This Friday’s virtual meeting of Oregon’s Data Center Advisory Committee will focus on the impacts of data centers on water resources. The meeting begins at 9 a.m.
The more Americans learn about data centers and their rapid growth, along with the ongoing impact of data centers on water, energy rates, communities, and our environment overall — the more Americans are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with them.
To that end, Governor Tina Kotek convened the state’s Data Center Advisory Committee last month to consider concerns over data centers, and “develop recommendations for a comprehensive regulatory framework.” The inaugural meeting was something of a pro-industry celebration, but the committee’s virtual meeting scheduled for this Friday, March 27th, at 9 a.m., is specifically agendized to address water impacts.
You may want to log in and monitor the meeting on Friday. While public remarks are limited, you can submit written remarks and related materials to the committee at datacenter.ac@oregon.gov. If you do, be sure to include your name, and include the March 27th meeting date and water impacts topic in the subject line.
Log Into Friday’s Data Center Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting HERE
If you’re interested in recent media attention on data centers and an upcoming opportunity to attend a town hall hosted by Senator Ron Wyden, have a look at the links here:
- How a Small Oregon Company’s Dealings with Amazon Created a Scandal (The Oregonian, March 23, 2026)
- Trust Issues Rise to the Surface in The Dalles Water Dispute (Uplift Local, March 23, 2026)
- Senator Wyden is hosting a series of town hall meetings, including two next Tuesday, March 31st, in The Dalles and Hood River.
Join WaterWatch this Friday morning at 9 a.m. during the virtual meeting of the state’s Data Center Advisory Committee on data centers’ impacts on water, fish, and streamflows.
Data center banner photo courtesy of Nathan Wilson.