Data center moratorium
Summary
Pasco adopted a one-year moratorium on data center and large-load applications, retroactive to May 27, with a 2.5-megawatt cap on incidental exemptions. Residents pushed for a permanent ban, citing water use, health impacts, and aggressive land-buyout pressure. The year will be used to study regulations.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 4
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jul 14, 2026.
Impact analysis
No direct county cost; the moratorium pauses applications while regulations are studied.
Residents worried about water, health, and rural character from hyperscale data centers.
Landowners and developers seeking to site data centers in Pasco during the moratorium year.
Mentions & discussions (4)
Board of County Commissioners - Jul 14, 2026
Pasco adopted a one-year moratorium on data center and large-load applications, retroactive to May 27, with a 2.5-megawatt cap on incidental exemptions. Residents pushed for a permanent ban, citing water use, health impacts, and aggressive land-buyout pressure. The year will be used to study regulations.
Board of County Commissioners - Jun 16, 2026
Pasco is poised to pause all data center and large-load customer applications for 12 months while the county studies water, power, noise, flood, and health impacts. Dozens of residents pushed for a permanent ban, while one developer asked for a small-facility carve-out. The final vote comes July 14.
Planning Commission - Jun 11, 2026
Pasco wants a 12-month time-out on data center applications while the county studies water, power, noise, and environmental impacts and writes regulations. Over twenty residents backed the pause; a small-facility developer pushed for carve-outs. The final decision goes to the County Commission.
Board of County Commissioners - Jun 2, 2026
Commissioners are worried about data centers' strain on infrastructure and natural resources. The board agreed to propose a 12-month pause while planners study how other jurisdictions regulate them and fix gaps in Pasco's zoning rules.
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