MORE THAN HALF OF WASHINGTON STATE’S DATA CENTERS ARE LOCATED IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS

More than half of Washington state's data centers are located in environmental justice areas, according to a report. This concentration is largely due to the availability of cheap electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration and its network of dams. The presence of these data centers, operated by companies like Microsoft and Amazon, has raised concerns about their impact on the surrounding environment.

The data centers, including hyperscale operations, have been attracted to central and eastern Washington due to the affordable electricity. As the demand for data centers grows, so do concerns about the environmental effects of these operations. However, specific details on the exact number of data centers and their environmental impact are not provided in the available information.

The location of data centers in environmental justice areas is significant because it can exacerbate existing environmental and health issues in these communities. The concentration of data centers in these areas highlights the need for consideration of environmental justice in the planning and development of these facilities.

• More than half of Washington state's data centers are in environmental justice areas
• Cheap electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration attracts data centers
• Concerns are growing about the environmental impact of these operations

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