Oregon Voters Push Back on Data Centers and Demand End to Tax Incentives, New Poll Shows

Portland, OR – A significant majority of Oregon residents are calling for a halt on new data center construction and an end to the lucrative tax breaks that have attracted the industry to the state, according to a new statewide poll.

The survey, conducted by a coalition of rural and environmental advocacy groups, reveals that 62% of likely voters support a temporary moratorium on building new data centers. Support for the pause cuts across party lines, with a notable 58% of Republicans and 66% of Democrats agreeing that the state needs time to assess the long-term impacts of the massive facilities.

More strikingly, the poll found that 71% of respondents oppose extending property tax abatements—the primary incentive used to lure tech giants like Google and Amazon to Central Oregon and the Columbia Gorge. Voters cited concerns over strained water resources, rising electricity costs, and the industry’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions as key reasons for their discontent.

“This is no longer a niche rural issue,” said Sarah Kline, a pollster involved in the study. “Oregonians are seeing their utility bills climb and their agricultural water supplies shrink, and they are asking why billion-dollar corporations get a free ride while local families pay the price.”

The poll also showed that 67% of respondents believe data centers should be required to use renewable energy and pay prevailing wages for construction and maintenance jobs. Only 22% said the current tax incentive structure is a fair deal for the state.

Legislative sources in Salem indicate that the findings could influence the upcoming session, where a bill to reform data center tax breaks is already being drafted. Industry representatives argue that the facilities bring high-paying jobs and critical digital infrastructure, but the poll suggests that argument is losing traction with voters.

“The tide has turned,” said Kline. “Oregonians want responsible growth, not unchecked industrial sprawl on their second-largest taxpayer subsidy program.”