City Pauses Data Centers Amid Debate | Spokane News

Spokane News Today | 2 Min | The Daily News Now! · Aug 6, 2026 · 1m

City council votes to pause new data center projects as they scramble to understand the full impact — from power and water to fire services and jobs. But here’s the twist: the very project sparking this debate — Blue Fern’s 100,000-square-foot facility — might still move forward under existing rules, thanks to a pre-approved development deal. Utility company Puget Sound Energy says it can handle the load, but council members want more proof. A new advisory committee is forming, with a public hearing set for September 8 — giving locals a chance to weigh in before the city decides how tech…