West Richland residents speak out over possible data center plan
West Richland residents packed a town hall meeting to voice strong opposition against a potential data center development planned by Trammell Crow, which recently acquired 1,000 acres. Key concerns include the impact on local drinking water and the environment. Residents formally submitted a moratorium packet to the city council, seeking a temporary halt on future data center applications.
More than a hundred West Richland residents attended a town hall meeting to voice concerns about a proposed data center campus in their community. The gathering follows the announcement that real estate company Trammell Crow, which has expressed interest in data center development, purchased a 1,000-acre property known as the Louis-Clark Ranch, located north of a residential neighborhood. The city stated it has no control over this private land sale.
During the meeting, which saw around 50 opinions shared, residents expressed anxieties ranging from potential health impacts on their families to broader concerns about trusting data center companies. Raven Condre, a new resident, specifically highlighted fears about the data center's impact on the Yakima River's water table and her children's drinking water, given existing concerns about the river's health.
Conversely, some attendees spoke in favor of data centers, citing potential construction jobs and attributing much of the opposition to misinformation. City council members listened to the public input, with some indicating a willingness to listen further and others urging speakers to provide evidence for their claims.
A significant development was the submission of a "moratorium packet" by a group of residents to the city council. They hope this packet will lead to a temporary pause on any upcoming data center applications, allowing for more review. However, Trammell Crow has not yet submitted a formal application for a data center campus, a process city officials estimate could take up to a year if it proceeds.