Washington Lawmakers Seek to Regulate Data Centers

Bill aims to protect grid, offset potential utility rate hikes for customers

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Washington state legislators are pushing forward with a bill, House Bill 2515, that aims to regulate the growing data center industry and protect the electric grid from potential strain. The bill would require data centers to cover the costs of supplying them with power, curtail electricity use during grid stress, and disclose sustainability and energy usage data.

Why it matters

Data centers are expected to become the largest source of electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest, raising concerns about grid reliability and potential rate hikes for utility customers. The bill seeks to address these issues, but has faced pushback from the data center industry which argues it unfairly targets their sector.

The details

House Bill 2515 would require utilities to establish a tariff or policy by 2027 to ensure data centers cover the costs of supplying them with power, so those costs aren't passed on to other ratepayers. The bill also calls for data centers to curtail electricity use during grid strain and share sustainability, cooling technology, and energy/water usage data. Originally, the bill included an annual state fee for data centers, but that was eliminated in an amendment. The clean energy requirements for data centers were also loosened from the original bill draft.

  • The bill passed out of the Appropriations Committee on February 13, 2026.
  • The bill next awaits a floor vote in the Washington state House and still needs Senate approval.

The players

House Bill 2515

The legislation aimed at regulating data centers in Washington state.

Rep. Beth Doglio

The lead sponsor of House Bill 2515 and chair of the House Environment and Energy Committee.

Rep. Mary Dye

The top Republican on the Environment and Energy Committee, who sponsored an amendment to eliminate an annual state fee for data centers.

Rep. April Berg

A Democratic representative who voted against the bill in the Appropriations Committee, citing a need for more collaboration.

Puget Sound Energy

Washington's largest investor-owned utility, which supports the intent of the data center legislation but says it does not address challenges related to increased competition for renewable energy.

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What they’re saying

“These policies seek to protect ratepayers by ensuring new data centers are picking up the whole tab for new growth.”

— Rep. Beth Doglio, Lead sponsor of House Bill 2515, Chair of House Environment and Energy Committee (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

“We know that data centers really improve the economic conditions of communities that really have not had much opportunity. By putting a tax on data centers, you make our state unattractive for that opportunity.”

— Rep. Mary Dye, Top Republican on Environment and Energy Committee (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

“I really want to sit down and be collaborative because I do know of communities like in Quincy where their property taxes have been cut in half.”

— Rep. April Berg, Democratic representative (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

What’s next

The bill next awaits a floor vote in the Washington state House and still needs Senate approval.

The takeaway

This legislation highlights the growing tension between the data center industry's energy demands and the need to protect utility ratepayers and the electric grid. As data centers become a larger part of the Pacific Northwest's energy landscape, policymakers are grappling with how to balance economic development, grid reliability, and environmental concerns.