Quincy's Microsoft data center boom prompts new school, library, hospital, police station
The city of Quincy, Washington, has experienced significant economic and infrastructure growth over the past two decades, largely attributed to the establishment of Microsoft's data center campus. This development has led to new schools, a hospital, and public service buildings, funded by increased property values and utility agreements. Despite common concerns about data center impacts, residents and officials in Quincy highlight the substantial positive transformation.
Quincy, Washington, a small city in Central Washington's high desert, has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two decades, largely propelled by the presence of Microsoft's data center campus. Once primarily an agricultural town, its economy is now driven by computing power, leading to significant community development and improved public services.
Since Microsoft broke ground on its data center 20 years ago, Quincy's population has grown by nearly 27%. Local residents and officials credit the data centers with positively changing the city's economics, leading to a visible drop in poverty levels. This growth has enabled the construction of new schools, a new hospital, fire station, police station, and city hall. Dr. Nick Bergman, Superintendent of Quincy Schools, highlighted that increased residential assessed values, bolstered by the technology population, were crucial for voters to approve funding for a new high school and expanded arts programs. Similarly, Glenda Bishop of the Quincy Valley Medical Center stated that the new hospital, which replaced an aging facility, would not have been possible without the enhanced assessed value from data centers.
Regarding common concerns about data centers, the video notes that electricity rates in Grant County, according to the Grant County PUD, remain low at 6.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, less than half the state average. Microsoft has contributed to utility upgrades to keep consumer costs down. The company also employs a circular center and cooling water reuse facility on-site, reclaiming 1.5 million cubic meters of water annually, addressing environmental and water usage concerns. While acknowledging broader concerns heard in other communities, local leaders like Dr. Bergman emphasize the unique benefits and community pride experienced in Quincy due to these developments.