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From fracking to data centers: Hearing from people on both sides of the opposition
Confirmed
In Short: Hundreds of Oregonians from across the state, including Governor Kate Brown, rallied at the State Capitol in Salem today to demand a statewide moratorium on new and expanding large-scale data centers.
Hundreds of Oregonians from across the state, including Governor Kate Brown, rallied at the State Capitol in Salem today to demand a statewide moratorium on new and expanding large-scale data centers. The gathering, organized by groups like Food & Water Watch and the Data Center Defiance Coalition, highlighted the growing opposition to data center expansion in the face of water contamination and clean energy concerns.
Organizers like Aimee Stone from Food & Water Watch emphasized the risks posed by data centers, stating, 'Today made one thing abundantly clear: Oregonians don’t want AI data centers sucking up our water, raising our bills, and putting our communities at risk.' The rally also drew support from Governor Brown, who expressed her support for a statewide moratorium on data centers.
The opposition to data centers extends beyond Oregon. According to reports, a bill introduced by Democratic Representative Kathy Castor of Florida and Republican Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado aims to ensure data centers cover the costs of their grid updates. Meanwhile, a Gallup poll found that 7 out of 10 Americans oppose data centers being built near where they live.
Environmental concerns are at the forefront of the debate. Data centers have been proposed across the country due to the explosion of generative AI, and they are expected to be the second-strongest driver of natural gas demand growth after LNG exports. Over the next decade, grid-connected data centers are predicted to drive an additional 15 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas consumption by the power sector.
The local impact of data centers is also a significant concern. In Independence, Missouri, a 2026 study found that many data centers often approach or exceed the outdoor noise limit recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leading to potential health issues such as heart disease and hearing loss. The construction of a 400-acre data center has become a rallying point for local opposition, with residents like John Perkins facing recall elections due to their support for data center tax incentives.
What's confirmed
- Hundreds of Oregonians from across the state, including Governor Kate Brown, rallied at the State Capitol in Salem today to demand a statewide moratorium on new and expanding large-scale data centers. The gathering, organized by groups like Food & Water Watch and the Data Center Defiance Coalition, highlighted the growing opposition to data center expansion in the face of water contamination and clean energy concerns.
- Organizers like Aimee Stone from Food & Water Watch emphasized the risks posed by data centers, stating, 'Today made one thing abundantly clear: Oregonians don’t want AI data centers sucking up our water, raising our bills, and putting our communities at risk.' The rally also drew support from Governor Brown, who expressed her support for a statewide moratorium on data centers.
- The opposition to data centers extends beyond Oregon. According to reports, a bill introduced by Democratic Representative Kathy Castor of Florida and Republican Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado aims to ensure data centers cover the costs of their grid updates. Meanwhile, a Gallup poll found that 7 out of 10 Americans oppose data centers being built near where they live.
- Environmental concerns are at the forefront of the debate. Data centers have been proposed across the country due to the explosion of generative AI, and they are expected to be the second-strongest driver of natural gas demand growth after LNG exports. Over the next decade, grid-connected data centers are predicted to drive an additional 15 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas consumption by the power sector.
- The local impact of data centers is also a significant concern. In Independence, Missouri, a 2026 study found that many data centers often approach or exceed the outdoor noise limit recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leading to potential health issues such as heart disease and hearing loss. The construction of a 400-acre data center has become a rallying point for local opposition, with residents like John Perkins facing recall elections due to their support for data center tax incentives.
What's still developing
- Further, data centers have already supercharged the ongoing water contamination in Morrow County, which has been facing a nitrate pollution crisis due to overuse of chemical fertilizers by corporate-scale agriculture and dumping of industrial wastewater, which leach contaminants into the region’s groundwater.
- “We need to hit the emergency brake on runaway data center expansion in Oregon,” said Kaleb Lay, director of policy & research with Oregon Rural Action.
- “Data center proliferation along the Columbia River is escalating electricity and water use, threatening salmon recovery, and undermining Oregon’s clean energy goals,” said Kelly Campbell, Policy Director with Columbia Riverkeeper.
- Artificial Intelligence & Data Centers - Inside Climate News Skip to content Science Politics Justice & Health Fossil Fuels Clean Energy ICN Local Projects Impact Podcast About Us Open Menu Pulitzer Prize-winning, nonpartisan reporting on the biggest crisis facing our planet.
- The new forecast takes into account that not all announced data center projects will be completed.
- Data centers that produce power onsite have grabbed headlines in recent months, with Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon all announcing plans for new natural gas power plants that will bypass the grid.
- Only a few months ago, Harp was on his tractor when his neighbor waved him down to tell him about a hyperscale data center possibly being built just 75 yards from his property.
- The construction of a 400-acre data center right down the street is threatening that lifestyle.