AI Governance
Data Centers
Drones
Climate
Privacy
2026 Maine Senate
Bob Dylan
Last Update: 10/27/2026 at 5:34 AM EST
Seattle Data Center Expansion
Coverage from Department of Political Science, Gizmodo, and others
Seattle’s proposed data-center growth has brought infrastructure and land-use questions into local policymaking.
City officials have considered a one-year pause on qualifying new projects while studying effects on electricity and water systems, utility affordability, jobs, public health, and the environment. Seattle City Light’s warnings about the scale of proposed power demand have also focused attention on grid capacity and who should bear the cost of new infrastructure. Together, these issues frame a broader debate over how data centers should be sited, reviewed, and regulated in relation to local needs.
Looking Back
137 Day Timeline
May 12
Jun 5
Jun 26
Jul 20
Aug 10
Sep 3
Sep 24
All Articles73 articles
Important
The Seattle City Council voted unanimously on June 9 in Seattle, Washington, to suspend applications for large data centers for one year over power and local-impact concerns.
8/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council passed a one-year moratorium on large data centers above about 20 MW on Tuesday after proposed projects totaling 369 MW raised local power and impact concerns.
6/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Spokane County commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldref proposed a nine-month moratorium on large-load data-center permits in Washington after Avista paused major power discussions.
7/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Tacoma, Washington issued a Director's Interpretation in response to stand-alone data center permitting concerns, stating current zoning code rules do not allow stand-alone data centers.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Spokane City Council approved a 6-1 emergency one-year moratorium on large data centers on Monday, after Avista paused 500-megawatt pursuit amid power and water concerns.
6/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council enacted a one-year moratorium on data center approvals above 20 megawatts on June 9 after concerns about electricity, water, and neighborhood impacts.
6/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
First & Utah Properties submitted June 12 filings to convert 45,600 square feet at 2401 Utah Ave. S. into a small-scale Seattle data center under a new large data center moratorium.
6/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on large new data centers after a utility warned five proposals would consume over one-third of city power capacity.
6/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved an emergency moratorium in 2026 to pause large-scale data center development while city departments study grid, water, utility rates, land use, and public health impacts.
6/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Spokane City Council introduced a one-year moratorium on new data-center building permits after Avista confirmed consideration of a large-load development.
6/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council adopted an emergency moratorium and impact-study framework in response to community concerns about proposed large data center facilities.
6/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on large data-center creation and expansion within city limits on Tuesday.
6/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers pending mayoral signing, pairing a 20 MVA cap with planned Seattle City Light data-center rate changes.
6/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council will vote on June 2 on a one-year moratorium and policy resolution for large-scale data centers, affecting Equinix and Prologis proposals in Seattle SoDo and Tukwila.
5/26/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle officials plan a one-year moratorium on new data center siting after Washington House Bill 2515 failed, amid national state and local moratorium proposals.
5/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council adopted a definition and 365-day moratorium on data center permit applications while the city updates mitigation, community benefits, and fee requirements.
5/13/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Skagit County adopted a temporary data-center moratorium on June 1 as residents challenged Project Cascade plans based on projected power and water use in Washington.
6/6/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
The Spokane Audubon Society urged Spokane County in Washington to pause permitting for a proposed Medical Lake hyperscale data center because of power, water, pollution, and economic concerns.
8/16/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
In 2024, Merkle Standard began discussing a power study with the Pend Oreille County PUD for a proposed 225-megawatt data center at the former mill in Usk, Washington.
9/25/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Spokane County commissioners approved a four-month data center permitting pause on August 11 in Spokane County, Washington, after residents protested proposed facilities and demanded stronger power, water and zoning safeguards.
8/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Avista paused 500-megawatt data center negotiations in Spokane, Washington after community criticism and a proposed Spokane City Council one-year moratorium tied to permitting, power, and water concerns.
6/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Avista confirmed a nonbinding memorandum for a Washington data center requesting 125 MW in 2029, facing Spokane opposition and cost-allocation concerns.
6/9/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Yakama Nation protested permitted Goldendale pumped-hydro storage near the Columbia River after reported links to planned STACK hyperscale data center power procurement.
5/25/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Seattle City Council introduced a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers, tied to Seattle City Light proposals, and scheduled committee votes for June 3.
5/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Yakama Nation and allies challenge Washington’s Pushpum pumped-storage project as Ecology documents suggest potential electricity supply for a planned 1GW+ hyperscale data center.
5/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Port Angeles City Council approved a six-month moratorium Tuesday on new data-center applications while city officials study water, power, land-use, noise, and environmental impacts.
9/3/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Thurston County commissioners directed staff Tuesday in Washington to develop a one-year moratorium proposal for new data center permits amid concerns about water, energy, infrastructure, and land use.
8/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Amazon presented its proposed Walla Walla County data center campus at a Burbank community open house while county review awaited a traffic analysis.
8/13/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Yakima County commissioners approved a six-month data-center permitting moratorium on Tuesday in unincorporated Yakima County, Washington, after residents raised concerns about water, power, environmental, health, and agricultural impacts.
8/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Kittitas County commissioners will review a proposed six-month data center moratorium in Ellensburg, Washington, on Aug. 10, following Cle Elum's emergency ban adopted July 31.
8/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cle Elum City Council unanimously introduced a six-month moratorium on new data centers as Blue Fern Development plans a 20MW facility at Bullfrog Flats.
8/6/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Snohomish County Washington council unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on data center siting in unincorporated areas on June 24.
6/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Milltown Partners survey results and Seattle moratorium actions highlight mixed local support for new data centers in Washington as electricity rates and local limits change.
