Avista pauses data center developer's service request
Avista has paused its energy service request from an unnamed 500-megawatt data center developer in Spokane, Washington, due to widespread community concern and a need for clearer policy. This pause comes shortly after the Spokane City Council introduced an emergency ordinance to halt new data center building permits for one year.
Avista, a regional energy provider, announced a pause in negotiations regarding a 500-megawatt energy service request from an unnamed data center developer in Spokane, Washington. The decision follows widespread community concern and feedback, as well as an emergency ordinance introduced by the Spokane City Council to halt new data center building permit applications for one year.
Heather Rosentrater, Avista's President and CEO, stated that the pause allows the company to engage in broader, coordinated planning efforts with government officials and stakeholders to establish clearer policies, especially given the unprecedented scale of the proposed project. The company plans to address community requests regarding impacts on existing customers, cost assurance, service reliability, and public participation in the planning process.
Avista emphasized its commitment to these concerns, which it had intended to integrate into the development process. The utility also launched a public portal to share information about data centers and its policies. This pause is expected to facilitate a more transparent and thoughtful approach to large-scale energy projects in the region, impacting future developments as well.