Data Center Benefits vs Impacts (2026)

House page, Arnav Goswami, wants to understand how legislators are dealing with the impacts of data centers on the environment and the economy. Senator Shewmake (D), Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee and Representative John Ley (R), of the House Environment and Energy Committee share their ideas about how Washington can capitalize on the benefits of data centers while also dealing with the challenges of energy consumption. Discussion/Comprehension Questions: 1. Why does Senator Shewmake have optimism in terms of data centers? 2. Why should the legislature look into the water impacts of data centers? 3. How can data centers be a piece of honoring the goals of the Climate Commitment Act? 4. According to Senator Shewmake, what are some types of regulations that should be put on data centers? How can economic impacts from data centers help the community as a whole? 5. What impact will the data centers have on our electrical grid? 6. According to Representative Ley, why will our clean energy not be enough? 7. Why is transmission of power also a problem? How can Eastern Washington and Western Washington work together? 8. How is the private industry involved in data centers? 9. How are the legislators' ideas similar and how are they different? Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dZGL-_HhJxs3jKlv0pBEFtvvJ01cmb9VcsJPYeUgqZk/edit?usp=sharing 📚Check out our other CIVICS CURRICULA for WA middle and high school teachers: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/ ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Videos ======================================= 🎬 Civics 101 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDcy6Oz3plxQCqpfNUb2HGf&feature=shared 🎬 Legislative Navigator https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SD-p5BHx443GTtGBp_DKQVT&feature=shared 🎬 Learning Modules - The Branches of WA State Government: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SBe_62ViakFyBCw4qah7eR7&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCYOl5u2wu52tt3G7sEmNTG&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SAlJXemJj6KtI7saVkFFdM7&si=zodZl_faZv-ePfLH https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Programs ======================================= 🙋Capitol Classroom - Bring the Legislative process into your classroom: https://teachwithtvw.org/civic-participation-in-the-classroom/ =========================== Subscribe and Follow Teach With TVW =========================== ➡YT: @teachwithtvw360 ➡Web: https://www.teachwithtvw.org ➡FB: @Teach with TVW ➡IG: @TeachWithTVW ➡LI: @TeachWithTVW QUESTION - Have a question about our lesson plans or online videos? Drop it in the comments! ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. #waleg #teachwithtvw #CapitolClassroom #CONNECTS #civics101 #legislativenavigator #ontheissues #electionsexplained #datacenters #ai #energy #environment 10:56

House page, Arnav Goswami, wants to understand how legislators are dealing with the impacts of data centers on the environment and the economy. Senator Shewmake (D), Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee and Representative John Ley (R), of the House Environment and Energy Committee share their ideas about how Washington can capitalize on the benefits of data centers while also dealing with the challenges of energy consumption.

Discussion/Comprehension Questions:
1. Why does Senator Shewmake have optimism in terms of data centers?
2. Why should the legislature look into the water impacts of data centers?
3. How can data centers be a piece of honoring the goals of the Climate Commitment Act?
4. According to Senator Shewmake, what are some types of regulations that should be put on data centers? How can economic impacts from data centers help the community as a whole?
5. What impact will the data centers have on our electrical grid?
6. According to Representative Ley, why will our clean energy not be enough?
7. Why is transmission of power also a problem? How can Eastern Washington and Western Washington work together?
8. How is the private industry involved in data centers?
9. How are the legislators' ideas similar and how are they different?

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dZGL-_HhJxs3jKlv0pBEFtvvJ01cmb9VcsJPYeUgqZk/edit?usp=sharing

📚Check out our other CIVICS CURRICULA for WA middle and high school teachers: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/
=======================================
Other Teach With TVW Civics Videos
=======================================
🎬 Civics 101 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDcy6Oz3plxQCqpfNUb2HGf&feature=shared

🎬 Legislative Navigator https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SD-p5BHx443GTtGBp_DKQVT&feature=shared

🎬 Learning Modules - The Branches of WA State Government:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SBe_62ViakFyBCw4qah7eR7&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCYOl5u2wu52tt3G7sEmNTG&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SAlJXemJj6KtI7saVkFFdM7&si=zodZl_faZv-ePfLH

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared

=======================================
Other Teach With TVW Civics Programs
=======================================

🙋Capitol Classroom - Bring the Legislative process into your classroom: https://teachwithtvw.org/civic-participation-in-the-classroom/

===========================
Subscribe and Follow Teach With TVW
===========================
➡YT: @teachwithtvw360
➡Web: https://www.teachwithtvw.org
➡FB: @Teach with TVW
➡IG: @TeachWithTVW
➡LI: @TeachWithTVW

QUESTION - Have a question about our lesson plans or online videos? Drop it in the comments!

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens.

#waleg #teachwithtvw #CapitolClassroom #CONNECTS #civics101 #legislativenavigator #ontheissues #electionsexplained #datacenters #ai #energy #environment

YouTube Video 4eAE-5Hklqg
10:55

House page, Arnav Goswami, wants to understand how legislators are dealing with the impacts of data centers on the environment and the economy. Senator Shewmake (D), Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee and Representative John Ley (R), of the House Environment and Energy Committee share their ideas about how Washington can capitalize on the benefits of data centers while also dealing with the challenges of energy consumption.

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