Why Spokane Is Fighting New Data Centers

Spokane City Council recently approved a one-year moratorium on new data center projects. Following this, Spokane County Commissioners proposed a nine-month moratorium covering a broader area. Three Republican commissioners also introduced a zoning ordinance concept to establish specific zones for data center development rather than a complete county-wide ban, though this proposal has not yet advanced and awaits further discussion.

The central debate revolves around balancing potential economic growth, job creation, and technological innovation with community concerns regarding the impact on electricity rates, water supplies, and taxpayers. Congressman Michael Baumgartner, representing the Spokane district, acknowledged these issues and mentioned introducing legislation aimed at preventing data centers from increasing local utility rates. He emphasized the need for clear communication between industries and communities regarding such developments, while also highlighting the national security and medical research benefits of advanced computing technologies.

The discussion further detailed negotiations between Avista, the local utility provider, and an unnamed large data center customer in Spokane that proposed to consume up to 500 megawatts. This substantial power demand raised significant concerns about potential strain on the local power grid and increased costs for ratepayers. It was noted that this complex issue transcends partisan lines, with "red states" generally appearing more accommodating to data center development compared to "blue states" like Washington.