How data centers are impacting Washington state agriculture | FOX 13 Seattle

The small Chelan County community of Malaga, Washington, is grappling with the impact of a growing number of data centers replacing traditional orchards, as reported by Greg Kim of The Seattle Times. Malaga, a town of 4,000-5,000 residents known for its agricultural heritage of apples, cherries, and pears, is seeing its landscape transform into concrete structures due to tech and AI industry expansion. Residents express concerns about the changing character of their neighborhoods and the conversion of agricultural land for data center development. While these developments, such as Microsoft's data centers, promise around 250 jobs and millions in property taxes, a Chelan County Commissioner notes that this addresses a need for local jobs. However, some residents believe the negative aspects, including environmental resource demands, outweigh the benefits of a few hundred jobs. The broader challenge for more rural communities in Washington state considering data center development is the increasing demand for electricity. Securing sufficient power is identified as the biggest bottleneck for future expansion, making it a critical factor for whether more data centers will be built across the state.