Data Center Tax Breaks Under Fire | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 3, 2026 · 2m

A major lawsuit has been filed against Hillsboro and Washington County, Oregon, accusing them of abusing a state tax incentive program to hand out hundreds of millions in breaks to data centers — many with deals stretching to 2051. Plaintiffs, including environmental groups, educators, and local residents, argue these deals bypass land use rules, drain public funds, and harm schools and farmland. They say the city’s approvals ignore community input and violate the program’s original intent — while officials defend their actions as legally compliant, citing state law and arguing the…