Data center growth is exploding across the region, threatening farmland, habitat, clean water, and our climate goals. Enticed by abundant water, energy and tax breaks from cash strapped local communities, Big Tech companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have made the Pacific Northwest their mark. At this Rumble, we’ll hear the latest on the growing concerns about the conflict between the spread of data centers and the protection of farms, forestland, water, and clean energy goals.
What: Rumble on the River #28: What’s the Deal with Data Centers?
Date: January 7, 2026
Time: Doors and Info Tables at 5:30 p.m., Panel at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Havurah Shalom – 825 NW 18th, Portland, Oregon
Cost: Free!
Panelists include:
Sarah Wochele, Equity Analyst & Advocate at Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board
Nellie McAdams, Executive Director at Oregon Agricultural Trust
Kelly Campbell, Policy Director at Columbia Riverkeeper
Kaleb Lay, Director of Research & Policy at Oregon Rural Action
Dr. Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Data & Society Research Institute
GETTING TO RUMBLE #28
Bikes welcome.
Car parking: Park at metered parking spots. On street parking is free after 7 PM.
Public transportation: Havurah Shalom is located along a few bus lines, and north of the MAX.
Bus Lines: 24, 77, 15, 20, & 63. Lines 24 & 77 run near the site. Lines 15, 20 & 63 run just south with an estimated 13 minute walk from the Burnside & 18th bus stop.
Max lines: Red, Blue. A 13 minute walk from Providence Park stops.
Streetcar: NS. A 2 minute walk from the NW 18th & Lovejoy stop. The NS line can be reached with the A & B Loops
ADA accessibility limitations: None
BACKGROUND
Since 2022, Rumble On The River has presented 27 community forums in neighborhoods throughout Portland and at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, University of Oregon. Rumbles bring together expert voices to discuss a range of environmental and social topics. These have included the Columbia & Willamette River ecosystems, transportation, false climate solutions, urban forestry, shade equity, risk-bonding, salmon restoration, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund and the Western Hemisphere’s most toxic site–Hanford. A recurring Rumble focus has been the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub and the potential hazards of having 90 percent of Oregon’s fuel and a dangerous mix of chemicals stored within Portland’s city limits on a riverside seismic liquefaction zone.
RUMBLE CO-SPONSORS
350 PDX
Alliance for Democracy
Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association
Bird Alliance of Oregon
Braided River Campaign
Breach Collective
Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association
Columbia Riverkeeper
Community for Earth/First Unitarian Portland
Cully Association of Neighbors
EcoFaith Recovery
Economic Justice Action Group/First Unitarian Portland
Extinction Rebellion-PDX
Frog Ferry
Havurah Climate Action Team
Human Access Project
KBOO Radio 90.7
Kenton Neighborhood Association
Linnton Neighborhood Association
Mosquito Fleet
Mt Tabor Neighborhood Association
Neighbors for Clean Air
No More Freeways
OPAL, Environmental Justice Oregon
Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club
Oregon Conservancy Foundation
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
Pearl District Neighborhood Association
P.E.S.T. Projection
Portland Committee on Human Rights in the Philippines
Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group
Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Portland Jobs with Justice
Portland Raging Grannies
Portland Youth Climate Strike
Portsmouth Neighborhood Association
St. Johns Neighborhood Association
Sauvie Island Community Association
Sunrise Movement PDX
Tank The Tanks
Third Act Oregon
Willamette Riverkeeper
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