Rep. Rick Larsen Calls for Restrictions to Prevent Data Center Costs From Shifting to Ratepayers
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen says data center developers should pay for needed grid and infrastructure upgrades rather than shifting costs to utility ratepayers. He supports stronger labor, environmental and community-benefit requirements and backs temporary data center moratoriums enacted by Skagit and Snohomish counties.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen said data center growth in the Pacific Northwest could increase electricity costs, strain water systems and burden public infrastructure unless developers follow stricter standards. He called for labor protections, community benefits agreements, environmental safeguards and developer-funded grid improvements.
Larsen said he voted for the Ratepayers Protection Act and supports legislation to roll back tax incentives for large AI data centers. He also endorsed temporary data center moratoriums recently enacted by Skagit County and Snohomish County, saying local governments should have time to determine how to manage major data center projects.