Seattle passes one-year data center moratorium

The Seattle City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on the development and expansion of large data centers within city limits, becoming the largest U.S. city to implement such a pause. The decision followed two hours of nearly unanimous public testimony from residents expressing concerns about resource depletion.

The moratorium targets data centers demanding more than 20 Megavolt-amperes of electricity, roughly equivalent to the demand of 16,000 homes. Council Member Eddie Lin, who sponsored the bill, highlighted the current lack of data center definitions in city zoning and land use regulations, emphasizing the need for appropriate controls to address noise, energy impacts, and heat islands. Lin was prompted to act after learning several large data centers approached Seattle City Light about significant new power demands.

Residents, including Lauren Redfield of Washington AI resistance, testified about the strain on existing electricity resources needed for residential and transportation electrification, rather than for data centers. The legislation also noted Seattle's desirability for data centers due to relatively cheap energy and access to water, with centers potentially requiring 300,000 gallons of water daily.

Mayor Katie Wilson expressed support for the ordinance, which she intends to sign. Over the next year, the city plans to hold meetings with communities, utilities, and companies to formulate permanent regulations. Following the vote, Washington AI resistance announced a 'People’s AI Bill of Rights,' advocating for similar regulations at the county and state levels.