Gov. Kotek pauses data centers on state land. Capitol demonstrators want her to go further.

Gov. Tina Kotek at a rally on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026 at the Oregon State Capitol, where demonstrators called for a moratorium on new data center development in the state for three years. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

SALEM — Roughly 100 people showed up outside the Oregon State Capitol on Tuesday to call for a three-year pause on new data center development in the state.

Among them was Gov. Tina Kotek, who expressed support for the demonstrators — a coalition of environmental, public health, farm and social advocacy groups — but who stopped short of endorsing the length and breadth of the pause they desired.

“I support a moratorium until we make sure that any data center development is done on our terms,” she said.

At the event, she unveiled a roughly one-year pause on approvals for any requests to develop data centers on state land or in state buildings. The order will “immediately pause unapproved requests for easements, rights-of-way, leases, rentals, land-use permits and sales or transfers of state-owned property for data center projects,” according to a news release from Kotek’s office.

“Today, I’m taking the next step by directing state agencies to immediately stop work on any state owned land transaction connected to a new data center. Not just here in Salem, but everywhere in Oregon where the state owns the land,” she said.

The pause would last until July 1, 2027 or until “until statewide action from the Governor’s Office or the Legislature directs otherwise,” according to the release, where Kotek also insists that the state “currently lacks authority to enact a statewide moratorium on data center development.”

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