Spokane County debates temporary Data center ban
Spokane County Commissioners debated a proposed 9-month moratorium on large data centers to allow time for developing regulations concerning infrastructure, water, energy, land use, noise, and economic impacts. While some commissioners supported the ban for responsible development, others advocated for a quick ordinance to secure financial benefits. No decision was reached, and the board plans to revisit the discussion.
Spokane County Commissioners recently debated a proposal for a nine-month moratorium on large data center developments within the county. Commissioners Waldref and Jordan proposed the temporary ban, citing a desire to conduct due diligence and develop comprehensive plans and regulations addressing potential impacts on infrastructure, water, energy, land use, noise, and economic development before any new facilities are built. This initiative follows a similar one-year moratorium enacted by the City of Spokane a month prior, and Avista's decision to pause negotiations with a data center developer to better coordinate with local government and the community.
However, the proposal divided the commissioners. Commissioners French and Kerns expressed opposition to the moratorium, arguing that it would delay economic benefits. They indicated they were working on an ordinance to regulate data centers, which they believed could be enacted by the end of August, allowing the county to benefit from the significant tax revenue data centers could provide. The debate concluded without a definitive decision, with the board scheduling to revisit the conversation in two weeks.