Seattle council weighs one-year pause on new data centers

Seattle City Council was set to vote Tuesday on a one-year pause on new data centers, a move driven by growing concern that the city could absorb the power, water and land costs of an AI boom without getting enough in return. The proposal would impose a 365-day moratorium while officials study impacts on infrastructure, utility rates, land use, jobs and public health.

The debate sharpened after April reporting showed four companies were seeking approval for five large-scale centers in Seattle’s utility service area, including a downtown project in SODO. By early June, developers had reportedly pulled back two of the five plans, but the remaining proposals still loomed large: together, they were said to require up to 369 megawatts of power, about one-third of Seattle’s average daily energy use.

Seattle already has about 30 data centers, though most are much smaller than the new projects under review. Supporters of the moratorium said the city should not rush into another wave of development before it understands whether residents will face higher utility bills, greater strain on the water and power systems, and added environmental harm. The Council’s Land Use and Sustainability Committee unanimously approved the measure June 3, sending it to the full council.

One of the most striking parts of the fight was who showed up in support of the pause: current employees from Amazon, Seattle’s biggest tech company. Patrick Schlesser, speaking on behalf of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, urged the city to require future data centers to provide 100% additional renewable energy, good jobs and a new tax tied to large layoffs. Their presence underscored a divide inside the industry, where workers are pressing for limits even as companies argue the projects bring jobs and tax revenue.

The council proposal was paired with a resolution calling for deeper study of electricity use, water use, noise, heat, air pollution, workforce protections and community benefits before the city allows more large facilities. City officials are also weighing whether new rules should govern how data centers use power and water, and how much they can add to already tight urban neighborhoods. Washington state lawmakers considered related regulation during the 2026 session, but did not pass a bill, leaving Seattle to decide whether to slow the buildout now or accept a physical infrastructure burden that could reshape the city for years.