WA homeowners, farmers say their land is being stolen for data centers

https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/northwest/wa-homeowners-farmers-say-their-land-is-being-stolen-for-data-centers/article_d2febd97-807d-5363-928c-6ae3d63c59ea.html

WA homeowners, farmers say their land is being stolen for data centers

Greg Kim The Seattle Times May 12, 2026
(Times paywall)

…

Grant County Public Utility District has filed lawsuits to take part of Quintero’s property along with portions of eight other homes and farms in order to build electric transmission lines — part of a quarter billion-dollar project to move more power to Quincy, a town that has become the state’s de facto data center hub.

Data centers are demanding more energy than ever to fuel artificial intelligence, and the utility is not only running out of locally sourced electricity but also power-line capacity. To build more, the PUD considered running lines through public lands, protected habitats, farms or people’s homes. In the end, the utility concluded it would be fastest to take private property.

Time is precious, as the utility stands to make millions potentially every month the new lines are up, officials said. But it’s trying to buy the land it needs to do that at a fraction of its value.

Property owners say the utility’s actions amount to theft, and are asking a judge to throw out the condemnation cases, which are awaiting a decision. They say the lines will make it more difficult to farm their land and are worried the high voltage will interfere with electronics keeping them alive.

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