Wyden: Prineville to Get Power for Data Centers

From the need for jobs to a possible war with Iran, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., got an earful from a crowd of about 75 people in Bend on Saturday.

Wyden began his 614th the town hall with some news he received earlier in the day about the data centers in Prineville.

Last fall, Wyden pulled together a community meeting between the Bonneville Power Administration, utilities and community leaders to get a substation and the power lines needed in order to help not just Facebook but the planned, recently announced Apple and other future data centers.

But they needed to speed the process up, and early Saturday, he received and shared the good news.

“Early next year, we ought to be in position to have in place the power systems to support hundreds of good-paying construction jobs and the technical positions for those data centers,” Wyden said. “I’ve talked to the Apple executives — they want to come. That means employment, that means economic development for Central Oregon — some good news this afternoon.”

Wyden also discussed planned post office closures and says he’s worried about how they will affect voters in rural areas. Wyden is offering an amendment to make sure some of the changes don’t go forward before the May election.

Jobs were on many minds, with one member of the audience asking Wyden for help.

“Let us develop a new economic base, we can’t survive on tourism,” said the man.” It won’t be back until three or five years, we can’t survive that long. We need help.”

After the Bend town hall, Wyden went to Prineville for a similar event. On Sunday, Wyden will be in Lakeview and Klamath Falls for two more town halls.

Be sure to play our Web-exclusive video with the senator’s responses to questions about jobs, threatened post office closures and what Congress can do to help more people avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.