Data center siting snapshot: Washington County, Oregon

Line miles are measured from the archived HIFLD Transmission Lines layer inside the Census county boundary. Mapped lines are not available capacity.

What the public record shows

The archived HIFLD map records approximately 96.2 miles of 230 kV-and-above transmission line within Washington County, Oregon ^[1]. This total includes 33.0 miles at 500 kV or more and 63.2 miles at 230 kV ^[1]. The same mapping shows about 284.4 miles of 115–161 kV line in the county ^[2]. Portland General Electric, Bonneville Power Administration, and West Oregon Electric Cooperative are the owners of record with the most mapped 115 kV+ line miles ^[3]. Seven named line endpoints touching 230 kV+ lines are mapped inside the county ^[4]. These utilities also have mapped service territories covering part of the county, though boundaries are approximate ^[5].

Our records hold no county- or city-level data center moratorium or ordinance for Washington County as of 2026-11-09 ^[6]. At the state level, the POWER Act tariff for 20 MW+ data centers is in force, dated 2026-07-08 ^[7]. HB 4084, enacted on 2026-04-06, creates a Joint Permitting Council and restricts enterprise-zone treatment for data centers ^[8]. HB 3546, enacted on 2025-07-07, creates a separate PUC service classification for large energy use facilities ^[9]. HB 3698 and SB 553, both dated 2025-06-27, failed to pass ^[10][11].

Drafted by our local model from the numbered facts below, then checked sentence by sentence by a second model and a rules-based check.

Data center rules on record

Rule records come from The MW Desk legislation tracker, which includes rows from the Moratorium Nation dataset by Michael J. Bommarito (CC BY 4.0). Statuses change; confirm with the jurisdiction's own record.

Utilities on record

Portland General Electric, Bonneville Power Administration, West Oregon Electric Cooperative. (HIFLD/EIA-861 territory polygons; approximate and often overlapping.)

Market context on The MW Desk: Oregon: Hillsboro / Portland + The Dalles.

Sources

1. [1] The archived HIFLD map shows about 96.2 miles of 230 kV-and-above transmission line inside Washington County, OR: 33.0 miles at 500 kV or more, 0.0 miles at 345 kV and 63.2 miles at 230 kV. Source: HIFLD Transmission Lines (archived by SeerAI, CC BY 4.0)
2. [2] The same map shows about 284.4 miles of 115–161 kV line in the county. Source: HIFLD Transmission Lines (archived by SeerAI, CC BY 4.0)
3. [3] Owners of record with the most mapped 115 kV+ line miles in the county: Portland General Electric, Bonneville Power Administration, West Oregon Electric Cooperative. Source: HIFLD Transmission Lines (archived by SeerAI, CC BY 4.0)
4. [4] 7 named line endpoints touching 230 kV+ lines (usually substations or switchyards) are mapped inside the county. Source: HIFLD Transmission Lines (archived by SeerAI, CC BY 4.0)
5. [5] Retail electric utilities whose mapped service territory covers part of the county include: Portland General Electric, Bonneville Power Administration, West Oregon Electric Cooperative. Territory boundaries are approximate. Source: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (EIA-861 based; archived by SeerAI, CC BY 4.0)
6. [6] Our records hold no county- or city-level data center moratorium or ordinance for Washington County as of 2026-11-09. Source: The MW Desk legislation tracker
7. [7] Oregon state/utility level, Portland General Electric: POWER Act tariff for 20 MW+ data centers (Data center rates up about 29% on average and residential down 1.3%, with minimum demand charges, exit fees and a clean-energy interconnection queue). Status: in force, dated 2026-07-08. Source: Oregon PUC: approves PGE rate updates (higher bills for data centers)
8. [8] Oregon state/utility level, Oregon: HB 4084 (2026) (Creates a Joint Permitting Council and fast-track permitting program for eligible economic development projects. As enacted, it also restricts enterprise-zone treatment for data centers: the extended exemption period may not apply to qualified property used in operating a data center, flexible hiring alternatives do not apply to data center property, and an eligible business firm may not be authorized for property co). Status: enacted, dated 2026-04-06. Source: HB 4084 (2026 Regular Session) - Measure Overview - OLIS
9. [9] Oregon state/utility level, Oregon: HB 3546 (2025) (Creates a separate PUC service classification and tariff for large energy use facilities using or able to use 20 MW or more and primarily engaged in NAICS 518210 services; requires cost allocation or direct assignment to prevent unwarranted cost shifting to other customers; requires 10-year-plus contracts and minimum payment obligations; requires biennial PUC reports through 2035). Status: enacted, dated 2025-07-07. Source: HB 3546 (2025 Regular Session) - Measure Overview - OLIS
10. [10] Oregon state/utility level, Oregon: HB 3698 (2025) (Would require data centers to report quarterly water and electricity use to state agencies, require ODOE to publish summaries, and direct EQC to adopt emissions standards for standby generators used at data centers). Status: failed, dated 2025-06-27. Source: HB 3698 (2025 Regular Session) - Measure Overview - OLIS
11. [11] Oregon state/utility level, Oregon: SB 553 (2025) (Would require ODOE to study data center power usage and report findings and possible legislation to interim energy committees by 2026-09-15; sunset 2027-01-02). Status: failed, dated 2025-06-27. Source: SB 553 (2025 Regular Session) - Measure Overview - OLIS