Compliance Alert: Spokane County Moratorium
0 violation(s) and 3 ethical concern(s) detected for Spokane County moratorium (WA).
On August 18, 2026, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a four-month pause on new permits for data centers. The moratorium is currently in effect and is set to expire on December 15, 2026.
Jurisdiction: Spokane County Type: county, WA Status: active (previously active)
Status Evidence
On August 18, 2026, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a four-month pause on new permits for data centers. The moratorium is currently in effect and is set to expire on December 15, 2026.
Scope
A temporary, four-month halt on the acceptance, processing, and approval of new land-use and building permit applications for data centers requiring at least 20 megawatts (MW) of electrical capacity.
Ethical Concerns
- Transparency and Secrecy: The moratorium was spurred by public backlash after records revealed a County Commissioner held private, unpublicized discussions with a developer about a 500 MW data center.
- Community Consent: Residents argued that local government and utility providers were making backdoor deals without public knowledge.
- Environmental Impact and Resource Drain: Residents raised severe concerns about hyperscale computing draining the region's power supply, exploiting local aquifers for cooling, and causing noise, vibration, and pollution.