Spokane City Council implements moratorium on new data center building permits
The Spokane City Council has enacted an immediate one-year moratorium on new data center building permits within the city. This pause allows the city to develop a regulatory framework to address community concerns regarding potential impacts on water supply, the electrical grid, and the environment. A public hearing is scheduled for July 22 to gather further community input.
The Spokane City Council unanimously passed an immediate one-year moratorium on new data center building permits across the city, citing growing community concerns about the industry's potential impacts. The ordinance halts the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of applications for new data centers for 12 months, effective immediately.
Council Members Paul Dillon and Kate Telis emphasized the need for safeguards and a comprehensive regulatory framework. Dillon stated pride in the council's actions to protect Spokane, acknowledging that the community desires this pause. Telis highlighted serious concerns about long-term impacts on water supply, the electrical grid, the environment, and ratepayers, advocating for a full understanding of consequences before irreversible decisions are made. The moratorium aims to provide time for evaluations and adjustments.
An amendment adopted with the moratorium clarifies its application to facilities combining data centers with other business activities. It also directs the City's Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board to develop a framework for evaluating data center impacts. A public hearing is scheduled for July 22 to allow community members to share their perspectives on the issue.