A proposed multibillion-dollar data center in southeast Salem has developed into a major economic and infrastructure issue for Oregon as city officials consider new restrictions on data center development while additional information emerges about the amount of municipal water the facility could require during periods of extreme heat.
The proposed Oakline at Mill Creek project is being developed by Verrus at the Mill Creek Corporate Center, an industrial and employment area in southeast Salem. Plans have called for three data center buildings and an electrical substation supporting large-scale computing operations, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other digital services.
The proposed investment has been estimated at more than $5 billion, placing the project among the largest potential private developments in Salem. The developer has projected approximately 75 permanent jobs once the facility becomes operational…