The seven Richland city councilmembers’ enthusiasm for the data center proposed for north Richland has inspired theories on social media of councilmember non-disclosure agreements (NDA) and possible council financial investments. Two councilmembers agree with residents who want a town hall to sort it all out.

Meanwhile the Australian firm, Macquarie Group, that agreed to loan the Swiss company, Atlas Agro, $325 million in 2023, wired its first payment of $12.826 million on June 26 from their bank in Luxembourg to Bonneville Power Authority (BPA). Atlas Agro owes about $38.5 million more for electrical equipment required for their data center. The next payment is due July 31.

Emails confirm transfer of funds.

Through the Washington Public Records Act, the Observer obtained emails written from June 24 to June 29 regarding the transfer of funds from Macquarie’s Belgium bank, Societe Generale Luxembourg to BPA’s bank, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In one email, BPA wrote:

“Good morning,

We received the $1.00 test payment. Will you be pulling that payment back or will you be sending the next payment $1.00 short and they can be combined for the full payment?

Can you also please let us know what this payment is for?”

The fate of the $1.00 was not revealed in the emails.

In an email to the Observer Richland City Manager Jon Amundson explained the terms of the contract with Atlas Agro: “The City remains the contractual and administrative intermediary with BPA—managing the transmission request, forwarding notices and invoices, verifying payments, and coordinating the work—but it is not intended to serve as the financial pass-through.”

Two of the seven Richland Councilmembers responded to the Observer’s questions.

The Observer emailed each of the seven Richland City Councilmember and asked if they had signed a NDA, invested in a data center and would they be willing to have a special workshop town hall with councilmembers and staff that allowed the public to ask questions about the project.

The Observer also contacted members of the Facebook  group Tri-Cities WA Citizens Concerned About Data Centers to ask if they would attend tonight’s city council meeting to promote their call for a town hall meeting. They did not immediately respond.

Two of the councilmembers responded.

Councilmembers Kurt Maier and Todd Samuels, who have both voted to move the project forward, responded “no” to the NDAs and investments but both supported a town hall.

Samuel, who was appointed in January to replace a deceased candidate who was elected, faces four opponents in the August primary. In addition to answering the questions posed by the Observer, Samuel also wrote:  

“Without the existence of a paying/viable customer for power in North Richland, we cannot get the BPA to install the necessary infrastructure.  Not only does the opportunity for data center give us the paying customer we need, but Atlas Agro is paying for the “must have and very expensive” electrical infrastructure improvements that will open up all kinds of economic development opportunities in North Richland.”

Maier wrote about the town hall, “Not only would I be willing, I did this by myself in an ad-hoc manner after the last city council meeting.  Joe Schiessl also stuck around to answer questions.”

There could be time for more talk.

Richland Service Director Clint Whitney told the Richland City Council when the contract with Atlas Agro was approved that the long lead-time material (LLTM) that includes electrical breakers and transformers may not be available for years.

Atlas Agro still owes $38.519 million more for the LLTM and design work. More payments are due July 31, 2026, October 17, 2026, and March 30, 2027.

Richland City Council meets tonight.

Richland City Council meets tonight at 6:00 p.m. at city hall at 625 Swift Blvd. It will also be shown live on Richland City View Watch CityView | City of Richland, WA and Cable Channel 192.