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Data center growth debated: industry touts jobs and flexibility while lawmakers ask about water, taxes and grid impacts
Summary
Industry and ODOE told lawmakers data centers bring large capital investment, jobs and tax revenue and could provide demand‑flexibility to help reliability; legislators pressed on remote disconnection, water use, tax incentives and whether large loads will lower or raise residential rates in practice.
The committee held an informational session on data centers, with an Oregon Department of Energy presentation followed by industry testimony from the Data Center Coalition and questions from lawmakers.
Edith (Energy Policy Team Lead, ODOE) presented historical commercial and industrial electricity demand, noting a 39% increase in commercial/industrial sales from 2014 to 2024 and that tech loads (including data centers and chip manufacturing) account for a significant share of projected growth through 2050. ODOE recommended registration and reporting for large…
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