Seattle Council Unanimously Approves Moratorium on Large Data Centers Pending Impact Studies
Seattle is a city in King County, Washington. Seattle's City Council unanimously approved two measures restricting large data center development, industry media reported on October 16. Amended Council Bill 121214 imposes a temporary moratorium on new large data center projects while the city studies their potential effects, and the pause can be extended by up to six additional months if officials determine more review time is needed.
Under the bill, data centers are defined as facilities primarily used for storing and processing digital data, with power capacity exceeding 20 megavolt-amperes and requiring uninterrupted power supplies. Councilmember Eddie Lin, who sponsored the legislation, said large SI data centers are popping up across the country, driving up utility costs for residents and small businesses while creating air, water and noise pollution, and that Seattleites should not be subsidizing the record profits of large corporations from the SI boom.
Council President Joy Hollingsworth said the moratorium is about making long-term decisions that could affect the city's infrastructure, utility rates, water usage and sustainability goals, and that the pause gives the city an opportunity to understand the impacts before making permanent decisions.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：西雅图派克市场实景。图片来源：Julian Lupyan，Wikimedia Commons，CC0。Photo: 西雅图派克市场实景. Image: Julian Lupyan, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
