PacifiCorp

Data centers are driving demand for gas from Northwest utilities, reports find

Reports reveal that electric utilities in Washington and Oregon are increasingly relying on gas-powered energy to meet the soaring demand from data centers, jeopardizing the states' greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Utilities are circumventing climate rules, investing in new gas infrastructure, and purchasing gas-powered electricity, with a significant approval for a new gas plant for a Vantage data center in Grant County, Washington. This trend raises concerns about energy reliability and the long-term environmental impact of data center growth in the Pacific Northwest.