Verrus, a data center developer backed by Alphabet spin-out Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, has launched plans for a multi-building campus in Salem, Oregon, marking what would be the city's first data center development and positioning the project as a grid-reactive alternative to conventional facilities.

Campus Details and Location

The project, named Oakline at Mill Creek, is planned for the city of Salem's Mill Creek Corporate Center in Marion County, approximately 45 miles south of Portland.

Verrus launched a dedicated project website for the development this week, confirming the campus will consist of three buildings and a utility substation spread across 75 acres of land at the intersection of Turner Road SE and Deer Park Drive SE. Mill Creek Corporate Center is described as a 600-acre master-planned campus situated to the south of Salem, comprising largely undeveloped land zoned for flex-space, manufacturing, warehousing, and offices.

Verrus's proposed development would occupy a significant portion of that footprint. The final capacity of the campus has not yet been finalized, though local press reports indicate it will start in the "dozens of megawatts." Full timelines for development have not been shared, and the city of Salem has confirmed that Verrus has not yet filed a formal application for the project.

Grid-Reactive Design and Environmental Features

Central to the Oakline proposal is the company's emphasis on grid responsiveness and environmental responsibility.

Verrus said the facility will dynamically reduce energy consumption during periods when the grid is most stressed, working in close coordination with utility partners including Portland General Electric through its proprietary Stabiligrid technology.

The campus is also designed to use a closed-loop cooling system intended to reduce water use, and will rely on lithium iron phosphate battery storage as the primary backup power source to reduce emissions.

These design choices represent a deliberate departure from conventional diesel generator backup systems commonly used in large-scale data center operations.

"Unlike conventional data centers, Oakline is designed to support regional grid reliability, conserve water, operate quietly, and contribute to Salem as a responsible long-term neighbor from day one," the company states on its project website.

The name Oakline itself reflects environmental commitments embedded in the project's design. Verrus said the name references the oak trees and conservation areas the company is committed to preserving on site, as well as walking paths and trail connections planned within those preserved spaces.

City Response and Community Considerations

Salem's city manager, Krishna Namburi, offered a measured but encouraging response to the proposal. "Verrus' proposal represents a potential opportunity for Salem.

The City of Salem is committed to carefully evaluating the proposal and taking necessary steps to ensure it aligns with our community's long-term interests," Namburi said.

Namburi added that the city would continue to evaluate the proposal's economic benefits, infrastructure needs, environmental impacts, and overall community considerations as part of its normal processes.

He cited the company's interest in environmental protection, high-paying job creation, and contributing to a more diverse local economy as encouraging signs.

The project has also secured support from SEDCOR, the Strategic Economic Development Corporation of Oregon, which is serving as a community economic development partner on the project.

The development had reportedly been in discussion since last year under the codename Project Gridline before Verrus publicly unveiled it under the Oakline at Mill Creek branding this week.

Verrus and Its Backers

Verrus was launched in 2024 by Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, itself an Alphabet spin-out.

Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners was originally formed out of Sidewalk Labs in 2019 as an independent entity within the Alphabet ecosystem.

In addition to its Alphabet roots, the firm is funded by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and private infrastructure fund StepStone Group.

The company's core mission is to develop data centers that can flex their energy use in response to grid conditions, a model it describes as grid-reactive.

The Oakline project in Salem represents one of at least two major initiatives the company has in development. Verrus is also known to be targeting a 180-acre project outside Detroit in Lyon Township, Michigan, referred to as Project Flex.

Scale and Economic Significance

At a stated value of USD 5 billion, the Oakline project would represent a substantial economic investment in the Salem area and in Oregon more broadly.

If completed, it would be the first data center development in the city of Salem, a distinction that has drawn attention from both local officials and regional economic development organizations.

The scale of the campus, spanning 75 acres with three buildings and its own utility substation, reflects the growing appetite for large-footprint data center infrastructure driven by demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing workloads.

Whether Verrus's grid-reactive model will serve as a template for how future large-scale facilities are designed and operated in regions with constrained grid capacity remains to be seen as the project advances through Salem's formal review processes.