Hydroelectric power in Washingtonstate fueling the growth of data centers, but worries persist about its long-term sustainability.
In the small town of Quincy, Washington, a data center boom is underway, transforming the community and raising environmental concerns.
Quincy, known for its agricultural roots and majority Hispanic population of around 7,500 people, has become a hub for data centers that power modern internet and artificial intelligence. These centers, such as the one housing ChatGPT and online medical records, bring economic benefits, leveraging cheap hydropower from the Columbia River. However, they also pose significant challenges to the town's resources and the state's climate goals.
Patty Martin and Danna Dal Porto, environmental activists, are concerned about the long-term strain on resources from data centers. They fear that the exponential growth of these centers could undermine Washington state's climate goals, particularly in relation to air quality, electricity consumption, and water usage.
Air quality risks stem from diesel backup generators used by data centers. Although these generators run infrequently due to reliable hydropower, their diesel emissions contribute to air pollution risks. The Washington State Department of Ecology monitors and regulates these emissions through air quality permits, assessing health risks from diesel particles, especially in Quincy where many data centers are clustered.
The exponential growth of data centers heavily increases electricity consumption, projected to account for up to 10% of Washington’s total power use by 2030. This strains the grid—largely powered by hydropower—which faces challenges from climate change and competing demands. Utilities have to buy additional power, some from fossil fuels, risking setbacks to Washington’s carbon reduction goals. There is ongoing debate about allowing natural gas to supplement energy needs to support the data centers, which raises concerns about long-term climate commitments.
Data centers require vast amounts of water for cooling servers, drawing on Columbia Basin river systems. This raises water scarcity concerns, especially as climate change reduces snowpack that feeds these rivers. The data centers’ water use competes with agriculture and salmon habitats, putting further stress on a vulnerable ecosystem. Calls for stricter water efficiency and conservation measures are increasing, though enforcement remains inconsistent.
The town's infrastructure is also feeling the strain. The water demands of data centers can be a strain on small towns like Quincy, especially when compared to the relatively light employment offered by these centers. Microsoft employs about 40-50 people per data center building in Quincy, while the average large data center employs about 150 people long-term. An entry-level data center technician in Quincy earns about $60,000 per year and doesn't need a college degree.
Despite these challenges, Quincy continues to attract data center projects. The Port of Quincy is considering becoming its own utility, and building new natural gas facilities to supply the growing appetite for power. The home of the Jackrabbits has a gleaming new auditorium and athletic facilities, including a weight room with panoramic windows. The Quincy Valley Medical Center also offers emergency services, wound care, imaging, and a new physical therapy center complete with a pool.
The town's school, Quincy High School, was recently renovated thanks to a $108 million bond, mostly funded by property taxes on data centers. The school also has a comprehensive career and technical training department, offering courses in everything from wildfire science to computer programming.
The Trump administration showed enthusiasm for the data center bonanza, but Martin and Dal Porto remain vigilant, fighting for rules requiring pollution controls on generator smoke and advocating for stricter water efficiency and conservation measures. They worry that residents will experience blackouts or limited water before data centers do, "because they have sensitive information." They also argue that this would undermine the state's goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions 95% by 2050.
In Grant County, hydropower and water are maxed out, and the Grant County Public Utility District has 79 pending applications for data center projects. Across the country, other data center clusters are going up that don't have the abundant power and water supplied by the Columbia River, raising questions about the sustainability of this industry in small towns.
[1] Washington State Department of Ecology, Air Quality Permits for Data Centers, https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gis/air/permits/facilities/datacenter.html [2] Northwest Energy Coalition, Data Centers and the Grid, https://www.nwenergy.org/programs/data-centers-and-the-grid [3] National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Data Center Energy Efficiency, https://www.nrel.gov/grid/dc-energy-efficiency.html [4] Union of Concerned Scientists, Data Centers and Climate Change, https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/data-centers-and-climate-change [5] Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Data Center Energy Efficiency, https://www.pnnl.gov/main/energy/research-technology/electric-grids/data-center-energy-efficiency
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