Mount Vernon adopts six-month moratorium on data centers
The Mount Vernon City Council has approved a six-month moratorium on new data center applications. This decision, following similar moves by Skagit County and La Conner, aims to allow the city to research data center impacts, particularly regarding water use and flood risk, and to draft permanent regulations.
The Mount Vernon City Council in Washington state has enacted a six-month moratorium on new data center applications, with a 6-1 vote on Wednesday, August 14. This move is proactive, as the city currently has no pending applications, according to council member Melissa Beaton, who stated the goal is to "pump the brakes" and understand the issue by hearing from the community.
The city cited significant water use by data centers and Mount Vernon's high flood risk as potential drawbacks. An emergency ordinance mandates a public hearing within 60 days of the vote. Concurrently, the city's development services department will research data centers and begin drafting proposals for permanent regulations.
This decision aligns with similar actions taken by neighboring Skagit County and the town of La Conner, both of which have also expressed concerns about data center development in the region, noting the availability of open, relatively inexpensive land.