Pushback swiftly grows against data center proposal in Seattle

Seattle is experiencing a significant surge of opposition to proposed data center developments, with over 37,000 letters sent to the city council in a short period advocating for a moratorium on new facilities. This pushback comes after reports indicated that four companies initially, and now three, have approached Seattle City Light about developing five, then four, data centers within the city. Lauren Redfield, co-chair of the eco-socialism working group at Seattle DSA, voiced strong concerns regarding the region's already strained electricity supply. Redfield emphasized that Seattle's hydropower capacity is maxed out, and prioritizing corporate interests over the energy needs of the growing population is misguided. Her group is pushing for a moratorium and greater scrutiny of these proposals, also advocating for a broader impact assessment beyond city limits into King County. Seattle City Light acknowledged that these proposals are in their early stages, with no developers having committed or filed applications yet. The utility assured that it continues robust planning for all anticipated new load, including data centers, vehicle electrification, and population growth. KIRO 7's attempts to get a reaction from Seattle City Council members regarding the moratorium have so far been unsuccessful.