Spokane County reverses course, approves four-month data center pause

The Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to enact a four-month moratorium on new data center permits, marking a reversal from a previous split decision. This action came after weeks of intense public criticism from residents who accused county officials of secrecy and malfeasance regarding discussions with data center developers like Apricus Energy Partners. Commissioners Mary Brooks, Josh Kerns, and Al French joined liberal commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldref in approving the pause, despite Commissioner French having previously dismissed critics as "anti-American".

The temporary halt aims to provide county staff with sufficient time to develop comprehensive zoning regulations for data centers, addressing widespread concerns about their significant energy and water consumption. Residents, including Spencer Lambdin and Alexandra Biggs, expressed worries about potential hydrogen plants linked to data centers consuming local water and contributing to environmental heating. While some commissioners, like Chris Jordan, expressed a desire for a longer moratorium, the approved four-month pause can be extended.

The political landscape surrounding data center development in Spokane County remains dynamic. Commissioner Brooks, often a swing vote, is not seeking re-election, and the upcoming election for her seat features Republican state Rep. Suzanne Schmidt and write-in candidate Rachelle Miller, who is campaigning on an anti-data-center platform. The outcome of this election could significantly influence future county policy on data center projects as the moratorium is set to expire.