Seattle Considers 365-Day Data Center Moratorium
Rising power demand and public pressure push city councilmembers to consider a pause.
May 1, 2026 – Leaders in Seattle are moving to introduce a 365-day moratorium on new data centers, as city officials respond to growing concerns about energy demand, environmental impacts, and rising costs for utility ratepayers.
City Councilmember Debora Juarez, Councilmember Eddie Lin, and Council President Joy Hollingsworth said Thursday they plan to introduce emergency legislation that would halt the siting of new data centers for one year, while also advancing a resolution calling for detailed studies on impacts to infrastructure, water usage, utility rates, land use, jobs, and public health.
Lin is the prime sponsor of the moratorium legislation, which is co-sponsored by Hollingsworth, while Juarez authored the accompanying resolution after working on it for several months.
