FILE - An Amazon data center in Boardman, Ore., on April 2, 2026. Many of the data centers across Oregon rely on diesel generators to provide backup power--which, if used, could release massive amounts of diesel pollution into nearby communities.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
Data centers are at the heart of heated conversations in communities around the country, and Oregon is no exception. These facilities store and process data that make all kinds of connectivity possible — posting updates to social media, streaming movies and TV shows, online banking, telehealth, and of course, artificial intelligence.
There are about 125 data centers in Oregon. The AI boom has rapidly increased the demand for this infrastructure. And with that has come increased awareness about the climate and community impacts of data centers, as well as how they could impact Oregon’s aging power grid.
We dig into the benefits and drawbacks of data centers in communities across Oregon and hear why some of the largest of these facilities could be a threat to air quality in the eastern part of the state.
Listen to all episodes of “The Evergreen” podcast here.
