Salem Council Ends Secret Data Center Deal | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 29, 2026 · 1m

Salem’s city council is facing major backlash after secretly agreeing to a massive data center deal with Verrus — a pact only revealed after it leaked. Furious residents flooded council meetings demanding transparency, warning the project could drain city resources like parks and community centers. In response, the council has scrapped the NDA and plans to form a task force to review data center policies — even considering a ban on secret deals. A state lawmaker is also set to push for a legislative pause on new data centers, shifting the conversation from approval to accountability. Listen…