ORDCD’s partners release report in response to DCAC report

The Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee (DCAC) is a committee tasked by Governor Kotek to meet throughout 2026 to learn about data centers in Oregon. Over a series of meetings, each with a specific topic, the DCAC was to gather information, take public comment, and generate a report to inform future legislation on data centers. Throughout the year, the DCAC acknowledged that its work was limited by scope and time. During the same months they were working, ORDCD participated in the Push Back on Data Centers working group, which developed a more comprehensive report on how data centers impact Oregon’s water, environment, affordability, and communities. This is the report the DCAC could have and should have produced with a larger scope and more time.

Gathered by the Helvetia Community Association, the PBDC is a group of Oregon nonprofits, researchers, lawyers, and community advocates. The group produced this report to address gaps in DCAC’s Preliminary Findings and Questions Document.

The report identifies major gaps in DCAC’s consideration of data center impacts on water, air, communities, the economy, and state laws. It calls for stronger statewide protections and supports ORDCD’s proposal for a three-year moratorium to create comprehensive regulations on data center impacts.