SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Airway Heights is evaluating a proposal from a data center company that would use the city’s reclaimed water for cooling operations, marking the latest development in an ongoing debate over whether such facilities should be allowed in Spokane County.
The city announced it has requested a feasibility analysis to determine how the data center would impact the community. The company has agreed to pay for the analysis, according to a city statement. However, Airway Heights officials emphasized that no decisions have been made regarding whether to move forward with the project.
The proposal has reignited concerns among residents and community leaders who worry about the environmental and resource implications of data centers in the region. Some of those community members voiced their concerns this week at the Spokane County Commissioners meeting.
“It’s an act of lunacy in my humble opinion to move forward with the data center until specific questions over utilization of our shared resources have been explored,” said one Spokane County community member.
The push for data centers in Spokane County has accelerated in recent months. In a significant development, Avista announced it had entered into an agreement with a data center customer, but that agreement has since been put on pause. Avista says the pause gives the utility more time to engage with the community and local government agencies about the implications of such projects.
The hesitation from local officials reflects growing community resistance. The City of Spokane has enacted a one-year ban on data centers, while Spokane County is considering a nine-month ban on such facilities.
“We don’t want or need those at the expense of our residents who have a right to a place without air and noise pollution. Most importantly, we are in a drought condition too often to allow data centers to steal our water from us for cooling their high-density computing systems,” said one Spokane County community member.
Water usage has emerged as a central issue in the data center debate. The region faces periodic drought conditions, and residents worry that large-scale data center operations could strain local water supplies. The Airway Heights proposal specifically targets reclaimed water, which some see as a potential compromise, though community members remain skeptical about whether this adequately addresses broader concerns.
Airway Heights officials said they will make a decision about whether to proceed with the feasibility analysis this month.
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