WCEC and Third Act Washington jointly recommended six conditions to the Washington Data Center Workgroup that data centers should meet to earn the sales tax exemption they are seeking. The letter argues tax incentives are only appropriate when data centers actively help — rather than harm — Washington’s existing energy, affordability, reliability, and equity goals.
- Data centers should pay full cost of any infrastructure they require, and additionally help reduce energy costs in host communities through clean-energy investments.
- They should deliver increased local electrical reliability and not compete with other customers during peak demand or emergencies.
- They should produce zero greenhouse gas emissions and create at least two long-term clean-energy jobs for every data-center job.
- They should not burden communities with noise, water, air, or visual impacts.
- They should not rely on speculative future energy resources — only commercially available, proven supply.
- The letter cites the BYD HaoHan battery and a Rewiring America heat-pump/storage analysis as evidence these conditions are technically achievable.