Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been identified as the mystery developer behind a $5 billion data center campus in Walla Walla, Washington. In October 2024, Advance Phase LLC purchased some 500 acres in the Wallula Gap Business Park for $32.5 million. The purchase of land was noted to be made for a data center campus. At the time, the end user company behind the project was unknown.

Furthermore, it was said at the time of purchase that the site was planned for the data center campus totaling 16 buildings. The company intends to build data centers in four phases of 125 acres each. Each phase would feature four 215,000 sq. ft. (19,975 sq. m.) buildings. Consequently, this will total up to more than 3.4 million sq. ft. once complete. Previously, the purchaser was described as a company in the “top 30 of the Fortune 500.” Other than Amazon, another data center developer prefers to remain mystic at the moment in the construction of a 230MW data center campus in Reno, Nevada.  Nonetheless, there are leads towards who the project’s owner may be. The project has been 100 percent leased to an unnamed “AA- investment grade rated tenant with a market cap in excess of $3 trillion” on a 197-month (16.4-year) ‘triple net’ (NNN) lease.

Signs that Point to Amazon as Mystery Developer of Data Center Campus in Washington

Though there has been no solid or official comment about Amazon’s link to the data center campus in Washington, there are clues. An official has described the customer as an “American multinational technology company, engaged in e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence service.” However, Amazon declined to provide any comments on whether the insights were true.

Despite this, Google confirmed that it is not involved, leaving AWS as the only company that fits the description. According to the Tri-City Herald, it is expected that the identity will be officially revealed later today. The Wallula Gap Business Park is a 1,900-acre heavy industrial site adjacent to US Highway 12, Union Pacific Railroad mainline. Furthermore, it is 10 miles from Interstate 395.

In total, AWS is seeking to develop 553 acres of the land located around 10 miles southeast of Pasco. Walla Walla is located in the southeast of Washington State, around four hour drive from Portland, Oregon. AWS also has an existing cloud region in Oregon. Other than data centers, Amazon is also seeking renewable energy sources to power the data centers such as the 1.2 GW Sunstone solar project in Oregon.

Project Overview

• Developer (Purported): Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• Purchaser: Advance Phase LLC.
• Investment Value: $5 billion
• Purchase of land: 500 acres at 32.5 million (Oct 2024)
• Place: Wallula Gap Business Park, Walla Walla County, Washington.
• Development Area: an area of 553 acres is being targeted.
• Total size of Business Park: 1,900 acres.

Development Scope

• Total Buildings 16 data center facilities.
• Phasing Plan: 4 phases (125 acres) each.
• Per Phase: 4 buildings
• Building Size: 215,000 sq. ft. each (19,975 sq. m.)
• Total Buildout: 3.4+ million sq. ft.

Location Advantages & Infrastructure.

•  Adjacent to US Highway 12
•  On the verge of the Union Pacific Railroad mainline.
•  10 miles from Interstate 395
•  Also 10 miles southeast of Pasco, WA
•  AWS already utilizes a cloud facility in Oregon.

Developer Identification Hints.

• Buyer once referred to as a “Top 30 fortune 500” corporation.
• Formal description is equal to that of Amazon.
• Google also denied its implication.
• Amazon has refused to officially accept involvement.
• However, official acknowledgment imminent (per Tri-City Herald)

Current Status

• Land secured
• Multi-phase development planned
• Waiting to receive formal acknowledgement of AWS as end user.