The deeper I look into statistical research into data centers, along with the proposed Atlas Agro data center on Horn Rapids Road and Trammell Crow Company project at Lewis & Clark Ranch in West Richland, the more it feels like a dystopian nightmare for the Tri-Cities. 

Edit: We are calling for an immediate, official 1-year moratorium on the approval, permitting, and construction of data centers in both Richland and West Richland, WA.

A lot of people don't realize the sheer scale of what is happening. Decisions about our local infrastructure, power grid, and water are being made without the awareness of everyday residents. Recent global infrastructure reports show that the United States already hosts over 40% of the entire world's data center infrastructure. That is 8 times more than any other nation on earth. We already have more than enough digital infrastructure to support our daily lives.

The aggressive push to build two massive complexes right next to each other in our communities is a corporate "money grab." Big Tech giants are currently spending over $650 billion this year alone to outbuild their competitors in a speculative AI arms race. They are targeting the Tri-Cities simply because they want cheap land and cheap access to our utility grid. While they chase corporate profits, local residents will face the consequences: skyrocketing household utility bills, overloaded power grids, and millions of gallons of our local water resources sucked dry every single day just to keep their computers cool. There is absolutely no reason to deteriorate our local land for projects that do not serve our immediate community. Neither of these projects will benefit us; our community at all.

🚨 IMPORTANT LEGAL UPDATE FOR SIGNERS: While this online petition is vital to show our massive numbers, and to bring awareness to the situation, Washington state law dictates that the Richland and West Richland City Councils legally require physical "wet ink" signatures on paper to take official action. I was recently informed by another resident that is trying to collect physical signatures in person with others for a moratorium for West Richland and Richland that City Council would not accept a printed copy of everyone who has signed my online petition that lives in Richland and West Richland to be used as a formal petition by city hall. We are combining our efforts with other local community advocates to coordinate physical signing locations this summer. We need EVERYONE who signed this page to find a signature gatherer and to sign in person so our voices cannot be legally ignored!

If you are unable to find the time or be able to sign the petition in person, you can always send an email to city council and express how you oppose of the building of data centers In West Richland or Richland and that you propose for a moratorium for a year for either project. Specifically which town you live in, send to that council. When you sign off your email by adding your name at the bottom also add your address below your name. That tells them that you are a citizen of that City, one of their constituents. You could also include a link to this online petition in your email that shows them people, community members are aware of this and oppose of it. Each email that is sent to the city council is documented, is on the record. Here is both emails to Richland City Council and West Richland City Council that will reach every member of that Council. citycouncil@westrichland.org          citycouncil@ci.richland.wa.us 

 I will give more updates on where you can sign. Also if you have Facebook, I would suggest following the group page Tri-Cities Wa Citizens Concerned about Data Centers. To get more information and to get in touch with other members of the community opposed of the buildings of more data centers. If you can keep sharing this petition so that more people can become aware of this proposed plan in our city's. It's happening everywhere, around the state, Nationwide.

Why West Richland / Richland Moritorium is urgent right now.

The U.S. Already Has Enough.

The United States already hosts over 40% of the entire world’s data center infrastructure(4,600+ Data Centers). There is absolutely no critical shortage or public necessity requiring our local neighborhoods to be dug up for more.

Zero Benefit to Our Community.

These massive facilities are highly automated. They create almost no permanent local jobs after construction, and they do not open up public amenities for Tri-Cities families.

A Massive Corporate Money Grab.

Big Tech and AI infrastructure investments are driving a massive $900 billion global development surge. These out-of-state billionaires are looking to maximize their corporate profits by exploiting cheap local land, leaving us with the consequences.

Severe risks to our resources.

 If built, the total 1,250-acre developments threaten to drain our local water supply, put an unprecedented strain on our shared electrical grid, and permanently displace native local wildlife. 

Tri-Cities families shouldn't be left to shoulder all the risks while corporate tech giants walk away with the profits. Public office is meant for protecting the community, not corporate grid demands.

Decisions about our community should be made WITH us, not TO us.

Protect our water, grid, and quality of life. 

I would like to thank every single one of you who have signed, shared, contributed to this petition and helped spread awareness on this matter, and on the surge of data centers that's going on.

 We can make the change, and we can be the difference. Strength in numbers.

Thank you for considering signing, sharing and caring about the environment. I appreciate you all. 

Majesta