- Welcome to The Newsfeed.

Development of an energy storage project near the Columbia River has long faced pushback from the Yakama Nation and others.

But recent reporting ties the project to a new data center proposed nearby.

Multimedia Journalist Jaelynn Grisso has more on the development's implications and what the company had to say about their data center ties.

- With more data centers comes an increased need for power, but that comes at a time when Washington is already reportedly facing a projected energy shortfall.

Developers of a storage pump in southern Washington say the facility they're building will help address the shortfall.

They estimate it will generate enough energy to power half a million homes.

But opponents such as the Yakama Nation have long opposed the development.

- It's been a food gathering site since the beginning of time until the smelter plant came in and that obviously impacted our ability to go to this place.

- He says this is history repeating itself.

- Historical patterns are occurring again, but now it's just on land.

- Recent local news reports on the Goldendale Storage Pump tied it to a data center project being developed on nearby land, with the same owner.

But the developer says that's not true.

In a written statement provided to Cascade PBS, a spokesperson said, quote, the Golden Dale Energy Storage Project offers a cost effective, reliable way to store and deliver electricity over long periods.

The energy storage project is not linked to the prospective data center.

It is being developed independently of the prospective data center and has its own grid connection.

- Up next, a look at how a data center boom shaped the central Washington town of Quincy.

I'm Paris Jackson.

Thank you for watching The Newsfeed.