How Microsoft’s Data Center in Washington State Brings Jobs, Growth and Local Concerns

A boom in Quincy

Quincy Mayor Paul Worley told CBS News that Microsoft's presence had created “a kind of boom” in the area. Microsoft has run its Columbia Data Center there for two decades.

The company says it employs roughly 700 people, nearly 9% of Quincy's roughly 8,000 residents. The nearby Columbia River provides hydropower, a factor that has helped attract seven more companies to build data centers in Quincy.

What data centers power

Microsoft president Brad Smith described data centers as infrastructure behind everyday activity on connected devices. He said tapping a phone connects through an app and retrieves data from facilities like the one in Quincy.

Smith also discussed the commitments Microsoft makes in communities where it builds and operates data centers. The article does not detail those pledges.

Growth brings local concerns

Electricity rates have also risen. In Washington, rates increased 107% over the period discussed, compared with a 66% rise nationwide; the article says the increase was lower than the average increases in national and state rates over the same period.

Data centers in election debate

Smith said challenges cannot simply be eliminated, but communities can take steps to manage growth. The article ends by noting that he has a message for Americans who oppose data centers near their homes, without giving that message.