$500M data center proposed in Richland. It could employ 100 workers
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Richland reviews Atlas Agro’s $24M offer for 275 acres for $500M data center
- Committee and council will weigh staff-backed deal that promises 100 jobs
- Atlas Agro faces funding cuts, port delays and unspecified power plans
The city of Richland is considering a pitch from Atlas Agro North America to build a $500 million data center on land next to its proposed $1.3 billion fertilizer plant.
Atlas Agro, based in Switzerland, offered the city nearly $24 million for 275 acres in the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park in a letter of intent dated Sept. 22.
The deal is separate from Atlas Agro’s $9 million deal to purchase 150 acres from the Port of Benton for a fertilizer plant.
According to letter of intent, Atlas will develop five buildings totaling 500,000 square feet to support a data center at 2100 Horn Rapids Road.
The offer expires Dec. 30. If accepted, Atlas Agro said it hopes to begin construction in late 2027.
The property is north of the Framatome nuclear fuel facility and framed by the Hammer Training Facility to the west and the proposed fertilizer plant to the east.
City staff support
Atlas Agro indicated it will not only develop and build the data center, but operate it.
It did not indicate possible customers for the facility. Data centers provide critical data storage and processing systems that support online company operations for all types of industries.
The Richland Economic Development Committee will review the offer when it meets at 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20, in the city council chambers, 625 Swift Blvd. The committee will recommend whether the city council should accept or reject the sale.
City staff indicated they support the deal, noting it will employ 100 workers.
The city council previously awarded Atlas Agro $20 million in property tax breaks if it builds the fertilizer plant.
Fertilizer plant setbacks
Atlas Agro ‘s letter predates by several weeks word that it has lost more than $157 million in federal funding for its carbon-free fertilizer plant.
This month, the U.S. Department of Energy canceled 321 financial awards supporting 223 projects collectively worth more than $7.5 billion.
The cuts included more than $1 billion for the Northwest Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub. Atlas Agro was one of six Hub projects in Washington, eastern Oregon and Montana.
The DOE grants, awarded in the Biden Administration, came under review after the Trump administration took office in January. DOE concluded they don’t meet the nation’s energy goals, weren’t economically viable and would not provide a return to taxpayers.
In another setback this week, Atlas Agro asked for, but did not receive, a 12-month extension to its deadline to close its land deal with the Port of Benton.
Instead, the port’s commissioners granted Atlas Agro a 6-month extension, noting the company has not given the board any updates and saying it could get the full one-year extension if it gives the board an update on its project.
Power sourcing
Atlas Agro has not publicly identified the source of the 320 megawatts of power it will need to operate its fertilizer plant. It did not indicate how much power it will need for its data center.
The Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC), which is working with Atlas Agro on its Richland efforts, recently indicated it could purchase wind and solar power balanced by hydropower from British Columbia.
The Northwest Clean Energy Park is fashioned from the 1,641 acres of Hanford land DOE turned over to TRIDEC to support economic development in 2015.
TRIDEC subsequently transferred to the city of Richland, Port of Benton and Energy Northwest.
Atlas Agro could not be reached this week about it’s proposed Richland projects.
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 12:32 PM.