Data Center Workgroup

On February 3, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson issued Executive Order 25-05 commissioning the creation of a Data Center Workgroup (Workgroup).

The Workgroup will discuss certain impacts of data centers and generate findings on our state’s economy, tax revenue, energy use, tribal resources, and the environment. It is further directed to consider possible policy recommendations that “. . . balance industry growth, tax revenue needs, energy constraints, and sustainability.”

The Workgroup’s findings and any policy recommendations are due to the Governor by December 1, 2025.

The Executive Order designates the Department of Revenue to lead the Workgroup. All meeting notices, materials, and other information will be available on this webpage.

The Governor’s Office encourages public comment at any stage of the Workgroup’s progress. Send us your comments online.

If you would like updates on the Data Center Workgroup, sign up here.

Membership

State Government

• Beau Perschbacher, Commerce & Economic Development Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
• Kate Brouns, Climate & Energy Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
• Brian Rybarik, Chair, Utilities and Transportation Commission
• Bill Kehoe, Director and Washington State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
• Glenn Blackmon, Energy Policy Director, Department of Commerce
• Joseph Williams, Tech Industry Economic Development Director, Department of Commerce
• Diane Butorac, Clean Energy Coordination Section Manager, Department of Ecology
• David Duvall, Senior Tax Policy Coordinator, Department of Revenue

Legislators

• Senator Sharon Shewmake, 42nd Legislative District
• Senator Matt Boehnke, 8th Legislative District
• Representative April Berg, 44th Legislative District
• Representative Alex Ybarra, 13th Legislative District

Other Workgroup Members

• Dan Diorio, Senior Director, State Policy, Data Center Coalition
• Irene Plenefisch, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Microsoft
• Megan Schrader, Director of State and Local Public Policy, Amazon Web Services
• Ryan BeeBout, Vice President, Sabey Data Centers - West

• Latisha Hill, Vice President of Community Affairs & Chief Customer Officer, Avista Corporation
• Kirk Hudson, General Manager, Chelan Public Utility District
• Cameron Steinback, Climate Justice Program Manager, Front and Centered
• Casey MacLean, Washington Policy Manager, Renewable Northwest
• Justin Allegro, Policy Director, The Nature Conservancy
• Josh Jacobs, Clean Energy Strategy & Planning Vice President, Puget Sound Energy
• Andy Wendell, Senior Power Manager of Large Power Solutions, Grant County Public Utility District

• Matt Hepner, IBEW Executive Director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington, City of East Wenatchee Councilmember
• Seth Worley, Director of Government Affairs, UA Local 598
• Cassie Bordelon, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Washington
• Heather Kurtenbach, Executive Secretary of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council

• Kate Valdez, Environmental Coordinator, Yakama Nation Fisheries 

• Andreas Bohman, Vice President for UW Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
• Brant Mayo, Executive Director, Grant County Economic Development Council

Structure

The Data Center Workgroup will also have two subgroups which will provide draft findings and recommendations for the full Workgroup's consideration. Workgroup members self-select the subgroup(s) in which they want to participate.

Below are the names of the subgroups and their members.

• Tax Revenue and Economic Development Subgroup
  • Beau Perschbacher, Commerce & Economic Development Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
  • David Duvall, Senior Tax Policy Coordinator, Department of Revenue
  • Joseph Williams, Tech Industry Economic Development Director, Department of Commerce
  • Other subgroup members will be identified after the workgroup's first meeting in May 2025
     
• Energy & Resource Impacts Subgroup 
  • Kate Brouns, Climate & Energy Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor 
  • Glenn Blackmon, Energy Policy Director, Department of Commerce
  • Other subgroup members will be identified after the workgroup’s first meeting in May 2025.

Meetings

The Workgroup's first meeting is anticipated in May 2025. Check back for details and updates.