As Pierce County city mulls data center ban, where are the facilities allowed?
The city of DuPont, Washington, is considering a six-month moratorium on data center development due to concerns about water supply, noise, and heat impacts. This move follows increased scrutiny of data centers across Pierce County, where various cities and the county itself are evaluating their existing regulations or lack thereof. Local advocacy groups like the Tacoma and Pierce County Democratic Socialists of America have submitted letters urging a county-wide moratorium.
The city of DuPont, Washington, is actively considering a six-month moratorium on data center construction and expansion, a measure prompted by growing "national and statewide concerns" regarding the environmental impact of these facilities. City Administrator Keith Campbell noted that while DuPont has not yet received data center applications, the city currently lacks specific regulations to address potential issues like excessive water consumption, noise pollution, and heat generation. A public hearing is scheduled for September 8 to discuss the proposed ban, which would allow city staff to develop comprehensive regulations aligned with the city's master plan.
The discussion in DuPont highlights broader regulatory challenges across Pierce County. Each city within the county maintains its own policies, or lack thereof, concerning data centers. For instance, the city of Tacoma prohibits standalone hyperscale data centers in its current code to protect its industrial waterfront and Seaport zoning districts. However, smaller co-location facilities operating within mixed-use buildings are permitted, provided computing equipment occupies less than 50% of the space. Pierce County Senior Long-Range Planner Tanner Fuller clarified that the county's regulations apply only to unincorporated areas, where no hyper-scale data centers or co-location facilities are currently located or under review. Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello has directed staff to undertake a year-long study to assess the benefits and drawbacks of various data center types, aiming to inform future policy decisions.
Community opposition is also mounting, with the Tacoma and Pierce County Democratic Socialists of America chapters reportedly submitting approximately 2,500 letters to county officials. These letters advocate for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction, underscoring the public's desire for stricter controls on development.