Avista confirms negotiations with company seeking to build large data center
Avista Corp. confirmed it is in negotiations with an unnamed company planning a large data center in its Washington service territory, likely Spokane County, seeking up to 500 megawatts of power. Local residents and city council members are opposing the project due to concerns over electricity consumption, water usage, noise, and strain on local infrastructure and aquifers. A petition has been launched to prevent data center development in Spokane.
Avista Corp. has confirmed negotiations with an undisclosed company seeking to build a large data center in its Washington service territory, expected to draw up to 500 megawatts of power by 2032. This power demand alone would exceed half of the current usage by all residential and business customers in Spokane County, raising significant concerns among local residents and officials.
The utility stated that any contract with a large load customer would be structured to ensure the customer covers all associated costs, including new power supply and transmission upgrades, preventing financial burdens on existing ratepayers. However, the proposal has already ignited strong opposition in Spokane, with a Change.org petition launched to halt data center development in the area.
Spokane City Council members, including Paul Dillon and Sarah Dixit, have publicly backed the opposition, citing worries about the massive electricity and water consumption by data centers, potential strain on local aquifers and infrastructure, and noise pollution. Councilman Dillon specifically highlighted recent droughts and emphasized the need for regulations to ensure responsible resource use before approving such projects. The local sentiment reflects a growing national trend of communities pushing back against data center proliferation, as evidenced by a recent Gallup poll indicating strong public opposition to new AI data centers locally.