The Spokane City Council has pushed back its vote on an emergency ordinance that would place a temporary moratorium on new data centers in the city. The delay came after council members made last-minute changes to the measure, leaving a decision for another day.
The proposed moratorium was put on the council's agenda after it was revealed that the energy company Avista is working with a new large data center. That disclosure brought the question of how the city should handle such facilities to the forefront.
The news drew concerns from members of the community. Some residents said they were worried about the environmental impact of a large data center within the city limits, as well as the potential for utility rate hikes that could follow such an energy-intensive project.
Ahead of the meeting, council members made last-minute changes to the legislation that would have created the temporary moratorium. The revised version arrived late in the process, complicating an immediate decision.
Council members said more time is now needed to weigh the potential impacts of the ordinance. They pointed to exemptions in the amended measure that they found concerning, and said the public needs time to digest the changes and offer more feedback before any vote.
As a result, the council will now wait until at least next week to take up the measure again. The pause leaves open how the city will ultimately respond to the prospect of large data centers and the energy demands that come with them.