Spokane County weighs zoning rules over data center moratorium

(The Center Square) – Divisions are emerging in Spokane as Democrats and Republicans on the Board of County Commissioners eye two different ways of responding to growing concerns with data centers.

The largely progressive Spokane City Council approved a one-year moratorium on data center projects last month as Avista Utilities paused negotiations with a potential large load customer.

Spokane County Commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldref followed suit Monday, proposing a nine-month version for the county.

The idea immediately faced opposition from the three Republicans making up the rest of the board as the Democrats briefed their peers on Tuesday. Commissioner Al French announced plans to propose a zoning ordinance that they could vote on...