Oregon’s data centers use almost 25% of the state’s power, report reveals

A new report has revealed that data centers in Oregon consume nearly 25% of the state's power, sparking debate over the impact of AI-driven data centers. Conducted by ECOnorthwest, the University of Virginia, and funded by the Lemelson Foundation, the study is the first of its kind since the rise of AI data centers. The report identifies 111 operational data centers across Oregon, collectively occupying 22.1 million square feet.

These facilities account for 23% of the state's total retail energy sales in 2025. Additionally, 32 data centers are either under construction or in the planning stages, which will add an extra 6.9 million square feet. The researchers predict that data center energy consumption in Oregon could rise to almost 25 terawatt hours by 2030, representing around 31-32% of the state's overall electricity demand and equivalent to powering 2.5 million homes.

The report emphasizes the need for new electricity resources, transmission capacity, and coordinated infrastructure planning to accommodate the growing demand for data center electricity. The study also highlights that these data centers directly employ 2,630 workers.