Gov. Bob Ferguson’s latest executive order is focused on an industry that has already targeted the Mid-Columbia region: data centers.

Calling data centers critical infrastructure that the state needs to attract, Ferguson directed the state’s Department of Revenue to form and take the lead of a new work group to evaluate the impacts of data centers on the state, from job creation and tax revenue to energy and environmental impacts.

“We must ensure Washington remains a leader in technology and sustainability – these experts will help us do that,” Ferguson said in a release. “This group will help us balance industry growth, tax revenue needs, energy constraints and sustainability.”

Officials from the state departments of commerce and ecology, as well as the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, electric utilities, environmental advocacy groups, labor organizations and industry are expected to be members of the work group. The governor wants their findings and recommendations in December.

A yet-unidentified American company has begun discussions with the Port of Walla Walla to potentially buy 500 acres of port land near Wallula to establish a data center campus that could create hundreds of jobs and inject $5 billion into the region’s economy.

The rise of artificial intelligence is driving the construction of data centers around the country. However, they require large amounts of energy and the Mid-Columbia's hydroelectric and other power generating facilities make the region attractive, though energy leaders have said much more power generation, transmission and storage capacity is needed to meet projected demand.