Two Washington County commissioners want a task force on data center development, a move that could shape how Bethany, Cedar Mill and other unincorporated communities handle the fast-growing industry.

District 1 Commissioner Nafisa Fai and District 2 Commissioner Pam Treece formally asked Board Chair Kathryn Harrington to create the panel, according to Cedar Mill News. The full Board of County Commissioners will discuss the proposal at its Tuesday, Sept. 1 work session.

No data centers currently operate in unincorporated Washington County. The facilities are concentrated in cities, primarily Hillsboro. But the county is among Oregon's top locations for the industry, and the task force would guide how the board handles future proposals.

The joint request is notable because the two commissioners appeared to disagree on the county's role just days earlier.

On Aug. 24, Fai announced a proposal to temporarily pause new data center and AI computing facility permits within the county's land-use jurisdiction and Clean Water Services' authority.

"Before we approve more, we should understand the complete picture," Fai said in her Aug. 24 announcement.

"That means asking not only whether a project can be accommodated, but whether our policies protect public infrastructure, safeguard taxpayers and deliver a fair and measurable net community benefit."

At the same board meeting, Treece took a different stance. She said the county's role "is clearly around assessment and taxation only. We do not have an enterprise zone. We do not have a data center … you need to be talking to Hillsboro."

Now they are aligned. That the two commissioners jointly back a task force suggests a shift, though neither has publicly explained what changed. Treece posted a press release about the joint request on her Facebook page, but the text was not available for review.

The county-level discussion comes as data center policy intensifies across the region. Hillsboro's City Council voted Aug. 2 to impose a four-month moratorium on new facilities. Statewide, data centers will receive nearly $500 million in property tax breaks in 2026 alone, according to Oregonian reporting cited by the Portland Tribune. Gov. Tina Kotek's advisory committee will not recommend a statewide moratorium. Its draft report is expected by mid-September, with a final public meeting Sept. 23.

The Sept. 1 work session is a discussion session, and no vote is expected. The outcome had not been reported as of publication. Residents can check the Washington County Board of Commissioners page for meeting details and public comment opportunities.