Data centers, right to cooling and police body cams at Spokane City Council
The Spokane City Council is set to vote on a proposed one-year data center moratorium within city limits, after initially failing to get it on the agenda. An amendment is also under consideration to modify the definition of data centers and introduce workplan elements for regulating their siting and capacity. If adopted, the moratorium would ban new data centers exceeding 25 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) capacity, with further work on long-term siting and regulatory aspects by relevant boards.
The Spokane City Council will vote on an ordinance proposing a one-year moratorium on new data centers within city limits, following a previous failed attempt to add it to the agenda. Council President Betsy Wilkerson and Council Members Zack Zappone and Michael Cathcart initially voted against its addition, but the ordinance is now scheduled for consideration.
Council Member Zack Zappone has filed an amendment that would redefine "data center" and mandate workplan elements for the Plan Commission and Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board to analyze long-term data center siting and regulation. The proposed changes would shift the ban from data centers with capacity exceeding 25 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) to those requiring capacity in excess of that amount. The council will also consider other local matters, including police body camera contracts and a 'right to cooling' ordinance for renters.