Several Washington organizations are fighting back against the development of new data centers being built across the state.
A new report from Front and Centered shows the centers are disproportionately taking resources from already strained communities.
In light of that information, Jamie Hearn with Front and Centered said they are asking for a three-year moratorium on new data center development. They plan to work with lawmakers to turn that request into a bill for the 2027 legislative session.
“It’s not just about the air pollution. It’s not about the water scarcity issues. It’s about how all of these factors come together and compound existing harms that these communities are already facing,” Hearn said.
Right now, Liz Emmens with Tri-Cities Data Center Watch said there are more than 100 data centers across Washington, with more on the way.
“You have low-frequency noise that will be drumming, will be going 24 seven every single day. They’re doing nothing to control that,” Emmens said.
Front and Centered surveyed 30 communities across Washington that are most impacted by data centers. They found that those cities don’t have the energy or water to spare for what they are calling “hyperdata centers”.
“We are in a state with a drought. We’re in a state where water is oversubscribed. We have the Yakima River; we have the Columbia River. We have wells. The people in that area who are on wells already are having to drill their wells deeper,” Melinda d’Ouville with Tri-Cities Data Center Watch said.
The Front and Center also shows that data centers disproportionately impact lower-income communities and communities of color.
“You can also look at some of the specific factors like environmental exposures, socioeconomic factors, but this tool is really helpful for us to understand how certain communities are experiencing these risks in comparison to other communities in the state,” Hearn said.
These organizations say they’re going into the 2027 legislative session asking for a 3-year statewide moratorium on all new data center development
“Ideally, they would go away. But realistically, we are pushing for those safeguards,” Emmens said.
“A lot of it is around transparency and affordability requirements. Flexibility requirements for utilities,” Hearn said.
We reached out to Governor Bob Ferguson’s office to have him address growing concerns about data centers, but they have not responded.
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