Oregon is in the midst of a data center land rush, with communities across the state envisioning thousands of acres for new facilities that could bring jobs, tax revenue — and significant demands on water and power. Madras has been mentioned in those conversations. But according to the city's own interim administrator, it shouldn't be.
"No data center is coming to Madras," interim City Administrator David Clyne said this week, pushing back on speculation and media coverage that has repeatedly listed Madras alongside Prineville, Boardman, Hermiston, and Arlington as communities in line for major data center development.
The Statewide Picture
A March 2026 OregonLive investigation found that Oregon communities have collectively designated approximately 9,100 acres for potential new data center development — nearly quadrupling the industry's existing footprint in the state. That growth is concentrated near communities with existing data center infrastructure, cheap power, and available land.
Madras has some of those characteristics: rural land, proximity to fiber lines, and a history of being a target for large industrial investment. But Clyne's statement suggests that whatever conversations may have taken place at the planning level, no active project is in the pipeline for the city.
Why It Matters
Data centers are a polarizing topic in Oregon right now. In early June, more than 200 Hillsboro residents packed a city council meeting to protest tax exemptions for planned data center developments — part of a wave of anti-data center sentiment focused on tax breaks, water use, and power consumption.
For Jefferson County, the calculus would be different. The region lacks the water abundance of the Columbia Gorge corridor, and its power grid infrastructure is more constrained than communities closer to major transmission lines. A large data center could strain local utilities while providing relatively few permanent jobs per acre of land consumed.
At the same time, advocates for rural economic development have pointed out that Jefferson County has some of the highest unemployment rates in Oregon and limited options for large-scale private investment.
What's Actually on the Table
City Hall is currently focused on more immediate priorities: filling three vacant leadership positions (city administrator, police chief, finance director), completing the FY 2025-26 budget process, and the ongoing Highway 97 improvement project that will reshape the city's main commercial corridor.
For residents who have seen the data center headlines and wondered what it means for Madras — for now, apparently, nothing. The Madras Bulletin will continue to monitor economic development discussions at the city and county level.