Video: Selvek on Auburn's data center moratorium
Stephen Selvek, Auburn's director of planning and economic development, explains the city's proposed data center moratorium. The moratorium would prohibit new data centers or conversions of existing structures, protecting the city from smaller-scale data centers not covered by the state's hyper-scale moratorium. This allows the city time to research and establish appropriate regulations for data center development.
Stephen Selvek, the director of planning and economic development for the City of Auburn, addressed the City Council regarding the necessity and scope of a proposed local data center moratorium. He clarified that the city's moratorium is designed to prevent both new data center constructions and the conversion of existing structures into data centers within Auburn. This local measure aims to cover smaller-scale data center developments that might fall below the threshold of the state's existing moratorium.
Selvek emphasized that the state's moratorium specifically targets hyper-scale data centers, defined as those consuming 50 megawatts of electricity, an amount equivalent to the power usage of 40,000 households. The city's ordinance would address data centers consuming less than 50 megawatts, ensuring comprehensive protection for the region.
The primary purpose of Auburn's moratorium is to provide the city with adequate time to conduct thorough research, perform due diligence, and establish appropriate regulations for data center development within its jurisdiction. This proactive step seeks to manage the potential impacts of data center growth effectively.