Snohomish County editorial calls for data center moratorium over water and power concerns
An editorial calls for Snohomish County, Washington, to adopt moratoriums or bans on data centers due to concerns over high water and electricity consumption. This follows public concern about "Project Cascade" in Arlington, which residents feared was a data center, despite Amazon's announcement clarifying its purpose. Skagit County has already enacted a temporary moratorium, and Seattle has proposed one, reflecting growing regional worries about resource scarcity amid drought conditions.
An editorial published by HeraldNet.com advocates for Snohomish County, Washington, and its municipalities to implement moratoriums or outright bans on new data center developments. The call to action stems from significant public apprehension regarding "Project Cascade," a proposed 1.2 million-square-foot facility at the Cascade Industrial Center, which initially sought a substantial 9.5-megawatt power supply from Snohomish County Public Utility District. Despite assurances from Arlington Mayor Don Vanney that Project Cascade is not a data center and an announcement from Amazon clarifying the project will "support customer delivery," residents remain skeptical due to the high power demand typically associated with data centers.
The editorial highlights growing regional resistance to data centers, citing their immense consumption of power and water, large land footprint, and noise pollution, while creating few jobs. It notes that Project Cascade's estimated daily water use of 44,000 gallons is significantly less than the millions of gallons typical for large data centers, supporting the mayor's claim. However, the article emphasizes broader concerns in Washington state, which has experienced a four-year drought with critically low snowpack. Arlington resident Julie Winchell and Camano Island resident Mary O'Farrell voiced strong objections at a Snohomish County PUD Board meeting, emphasizing the risk of approving large water contracts amid increasing scarcity.
The editorial points to actions by neighboring Puget Sound communities as precedent. Seattle has proposed a moratorium on new data centers, and on June 1, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners officially adopted a temporary moratorium on data center development in its rural areas. Skagit County Commissioner Peter Browning cited environmental vulnerabilities, including floods, lahars, and summertime water limitations for farmers, as reasons for their decision. The Herald Editorial Board concludes by urging Snohomish County to follow suit, asserting that water and power are more critical to residents than artificial intelligence.