Chewelah sets public hearing on data center moratorium
The Chewelah City Council will hold a public hearing on August 19 regarding a six-month moratorium on new data center applications. The moratorium was enacted on July 1 to allow city officials time to study the potential impacts of data centers. It will remain in effect through December 31, 2026, and prohibits the city from accepting permits or approvals for new facilities with capacity exceeding 20 megavolt-amperes.
The Chewelah City Council is scheduled to conduct a public hearing on August 19 to discuss an emergency six-month moratorium that temporarily halts the processing of applications for new data centers within the city. The hearing, set for 6:30 p.m. at Chewelah City Hall, follows the council's approval of the moratorium on July 1.
The measure, slated to be active until December 31, 2026, aims to provide city officials with sufficient time to evaluate the potential ramifications of data center developments. The ordinance specifically defines affected data centers as facilities primarily housing computer and networking equipment with a capacity exceeding 20 megavolt-amperes, along with their cooling and power infrastructure.
City officials highlight concerns about the impact on Chewelah's energy and water infrastructure, utility affordability, reliability, employment, economic growth, public health, and environmental stability. The existing municipal code lacks specific definitions or regulations for data centers, necessitating this pause to develop appropriate guidelines during the city's Comprehensive Plan update.