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Avista Data Center Deal Faces Moratoriums
Coverage from The Spokesman-Review, KREM, and others
Articles
10
Active Days
48
The Topic
Avista paused negotiations over an unidentified data center project that could draw 125 megawatts beginning in 2029 and expand to 500 megawatts by 2032. The proposal prompted Spokane to adopt a one-year moratorium, while Spokane County considered a nine-month pause, as officials and residents sought clearer protections for power costs, water resources, reliability, noise, and other local impacts. Seattle’s separate one-year moratorium shows similar concerns are spreading to larger Washington jurisdictions.
First Article: 06/09/26
Latest Article: 07/26/26
Summary
- Avista’s nonbinding proposal starts at 125 MW in 2029 and could reach 500 MW by 2032.
- Avista paused negotiations after unprecedented community feedback and calls for greater transparency.
- Spokane adopted a one-year moratorium on data center permit applications within city limits.
- Spokane County proposed a separate nine-month countywide construction moratorium.
- Residents and officials raised concerns about aquifer and river impacts, energy affordability, noise, and backup generation.
- Avista said a future customer would cover added power supply, transmission, and infrastructure costs, but local officials want enforceable protections.
- Seattle separately paused approvals for new or expanding facilities above 20 MW while studying electricity, water, and neighborhood effects.
History
The main shift is framing: the Spokane dispute is now presented as part of a broader wave of local policy reactions, with Seattle’s similar moratorium indicating concern is spreading beyond the original jurisdiction. The Avista and Spokane actions themselves are otherwise largely reinforced rather than materially changed.
The story has moved from a general pause around a 500-megawatt proposal to concrete local regulatory action, with Spokane now imposing a permit moratorium and Spokane County considering its own. A key new detail is that the load may ramp up gradually from 125 MW in 2029 to 500 MW by 2032, sharpening concerns about when infrastructure and water impacts would hit.
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Timeline: 48 Days
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