Seattle's data center moratorium moves forward

Seattle's Land Use and Sustainability Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to advance a moratorium on large-scale data centers.

If passed by the full city council, the city would impose a one-year ban on data centers that use more than 20 megavolt-amperes, roughly equivalent to 20 megawatts. In that time, the city would study regulations that might allow large-scale data centers under certain conditions.

There were 30 public commenters at Wednesday's meeting, the overwhelming majority who expressed concern about data centers' electricity and water use, financial and environmental impacts, land use and noise. Several also voiced broader opposition to artificial intelligence.

Committee Chair Eddie Lin, who co-sponsored the moratorium bill, said he was concerned about the impact of "mega data centers" and how they may require the city to rely more on electricity generated from fossil fuels.

The committee passed an amendment which explicitly allows the city's existing data centers – which Lin said provide digital infrastructure for the city's government, education, health care, and emergency response – to expand up to the 20 megavolt-ampere threshold.

In April, The Seattle Times reported that four companies approached Seattle City Light about building five large data centers with a combined maximum demand of 369 megawatts - roughly one-third of what the city uses on an average day. While Seattle has long been home to data centers, the 30 existing facilities are relatively small. City Light said serving that much additional load would make its job of providing power to existing residents more difficult.

Seattle elected officials received more than 54,000 messages raising "intense public alarm" about the proposed data centers. Mayor Katie Wilson has said she supports a moratorium.

Several developers have withdrawn their plans for large data centers in Seattle since the controversy emerged.

The moratorium bill is scheduled for full council consideration on June 9.

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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 4:52 PM.