Oregon data centers accounted for about 23% of statewide retail electricity sales in 2025, according to new research from ECOnorthwest and the University of Virginia. The statewide review identifies 111 operating facilities and 32 more planned or under construction, adding new context to electricity demand, utility planning, jobs and property-tax revenue.
Key Takeaways
- Oregon data centers accounted for about 23% of statewide retail electricity sales in 2025
- Researchers identified 111 operating facilities and 32 more planned or under construction
- Existing facilities total about 22.1 million square feet, with another 6.9 million square feet in the development pipeline
- Researchers estimated 2,630 direct operating jobs and about $60.2 million in property taxes paid by operating data centers in 2025
- PGE’s separate data-center rate structure took effect in July 2026, with an average 29.7% rate increase for that customer class
Oregon data centers have become a significant part of the state’s electricity market. The new study, funded by the Portland-based Lemelson Foundation, estimates that 111 operating facilities occupy about 22.1 million square feet across Oregon.
Researchers also identified 32 facilities that were planned or under construction, representing about 6.9 million additional square feet if completed. The most notable figure is the power use: operating data centers accounted for about 23% of statewide retail electricity sales in 2025.
That figure does not mean data centers used 23% of every utility’s electricity or 23% of all energy consumed in Oregon. It is a statewide estimate tied specifically to retail electricity sales, an important distinction when comparing the study with utility-level figures or earlier estimates.
Oregon Data Centers Now Account for 23% of Retail Power
The report provides a statewide baseline for an industry whose electricity use has been difficult to measure consistently. Researchers combined commercial facility information with public employment, tax and electricity data to estimate both the physical footprint and the power used by operating sites.
The facilities vary substantially in size and function. Some support telecommunications, payment processing, cloud services or content delivery, while hyperscale campuses can require much larger electrical loads. That range means a simple count of facilities does not fully describe electricity demand.
Earlier ECOnorthwest research presented during Oregon’s data-center review estimated electricity consumption at about 14 terawatt-hours in 2025 and modeled an increase to 24.8 terawatt-hours by 2030. The later statewide findings place 2025 data-center use at about 23% of retail electricity sales. The 2030 figure remains a projection that could change with construction schedules, occupancy, computing demand and efficiency.
The distinction is important when examining data center energy costs. Electricity demand depends on the type of facility, the amount of active computing equipment and how continuously that equipment operates. A multi-tenant facility can have a different demand profile from a hyperscale campus designed for sustained computing workloads.
Growth Is Shifting Toward Western Oregon
The research describes different development patterns across Oregon. Eastern Oregon contains much of the state’s established large-scale data-center footprint, including hyperscale operations along the Columbia River corridor. The pipeline is more weighted toward Western Oregon, where Washington County and the Hillsboro area already support a substantial technology and data-center presence.
Planned projects should not be treated as completed capacity. Proposed facilities can change in size, timing or operating configuration, and the study describes the 32-site pipeline as potential future development.
The economic footprint is also uneven. Researchers estimated 2,630 direct operating jobs statewide, with most concentrated in Eastern Oregon. Operating facilities were also estimated to have paid about $60.2 million in Oregon property taxes during 2025.
Those figures cover direct employment and property-tax payments rather than every job or economic activity connected with construction, contractors or related businesses. Researchers also identified gaps in available water-use and tax data, limiting the precision of some statewide comparisons.
For the Portland metro area, the western development pipeline places more attention on electricity infrastructure already serving a large technology sector. The separate proposed PGE rate increase has also brought transmission upgrades, grid capacity and large-customer demand into a broader discussion about future utility costs.
Utility Planning Is Adapting to Larger Loads
Portland General Electric’s filings show how utilities are beginning to separate data-center demand from other industrial service. The Oregon Public Utility Commission approved a new rate structure in 2026, and qualifying PGE data centers are now covered by a distinct service classification.
Price changes effective July 8 resulted in an average 29.7% increase for data-center customers, according to PGE’s second-quarter regulatory filing. The same set of changes produced average decreases of 1.3% for residential customers, 2.1% for commercial customers and 1.4% for industrial customers outside the new data-center rate.
PGE has also identified accelerated data-center load growth as a planning risk because large new facilities can require additional transmission, distribution and generation capacity. Oregon regulators similarly describe large-customer demand as an issue affecting transmission planning, generation planning and the allocation of infrastructure costs.
During review of PGE’s tariff changes, Oregon PUC Chair Letha Tawney said, “Taking time for review now ensures these updated rates accurately reflect the Commission’s decision.” The commission’s work has focused on connection costs, system upgrades and service requirements associated with large electricity users.
The utility rate structure and the ECOnorthwest study measure different parts of the same electricity system. One addresses how qualifying large customers are served and billed. The other estimates the statewide footprint of the industry.
For Oregon data centers, the central new benchmark is their estimated 23% share of statewide retail electricity sales in 2025. With 32 additional facilities identified as planned or under construction, future electricity use will depend on which projects are completed, their final size, operating intensity and the capacity available to serve them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much electricity do Oregon data centers use?
Oregon data centers accounted for about 23% of statewide retail electricity sales in 2025, according to the ECOnorthwest and University of Virginia study. The figure is a statewide estimate and does not mean every Oregon utility has the same share of data-center demand.
How many data centers are operating in Oregon?
Researchers identified 111 operating data centers representing about 22.1 million square feet of building space. Another 32 facilities were identified as planned or under construction.
How much could data-center electricity demand grow?
Earlier research modeled Oregon data-center electricity use increasing from about 14 terawatt-hours in 2025 to 24.8 terawatt-hours by 2030. That figure is a projection and depends on future construction, facility use and efficiency.
Where are Oregon’s data centers concentrated?
Much of the existing hyperscale footprint is concentrated in Eastern Oregon. The research indicates that a larger share of the planned development pipeline is located in Western Oregon.
Do data centers have a separate PGE electricity rate?
Yes. Qualifying data-center customers served by Portland General Electric now have a separate rate classification, and PGE reported an average 29.7% rate increase for that customer class effective July 8, 2026.
