Gov. Tina Kotek directs Oregon DEQ to pause data center permits until July 2027

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has directed the state's environmental regulator to pause air and water discharge permits for new or expanded data centers until July 1, 2027, according to Data Center Dynamics. The outlet reported the directive Oct. 14 and described it as a de facto moratorium on data center development in Oregon.

The directive asks Department of Environmental Quality director Leah Feldon to use existing administrative authority to stop processing and issuing permit applications. It covers air quality permits and municipal applications to renew or modify wastewater treatment plant permits so the plants can accept data center discharge.

In the request, Kotek said: "I am asking you to exercise your existing administrative authority and discretion to pause processing and issuance of air or water discharge permit applications until July 1, 2027, that involve new or expanded data center facilities within Oregon." She said the pause would give time to weigh recommendations from a Data Center Advisory Committee and possible 2027 legislative reforms.

The permit pause follows a September order halting state land transactions for data center projects until July 2027. Because the directive covers processing as well as issuance, pending air and water applications would stop moving rather than be decided. A developer shut out of state land can look for private parcels; a project that needs to send wastewater to a municipal plant depends on that city's permit being renewed or modified.

Food & Water Watch called the directive a "massive victory" that would "give communities breathing room from more data center development." Oregon organizing manager Lilli DiPaola called it "a monumental moment" and said the state still needs a three-year moratorium to assess the full impact and necessary protections.

Data Center Dynamics reported that Kotek and the department have not commented publicly on the requested pause and that the outlet has sought comment from DEQ. The directive ties the pause's length to the advisory committee's recommendations and to possible reforms in the 2027 session, where Kotek has said such measures would have her support.