Seattle passes one-year data center moratorium

Seattle City Council has enacted a one-year moratorium on the development or expansion of large data centers within city limits, becoming the largest U.S. city to implement such a pause. This decision followed nearly unanimous testimony from residents, who expressed concerns about the environmental impact of unchecked data center growth, particularly regarding electricity and water consumption.

Council member Eddie Lynn, who sponsored the ordinance, pointed out that Washington State's cheap electricity and access to water make it attractive to data center developers. He noted that these facilities can use up to 300,000 gallons of water daily and consume a significant portion of the city's electricity. Lynn emphasized that the moratorium provides the necessary time to develop appropriate regulations and controls for data center locations.

While the city's tech sector relies on some data center facilities, officials aim to distinguish between everyday data needs and the rapidly expanding demands driven by artificial intelligence technology. Mayor Katie Wilson has stated her intent to sign the ordinance, initiating a year-long period for council members to collaborate with communities and businesses to establish permanent regulations for data center facilities.