Understanding Microsoft datacenters in Central Washington
Microsoft operates datacenters in East Wenatchee and Quincy and is developing new datacenters in Malaga and East Wenatchee.
What it means to have Microsoft in your community
We believe that companies that can do more, should. That’s why we remain focused on key areas in which technology can and must benefit the future of humanity and our planet. Aligned with Microsoft’s global commitments, we aim to build and operate digital infrastructure that addresses community challenges and creates local benefits where we operate and where our employees live and work.
Essential for modern technology, datacenters power everything from online grocery shopping, online banking, and remote work to scheduling medical appointments and staying connected with family and friends. Datacenters also support businesses, hospitals, schools, and governments.
Imagine a building packed with thousands of computer servers and data storage devices, all connected to the internet—that’s a datacenter, working tirelessly to keep our lives connected and efficient.
We believe that companies that can do more, should. That’s why we remain focused on key areas in which technology can and must benefit the future of humanity and our planet.
Aligned with Microsoft’s global commitments , our datacenter community pledge is to build and operate digital infrastructure that addresses community challenges and creates local benefits where we operate and where our employees live and work.
We aim to…
Contribute to a sustainable future
Advance community prosperity and well-being
Operate responsibly as a good neighbor
We will design and operate our datacenters to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030. Additionally, Microsoft pursues LEED Gold certification for newly built datacenters.
Energy
Microsoft has already invested in power purchase agreements (PPAs) to support the Central Washington datacenter and will procure 100% renewable energy coverage globally by 2025.
In Washington, we’re transitioning our datacenters’ backup generators to be powered by a renewable biofuel that reduces net carbon emissions.
Watch this video to learn how Microsoft datacenters are helping pave the way for a sustainable future.
Water
Microsoft is committed to being water positive by 2030. We continue to scale our efforts to reduce water use across our operations, while increasing procurement from alternative sources and investing in innovative replenishment and access projects.
We supported the first water-reuse utility to treat 380 million gallons of datacenter wastewater in Quincy and invested in restoration projects in the Rock Island Creek Watershed, the Columbia Basin, and Grant County.
Watch this video about our other datacenters that use water for cooling.
Waste
In February 2023, we opened a Microsoft Circular Center at the Quincy datacenter facilities that can process up to 12,000 servers per month.
We will deliver significant local, economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Jobs
By the end of 2026, we project more than 670 full-time employees and over 500 service workers will work in our Washington datacenters.
Get to know some of the Microsoft datacenter employees in Central Washington
Microsoft is developing new datacenters in Malaga and East Wenatchee and expects to be among the largest taxpayers in East Wenatchee and Grant, Douglas, and Chelan Counties once facilities are fully constructed. These taxes support local levies—from emergency services to libraries.
With Wenatchee Valley College, NCW Tech Alliance, Big Bend Community College, and the Columbia Basin Foundation, we’ve helped to upskill local communities and ensure people have access to IT skills for 21st-century jobs.
Watch this video to learn more about our approach to community investments.
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In all we do, Microsoft strives to be a responsible neighbor.
We listen, learn, build relationships, and follow through on our commitments. Microsoft collaborates with nonprofits and suppliers who share our commitment to expand opportunities for all.
Cultivating a hometown tech workforce with Big Bend Community College
In partnership with Big Bend Community College (BBCC), the Microsoft Datacenter Academy program provides hands-on learning opportunities to prepare students for local datacenter and IT employment. Microsoft established scholarship funding to BBCC’s Systems Administration – Datacenter Specialization certificate program. The program strengthens relationships between businesses in the community and the community college while building a pipeline of potential employees for IT and other tech jobs. Learn about the Quincy Datacenter Academy
Partnering with the City of Quincy to open Washington’s first industrial water reuse center
To encourage the most efficient use of industrial water resources in Quincy, Microsoft contributed tens of millions of dollars toward a water reuse facility that celebrated its grand opening on June 30, 2021. This treatment facility, the first of its kind in Washington state and over 10 years in the making, will process cooling water for reuse by local industries, including datacenters, creating a closed loop system so wastewater isn’t discharged to the environment and decreasing the need for potable well-water required for datacenter cooling. Learn more about the water reuse center
Supporting the 32nd Annual Wenatchee River Salmon Festival
Microsoft proudly supported the 32nd Annual Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, a three-day natural resource education event that was held at the Rocky Reach Dam Discovery Center to celebrate the return of the salmon to the Wenatchee River. Two School Days served 2,500 3rd and 4th grade students from over 70 classes and 35 NCW schools.
SuperNova Business Launch competition
In collaboration with North Central Washington Economic Development District, Microsoft along with other community partners provided funding for the SuperNova Business Launch competition to build inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in Chelan, Douglas, Okanagan, and Ferry Counties.
