Seattle puts 1-year pause on new large data centers

News ClipSeattle DJC.com·Seattle, King County, WA·6/11/2026

The Seattle City Council has approved a one-year moratorium on the siting of new large data centers. This pause applies to facilities with a capacity exceeding 20 MVA, used primarily for storing and processing digital data.

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Gov: Seattle City Council

The Seattle City Council recently passed a one-year moratorium on the development of new large data centers within the city limits. This decision, approved on Tuesday, places a hold on facilities primarily used for storing and processing digital data that require uninterrupted power and have a capacity of over 20 MVA.

The measure aims to pause the siting of such energy-intensive infrastructure.