New data center work group
The City of Spokane has launched a new data center work group to evaluate the potential impacts of large data centers on the area, focusing on water use, waste water, and noise pollution. This follows the City Council's approval of a one-year moratorium on large data centers within city limits. Mayor Lisa Brown emphasized understanding environmental and neighborhood impacts.
The City of Spokane has established a new data center work group to assess the potential impacts of large data centers on the region. Led by the city administrator, the group includes employees from various divisions such as environmental programs, planning, transportation and sustainability, and water. Its primary focus will be on evaluating data centers' effects on water consumption, wastewater generation, and noise pollution.
This initiative comes after the Spokane City Council enacted a one-year moratorium, temporarily halting the construction of large data centers within city boundaries. Mayor Lisa Brown issued a statement regarding the decision, acknowledging the economic role data centers can play while underscoring the city's responsibility to fully comprehend their environmental and neighborhood impacts.