The rules on data centers in Washington
2 data center moratoriums on file in Washington, alongside 2 tracked policy events in the state. 258 large load interconnection requests are recorded here, totalling 50.0 GW. As of 15 September 2026.
In plain words
Washington has paused or restricted new data centers in at least one place. That is a decision by a government, not by us — the rulings are listed below with links. Meanwhile 258 big new power users have asked to connect here. See where they are in Washington, or check your own address.
Every decision on file for Washington
2 tracked
Key dates for projects here
no dated windows published
| Queue | What closes | Closes | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| FERC | FERC large-load show cause — stakeholder comments on RTO responses Comments on the six RTO/ISO responses to the FPA section 206 show-cause orders of 18 June 2026 (PJM EL26-67, SPP EL26-68, NYISO EL26-69, MISO EL26-70… | No date published yet | unconfirmed source |
| FERC | FERC RM26-4 — generic large-load rulemaking Still at ANOPR stage. | No date published yet | confirmed source |
| FERC | Georgia PSC - Georgia Power must file large-load contracts 30 days before execution A standing obligation rather than a dated one: large-load contracts must be filed with the commission at least 30 days before they are executed. | No date published yet | confirmed source |
A date marked confirmed was checked by a person against the authority's own tariff, order or form page. Anything else is listed so you know it exists, with a link so you can check it yourself. Full calendar.
Federal decisions, which apply everywhere
6 items
| Date | What happened | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-12 | DOE cancels all three remaining proposed NIETC transmission corridors Lake Erie–Canada, Southwestern Grid Connector, and Tribal Energy Access corridors cancelled; the federal corridor-designation framework is dead. State siting is now the whole game. source | final |
| 2026-06-18 | FERC §206 show-cause orders to all six RTOs on large-load integration (EL26-67 through EL26-72) Every RTO/ISO must justify or reform its large-load interconnection rules. PJM (EL26-67) responses due 2026-08-17; comments due 2026-09-16. Compliance filings will become a primary structured source of load-queue transparency. source | open |
| 2026-03-01 | FERC further guidance on co-located load interconnection (EL25-49 line of cases) Follow-on to the Talen–Susquehanna ISA rejection (ER24-2172) and the PJM co-location show-cause; sets the frame for behind-the-meter data centers at generators. source | open |
| 2026-02-12 | EIA-860S emergency-approved: state air-permit inventory of >1 MW backup generators New collection motivated by AI data centers; backup-genset permits are the best forthcoming government proxy for data-center locations. EIA also running voluntary DC pilot surveys in TX, WA, NoVA. source | in-effect |
| 2025-10-23 | FERC opens RM26-4: Interconnection of Large Loads to the Interstate Transmission System DOE §403 directive forced an expedited rulemaking on large-load interconnection (large load defined >20 MW). ANOPR concepts: 60-day studies, cost allocation, co-location reliability rules. source | open |
| 2024-05-13 | Order 2023/2023-A generator interconnection reform — cluster transitions ongoing All ISOs moved to cluster studies with readiness deposits; PJM transition cycles TC1/TC2, ISO-NE first cluster 2026, CAISO Cluster 15. Reshapes every queue metric on this dashboard. source | implementing |
Big new power users recorded in Washington
258 requests
Requests to connect large new customers — data centers, factories, electrification — rather than power plants. Nobody is required to publish these, so what exists publicly is thin: this is what we hold, not what exists.
| Request | County | Capacity | Status | Queue | Stated use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Range | Adams County | 3.3 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| DOE Data Center | Benton County | 2.8 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Longhorn-McNary 230 kV Loop | Umatilla and Morrow | 2.2 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| CAC Green H2 Facility | Columbia County | 1.6 GW | withdrawn | BPA | not stated |
| Lakeside Industries | Klickitat County | 1.3 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| McNary 230 kV Looped | Umatilla | 1.3 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| SSP-Sunset | Yakima County | 1.2 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Second 1200 MW Data Center Load | Walla Walla County | 1.2 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| 1200 MW Data Center Loads | Walla Walla County | 1.2 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| PSE Cherry Point | Whatcom County | 1.2 GW | withdrawn | BPA | not stated |
| Vines Rest 1000 MW | Klickitat County | 1.0 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Energizer II | Klickitat County | 1.0 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Dallesport Server Farm | Klickitat County | 1.0 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Two Rivers 230 kV | Umatilla | 1.0 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Marion-Chemawa | Marion | 1.0 GW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Yellow Rosebush | Wasco | 970 MW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Stack IPI Data Center | Klickitat County | 958 MW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Plymouth 950 MW | Benton County | 950 MW | active | BPA | not stated |
| West Richland Data Center Campus | Benton County | 912 MW | active | BPA | not stated |
| Plymouth Data Center Campus | Benton County | 864 MW | withdrawn | BPA | not stated |
Most of these filings do not say what the power is for. “Not stated” is the filing's own silence — these rows must not be described as data centers.
Which counties in Washington this is happening in
top 10 by power requested
| County | Waiting to connect | Capacity queued |
|---|---|---|
| Benton County | 21 | 11.6 GW |
| Yakima County | 14 | 6.5 GW |
| Klickitat County | 23 | 6.2 GW |
| Douglas County | 8 | 3.6 GW |
| Grant County | 12 | 3.5 GW |
| Walla Walla County | 8 | 1.7 GW |
| Lewis County | 4 | 1.6 GW |
| Lincoln County | 8 | 1.6 GW |
| Spokane County | 11 | 973 MW |
| Adams County | 10 | 923 MW |
Before you commit to a site in Washington
A county report puts the policy position, the queue and the deadlines for one county in a sourced PDF, with the date each figure was true on every page. The first one is free.
Get a free county report Washington interconnection queue The deadline calendar