Residents push back on data centers, ask Pasco to extend moratorium
Pasco residents are urging the city council to extend a six-month moratorium on new data center applications, citing concerns about water, electricity, infrastructure, and environmental impacts. City officials are currently studying potential regulations to address these issues, with a recommended ordinance expected by December. Both residents and some council members have expressed strong opposition to hyperscale data centers due to their resource demands.
Pasco, Washington, is currently observing a six-month moratorium on new data center applications, which was imposed on July 20 to allow city officials time to study the potential impacts of these large-scale facilities. During a recent city council meeting that included a public hearing, residents vehemently expressed their desire for an extension of this pause.
Citizens voiced significant concerns regarding the substantial water and electricity demands of data centers, their potential environmental effects, and the strain on existing infrastructure. Residents Natalie Williams and Andy Johnson specifically urged the city council to prolong the moratorium, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive regulations and a focus on community well-being over economic benefits. Council members Joe Cotta and Mark Figueroa also echoed these sentiments, expressing skepticism and opposition to hyperscale data centers, highlighting the need for transparent procedures to manage resource allocation.
City staff, led by City Manager Harold Stewart, is actively studying other communities' experiences with data centers, including Quincy, Washington, and Umatilla, Oregon, to inform their regulatory development. They are also collaborating with the Port of Pasco to explore methods used in places like Denmark to mitigate environmental and utility impacts. A recommended data center ordinance is anticipated to be presented to the council by December.
The moratorium currently halts new business licenses, building permits, and other land-use applications for data centers. The article also mentions adjacent regional developments, such as Trammell Crow's land acquisition in West Richland, Atlas Agro's proposed data center in Richland, and Amazon's planned campus near Wallula Gap, providing context for the regional data center boom.