Oregon would join 15 other states that have proposed data center pauses in the last year
Alex Baumhardt, August 4, 2026 Capital Chronicle
Four Oregon Democratic lawmakers, and two hopefuls, are calling for a three-year moratorium on new data centers in the state in response to growing public concern over energy and water demand, farmland loss, tax fairness and community benefits, and a general lack of transparency from the industry.
State Sens. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, and Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, and state Reps. Lesly Muñoz, D-Woodburn, and Farrah Chaichi, D-Beaverton, will propose the moratorium during the 2027 legislative session that begins in January, according to a Monday news release from Tammy Carpenter, a Democrat running to represent Beaverton in the Oregon House.
Carpenter and Oregon Senate hopeful Myrna Muñoz, of Hillsboro, and sister to Lesly, have also thrown their support behind the data center pause. The two won their Democratic primaries in May over establishment and incumbent candidates in large part due to their vocal opposition to data center development in Washington County.
