Latest news: the McKinley mill site

1. October 20, 2026City CouncilUpcoming

   Candelaria scheduled to brief the City Council

   The October 20 Port Angeles City Council agenda lists a presentation by Candelaria, described as the potential purchaser of the McKinley mill, as an information-only item. No Council action is listed.

   Source: City of Port Angeles, City Council agenda, October 20, 2026 (item I-1)

2. October 7, 2026News

   EDC director describes a small data center idea at the mill

   At a County candidate forum, the Clallam EDC director described the buyer's idea as a small data center of under 2,000 square feet that would use no water, and said the moratorium came before any permits were submitted. This is a secondhand description, not a filed proposal.

   Source: Peninsula Daily News

3. October 6, 2026City Council

   Candelaria representative and supporters speak at Council

   Draft minutes of the October 6 Council meeting record that a Candelaria Industries representative spoke during public comment about small modular computer containers and their water use and noise. Several other speakers, including the Clallam EDC director, urged the Council to work with or explore the company's proposal.

   Source: City of Port Angeles, City Council agenda packet, October 20, 2026 (minutes of October 6)

4. September 18, 2026Port

   Port CEO asks Council for workshops on the mill site

   At the moratorium hearing, Port of Port Angeles CEO Paul Jarkiewicz asked the Council for a workshop or two to understand what was intended for the mill site. Other speakers asked for permanent limits on data centers.

   Source: Peninsula Daily News

5. September 17, 2026News

   Moratorium stays unchanged as Council outlines next rules

   Radio Pacific reported that the Council kept the six-month pause as is, and that a Council member suggested future rules regulate the impacts of large resource users rather than defining data centers. The Planning Commission and Utility Advisory Committee are expected to help draft recommendations.

   Source: Radio Pacific (myclallamcounty.com)

6. September 15, 2026City Council

   Public hearing held; moratorium kept in place

   The Council held the public hearing required for the moratorium, heard eight speakers, and left the moratorium unchanged. The City Manager repeated that no applications had been received.

   Source: City of Port Angeles, City Council agenda packet, October 6, 2026 (minutes of September 15)

7. September 3, 2026News

   Council pauses data centers; no applications on file

   Peninsula Daily News reported that the moratorium took effect immediately for an initial six months, can be renewed, and that no data center applications had been submitted to the city.

   Source: Peninsula Daily News

8. September 3, 2026News

   Mill site is zoned heavy industrial, city staff say

   Radio Pacific reported that city planning staff described the former mill property as zoned heavy industrial, where a data center would likely be a conditional use. The Council wants impacts on power, water, land, noise and the environment studied.

   Source: Radio Pacific (myclallamcounty.com)

9. September 1, 2026City Council

   Council adopts Resolution 12-26, a six-month data center moratorium

   The Port Angeles City Council voted 6-0 for a citywide moratorium on accepting, processing and approving facilities whose main use is data processing or storage. It runs about six months, to around March 1, 2027, and can be renewed.

   Source: City of Port Angeles, City Council agenda packet, September 15, 2026 (minutes of September 1 and Resolution 12-26)

10. July 27, 2026County

    County commissioners back the buyer's biopower grant proposal

    Clallam County commissioners discussed a letter supporting Candelaria's biopower redevelopment proposal to a national forestry endowment. A commissioner said the company was examining all alternative uses of the site.

    Source: Peninsula Daily News

11. July 27, 2026Buyer

    New owner proposes a bioenergy feasibility study

    Radio Pacific reported that the buyer proposed studying whether the mill could become a bioenergy and biomass facility. A company spokesman said no final use had been decided.

    Source: Radio Pacific (myclallamcounty.com)

12. June 17, 2026News

    Northwest company agrees to buy the former mill property

    Peninsula Daily News reported that Candelaria Industries, a Washington ownership group led by Rob Janicki, reached an agreement to acquire the former McKinley mill property.

    Source: Peninsula Daily News

13. June 15, 2026Buyer

    Candelaria statement: under contract, no final plan

    Candelaria Industries says it has an agreement to acquire 1902 Marine Drive, subject to due diligence and government approvals, and that no final redevelopment plan has been determined.

    Source: Candelaria Industries

14. June 25, 2024News

    McKinley paper mill to lay off 193 employees

    Peninsula Daily News reported that the McKinley paper mill in Port Angeles would close and lay off about 193 workers.

    Source: Peninsula Daily News

Compiled automatically from public sources: City of Port Angeles meeting records, the Port, Clallam County, the buyer's own statements, and local news. Summaries are our own. Third Harvest is not affiliated with any of the parties named here.