Umatilla, Oregon, has emerged as a focal point for cloud infrastructure, drawing the attention of hyperscale giants and innovative providers alike. With cloud adoption accelerating rapidly and the demand for reliable, sustainable data center capacity increasing, Sabey’s expansion to the area marked a strategic leap forward for the entire cloud ecosystem.
Why Umatilla?
The Columbia Cloud Corridor, a stretch of towns and cities along the Columbia River in north-central Oregon and southern Washington, has become a prime destination for hyperscale and enterprise data centers. Umatilla, The Dalles, Boardman and Quincy are key locations within this corridor, hosting major facilities for cloud providers, including Sabey.
This area marks an ideal location for digital infrastructure. With a seismically stable ground and cool, mild climate, risk is minimized and energy efficiency maximized. The Columbia River provides abundant hydroelectric power, enabling data centers to lower energy costs further while having a smaller carbon footprint. In addition, the area’s proximity to diverse fiber routes ensures low-latency connectivity to major West Coast metros.
Due to these factors, the Columbia River Cloud Corridor is home to at least five major data centers within a 60-mile radius, creating an ecosystem of cloud, colocation and enterprise operators that drives further investment in both infrastructure and talent. For Umatilla specifically, Sabey’s facility will sit just 200 miles from Hillsboro, Oregon’s established data center hub, offering an essential alternative for those seeking geographic diversity and robust disaster recovery options.
Strengthening the Cloud Backbone Through Sustainability
The cloud is only as strong as the infrastructure behind it. With SDC Umatilla, Sabey will work to reinforce the backbone of the digital economy by delivering scalable, sustainable and resilient capacity where it’s needed most. As enterprises seek to future-proof their operations, Sabey’s Oregon expansion offers flexibility, reliability and sustainability.
SDC Umatilla is purpose-built for hyper-efficiency, with a similar building design in a similar region (SDC Columbia in East Wenatchee, WA) earning an average annualized Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of just 1.25, significantly lowering emissions and total cost of ownership. Oregon’s utility grid is already 40% powered by renewables, with a state target of 100% by 2040. Sabey is raising the bar even higher, committing to net-zero carbon emissions at Umatilla by 2029, eleven years ahead of the state’s mandate.
The region’s unique sustainability advantages led Sabey to invest nearly $950 million in a 60-acre campus. With two purpose-built buildings totaling over 714,000 square feet and supporting 150+ megawatts of capacity, SDC Umatilla will be designed to meet the needs of both enterprise and hyperscale clients, today and into the future.
