Hillsboro's neighbor just took the most aggressive step yet in the regional data center fight. North Plains voted Oct. 19 to pursue what would be Oregon's first outright ban on the facilities.

The North Plains City Council voted 6-0 to direct the city manager to begin the land-use process for a permanent data center prohibition, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The motion goes beyond the moratoriums and caps other local governments have adopted. One day later, Hillsboro approved its own restrictions, capping data center acreage rather than banning the facilities entirely.

"Just ban them, because nobody wants them," Councilor Mike Shurts said during the meeting, according to OregonLive.

Councilor Anna Warrington brought the motion, according to the Hillsboro Herald. Councilor Trista Ugarte initially pushed for more community discussion before a final decision, citing concerns that future state law changes could override local code, OregonLive reported. Councilor Mark De Forge then motioned to consider moving forward with the ban.

The details of the final code changes have not been determined. State law requires the city to hold public hearings and give advance notice before a ban takes effect, OregonLive reported. City staff said the process would take time.

North Plains has no large-scale data centers. But residents have raised concerns that a long-disputed expansion of the city's urban growth boundary could open land for such projects, according to OregonLive. Two years ago, under prior leadership, the city had considered making room for 100 acres of data centers to boost tax revenue. Residents voted overwhelmingly against the growth plan.

The Hillsboro City Council unanimously approved permanent data center restrictions Oct. 20, capping total acreage at 608 acres across three zones, according to the Hillsboro News Times. Data centers already occupy close to 570 of those acres, leaving roughly 30 acres for new development, OPB reported. Hillsboro's moratorium on new standalone data centers remains in place through Nov. 24. City officials plan a second phase of regulations covering building heights, buffers, green-building requirements and other environmental protections over the winter and spring, the News Times reported.

At the county level, the Washington County Board of Commissioners remains stuck. Commissioners discussed amendments to a proposed data center resolution during an Oct. 20 work session but could not reach agreement, the Hillsboro News Times reported. Commissioner Nafisa Fai proposed adding restrictions on county property transactions and nondisclosure agreements related to data centers. County counsel cautioned that some provisions could conflict with state requirements. Commissioner Jason Snider initially suggested a compromise but withdrew his suggestions after Fai indicated she would bring a separate proposal.

The disagreement comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 election, in which Fai and Commissioner Pam Treece are competing to succeed former Chair Kathryn Harrington, according to the News Times.

Forest Grove approved its own 120-day moratorium Oct. 12. Eugene, Springfield, Clackamas County, Salem, Portland and other western Oregon jurisdictions are also preparing votes to limit or regulate data centers, OregonLive reported. The Oregon Legislature is expected to take up data center regulations after it convenes in January, according to OPB.

North Plains' planning commission and public hearings will shape the final ban policy. No timeline has been announced.