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Salem City Council will vote Tuesday on AI data centers, and you can watch online

The Daily Salem teamFrom today’s edition · 1 min read · 3 sources

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If you've followed the fight over the Verrus data center, mark Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Salem City Council will deliberate and vote on whether city zoning allows AI data centers, and the city says the special meeting will now be virtual after a scheduling mixup. It streams on YouTube starting at 6 p.m. instead of happening at Salem Public Library.

The council's data center decisions come to a head Nov. 17 and Nov. 23

  1. Nov. 9Public hearing on the code clarification was set for the council's meeting.
  2. Nov. 17Council will deliberate and vote on the data center code, streamed on YouTube at 6 p.m.
  3. Nov. 23Public hearing is scheduled on rules for data centers and battery energy storage facilities.

Sources: 1430 KYKN, Salem Reporter, USA TODAY

At issue is what "data center" means. City Attorney Dan Atchison told the council the code only includes guidelines for conventional data centers, and that an interpretation, unlike an amendment, doesn't need a more extensive process. KYKN reports a separate hearing on the rules is set for Nov. 23.

  • Site: , southeast Salem
  • Project: Verrus' Oakline at Mill Creek
  • Testimony: hundreds spoke against the Verrus center
  • Concerns: water, sound, energy use and other environmental impacts

The council has already moved against data centers three ways

ActionWhat it does
MoratoriumCovers data center construction
NDA banApplies to data center developers
Zoning resolutionBegins updating zoning and land-use rules

Source: USA TODAY

Sources: Salem Reporter, USA TODAY, 1430 KYKN

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