H-3354.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2515
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By House Environment & Energy (originally sponsored by Representatives Doglio, Ramel, Wylie, Stearns, Duerr, Parshley, Ryu, Simmons, Kloba, Berry, Scott, Fosse, Pollet, Macri, Street, and Reed)
READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.
AN ACT Relating to addressing emerging large energy use facilities; amending RCW 19.29A.010 and 70A.65.120 ; adding new sections to chapter 19.29A RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that data centers are emerging large energy use facilities that have the potential to significantly affect Washington's energy affordability and reliability, local communities, jobs, environment, and economy.
Data centers are projected to grow rapidly over the next several years, making up the largest source of expected electricity load growth in the Pacific Northwest. The legislature established tax incentives for data centers starting in 2010. However, since that time, the data center industry has undergone major changes. Data centers are growing larger to support artificial intelligence, and there is high uncertainty about many aspects of the future of this rapidly evolving, emerging industry.