Oregon Data Centers Consume Nearly 25% of State's Power, Report Finds

A new report from ECOnorthwest and the University of Virginia reveals that Oregon's 111 operational data centers accounted for 23 percent of the state's total retail energy sales in 2025. Driven largely by the expansion of AI infrastructure, this energy demand is projected to reach 25 terawatt hours by 2030, potentially consuming up to 32 percent of the state's electricity—an amount equivalent to the usage of 2.5 million homes. With 32 additional facilities currently in development, researchers emphasize the urgent need for coordinated infrastructure planning and new electricity resources to accommodate this rapid growth. While these facilities represent a significant industrial footprint, the report notes they directly employ 2,630 workers. The study, funded by the Lemelson Foundation, highlights the growing tension between the rapid scaling of AI-driven data centers and the capacity of regional power grids to sustain such high-load demands.