Special Hillsboro City Council Meeting: July 27, 2026

The City of Hillsboro held a special City Council meeting on July 27, 2026, to consider adopting Resolution 2932, which proposes a temporary 120-day moratorium on new data center and battery energy storage system (BESS) developments. The moratorium aims to provide time for the city to conduct necessary environmental, economic, and health impact studies and to develop updated land use regulations addressing concerns such as resource consumption, clustering effects, noise, and public safety. The council heard extensive public testimony both in support of and opposition to the moratorium, with labor unions emphasizing job opportunities, environmental groups and residents raising concerns about health and environmental impacts, and business representatives urging careful stakeholder engagement. Council members discussed definitions related to AI computing and the inclusion of battery storage systems in the moratorium, with some favoring separating BESS for independent review. The council unanimously voted to approve the moratorium, with plans to monitor progress and potentially extend the moratorium beyond 120 days as needed. The meeting also addressed procedural matters, transparency, and community involvement in the ongoing regulatory process.