Public Event Detail
Who? Where? We don’t know, but Avista is entertaining a large data center
Public historical observation from the Merrowstone archive. This page shows event-level context only. Accepted assertions, evidence lineage, and relationship intelligence remain part of the premium research layer.
Event summary
Avista is in discussions with an undisclosed developer to potentially host a large data center, projected to consume up to 500 megawatts of power, despite public and local government being kept in the dark about the details. Local leaders, including Spokane City Council members, are formally calling for a moratorium on new data centers to create a regulatory framework, citing concerns over energy consumption, environmental impact on local water resources, and the lack of transparency from Avista. The utility stated confidentiality agreements inhibited earlier disclosure, emphasizing that initial discussions and a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding are still in early stages.