Protect Our Water! Stop Data Centers In Spokane County & Kootenai County

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The Issue

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  • Avista is trying to raise electricity prices by 25% by 2030. Likely for upgrades to support the massive amount of power these data centers need. - source
  • Spokane County is currently in a level 2 severe drought - source
  • Al French wants to give these data centers tax breaks - source
  • 1 of the 2 data centers alone require up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity - more electricity than the roughly 731 megawatts currently used by every home, school, store, and business in Spokane County combined‼️

🚨 Take Action Here - NOW  (less than 5 minutes)🚨

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  1. Contact Spokane County Commissioners
  2. Contact Kootenai County Commissioners
  3. Contact the UTC (regulates companies like Avista) - Reference Docket UE-260162 - State you want large customers to pay their own costs and that alternatives should be evaluated before any contracts are approved. 

Spokane County should not sacrifice its water, affordable electricity, land, or public infrastructure for private hyperscale data centers that provide relatively few permanent jobs.

We call on the Spokane & Kootenai County Board of Commissioners to:

  1. Immediately stop accepting or approving applications for new hyperscale data centers in unincorporated Spokane County.
  2. Adopt a permanent zoning ban on hyperscale and high-energy data centers.
  3. Reject permits, tax incentives, infrastructure commitments, and other county support for the proposed Big Rock/Rock Point project.
  4. Disclose all past and current communications, agreements, and discussions involving proposed data centers.
  5. Our water and electricity are essential public resources. They should serve the residents and local businesses, not be consumed on a massive scale by private AI corporations.

Sign this petition and tell County elected officials: No data centers in our community.

Email Template:

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I oppose the construction of any new hyperscale data centers in the Spokane & Kootenai region. These facilities would consume enormous amounts of electricity and water while threatening residents with higher costs and major infrastructure burdens. Please ban these projects and reject all permits, tax breaks, subsidies, and public infrastructure support connected to them. Our water, affordable power, and public resources must be protected for residents and local businesses.

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The Decision Makers

Spokane County
Communications Team
Responded
“At Tuesday afternoon’s regular Legislative Session, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the adoption of a new pause on the acceptance of Land Use and Permit Applications for Data Centers. The new pause begins today (October 20, 2026) and will continue through June 1, 2027 – or until the related Zoning Text Amendment process is completed, whichever occurs first. An associated work plan and a finding of fact were also adopted in conjunction with the new pause. The new pause means that, for its duration, land use and permit applications for Data Centers will not be accepted by Spokane County. The pause will also be in effect through the conclusion of the upcoming 2027 State Legislative Session. It is anticipated that state legislators will weigh in on the issue of Data Centers and possibly develop new guidelines that would affect future planning and zoning decisions for cities and counties. https://www.spokanecounty.gov/3559/Code-Amendments [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Spokane County Commission
4 Members
Amber Waldref
Spokane County Commission - District 2
Spokane County Commission - District 1
Spokane County Commission - District 5
Kootenai County Council
3 Members
Kootenai County Council - District 1
Leslie Duncan
Kootenai County Council - District 3
Bruce Mattare
Kootenai County Council - District 2
Spokane County Board of County Commissioners
Former Kootenai County Commissioner

Supporter Voices

Petition Updates