16 сентября 2026 г. · Resolution · 2026-299

Urge the City Administrator to refrain from signing data center non-disclosure agreements, notify City Council of inquiries for data center deals, and engage in transparent public processes related to data centers

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Council asks city leaders to keep data center deals public

The council asks the City Administrator and other city leaders not to sign secret agreements (non-disclosure agreements) about data centers. It asks that the council be told when anyone seeks early meetings or permits for a data center using 20 megawatts of power or more. It also says the council plans to pursue a pause or zoning limits on very large "hyperscale" data centers as soon as possible.

Decision: Passed, 11 to 0, with Councilor Smith absent. A proposed change by Councilor Zimmerman failed, 4 to 7.
Who it affects: Portland residents who want a say in whether large data centers are built in the city, and companies that may seek to build them.
Next: The council says it intends to pursue a moratorium or zoning limits on hyperscale data centers at the earliest time; no date was given.
Official record

Написано ИИ по официальному документу и проверено автоматически. 16 сентября 2026 г.

Full title: Urge the City Administrator to refrain from signing data center non-disclosure agreements, notify City Council of inquiries for data center deals, and engage in transparent public processes related to data centers
Status: Adopted
Document number: 2026-299
Introduced by: Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane Councilor Mitch Green Councilor Candace Avalos Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney Councilor Sameer Kanal Councilor Eric Zimmerman Councilor Angelita Morillo Councilor Steve Novick Council Vice President Olivia Clark Councilor Loretta Smith Councilor Dan Ryan Council President Jamie Dunphy
Requested council date: September 16, 2026
Purpose and background: Lawmakers in Oregon and across the U.S. have sought to prevent data centers in local jurisdictions by limiting financial incentives, imposing moratoria, or implementing outright bans. In 2025, the Oregon Legislature made data centers ineligible for three different tax incentive programs, from which they had previously reaped significant benefits. Smaller jurisdictions, including Hillsboro, have followed suit by blocking data centers from accessing separate local tax incentive programs. Portland does not currently site hyperscale data centers, but 17 smaller data centers do exist in Portland; the City leases space in some of them, in addition to space in Colorado. At present, the development of hyperscale data centers is largely limited to suburbs and rural areas, as these data centers require access to significant power and land to operate. This resolution addresses emerging concerns surrounding data center facilities and ensuring data center decisions are transparent, public processes by urging the City Administrator and leadership to refrain from signing data center non-disclosure agreements, to notify City Council of inquiries for data centers, and to engage in transparent, public processes related to data centers.
Financial and budgetary impacts: This resolution has minimal financial and budgetary impacts as it urges the City Administrator and City leadership to refrain from signing non-disclosure agreements, to notify Council of data center inquiries, and to engage in transparent public processes related to data centers. These requests are in line with the duties of the City Administrator and City leadership.
Economic and real estate impacts: Although data centers likely have economic and real estate development impacts, it is not possible to predetermine those impacts due to the variability of data center size, location, and potential alignment with existing City Code and land use requirements.
Community impacts and community involvement: A May 2026 Gallup Poll found that seven in 10 Americans oppose local construction of large-scale data centers in their community and highlighted the following reasons for opposing local data center construction: (1) effect on natural resources; (2) energy consumption and other infrastructure; (3) concern about higher utility bills; (4) noise and air pollution; (5) concerns about AI from a job creation or privacy/security perspective; and (6) other quality-of-life concerns such as impacts of large-scale development on public health or property values. Portlanders have expressed strong feelings about data centers in Portland and want their elected leaders to protect them and mitigate potential future harm. This resolution focuses on public processes and transparency so that those most affected are engaged in the policy process.
100% renewable goal: Although future data centers may increase the City's total energy use – including non-renewable energy uses – this resolution does not impact the City's 100% renewable goal.

Полный текст

WHEREAS, Oregon communities where data center clusters are located have documented the negative impacts of data center development on natural resource use, groundwater contamination, energy bills, and public health; and WHEREAS, in June and July 2026, cities in Oregon and Washington have taken action to limit data center development, including the Hillsboro City Council's unanimous approval of a 120-day moratorium on new data center development, and bans on new construction of data centers in Seattle and Tacoma; and WHEREAS, data centers can impact household costs and livability for Portlanders due to their large size, propensity to emit noise, and significant consumption of energy resources; and WHEREAS, the state's data center buildout has corresponded with a 50% increase in Portland General Electric and Pacific Power customers' energy bills, and data centers now consume 5.6% of Oregon's electricity; and WHEREAS, a 20-megawatt power draw represents energy use from a data center facility that uses or can use more than 20 megawatts, which is commonly used as a cutoff in state and local policies to distinguish large-load data centers from data operations in standard commercial buildings; and WHEREAS, water usage varies among types and sizes of data centers, the daily water use of some hyperscale data centers is equivalent to that of thousands of households; and WHEREAS, data centers' significant energy needs require technology, including diesel generators and cooling systems, that contribute to emissions and noise pollution in surrounding communities; and WHEREAS, anti-racism and equity are core values of the City of Portland, and local and national examples demonstrate that low-income people and communities of color most often shoulder the burden of negative health impacts created by data centers, linked to poor air quality, water quality, and hazardous waste concentration; and WHEREAS, in other jurisdictions, elected officials have been pressured to sign non-disclosure agreements regarding data center negotiations, in order to shield projects from public view; and WHEREAS, transparency is a core value of the City of Portland, and the community must be informed about the potential for future data center development in Portland, and given the opportunity to provide meaningful input. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council urges the City Administrator and any City leadership to refrain from signing any non-disclosure agreements related to supporting, permitting, or allowing data centers, which includes agreements related but not limited to siting, permits, future scaling, fees, public engagement, economic opportunities, use of resources, and utility rates; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the City Administrator notify the Council if the City receives a request for Early Assistance or another preliminary meeting, or permit application, from an outside party related to the siting, permitting, or creation of a data center with a power draw of 20 megawatts or more, or the scaling or changing of an existing data center to draw 20 megawatts or more in the future; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all City of Portland officials are encouraged to engage in transparent, public processes for all decisions related to data center support, incentives, permits, public processes or decisions, or allowances; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Council intends to pursue moratorium or zoning restrictions on all hyperscale data centers at the earliest time and to consider additional approaches for large-load data centers.