Summary

• Verrus is advancing a large data center proposal at Mill Creek Corporate Center in Salem, Oregon, with a campus plan that includes multiple buildings and a utility substation.
• The project remains in early review and has not received city approval, but Salem has begun a formal public process with hearings and planning review.
• Local discussion is concentrated on water use, power demand, and infrastructure needs, alongside promises of closed-loop cooling, battery storage, and grid-responsive operations.
• Supporters emphasize construction work, permanent jobs, and tax revenue, while opponents want more scrutiny of environmental and utility impacts.
• The site’s zoning appears to allow data centers, making permitting and infrastructure review more important than land-use eligibility itself.
• City officials are framing the proposal as something that must pass through standard planning, engineering, utility, and regulatory checks, likely alongside a community benefits agreement.