OPINION: Weigh in on Forest Grove's data center proposal on Oct. 14

Let your voice be heard by attending the Forest Grove Council Hearing Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, starting at 7 p.m. at 1915 Main St. Show city officials by your presence that we do not want data centers in Forest Grove.

Here are some of the reasons why ‘No Forest Grove Data Center’ activists are trying to stop Crane Data Centers from getting a land-use decision from the city of Forest Grove:

Extra tax revenue for the town? No! This is going to be an “Enterprise Zone”, which means that there will be tax breaks, resulting in less money going towards things like our schools.Job Creation? No! Although the construction of data centers and the surrounding infrastructure will provide people with employment, this is only temporary. Most data centers have minimal staff once established.Crane Data Centers will use 36 megawatt of electricity for phase 1 and 100 plus megawatts for phase 2 — enough electricity to power a bigger town than Forest Grove. Electrical rates will most likely increase. Crane Data Centers will use a huge amount water to cool its supercomputers.

Dale Feik is a Forest Grove resident.