Prineville's Data Center Boom and Burdens | Bend News

Bend News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 1, 2026 · 2m

Oregon’s data center boom, centered in Prineville, is reshaping the town’s economy after decades of decline—but at a cost. Once a timber town hit by unemployment, Prineville now thrives thanks to massive facilities powering Meta and Apple, bringing jobs and higher wages. Yet critics raise alarms over water, power, noise, and rising housing costs. State officials, including Governor Tina Kotek, are crafting new rules to manage growth, while Prineville seeks better deals amid looming tax changes and legal battles over property exemptions. As demand surges and land shrinks, the question looms…