Klickitat County faces surge in data center proposals
At least six hyperscale data centers are being proposed in Klickitat County, potentially requiring up to 5,655.5 megawatts of power. Residents are seeking a moratorium while county officials develop an ordinance, but a proposed six-month pause failed to receive a second and no site permits or construction have begun.
At least six hyperscale data centers are in various stages of proposal in Klickitat County, with developers seeking access to as much as 5,655.5 megawatts from the Bonneville Power Administration and Klickitat Public Utility District. One project associated with Blue Owl Capital has reached a formal 160-megawatt power agreement at a former aluminum smelter near Goldendale, while other proposals involve properties in Dallesport and unidentified sites tied to Shell Energy and its subsidiary Savion.
Residents have circulated a petition calling for a development moratorium and have criticized utility commissioners for signing nondisclosure agreements with developers. Commissioner Todd Andrews’ proposed six-month moratorium died without a second, while Commissioners Lori Zoller and Ron Ihrig support completing a permanent data center ordinance. The draft ordinance would regulate industrial-scale facilities, require applicants to meet zoning standards and impose a one-mile setback from homes, but it remained under legal review and no data center site permits had been submitted.