Spokane leaders seek one-year pause on new data center projects
Spokane City Council members introduced an ordinance to impose a one-year moratorium on new data center building permits. This pause aims to allow the city to develop a regulatory framework, addressing community concerns about utility costs, water and noise pollution, and grid reliability. The council is scheduled to vote on the proposal soon.
Spokane City Council members Paul Dillon, Sarah Dixit, and Kate Telis, backed by Mayor Lisa Brown, have introduced an ordinance proposing an immediate one-year citywide moratorium on new data center building permit applications in Spokane, Washington. The proposal would temporarily halt the city's ability to accept, process, or approve permits while leaders study the city's preparedness for such projects and develop appropriate regulations.
Council members cited widespread community concerns regarding utility costs, water and noise pollution, and grid reliability as primary motivators for the pause. They emphasized the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework to evaluate potential data center projects against existing city plans, including the Comprehensive Plan, Water Conservation Plan, and Water System Plan. Mayor Brown stated that Spokane currently lacks the necessary framework for siting and permitting data centers, and a moratorium would allow time for proper evaluation and planning, prioritizing neighborhood and environmental impacts.
The initiative follows Avista's confirmation that its recently proposed "large load" customer project is a data center development, potentially drawing 500 megawatts of electricity. The Spokane City Council is scheduled to vote on the moratorium ordinance on Monday.