SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – The Spokane County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to pause the building and planning departments from accepting or processing any land use applications for a large load data center. The pause will last until December.
“Today’s action is a starting point,” said Chris Jordan, Spokane County District 1 Commissioner. “It gives us the chance to have the real community conversation that is needed. This pause can be extended if it becomes clear more time is required to find the right solutions.”
A draft zoning ordinance for data center facilities has been created. It establishes guidelines for future large data center projects. Some of the requirements include mandatory noise and vibration studies, strict water usage restrictions, and emergency response plans that would have to be reviewed by the corresponding fire district.
Hannah Trefry, attended the Tuesday hearing, and expressed support for the pause. “The main concerns for me would be a) the water usage and b) the electricity that it takes,” Trefry said. “That’s on us to pay for. It’s coming out of our own pockets.”
Public comment about large data centers was not allowed in Tuesdays meeting, but county commissioners say there will be more opportunities for public feedback in the future.
A previous version of a TV story said Commissioner Kerns supported a data center, but he says he’s opposed to building a data center here.
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