Oregon Data Centers Consume Nearly 25% of State’s Power

If you’re uncertain about your stance on the debate surrounding AI data centers, recent developments might sway your opinion toward the concerns raised by opponents of these facilities.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers in Oregon have published a comprehensive report that outlines the extent of the data center industry within the state. This analysis also reveals the significant energy consumption attributed to these data centers.

The report indicates that Oregon hosts 111 active data centers, occupying a total of 22.1 million square feet. Remarkably, these facilities are projected to account for approximately 23 percent of the state’s retail energy sales by 2025.

The report notes that there are 32 more data centers either under construction or in the planning phases, which will require an extra 6.9 million square feet of space.

According to the researchers, energy consumption by data centers in Oregon is projected to soar to nearly 25 terawatt hours by 2030. This figure represents about 31 to 32 percent of the state’s total electricity demand, equivalent to the energy usage of approximately 2.5 million households.

The report emphasizes, “Data center electricity demand is rising significantly, and both regional and state-level planning efforts…suggest that managing this substantial load growth will necessitate new electricity resources, enhanced transmission capacity, and coordinated infrastructure development.”

The data centers are directly responsible for employing 2,630 individuals in the state.

This pivotal report was released on Thursday by ECOnorthwest in collaboration with the University of Virginia. The study received funding from the Lemelson Foundation, a Portland-based nonprofit focused on entrepreneurship and environmental issues.