Data Centers in Bellingham
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Bellingham – Affordable Power on the Pacific Rim
Bellingham offers a unique data center market, combining exceptionally low-cost, hydro-based power with a strategic location between the primary tech hubs of Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. It is an ideal choice for organizations prioritizing sustainable and budget-friendly power for compute-heavy workloads that require low-latency connections to the Pacific Northwest. This market delivers significant operational cost savings without sacrificing regional connectivity.
Bellingham: At A Glance
Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
---|---|---|
Global Connectivity Grade | B | Good regional connectivity, though not a primary international hub. |
Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | The nearest major on-ramp hub is Seattle; private network extensions are available. |
Power Cost | $0.048/kWh (Industrial) | Sourced primarily from low-cost, renewable hydroelectric power. |
Disaster Risk | High (93.22) – as of September 2025 | Elevated risk profile driven by seismic, volcanic, and weather-related factors. |
Tax Incentives | Yes – DC-specific | Sales and use tax exemptions are available for qualifying facilities and tenants. |
Sales Tax | 6.50% (State) – as of September 2025 | Washington's state sales tax rate, which may have local additions. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Bellingham's network ecosystem is characterized by its strategic position between two major North American markets. While not a primary interconnection hub itself, it benefits from proximity to the rich connectivity options in Seattle.
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market contains 1 provider with 2 data centers, as of September 2025. Carrier density is sufficient for regional needs, with access to national backbones connecting to Seattle and Vancouver.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct public cloud on-ramps within Bellingham, as of September 2025. Businesses connect to all major cloud providers, including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, via dedicated circuits to the primary North American cloud region in Seattle.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Most peering occurs privately or through the Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX), the primary IXP for the Pacific Northwest. This provides efficient traffic exchange with regional and international networks.
Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available, primarily through providers with a presence in the broader Seattle metropolitan area. Services from vendors like Hivelocity and phoenixNAP can be deployed to serve workloads in the region.
Power Analysis
Washington State is a leader in low-cost and renewable energy, a significant advantage for data center operators in Bellingham.
Average Cost Of Power: The industrial electricity rate is approximately $0.048/kWh, as of September 2025. This extremely competitive pricing, among the lowest in the nation, directly reduces total cost of ownership for high-density deployments. The grid mix is dominated by approximately 67% hydroelectric power, ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply.
Power Grid Reliability: The regional power grid is well-engineered, benefiting from significant investment in hydroelectric generation and transmission infrastructure. Facilities are supported by reliable power delivery, crucial for maintaining uptime.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Bellingham provides a cost-effective alternative to the prime data center markets of Seattle while maintaining strong regional access.
Proximity To Key Business Districts: The city is strategically located about 90 miles north of Seattle and 55 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. This positions it to serve businesses on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, including tech, manufacturing, and cross-border trade.
Regional Market Reach: From Bellingham, organizations can effectively serve the entire Cascadia innovation corridor, a population of over 8 million people. It provides an excellent location for disaster recovery sites for businesses with a primary presence in Seattle or Vancouver.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Washington offers a significant sales and use tax exemption on data center equipment and construction. This state-level incentive program helps lower the substantial upfront capital investment required to build or expand a data center.
Natural Disaster Risk
Bellingham has a High natural disaster risk profile, with a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Risk Index score of 93.22, as of September 2025. The area's risk is influenced by its location in a seismically and volcanically active region.
Key risks for facilities in this market include earthquake, volcanic activity, winter weather, and wildfire. Other notable risks are landslides, riverine flooding, and strong winds. The high score necessitates that data centers are built to modern seismic codes with resilient infrastructure to mitigate these potential threats.