Utility workers see opportunity in potential eastern Washington data center
Discussions are ongoing regarding a potential large data center in eastern Washington. The project is seen as an economic opportunity for local unionized electrical workers, but concerns about water and electricity rates for homeowners have been raised. Developer Evista is expected to release more details soon, though the exact location remains unconfirmed.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of a large data center project in eastern Washington. While the exact location remains unconfirmed, industry groups are anticipating the development. IBEW 191, representing electrical workers in the central Washington region, views the project as a significant opportunity to create jobs and expand its apprenticeship program. Randy Curry, business manager for IBEW 191, shared his personal experience building a career through data center construction over two decades, emphasizing the long-term nature of such jobs due to constant upgrade needs.
The union also addressed common concerns about water usage, stating that modern data centers are built with closed-loop systems that reuse water for cooling, minimizing resource drain from surrounding areas. Evista, an entity involved with the project, is expected to release more information soon.
State Representative Michael Baumgartner also weighed in, stating that data centers "should not be forced into communities that don't want them" and should not lead to increased electricity or water rates for homeowners. He also called for a "moral, ethical, and legal framework" for AI supercomputing technology.