Spokane County Divided on Data Centers | Spokane News

Spokane News Today | 2 Min | The Daily News Now! · Jul 23, 2026 · 1m

Spokane County’s commissioners are locked in a heated debate over how to respond to a flood of data center proposals, with Democrats pushing for a nine-month pause to craft thoughtful regulations while Republicans argue against the delay, citing economic risks and the urgency of seizing growth opportunities. The divide centers on balancing rapid tech expansion with community concerns over water, power, and noise — as Republican-led proposals draw from existing zoning laws, introducing buffer zones, noise caps, and environmental reviews, even borrowing from marijuana and airport rules. With no…