Story perspectives

Hermiston Annexes 800 Acres for Tech Job Growth

9/11/2025

49 9

Summary

Story summary

Hermiston, Oregon, is annexing 800 acres to grow its data center industry and attract tech firms like Amazon Web Services.
The city council approved the plan, with one councilor opposing due to water supply concerns.
Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan noted data centers may use less water than agriculture, sourcing it from the Columbia River.
A 2024 economic analysis forecasts over 1,500 tech jobs in 20 years.
Increased power demand may raise electricity costs, distributed regionally.

1 of 1

Story summary

Hermiston, Oregon, is annexing 800 acres to grow its data center industry and attract tech firms like Amazon Web Services.
The city council approved the plan, with one councilor opposing due to water supply concerns.
Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan noted data centers may use less water than agriculture, sourcing it from the Columbia River.
A 2024 economic analysis forecasts over 1,500 tech jobs in 20 years.
Increased power demand may raise electricity costs, distributed regionally.