A new analysis by Oregon Public Broadcasting underscored a growing national dispute over who should bear the soaring electricity costs tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure. As energy-hungry data centers multiply across the country, both federal and state lawmakers have begun demanding that tech companies—not residential customers—cover their full share of grid expansion and generation expenses.

Washington’s legislature is already weighing its own version of that debate. Earlier this week, House Bill 2515 advanced from committee in Olympia. The measure would require utilities to develop tariffs or cost-recovery policies ensuring that large data centers pay directly for the new power plants and transmission capacity they require. It would also compel operators to curb consumption or use backup generators when the grid is under strain.

Rep. Beth Doglio (D‑Olympia), the bill’s sponsor, said the goal is to “protect ratepayers by ensuring new data centers are picking up the whole tab for new growth.” While lawmakers removed a proposed per‑kilowatt‑hour fee that critics said could drive away investment, they extended the deadline for facilities to operate entirely on emissions‑free electricity from 2035 to 2045—bringing the rule into line with statewide clean‑energy mandates.

Utilities, including Puget Sound Energy, support the principle but warn of “considerable complexity” in balancing rapidly rising industrial demand with Washington’s broader transition toward renewable energy. Both Democrats and Republicans continue to negotiate amendments balancing community protection, competitiveness, and environmental goals.

Local impact for Cowlitz County

Cowlitz County is not yet a hub for major data center construction, but local utilities such as the Cowlitz Public Utility District are part of the same regional grid managed by the Bonneville Power Administration. That means electricity use decisions made in larger markets—including Portland, Vancouver, and eastern Washington—can indirectly affect supply planning and wholesale costs locally. Should state lawmakers pass HB 2515, any future data center investment near Longview, Kelso, or along the I‑5 corridor would likely be governed by its cost‑containment and sustainability provisions, influencing whether such projects reach the region.

In the meantime, local energy affordability issues persist. Cowlitz County homes and small businesses continue to experience cost pressures from inflation and regional transmission upgrades. Advocates see opportunities in energy‑efficiency programs and small‑scale renewable deployments to ease the load without shifting costs to vulnerable ratepayers.

Why this matters

Electricity pricing and energy planning are increasingly political, as data‑center expansion collides with public expectations of affordability and environmental responsibility. For communities like Cowlitz County—whose grid capacity is shared with urban and industrial users across the Columbia basin—the question is not just how to fund Big Tech’s appetite for power, but how to prevent that appetite from raising every household’s bill.

Whether Washington’s HB 2515 passes intact or not, the conversation now extends well beyond Olympia. It’s a regional battle over who pays for the infrastructure of the artificial‑intelligence boom, and whether small communities will be left bearing part of that bill.