Living in Cle Elum and surrounding smaller towns Roslyn, Ronald, Easton you will meet really amazing people with good hearts, a special place with natural beauty that I and many others get to call home. However, the proposed Blue Fern's data center development near our community is a cause for significant concern.

This proposed data center, to be situated alarmingly close to ALL of our schools in Cle Elum, poses significant risks to our environment, potentially disrupting the delicate balance of nature that many in our community rely on and those that love to visit this area in the warm summers, snowy winters and enjoy our rivers and lakes. The introduction of a large-scale industrial facility such as a data center in THIS area could exacerbate the already existing challenges Cle Elum faces.

Our community is experiencing drought conditions, and our ties with the dept of ecology, local tribes, agriculture make it imperative that any development take into account water usage. Data centers are notorious for their enormous water consumption and high energy and electricity usage. We also have the only blue ribbon trout river in the state on our beloved Yakima and Cle Elum rivers.  The trout are protected catch and release only. People love it here, they love to fish, explore, swim. This data center will impact these things.

We also have so much growth! Hundreds of new homes are being built right next door! Within stones throw. New residents and existing families in neighborhoods around the area will experience a constant hum with zero knowledge regarding long term health impacts. The construction and operation of this facility risk depleting our precious water resources, further straining our community and local ecosystem.

Furthermore, the amount of electricity on a 20 megawatt Blue Fern data center is roughly equivalent to 17,500 homes. Cle Elum has under 20,000 homes. We already are strained on electricity costs and Blue Fern wants to use existing electricity that that said no one is using 🤷🏻‍♀️ They save money I guess. 

And most importantly, the school proximity. This is RIGHT near our elementary school, our middle school and high school. We’re truly a small town. We need help! We don’t need AI to progress this quickly.

We believe there are more suitable locations for such developments, places better equipped to handle the resource strain and fit within industrial zones where they can be supported without damaging residential areas and ecosystems. Instead of a data center that threatens our environment, we should explore sustainable development options that align with Cle Elum's unique character and needs. We need a community center, another grocery store. We don’t need an AI data center. We understand the development for the area is zoned is for business development, but this is NOT light industrial business development.  We need to find a common ground.

We urge our local leaders and decision-makers in Cle Elum and the surrounding Kittitas County to stop or reconsider the placement of Blue Fern's proposed data center. Let's protect our beloved community, safeguarding it for our children and all those who call it home. Please join us in speaking up for our environment, our homes, and our futures – sign this petition to halt the data center development in Cle Elum. 

Thank you from all of us in Upper Kittitas County!  God bless ❤️