Spokane County residents raise concerns over data center development and zoning ordinance
Spokane County is actively drafting a data center ordinance, which a developer named Apricus has attempted to weaken. Residents are organizing opposition, expressing concerns about water usage, infrasound, and electricity price hikes, and are advocating for stricter regulations and an extended moratorium on new data center applications. Local elections are being highlighted as a way to influence these policies.
Spokane County is currently drafting a new ordinance to establish procedures and requirements for permitting data center facilities, with a final draft anticipated by December. This effort has drawn criticism, with concerns that the proposed ordinance is "weak" and "loophole-filled." Data center developer Apricus is noted for attempting to soften the county's draft ordinance by submitting technical corrections.
Residents are voicing strong opposition, citing worries about massive water consumption for cooling, lack of protection from low-frequency infrasound, and potential electricity price hikes. Community members are uniting against the unchecked development of AI data centers and are urging Spokane County commissioners to enact a minimum one-year moratorium on new data center applications.
In response to these developments, residents are supporting political candidates Rachelle Miller for county commissioner and Danny Tarkenton for county prosecutor, who they believe will advocate for stricter limits on data center water, noise, and power usage. They argue that the rushed timeline for developing the ordinance, allowing only four months, prevents adequate environmental assessment and public input, potentially prioritizing developers' interests over community well-being.