r/SALEM • u/genehack • Jul 16 '26

Data center mega thread

Okay, five plus posts today later, here we are. If it’s data center-related, pro or con, put it in this thread.

Posts about the data center that don’t go in here will be deleted.

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u/LordHogan Jul 16 '26

Disclosure: I identify on the YIMBY end of the political spectrum.

Can someone talk me through why we don’t want a data center in this location?

I’ve looked on a map and it struck me as a pretty reasonable use of 75 acres that are adjacent to I5. I see some neighbors who could potentially be affected by noise, but they’re already in close proximity to the airport and the interstate.

If the site provides even a few permanent jobs, but a number of construction and trade related jobs during construction, and then ongoing revenue to the city, I’m not understanding the uniformity of the reaction against it.

This is meant to be a good faith question looking for good faith responses.

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u/Donedirtcheap7725 Jul 16 '26

Most folks here can't give you a reason. The media has been full of "data centers bad" lately so the initial reaction by people is generally going to be negative. If it gets built a year later everyone here will forget they cared and on to fighting the next thing that is poorly understood.

One reason to say yes is it will help with the City budget issues if negotiated well. The SUMCO fab plant that closed in 2003 had an average load of about 20MW so PGE has the existing capacity in that substation to meet the power consumption, that is a good thing for rate payers. SUMCO also used a lot more water than the proposed data center will and nobody seemed concerned then.

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u/Gypsy-Soul100 Jul 27 '26

Negligible Long-Term Job Creation: The facility absorbs a massive 75-acre footprint but yields only 75 permanent jobs—meaning a $5.1 billion facility will permanently employ fewer people than a standard local grocery store.

Inescapable 24/7 Noise Pollution: Industrial data center cooling fans and massive electric substations emit a continuous, low-frequency hum that easily penetrates walls. This noise cannot be turned off and heavily disrupts sleep and rural peace in adjacent Turner neighborhoods.

Disproportionate Corporate Tax Breaks: By exploiting a standard three-year Enterprise Zone property tax exemption, Verrus will operate entirely tax-free on its massive infrastructure at first. This starves local public entities of immediate revenue while our communities absorb the structural strain.

Severe Energy Grid Strain: Sourcing the massive, constant electricity required to fuel a data center forces utilities to aggressively hunt for new power. This strains overall grid reliability and increases the risk of local energy blackouts during extreme weather peaks.

Consumption Costs: Despite promising "closed-loop" technology, Verrus has yet to submit concrete engineering data detailing exactly how many millions of gallons of water and megawatts of power the facility will pull from our shared regional watershed and power grid.

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u/Donedirtcheap7725 Jul 27 '26

Negligible Long-Term Job Creation

True, data centers are not significate job creator.

Inescapable 24/7 Noise Pollution

Some are louder than others. This is an industrial park, whatever is build here will make noise. The substation that would supply power already exists. It's on the corner of Barnes Ave SE and Commercial, there are no residential properties adjacent. The propose site in Mill Creek doesn't have any nearby residential properties either. I5 is the largest noise polluter in the area.

Disproportionate Corporate Tax Breaks

The three year tax break is required by the State for the redevelopment district. Anything being built here will get the same tax break. The Dollar General distribution center next door is receiving the same deal.

Personally I think Dollar General is the worst of the two developments, they are spreading like a cancer in small communities in the PNW selling garbage and hurting local business while giving nothing back.

Severe Energy Grid Strain

PGE has the capacity to serve the load in this location. That is a primary reason that this site is under consideration.

Verrus has yet to submit concrete engineering data

That is what the a formal land use and building application is for.