Data centers provide the infrastructure, computing resources, and efficient cooling systems needed to train and run complex AI models. In February, Governor Ferguson issued an executive order commissioning a workgroup to recommend policies on data centers in Washington State. The workgroup will report on their findings about how data centers impact our state's economy, tax revenue, energy use, tribal resources, and the environment.

The next workgroup meeting is scheduled for late September. You can follow workgroup membership, meetings, and materials on this webpage: https://dor.wa.gov/about/data-center-workgroup

PSARA members on Third Act WA’s Power Up Team are partnering with the all-volunteer Washington Clean Energy Coalition to monitor workgroup proceedings and develop recommendations. The preliminary recommendations to the workgroup will include:

• WA emissions goals upheld. Data centers operating in Washington State should be powered by renewable energy. Data centers should not com- promise goals in reducing emissions specified in the Climate Commitment Act and the Clean Energy Transformation Act.

• No cost increases for WA customers. Data centers should not increase the cost of electricity for residential or commercial customers in our state.

• No financial support through our taxes. Local and state tax increases should not contribute to the construction and operation of data centers.

• No adverse impacts on nearby WA communities and habitats. Data centers should not affect the availability of clean water in nearby communities, as happened elsewhere, or harm fish and wildlife by releasing heated water into the environment.

• Public information available on costs and benefits. Builders and operators should be required to provide timely and transparent data on the costs and benefits of data centers. The public needs sufficient information to understand how these facilities will meet their obligations before construction begins.

• Electric service capacity and resiliency intact. Data centers should not reduce grid capacity or resiliency during extreme weather events or natural disasters.

If you’d like to get involved in the coalition’s work on data centers or other utilities and electrification projects, contact Chris Goelz or Anne Shields on the PSARA Climate and Climate Justice Committee to learn about ways you can contribute to these efforts.