Part 4 Data Centers in the Tri-Cities: The Questions Local Leaders Should Ask

Part 4 Data Centers in the Tri-Cities: The Questions Local Leaders Should Ask

This is Part 4 and the final article in the series on data centers in the Tri-Cities and Washington State. Part 1 explained what data centers are, Part 2 discussed their economic benefits, and Part 3 looked at the risks. This last article ties those ideas together by highlighting questions that local leaders, residents, and business groups should ask before backing major new projects.

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The first question is whether a project aligns with the region’s long-term economic goals. A data center should not be judged solely on the size of the investment or the building itself. Leaders should ask whether it enhances the Tri-Cities’ role in energy, science, and technology, and whether it helps attract related industries, workforce training, and infrastructure that benefit the broader region.


The second question is who will bear the costs for the necessary infrastructure. Data centers may require significant electric service, transmission upgrades, substations, water systems, roads, and fiber. Communities should ensure these costs are clearly allocated and not passed on to residents or local businesses. Even a strong project can lose public support if people feel they are being asked to subsidize it.


The third question is whether the project uses power and water responsibly. This includes reviewing cooling systems, water reuse, energy efficiency, load management, and electricity sources. The fourth question is whether the public benefit is clear and measurable. Leaders should ask about permanent jobs, construction jobs, tax revenue, and whether local workers and businesses will have a genuine opportunity to benefit.
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For the Tri-Cities, data centers can be a good fit if growth is carefully managed. The region has many of the right strengths, and AI will likely continue to boost demand. However, projects should be supported because they benefit the community, not just because the industry is expanding. The best approach is to welcome investment, ask tough questions, protect key resources, and ensure the region gains long-term benefits.

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• Washington State Department of Revenue, Data Center Workgroup
• Washington State Department of Revenue, Data centers sales and use tax exemption eligibility
• Washington State Department of Revenue, Sales and use tax exemption for rural data centers expanded
• Washington State Department of Revenue, Data Center Workgroup Preliminary Report
• U.S. Department of Energy, Clean Energy Resources to Meet Data Center Electricity Demand
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Reuse Case Study: Quincy, Washington
• Bonneville Power Administration, Resource Planning
• International Energy Agency, AI is set to drive surging electricity demand from data centres

This article was written with contributions from AI to organize the information and improve its readability.