Deadline: July 31, 2026 at 9:00am PDT
Why this Matters
Oregon is approving data centers faster than almost anywhere in the country, and each one is hungry. They pull enormous amounts of electricity and water and lock up large stretches of land. That demand does not stay in one place. It pushes on the same rivers, the same power grid, and the same utility bills the rest of us share, from the Columbia clear out to the coast.
Right now there is a real opening to weigh in. Governor Kotek convened the Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee to write the rules for how the state handles this growth, with a charge to keep utility costs, infrastructure, and environmental impacts fair and sustainable, especially for low-income and working families. The committee is finishing its work this summer, and it is asking the public to speak up before it locks in recommendations.
Two meetings are still ahead. Meeting 5, on affordability and taxation, is June 26, 2026. Meeting 6, where the committee deliberates its draft report, is July 31, 2026. Each meeting sets aside 30 minutes for public comment, and you can request a slot in advance. The more Oregonians who show up, the harder it is to treat water, power, and land as someone else's problem.
Related Videos
Public Listening Session 1 (recording)
Committee Meeting: Water (recording)
Committee Meeting: Land Use (recording)
Steps to Take
Request a public comment slot. Email datacenter.ac@oregon.gov and ask for a 2-minute slot at an upcoming meeting. Include your name, the meeting date and topic, and a brief summary of your comment. Only 15 slots are booked per meeting, first come first served, so send it early. The next chances are Meeting 5 on June 26, 2026 (affordability and taxation) and Meeting 6 on July 31, 2026 (the draft report).
Join a meeting to listen or comment. The committee's monthly meetings are open to the public and end with 30 minutes for public comment. You can find the schedule, topics, and Zoom links on the state committee page.
Sign Columbia Riverkeeper's petition. If you cannot make a meeting, add your name to their data center petition so the committee still hears from you.
Spread the word. Send this to a few neighbors. Most people have no idea Oregon is deciding this right now, and the committee is listening through the end of July.