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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
  • Andreas Bohman, UW Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer


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 
  • Brant Mayo, Executive Director, Grant County Economic Development Council
  • Zach Baker, Regional and State Policy Director, NW Energy Coalition
  • Mendy Droke, Director, State and Regional Affairs, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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
    • Zachariah Baker, Regional and State Policy Director, NW Energy Coalition
    • Ryan Beebout, Vice President, Sabey Data Centers - West
    • April Berg, Representative, 44th Legislative District
    • Glenn Blackmon, Energy Policy Director, Department of Commerce
    • Matt Boehnke, Senator, 8th Legislative District
    • Andreas Bohman, UW Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, University of Washington
    • Cassie Bordelon, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Washington
    • Dan Diorio, Senior Director, State Policy, Data Center Coalition
    • Latisha Hill, Vice President of Community Affairs & Chief Customer Officer, Avista Corporation
    • Bill Kehoe, Director & Washington State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
    • Heather Kurtenbach, Executive Secretary, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council
    • Brant Mayo, Executive Director, Grant County Economic Development
    • Megan Schrader, Director of State and Local Public Policy, Amazon Web Services
    • Edward Sheets, Senior Adviser & Consultant on Regional Energy, Yakama Nation (Alternate)
    • Sharon Shewmake, Senator, 42nd Legislative District
    • Kate Valdez, Environmental Coordinator, Yakama Nation Fisheries
    • Seth Worley, Director of Government Affairs, UA Local 598
    • Alex Ybarra, Representative, Washington State House of Representatives
       
  • Energy & Resource Impacts Subgroup 
    • Kate Brouns, Climate & Energy Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor 
    • Glenn Blackmon, Energy Policy Director, Department of Commerce
    • Justin Allegro, Policy Director, The Nature Conservancy
    • Zachariah Baker, Regional and State Policy Director, NW Energy Coalition
    • Ryan Beebout, Vice President, Sabey Data Centers - West
    • April Berg, Representative, 44th Legislative District
    • Matt Boehnke, Senator, 8th Legislative District
    • Cassie Bordelon, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Washington
    • Diane Butorac, Clean Energy Coordination Section Manager, Department of Ecology
    • Dan Diorio, Senior Director, State Policy, Data Center Coalition
    • Mendy Droke, Director, State and Regional Affairs, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
    • David Duvall, Senior Tax Policy Coordinator, Department of Revenue
    • Matthew Hepner, Executive Director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington & Councilmember, IBEW & City of East Wenatchee Councilmember
    • Latisha Hill, Vice President of Community Affairs & Chief Customer Officer, Avista Corporation
    • Kirk Hudson, General Manager, Chelan Public Utility District
    • Josh Jacobs, Clean Energy Strategy & Planning Vice President, Puget Sound Energy
    • Bill Kehoe, Director & Washington State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
    • Heather Kurtenbach, Executive Secretary, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council
    • Casey MacLean, Washington Policy Manager, Renewable Northwest
    • Brant Mayo, Executive Director, Grant County Economic Development
    • Irene Plenefisch, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Microsoft
    • Brian Rybarik, Chair, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
    • Megan Schrader, Director of State and Local Public Policy, Amazon Web Services
    • Edward Sheets, Senior Adviser & Consultant on Regional Energy, Yakama Nation (Alternate)
    • Sharon Shewmake, Senator, 42nd Legislative District
    • Cameron Steinback, Climate Justice Program Manager, Front and Centered
    • Kate Valdez, Environmental Coordinator, Yakama Nation Fisheries
    • Andy Wendell, Senior Power Manager of Large Power Solutions, Grant County Public Utility District
    • Seth Worley, Director of Government Affairs, UA Local 598
    • Alex Ybarra, Representative, Washington State House of Representatives

Meetings

The meetings below are open to the public and can be attended in-person or virtually.

Meeting #1

May 9, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 am.
1st Floor Conference Center
Department of Revenue
6400 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501

To attend virtually or to listen by phone:

Microsoft Teams Need help?
View the meeting virtually
Meeting ID: 224 258 721 538
Passcode: YS7DR6FG

Listen in by phone
+1 564-999-2000,,198961869# United States, Olympia
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 198 961 869#

Meeting #1 Materials: