Where agriculture meets technology: Inside the small Washington town that became a data center hub
Quincy, Washington, has transformed into a major data center hub over 20 years, significantly boosting city tax revenues and services. This growth, however, has led to increased electricity demand, prompting the Grant County Public Utility District to propose a transmission expansion plan. Local landowners are opposing this plan due to eminent domain concerns and potential impacts on their property and health.
The small agricultural town of Quincy, Washington, has experienced significant growth and financial benefits over the past two decades, largely due to the influx of data centers from companies like Microsoft, Sabey, Vantage, H5 Data Centers, CyrusOne, and NTT Data. These facilities now contribute 57% of Quincy's tax revenue, enabling the city to fund new infrastructure like a library, police station, and high school. State Representative Alex Ybarra attributes the city's enhanced services and population growth to the eight data centers located on the town's perimeter.
However, this rapid development has led to increased power demands, pushing the Grant County Public Utility District (PUD) to its maximum load. The PUD is implementing a $260 million Quincy Transmission Expansion Plan to add six new transmission lines by 2029, including a 32-mile line from Wanapum to Mountain View. This plan has sparked opposition from local residents, including homeowner Jacque Rasmussen, whose land is subject to eminent domain for the new lines. Landowners have refused initial compensation offers, arguing it is insufficient, and have filed a lawsuit in Grant County Superior Court to challenge the PUD's condemnation efforts.
Environmental concerns also persist, particularly regarding air pollution from data center backup diesel generators. While the Department of Ecology now requires health impact assessments for new or expanded data centers, former Mayor Patty Martin expressed doubts about the enforcement of permit limits and the accuracy of air quality monitoring. Despite these challenges, data centers in Quincy utilize closed-loop cooling and 'free cooling' to minimize water consumption, using only 4-5% of the city's water. The industry also contributes to workforce development through local education programs.