On July 14th, a zone verification request (ZVR 26-050) was submitted to the City of Eugene to consider data center use at the former Hynix location at 1830 Willow Creek Circle. Our community is growing increasingly concerned with the speed at which data centers are rapidly developing all over Oregon and across the United States, and especially concerned with the potential for a data center here in west Eugene. Data centers have notable “offensive external impacts” on the surrounding communities, including air, water, and noise pollution concerns, in addition to dramatically increasing the load on the electrical systems leading to rate increases for residents and businesses. 

In light of the significant energy use, and climate, air and water pollution associated with data center development, the City of Eugene must decline the proposed zoning verification request. Data Centers are not compatible with the purpose of E-1 zoning, nor with the values of Eugene. Beyond just rejecting this verification request, the City must take steps to establish a permanent ban, or at the very least, a moratorium, on the development of data centers in the City. 

As investor-owned utilities are required to establish consumer protections to shield Oregon residents from the impacts of data center development by the 2025 POWER Act, it is likely that these corporations will look toward cities like Eugene that have publicly owned utilities as havens for lower energy costs and less regulation. In order to protect residents from increasing energy costs, and to protect our air and water, Eugene must act proactively to data center development in our city.