CEO’s Message – July 2026

Taking the Time to Get It Right

A year ago, in this column, we talked about Columbia REA’s adoption of AI technology, specifically Microsoft CoPilot, into our workflow. The headline that day was “Fast, Flexible and Forward-thinking.”

It feels slightly ironic (yet totally unrelated) that exactly one year later, as conversations around a data center in the Wallula Gap area pick up steam, Columbia REA’s involvement continues to evolve. While flexibility and forethought are present in every discussion regarding the future of your co-op, “fast” is not a term that describes Columbia REA’s decision-making process regarding the data center.

For more than a year, after being approached by the developer of the data center, your Board of Directors asked questions, sought answers, and weighed the pros and cons before entering into an initial agreement to serve the data center. We realize we are not experts on many of the issues and concerns being voiced publicly about the impacts of the data center. We are experts in energy supply and electricity distribution, and our focus will always be on our core expertise, but we also accept that, as members of the communities we live in and serve, we still need to weigh all the issues and make the best decisions for our members. With that in mind, here are a few key points we’d like you to remember as you work through your own thoughts on the issue:

• Protecting members and rates is our top priority. After extensive study, Columbia REA moved forward only under strict conditions designed to minimize financial risk for existing members. The data center will be placed in a separate, cost-based rate class, ensuring all related costs are tracked independently and not subsidized by any other member.
• All infrastructure costs are the responsibility of the developer. This includes substations, transmission lines, system upgrades, as well as engineering and legal expenses. This approach shields members from potential debt increases while maintaining stable and predictable rates.
• Responsible stewardship of energy resources. Data centers require substantial electricity. By proceeding carefully, Columbia REA is aligning decisions with long-term power supply planning, natural resource management, and system reliability.
• There will be benefits to the cooperative and the community. To serve the data center, Columbia REA will be adding infrastructure, while also improving overall grid resilience and outage response capabilities across our entire system. These improvements will benefit all members. The data center will also be a Walla Walla County taxpayer, helping to fund schools, emergency services, roads, and infrastructure. There will also be jobs created, from construction and high-tech jobs to secondary business opportunities and potential “vendor community” development.

Columbia REA was born here, built here, and has a responsibility to the people it serves. Our members come first, but our commitment to community is part of every decision we make. This is not about growing the company or increasing revenue. The data center project must meet the same standard as any large-scale project we take on; it must strengthen the Cooperative and serve our members’ interests.

The conversation will continue, and we want to be part of it. If you have questions or would like to discuss this further, please reach out anytime.

Best,
Scott Peters,
CEO