7/23/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Interesting
Airway Heights is evaluating Apricus Energy Partners' request for reclaimed water for the proposed Big Rock data center and hydrogen facility in Spokane County.
9/8/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Seattle City Council passed an emergency freeze on new large data center siting on June 9 while ordering studies of grid, water, utility rates, land use, jobs, and public health.
7/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Amazon Web Services presented its proposed Wallula Gap data center complex Tuesday at Columbia High School in Burbank, Washington, amid county permitting requirements and organized local opposition.
8/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Spokane County commissioners heard residents oppose a potential West Plains data center and debated a moratorium Tuesday in Spokane County, Washington.
8/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Seattle considers a yearlong moratorium and impact study for new AI data centers as Washington addresses electricity, water use, and rate impacts.
5/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Kittitas County commissioners will consider extending the data center moratorium at a September 15 public hearing in Kittitas County, Washington.
9/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle and at least 10 other Washington jurisdictions have paused large-scale data center construction while officials evaluate electricity demand, infrastructure, water, noise, and zoning impacts.
8/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cle Elum City Council deferred consideration of a six-month emergency data center moratorium to a July 31 special meeting at City Hall.
7/31/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
La Conner Town Council imposed a temporary data-center permitting moratorium Tuesday in La Conner, Washington, to review land-use rules and water-related requirements.
7/30/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Federal Way City Council passed an emergency one-year moratorium on new data center siting and permitting, effective immediately, with a public hearing set for Sept. 1.
7/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Federal Way City Council imposed an emergency 12-month moratorium on data centers effective immediately on July 7, citing concerns over power, water, noise, heat, and visual impacts.
7/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Snohomish County Council approved a six-month emergency moratorium in unincorporated Washington State as residents raised water and community concerns.
6/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Starbucks Center owners filed a conceptual plan with Seattle to assess a small data center at 2401 Utah Ave. S. amid a one-year moratorium on large projects over 20 megavolt-amperes.
6/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Renton City Council voted on June 1 to start a moratorium process for data centers within city limits, citing AI-driven power and water impacts.
6/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on large data centers in response to projected power-capacity strain from five proposed projects.
6/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle adopted a one-year moratorium on new data center construction after a unanimous city council vote, targeting electricity-demand and environmental concerns.
6/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Snoqualmie City Council will vote June 9 on whether to start a formal review of regulations for large-scale data centers in Snoqualmie, Washington.
6/5/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data center development after hearing concerns about AI-driven power and water impacts.
6/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on new large-scale AI data centers in response to developer proposals and community hearings.
6/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle considered a one-year moratorium on new data centers in 2024, after unanimous Land Use and Sustainability Committee approval and public testimony near the Spokane Street viaduct.
6/3/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Skagit County adopted a temporary moratorium on data-center permits in unincorporated areas, while officials refine zoning and water protections after a June 1 vote.
6/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council drafted a one-year moratorium on new large data centers to address power-demand and electric bill concerns affecting Seattle residents.
5/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on local data center construction in response to Land Use and Sustainability Committee testimony and public opposition.
6/5/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Grant PUD served eight Grant County, Washington, data center operators using 280 average megawatts in 2025 and is planning for 800 megawatts of queued large-load requests.
8/28/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ponderay City Council discussed a possible data center ban on Aug. 3 in Ponderay, Idaho, amid concerns about electricity demand, cooling water, and local infrastructure.
8/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Cle Elum officials approved a six-month data center pause in Washington after a 20-megawatt proposal triggered debate over tax revenue, infrastructure demands, and local control.
8/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Seattle city leaders heard testimony in a public hearing during deliberations on extending a one-year moratorium on AI data centers amid concerns about pollution, water, energy limits, and grid costs.
7/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Seattle City Council imposed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction after residents raised health, pollution, and utility-cost concerns at a City Hall hearing, with studies planned.
7/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Avista paused negotiations on a proposed 500-megawatt data center in Spokane Valley, Washington, after Spokane Riverkeeper raised concerns about water impacts and a federal 2026 bill introduced funding requirements.
6/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Spokane residents protested a proposed Avista-linked data center after Avista confirmed the project and paused negotiations, and the city imposed a one-year permit moratorium.
6/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Walla Walla Anti-Data Center League residents held a June 12 town hall to urge Walla Walla County commissioners to consider a moratorium on an Amazon Data Services 554-acre data center proposal.
6/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Spokane City Council enacted a one-year building permit moratorium for new computer data centers in June, and industry advocates warn about reduced investment regulatory certainty.
7/3/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Avista paused energy service negotiations for a proposed 500-megawatt Spokane data center, prompting a one-year city building-permit moratorium for computer data centers.
6/14/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Seattle City Light proposed a New Large Data Center Load Policy for 10 MVA or larger data center loads, reviewed by the Seattle City Council on June 17.
6/12/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Seattle City Council adopted an emergency moratorium and policy framework in 2020s legislation to pause large data center siting pending grid, water, and public health impact studies.
6/9/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Seattle City Council approved a one-year moratorium on data centers within Seattle city limits after proposed facilities raised concerns about electricity demand.
6/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Additional
Snohomish PUD officials in Washington described large-load planning for potential AI data-center projects after public concerns over power and water impacts.
5/16/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Avista, in Washington, outlines a customer-paid study and regulatory review process for future data-center large-load interconnection requests.
6/14/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Michael Baumgartner and Carmela Conroy debated data-center development at a Spokane, Washington, congressional forum, focusing on infrastructure costs, water demand, drought, and siting authority.
9/12/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Avista Utilities said it will take additional time to evaluate large data center energy requests while coordinating planning with governmental agencies and community stakeholders in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.
6/12/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General