Data center regulations are a growing concern for communities across Washington state, as elected officials consider how to address issues like water consumption, noise pollution, and power grid strain. Following a shift in political power in the state legislature, where Democrats now hold a supermajority, Governor Bob Ferguson expressed confidence that the 2027 legislative session will result in some form of data center regulation.
Communities across the state are calling for a moratorium on data centers, citing concerns such as water use, noise, proximity to residential areas, power consumption on an already strained grid, groundwater contamination, and a lack of transparency from officials. Brittany Anderson, a Spokane-based activist, said she has been unable to obtain basic information about how much water or electricity data centers would use.
Washington ranks 10th in the nation for the number of data centers in operation, though the exact number is disputed. More than 100 data centers are estimated to be operating in the state, according to Front and Centered, a coalition of over 50 community-based organizations. Some communities have already enacted moratoria, including Seattle, Spokane, Pasco, Federal Way, Burien, and several counties.
Front and Centered has also called for state action, arguing that allowing rapid development of hyperscale data centers without clarity on their impacts sends a message that decision-makers prioritize profit over people. The group describes a statewide moratorium as a way to advance Washington’s environmental justice goals.
Lawmakers have not yet pursued a moratorium, with Rep. Beth Doglio, D-Olympia, stating that a moratorium is a short-term solution. Instead, she is interested in implementing “guardrails” to manage data center operations. A bill that eliminated tax breaks for replacing or refurbishing older server equipment passed this year, though a separate tax break remains for new facilities purchasing equipment for the first time.
Doglio’s bill fell short in the eleventh hour, with pressure from the data center industry. She also mentioned challenges related to “curtailment,” which involves temporarily shutting down data center operations during peak grid capacity to ease strain. She plans to reintroduce the bill next year with a new provision.
