Blaine temporarily bans data centers, battery farms
Blaine City Council voted 6-0 to impose a yearlong moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage facilities. The pause will give city planners time to develop land-use rules for projects that officials say could strain infrastructure, while residents expressed differing views about economic benefits, safety and environmental risks.
The Blaine City Council approved a one-year moratorium on accepting permit applications for data centers and battery energy storage systems. City Planning Director Alex Wenger said Blaine’s current land-use code does not address either use, and the pause will allow staff to develop review criteria and regulations. No such projects have formally been proposed in Blaine, although the city anticipates future interest from technology companies and utilities.
The measure passed 6-0 after a public hearing that drew mixed opinions. Some residents opposed both types of facilities, while others said they could support economic development and modernize the community. Puget Sound Energy, which has solicited two battery facility proposals in nearby Custer, said battery storage can be safe and low-impact when supported by appropriate safety planning. Blaine is the first municipality in Whatcom County to adopt a data center moratorium.