – Dr. Tammy Carpenter, Democratic Nominee for House District 27 (Beaverton)
“This moratorium will help us better investigate the impact of data centers in the community such that we can make next steps like set up guardrails to protect us, and assure that data centers are providing us with a public good we can count on if they are to stay in the community.” – Democratic Nominee for Senate District 15, Myrna Muñoz (Hillsboro)
These 6 community leaders are joined in their call for a moratorium by the Oregon Working Families Party, Tualatin Riverkeepers, Breach Collective, The HUMAN Network, Tualatin Valley Branch of the Democratic Socialists of America, Friends of Smart Growth, Stoneboat Farms, and Roloff Farms.
“As a farmer and a father living 2 miles from one of Oregon’s largest concentration of data centers, I worry about pollution to our air and water, the loss of farmland for our future, and the health of our children as they just attend school. We see the tax abatements for billion-dollar corporations increase as our school, across the street from the development, loses teachers and increases class sizes. For our future, we need time to get a handle on a runaway industry.” – Aaron Nichols, Local Farmer
The legislators indicated that they intend to submit a bill concept to legislative counsel to develop a bill for the 2027 legislative session. They expect more legislative co-sponsors and community groups in support as momentum grows.
All of the individuals and organizations are encouraging interested members of the public to join and testify in the final Listening Session of the Governor’s Data Center Advisory Committee Meeting on September 26, 2026.
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