VoltaGrid

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

Electric utilities in Washington and Oregon are increasingly turning to gas-powered energy to meet the rapid demand from new data centers, jeopardizing state-established emission reduction targets. Reports from Columbia Riverkeeper and Sightline Institute detail how utilities are investing in new gas infrastructure or purchasing gas-powered electricity, with some data centers also using on-site gas generators. Companies like Amazon and Microsoft claim to be investing in clean energy, though Amazon was fined for an air quality permit violation at an Oregon data center.