Spokane County Commissioners to vote on data center moratorium Tuesday

Spokane County Commissioners are scheduled to vote today on a proposed six-month moratorium on new data center projects. This comes after two commissioners introduced the temporary ban last month, aiming to provide time to assess current zoning ordinances and the broader implications of data center development and operation within Spokane County. The city of Spokane has already implemented its own moratorium on data centers.

The public meeting, set for 2 p.m. at the Spokane County Public Works building, will include a presentation outlining best practices and information on data centers. This presentation highlights the existing 88 data centers in Spokane County and details considerations for power, utilities, water preservation, pollution control, and fire risk mitigation.

Community groups, such as the West Plains Water Coalition, have actively voiced concerns regarding water usage from the aquifer and access to clean water. They advocate for a collaborative and transparent process that incorporates resident input. The proposed moratorium is a direct response to these growing debates and follows the City of Spokane's prior action on the same issue.