GOLDENDALE — The Klickitat Public Utility District (KPUD) Board of Commissioners has listened to concerns expressed by community members regarding the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in connection with large load and generation requests.
After hearing from the community and considering those concerns, the commissioners have directed KPUD staff to discontinue executing new non-disclosure agreements, including confidentiality clauses related to data centers, AI centers, and other large load and generation requests greater than 10 megawatts. Existing agreements will remain in effect through their current terms and will not be renewed upon expiration.
KPUD’s existing non-disclosure agreements are narrow in scope and limited in duration, generally applying only to specific information identified as confidential by the requesting party. KPUD has not and does not receive financial compensation for participating in or entering into these agreements.
KPUD also follows all applicable requirements of the Washington State Public Records Act and complies with public disclosure requirements established under state law. At the same time, the commissioners recognize the importance of transparency and public trust when considering projects that could have a significant impact on the community and the district’s electrical system.
“We appreciate the community members who took the time to reach out, ask questions and share their concerns with us,” said the KPUD Board of Commissioners. “Public engagement is an important part of the process, and we value the opportunity to listen and have meaningful conversations about the future of our community.”
KPUD thanks everyone who has participated in these conversations and looks forward to continuing to work together in an open, respectful and constructive manner as the district evaluates future large load and generation requests.
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