FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 12, 2026

ORDCD responds to Oregonian article “Kotek, Drazan each call for Oregon data center moratorium”

Oregon Data Center Defiance is a statewide grassroots coalition working on data center issues across Oregon. We thank The Oregonian for its coverage of data center issues recently, and appreciate that Governor Kotek and Senator Drazan both strongly support a statewide moratorium as a key step to rein in predatory data center development. Governor Kotek spoke in strong support at the rally on Sept. 8, and Senator Drazan came out in support of a statewide moratorium the next day.

As a coalition working to develop the Responsible Data Center Development Act, LC 710, we recognize that the moratorium is the most newsworthy step, but the bill is much more than a moratorium. The moratorium gives Oregon a three-year pause to make sure we get things right for everyone. The bill directs the study and creation of a comprehensive framework, and in the meantime creates rules and regulations to help protect Oregon communities from predatory development.

The Oregonian's Sept. 11 article gets some key facts wrong, with quotes from supporters that appear to be out of context.

Supporters are not asking for a special session. Of course, we would welcome a special session if it meant getting things done more quickly. But a special session requires the Legislature to be prepared to act on a very limited timeline. Until the Legislature is prepared to do so, our efforts are better spent refining policies and building the broad support needed to pass the bill in the 2027 session.

Addressing another misconception from the article: A key feature of a legislative moratorium is that data centers can't sneak in permit applications under the wire, like they are doing for local moratoriums. Only data centers with final permit approval can get past a statewide legislative moratorium. In-progress permit applications may resume after the moratorium if the developers and operators follow the new rules.

We welcome Senator Drazan's urgency in calling for the governor to impose a moratorium, but the governor doesn't have the executive authority to create a statewide moratorium on all data centers. That is the Legislature's responsibility. There are specific things the governor can do. Governor Kotek has been working on some, such as pausing unapproved requests to use state lands for data center development. A key role of the governor is to work with the Legislature to support strong legislation. As The Oregonian notes, the governor has called on the Legislature to do that in the 2027 session.

Data centers are the most bipartisan issue in Oregon since marionberry pie. We look forward to working with Governor Kotek, Senator Drazan and legislators from both parties to make sure Oregon gets this right. We have an opportunity to build a framework that protects our communities, supports good jobs and Oregon workers, and gives responsible developers and operators clear rules to follow.