Spokane City Council approves one year moratorium on new data centers
The Spokane City Council has approved a one-year emergency moratorium on new data center applications within city limits, responding to community concerns about their impact on energy, water, and infrastructure. During this period, the city plans to study these effects and update its comprehensive plan and regulations. The decision follows public opposition to a potential data center project in Eastern Washington.
The Spokane City Council in Washington voted 6-1 to enact a one-year emergency moratorium on new data center applications within city limits. The decision followed public outcry and calls for a pause, with residents expressing concerns about potential impacts on the environment, energy usage, and water resources. Councilmember Michael Cathcart questioned why data centers were the sole focus given broader concerns about energy and water.
During the moratorium, the city intends to study how data centers affect energy and water use, as well as other infrastructure, and plans to update its comprehensive plan and regulations accordingly. This action comes after Avista Utilities announced it had paused negotiations with an unnamed company that was seeking to build a data center in Eastern Washington, a potential project that had ignited public opposition. The council members emphasized that the pause provides necessary time for research.