Spokane city council to discuss data center ban next Monday
The Spokane City Council deferred a vote on a proposed moratorium on data centers, which was initially introduced as an emergency ordinance. This decision followed Avista's pause on negotiations with a data center customer due to community concerns about water usage and potential electricity rate increases. The council is expected to discuss the ordinance again soon.
Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson explained the council's decision to defer a vote on a proposed moratorium on data centers, which had been initially listed as an emergency ordinance. Wilkerson cited concerns over the speed of policy implementation and the lack of time for both council members and the community to review and respond to the proposal. The deferral was made during an agenda review meeting.
The council's action comes shortly after Avista, a local energy provider, announced it was pausing negotiations with a data center customer. Avista had previously agreed to supply 500 megawatts of electricity but decided to step back due to significant community feedback. Residents have expressed concerns about the potential for increased water usage and higher electricity rates that a large data center could introduce.
Avista stated that while they were in early negotiation stages and planned to address these issues, they now intend to provide concrete assurances to existing customers. A spokesperson for Avista indicated that the company aims to structure contracts that protect current customers and engage more broadly with the community on data center development. The Spokane City Council is anticipated to revisit the data center ordinance during its meeting next Monday.