Data Center Growth Fuels Policy Push in Washington and Expansion Across Asia‑Pacific

Washington state lawmakers approved two major measures to regulate the rapid rise of data centers. Council Bill 121214 freezes new data‑center projects for a year while an impact study is conducted, and Resolution 32204 requires city departments to evaluate the effects of high‑density computing facilities on the electrical grid, water usage, utility rates, land use, jobs and public health. State data‑center usage accounts for just 0.6% of water consumption and 4.1% of electricity in 2025.

In the Asia‑Pacific region, the second half of 2025 saw continued high‑speed expansion of data‑center capacity, adding about 1,557 MW of operating capacity and bringing total operating capacity to 13,763 MW. Vacancy rates fell to 10.9% from 12.4% a year earlier, tightening supply‑demand dynamics. China remains the largest market with roughly 39% of regional capacity, while India’s new 285 MW capacity pushes it past Japan to become the second‑largest market. Malaysia, particularly the state of Johor, posted the fastest growth, and Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and other hubs are accelerating AI‑driven, high‑density deployments and green‑energy projects.