Amazon wants to build a data center in West Richland. 

The tech giant Amazon recently confirmed it bought 1,000 acres in the Lewis & Clark Ranch area previously held by a development company and is now considering an initial three-building data center there. 

Amazon says that could eventually grow to as many as 21 buildings on the agricultural land northeast of Ruppert Road. 

A company spokesperson stressed no permit applications have yet been filed for the project nor have required state environmental reviews begun.  

However, Amazon wants to hear from the community about the project and answer questions, which is why the company is planning an open house from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 19 at Enterprise Middle School, 5200 Paradise Way, West Richland. 

“When we consider investing in a community, we think residents deserve a chance to learn what we’re doing and ask our team questions directly,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. “Washington has been our home for over 30 years, so we’re committed to growing responsibly and we want the community to leave the open house with a better understanding of this project and what it could mean for the area.” 

The project could face hostility from some West Richland residents, who have packed city council and planning commission meetings in recent months and posted signs to oppose any data center in city limits. That opposition was spurred when the property Amazon now owns was purchased by Trammel Crow Company, a development company has pursued data center projects nationwide. 

Amazon’s West Richland property, formerly owned by Frank Tiegs LLC, first sold July 10 to TC West Richland 1 LLC for $82.7 million. Then, July 16, the same parcels were sold to WKC31 Development LLC for $263.7 million, according to county property records. 

The West Richland City Council is expected to consider an ordinance at its meeting Nov. 3 that would establish a six-month moratorium on data center development. That would give city officials time to review the impacts of such projects, hear from the public and establish new regulations regarding data center development. 

“Although existing city codes and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) address many of these concerns and establish requirements intended to ensure that development mitigates their impacts and bears its associated costs, public concern regarding the potential impacts of data centers remains,” according to a city memo to city council members. 

The meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at 3100 Belmont Blvd., West Richland. Remote viewing is available via Zoom. 

Data center projects around the nation have faced increasing pressure from communities concerned about issues ranging from impacts to water and energy resources to sound pollution. A similar opposition effort is attempting to halt Amazon’s planned data center at the Wallula Gap Business Park south of the Tri-Cities in Walla Walla County. That project is currently moving through the permitting process. 

The Facebook group, Tri-Cities Data Center Watch, has been formed to oppose data center development, with more than 3,000 members joining. The group has encouraged members to speak out at city council meetings and send letters asking for a moratorium on data centers.  

Data center proposals in the Tri-Cities region include Atlas Agro’s proposed Richland data center and the Amazon data center at Wallula Gap.  

Lewis and Clark Ranch is zoned agricultural but will transition to urban uses over time. The city anticipates the first phase – the development of 750 acres – will be an opportunity to create a vibrant mixed-use city hub that offers diverse housing opportunities and encourages walking and bicycling. The Amazon property isn’t included in the first phase of the development.