How Amazon's Wallula gap data center plan affects water quality and power bills
Amazon's plan for three new data centers in the Wallula Gap area of Walla Walla County, Washington, has raised concerns among local residents regarding water quality and power bills. While Amazon claims the facilities will be highly water-efficient, critics disagree about potential impacts on energy costs, and the exact type of data centers remains unclear. Apple Valley News Now is awaiting an interview with Amazon for more details.
Amazon is planning to invest billions into a data center campus in the Wallula Gap area of Walla Walla County, Washington, sparking numerous questions from local residents. The project involves three data centers, similar to existing facilities in Hermiston, but there is considerable uncertainty regarding their specific water and energy consumption.
The type of data centers Amazon intends to build is a key unknown. Traditional data centers primarily use air cooling, consuming power but little water. However, the rise of AI data centers often necessitates water-intensive cooling systems, which is a significant concern for residents in Eastern Washington and Oregon's arid climate. One resident expressed fears that increased data center water use could lead to "chaos" in 5-10 years.
Amazon's FAQ page for the project states that the data centers will use air cooling 93% of the year, reserving water use for the hottest months, and claims the campus will be 80% more water efficient than the average data center. On the issue of power bills, Amazon suggests that some areas with data centers have seen lower prices, although critics dispute this, predicting the opposite outcome. The overall impact on Walla Walla County's water and energy resources remains unclear due to conflicting information and unknown project specifics. Apple Valley News Now reached out to Amazon for clarification and expects an interview next week.