The Seattle City Council has unanimously decided to implement a one-year emergency moratorium on the establishment of new large data centers within the city. This decision stems from concerns regarding the effects of artificial intelligence on the local power grid, water supply, utility rates, and overall economy. The moratorium awaits the signature of Mayor Katie Wilson to take effect.
Proposed projects that were set to be discussed include several large data centers, which were projected to demand a peak power load equivalent to approximately one-third of Seattle's average daily energy consumption. Councilmember Debora Juarez, who championed the resolution, expressed a strong stance against AI and data center development, indicating she would halt such initiatives entirely if possible.
Seattle's decision places it alongside other major U.S. cities such as Minneapolis, Denver, Baltimore, and Indianapolis, which have similarly moved to pause the expansion of data centers. The council’s actions include an ordinance prohibiting applications for data centers exceeding 20 megavolt-amperes of electrical capacity, as well as a resolution to examine their impacts prior to establishing permanent regulations.
Public interest surged, illustrated by over 98,000 emails received by council members and more than 50 testimonies presented at the meeting, all opposing data centers. Industry voices, including those from Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, highlighted the urgency of addressing these concerns.