Spokane City Council members move to impose data center moratorium
Spokane City Council members introduced an emergency ordinance to impose a one-year moratorium on new data center building permits. This proposal, backed by the mayor, aims to allow the city time to develop a regulatory framework for data centers, addressing concerns about utility costs, water use, noise, and environmental impacts. A public hearing and council action are scheduled for June 15.
Spokane City Council members Paul Dillon, Sarah Dixit, and Kate Telis have introduced an emergency ordinance proposing a one-year moratorium on new data center development within the city. The ordinance, which will be subject to a public hearing and council vote on Monday, June 15, aims to halt the acceptance and approval of new building permit applications for computer data centers.
The proposal stems from concerns raised by Spokane residents regarding the potential impacts of data centers on utility costs, water usage, and noise pollution, mirroring issues observed in other communities nationwide. Mayor Lisa Brown supports the moratorium, emphasizing the city's current lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework to properly site and permit data centers. She stated that a moratorium would provide time to evaluate and plan for future development while prioritizing neighborhood and environmental considerations.
Council members Dillon, Dixit, and Telis echoed these concerns, highlighting that developers have not yet demonstrated solutions for issues like water use, grid reliability, environmental impacts, and costs to ratepayers. Dixit further criticized the "unregulated industry" for benefiting large tech companies "at the expense of community members." The council hopes the pause will allow the city to study the issue through its Comprehensive Plan, Water Conservation Plan, Water System Plan, and economic development strategy.