Washington can’t afford to wait on data center regulations

The article highlights the need for Washington state to pass legislation to regulate the rapidly expanding data center industry. Big Tech companies are building massive data centers across the country, including along the Columbia River, and taking advantage of tax incentives while shirking responsibility for their energy and water usage. The proposed House Bill 2515 would require data centers to pay their fair share, ensure energy reliability, transition to 100% clean energy, and disclose their energy and water use. However, Big Tech is pushing back against these regulations, as seen in the case of Google's data centers in Oregon, where the company fought to keep its water usage a "trade secret." The article argues that Washington lawmakers must act quickly to hold data centers accountable and protect communities from the economic and environmental consequences of unchecked industry growth.