Data center moratorium fails during Klickitat County Commissioners meeting despite public support

Klickitat County Commissioners convened a workshop on September 3, drawing approximately 150 residents concerned about the effects of data centers on the local landscape. The focus of the meeting was Commissioner Todd Andrews' motion for a six-month data center moratorium, which had previously failed to receive a second at a meeting the prior week.

Commissioner Andrews advocated for the moratorium, explaining that Klickitat County, like several other counties in Washington, lacks adequate zoning and ordinances to properly regulate data centers. He noted that current regulations classify data centers as warehouses in industrial zones, a classification he argues is insufficient given their distinct energy and water requirements. He stated that a moratorium would provide time for public comment and internal county review to address these needs before new permits are accepted.

However, Commissioners Lori Zoller and Ron Ihrig opposed the moratorium. Zoller questioned the timing of Andrews' proposal, while Ihrig expressed skepticism about the sudden urgency given that data centers have been discussed for years. They argued that none of the three proposed data centers in Klickitat County (two in Dallesport, one at the former Goldendale Aluminum plant) had filed an application, and that the county could develop specific regulatory ordinances within 90 days. Despite their arguments, more than 40 public commenters expressed strong opposition to data centers and supported the moratorium.

The ongoing debate also highlighted the county's existing zoning ordinances, specifically Title 19, which permits data centers as an outright use in industrial parks by classifying them as warehouses. This classification was a result of a Klickitat County Planning Commission meeting in February 2023, which identified data centers as a desirable target market for the county.