On June 24th, Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring proposed a six-month moratorium on any data centers in unincorporated parts of our county. This came in response to an outpouring of concerns by citizens over what they believed might be a data center being located at Project Cascade in Marysville. An ad hoc committee of the Natural Resources Committee submitted a two-page list of questions to the Snohomish County Council that they felt needed to be addressed for the permitting process. Lisa Utter, who was still the LWVSC president in June, spoke in support of a moratorium.
This August 19th, members of the public again spoke to the need for the emergency moratorium to answer questions and construct proper guidelines within Planning and Development. They also expressed the possible need for an extension for proper public input as the current moratorium ends in December with the disruptive effects of the holidays and adverse weather. Some are already convinced of the negative environmental impacts and would like an immediate ban.
Other counties are confronting this issue. Martin Gibbins, LWVWA Climate and Energy Chair, indicates that work may be ahead for the state legislature to consider its own guidelines. He has formed an affinity group that meets the first Thursday of the month at 6:00 P.M. by ZOOM. Last session, Beth Doglio, a Thurston County representative, introduced a bill on data centers. At present, the Department of Ecology relegates that work to local Planning and Development.
NEXT MEETING: Join us September 18th, 10:00 A.M. by ZOOM, at the
Natural Resources Committee meeting to hear from John Hoffman, Customer Service Officer of the Everett PUD, on their upcoming plans.