Snohomish County Council adopts temporary data center moratorium
The Snohomish County Council unanimously adopted a six-month temporary moratorium on data center development in unincorporated areas. This pause allows the county to develop permanent regulations addressing concerns like land use, infrastructure, energy, and water demand, with public input. The measure aims to proactively guide future data center policy.
The Snohomish County Council has unanimously adopted a temporary six-month moratorium on data center development within unincorporated areas of the county. The decision, made on June 24, stems from growing public concern regarding the impact of these facilities on land use, infrastructure, energy, and water demand, as articulated by Councilmember Nate Nehring.
The moratorium's primary objective is to create a pause, allowing the county to carefully deliberate and establish a long-term data center policy without the pressure of new facilities being sited. Other jurisdictions, including Skagit County and the City of Seattle, have implemented similar temporary halts. The current moratorium, which can be extended for an additional six months if needed, only applies to areas under the county council's land use jurisdiction, not incorporated cities.
During this period, the county will engage with community members, stakeholders, county staff, and the Planning Commission to develop sensible and permanent regulations. This process will include gathering public input through a survey to ensure the new policies reflect community priorities and concerns regarding resource consumption and potential noise impacts. Councilmember Nehring emphasized the proactive nature of this approach, aiming to shape the future of Snohomish County through community-guided policy development.