Sydney Brownstone — ProPublica

Sydney Brownstone

How a Washington Tax Break for Data Centers Snowballed Into One of the State’s Biggest Corporate Giveaways

Companies have saved $474 million since 2018, with most of the windfall going to Washington-based tech giant Microsoft. Lawmakers repeatedly expanded who qualifies, and they lowered the number of jobs expected in return.

Aug. 4, 5 a.m. EDT

Data Centers Demand a Massive Amount of Energy. Here’s How Some States Are Tackling the Industry’s Impact.

As the draw on the grid from these computer warehouses undergoes explosive growth, states that offer tax exemptions to support the industry are considering whether their approach still makes sense.

Aug. 1, 5 a.m. EDT

Washington Is Giving Tax Breaks to Data Centers That Threaten the State’s Green Energy Push

In 2019, Washington adopted legislation requiring electric utilities to go carbon-neutral in a decade. Yet lawmakers continued to promote the growth of energy-guzzling data centers with generous tax incentives.

July 28, 5 a.m. EDT

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