Data centers in Washington are jeopardizing the state’s green energy goals

Washington's push for carbon neutrality by 2030 is at odds with tax incentives promoting energy-intensive data centers, which strain the power grid and threaten green energy efforts.

Lulu Ramadan and Sydney Brownstone report for The Seattle Times in partnership with ProPublica.

In short:

Grant County's data centers, drawn by cheap hydroelectricity, now consume more power than any other local sector, leading to an energy crunch.
The state’s hydropower is finite, forcing counties to use unspecified, often carbon-emitting, energy sources to meet rising demand.
Legislative efforts to study data center energy consumption were vetoed, leaving gaps in understanding their impact on the power grid.

Key quote:

“Our existing hydro system is pretty much tapped out. So you’ve got a dilemma of how you’ll meet this additional load from data centers with clean resources or, frankly, with any resources.”

— Randall Hardy, energy consultant and former administrator of Bonneville Power Administration.

Why this matters:

Balancing economic growth and environmental goals is critical as data centers increase energy demand, potentially undermining the state's commitment to green energy and leading to higher electricity rates and reliability issues.

www.propublica.org

Data centers in Washington are jeopardizing the state’s green energy goals

Net zero 'unstoppable' at COP31, clean energy chief says

How Europe’s trash ends up on Turkey’s beaches

‘We’re hardly producing any power’: Can Europe’s solar boom survive a cloudy winter?

Solar above, fish below: Double-decker farm's vast energy potential

Democrats plan to push clean energy in Congress as Trump backs fossil fuels

Climate change is bringing dengue fever to the high Himalayas

Drought driven by climate change is redefining how disease spreads, study finds

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.