Data Centers: Tree Loss Where We Need Trees Most
- Fran Warren
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and online services have become
essential parts of modern life. Behind every online search, streamed movie, and
AI-generated response is a data center—a massive warehouse filled with servers
that store information and perform billions of calculations.
As demand for AI and cloud computing accelerates, data centers are being built at
an unprecedented rate. While they provide valuable digital infrastructure, they also
have environmental costs that are often overlooked—including the loss of trees and
natural habitats.
The Environmental Cost of Data Centers
Data centers themselves are not a leading cause of global deforestation, but their
rapid expansion can significantly affect local ecosystems.
Construction of large data center campuses often requires clearing hundreds of
acres of land. The result can include:
• Removal of mature trees and forests
• Loss of wildlife habitat
• Fragmentation of green corridors that animals depend on
• Replacement of natural landscapes with industrial development
The environmental impacts extend well beyond tree removal.
Data centers are among the most energy-intensive buildings in the world,
consuming approximately 1.5% of global electricity in 2024. As AI continues to
expand, that figure could grow substantially over the next decade.
Many facilities also require enormous quantities of water to cool their servers. A
single large data center may use as much water as a town of 10,000 to 50,000
people. In drought-prone regions such as Oregon, increasing demands on local
water supplies raise additional concerns for forests and communities alike.
The industry also generates electronic waste as servers, batteries, and other
equipment reach the end of their useful lives.
Why This Matters in Oregon
Oregon has become an attractive location for data centers because of its relatively
inexpensive electricity, cool climate, and available land. Unfortunately, some of
that land includes valuable tree cover.
One example is Portland General Electric’s proposal to construct a second
high-voltage transmission line through Forest Park. The project would remove
approximately 376 trees within an existing utility corridor, with growing electricity
demand from data centers being a major driver for expanding the electrical grid.
Another proposal in the greater Washington County area would have removed a
century-old Oregon white oak simply to accommodate a wider driveway. The
driveway could have been relocated, but the tree’s significance was overlooked.
Oregon white oaks deserve special consideration. They are among Oregon’s most
climate-resilient native trees and provide critical habitat for hundreds of species.
Unfortunately, the broad, level landscapes preferred for data center construction
often overlap with ideal oak habitat.
A Growing Concern During Drought
These projects come at a time when Oregon continues to experience one of the
most severe and prolonged droughts in its recorded history. Many forests have endured years of heat and water stress, making mature trees increasingly valuable. Every healthy tree preserved today helps shade streams, cool neighborhoods, store carbon, provide wildlife habitat, and improve resilience against future climate extremes.
Better Design Is Possible
The good news is that data centers do not have to come at the expense of healthy
ecosystems.
Many improvements are already being adopted or explored, including:
• Powering facilities with renewable energy such as wind, solar, hydroelectric,
or nuclear power.
• Designing campuses to preserve mature trees whenever possible.
• Avoiding unnecessary removal of significant trees during site planning.
• Reducing water consumption through more efficient cooling technologies.
• Reusing or recycling server equipment to reduce electronic waste.
These innovations demonstrate that technology and environmental stewardship can
coexist when thoughtful planning is part of the process.
What Local Communities Can Do
Cities such as Hillsboro, Sherwood, and Wilsonville have an opportunity to
establish stronger environmental standards before approving future data center
developments.
In rural Washington County, data centers are currently not permitted. Residents can
help protect existing county policies while encouraging local governments to adopt
clear requirements for responsible siting and design if future proposals arise.
Communities across the country have successfully influenced or modified data
center projects to better protect forests, water resources, and neighborhoods. Local
involvement can make a meaningful difference. Treekeepers encourages residents
to advocate for stronger environmental review and thoughtful design standards
whenever data center proposals are considered.
For additional resources outlining practical strategies to reduce the environmental
impacts of future data center development:
● The most significant improvements come from a surprisingly simple
solution: clean energy. Switching data centers to 100% renewable
power—such as solar, wind, hydro, or nuclear—can reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 85 to 90%, regardless of the cooling technology used. To learn
more about some innovations like these that are being tried, click here.
● It’s possible to consider requirements that would improve these problems
before approving any new data centers in the county. Click here for one
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Resources and Further Reading
● Portland Cuts Quiet Deal as PGE Fells Forest Park Trees, Critics Erupt.
Emily Nguyen, Hoodline, July 7, 2026,
● The Environmental Impact of Data Centers and Artificial Intelligence,
Emiko Uohara, Office of Sustainability - Student Blog, March 6, 2025.
● Oregon Drought, Oregon.gov.
● Drought Stress in Conifers, Oregon Department of Forestry, October 2023.
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