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Oregon Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across Oregon — updated daily.
Recent Oregon data center news
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Data center vacancies plummet amid power supply constraints
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Potential Energy: Is BESS the Answer to Data Centers’ Gridlocked Future?
De Gaulle Fleurance hosted a webinar on the evolving role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Europe’s decarbonization efforts.
- Confirmed facts & project data: The webinar featured legal and energy experts from France, Belgium, Poland, and the UK; RTE projects renewable output could reach 320 TWh by 2035; battery capacity grew from <50 MW to 1.07 GW in five years, with >7 GW of projects holding grid access rights; the EU added 11.9 GW of BESS last year and the U.S. reported a 34% storage increase as of March 2024; identified vendors include ZincFive, Schneider Electric, Eaton, EPC Power, and Vertiv; U.S. states with SGIPs: California, New York, Maryland, New Jersey and other supportive states include Virginia, Oregon, Iowa, Texas.
- Costs, policies & planned initiatives: Reported average BESS cost $400–$600 per kWh (Exenell); U.S. is on track to install ~15 GW in 2025 (~25% increase over 2024) (projection); NESO’s connections reform is expected/hopecasting to unlock £40 billion ($53 billion) per year (anticipated); regulatory milestones cited include FERC Order No. 841 (2020) allowing batteries in wholesale markets and EU measures like VAT exemptions and tariff waivers; distinctions noted between confirmed deployments (installed GW) and planned/projection figures (15 GW in 2025, NESO investment expectations).
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Climate Change Solutions - July 29, 2025
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) newsletter highlights recent climate change solutions, legislative updates, and upcoming events.
- Innovative technologies such as AI-driven disaster resilience tools by U.S. National Laboratories and upgraded air filters to reduce wildfire smoke injuries are featured.
- Legislative progress includes the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act passed by the House, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act advancing with job creation and solar capacity details, and the Fire Ready Nation Act advancing in the Senate to enhance wildfire forecasting.
- Upcoming briefings focus on Ohio River restoration and the intersection of AI and climate policy.
- The newsletter also provides links to recordings of the 28th annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and related policy forums.
- EESI President Daniel Bresette is quoted on energy and AI topics; contact details and social media links for EESI are provided.
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Protected: Where the Power Flows: The Top 10 Hyperscale Data Centers by Load in North America — Powered by Enverus Instant Analyst™
Enverus has announced insights into the top 10 largest hyperscale data centers by load in North America, highlighting key locations and their energy consumption.
- Top data centers include Microsoft Azure, Meta, Vantage Data Centers, and Colocation America with loads ranging from 590 MW to 1,862 MW.
- Enverus offers tools like Instant Analyst™ and PRISM™ to accelerate data center siting by analyzing power demand, pricing, and land suitability, supporting faster and more informed infrastructure development.
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Data centers seek flexible power solutions for resilience, sustainability
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Pixels Are Thirsty: The Hidden Water Crisis Behind Data Centers, AI Art, And Digital Hype
The article highlights the hidden environmental cost of water consumption by data centers powering the internet, AI art, and digital services.
- Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon use billions of gallons of water annually for evaporative cooling of data centers, often located in water-scarce regions such as Arizona, Oregon, Chile, India, and Spain.
- Local communities in places like The Dalles, Oregon, and Mesa, Arizona, have pushed back against data center expansions due to water scarcity concerns, resulting in increased transparency and stricter regulations.
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Climate Change Solutions - July 15, 2025
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) recaps recent U.S. climate and energy policy developments, including new legislation, issue briefs, and upcoming events.
- Reconciliation package (P.L. 119-21) signed into law on July 4, 2025, ending or curtailing tax incentives for energy efficiency, renewables, and electric vehicles.
- Congressional committees advanced bills on algal bloom mitigation, precision agriculture, coastal data, and wildfire resilience; EESI published briefs on critical minerals, data center water use, and recapped 60 climate-related hearings from May-June 2025.
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Portland General Electric Announces First Quarter 2025 Results
Portland General Electric (PGE) announced first quarter 2025 financial results and key operational updates.
- Reported net income of $100 million for Q1 2025, with reaffirmed 2025 adjusted earnings guidance of $3.13 to $3.33 per diluted share.
- Advanced battery storage capacity with 292 MW operating from Constable, Sundial, and Coffee Creek systems; plus 200 MW Seaside battery expected mid-2025, totaling over 500 MW.
- Released 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Report highlighting 45% of energy mix from non-emitting resources and emission reduction commitments of 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
- Paid quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, payable July 15, 2025.
These initiatives reflect PGE’s continued focus on clean energy integration, reliability, and sustainability targets.
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Data Center Energy Needs Could Upend Power Grids and Threaten the Climate
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the energy consumption and sustainability challenges posed by rapidly increasing data centers in the United States.
- As of March 2025, there were 5,426 data centers nationally, consuming about 17 GW of power in 2022, with projections to increase to 130 GW by 2030.
- Approximately 56% of the electricity used in these data centers is sourced from fossil fuels, significantly contributing to carbon emissions and climate change.
- Data centers emitted about 105 million metric tons of carbon in 2023, up from 31.5 million tons in 2018, marking a 300% increase.
- Virginia, especially Northern Virginia, is a major hub with hundreds of data centers consuming more than 3 GW power, mostly from fossil fuels, posing challenges to renewable energy goals.
- Sustainable solutions include siting data centers near renewable energy sources, on-site renewable generation, and energy efficiency measures.
The article underscores the urgent need for sustainable energy strategies in data center operations to mitigate climate impact.
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Request for Information on Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure on DOE Lands
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to explore opportunities for AI infrastructure development on its lands. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance AI capabilities in the U.S. and maintain leadership in the field. The RFI targets industry input on potential development approaches and operational models for AI data centers at select DOE sites, aiming for operational commencement by the end of 2027. Responses to this RFI are due by May 7, 2025.