Oregon Governor orders pause on data center permits

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has ordered the state’s Department of Environmental Quality to halt new air and water permitting for data centers until July 2027. The pause is intended to allow the state legislature to address regulatory issues during the upcoming session.

Advocacy groups, including Food & Water Watch, have pushed for more stringent oversight, citing concerns over the water-intensive nature of large-scale data centers and their impact on climate goals. While the current order provides a temporary reprieve, organizers are calling for a three-year moratorium and the passage of the Responsible Data Center Development Act to ensure long-term protections for Oregonians.