As Snoqualmie continues to address questions around emerging land uses, the city council has unanimously passed a moratorium on battery energy storage facilities, established a community working group, and is now turning its attention to how the city regulates data centers.
Data Centers on the Agenda
With no proposal currently before the city, Mayor Mayhew and Councilmember Johnson are asking the council to take a proactive look at how Snoqualmie currently regulates large-scale data centers at its June 8th meeting. The goal is to determine whether existing rules are adequate or whether changes should be considered before a project ever arrives.
“Data centers are the kind of issue that people care deeply about once a project is proposed,” Mayhew said. “The better approach is to have the conversation before that happens. Whether the answer is that our current regulations are appropriate or that changes should be considered, those are discussions that are easier to have before a specific proposal is driving the timeline.”
Communities across the region have raised concerns about data centers, including their size, noise, energy consumption, backup power systems, and compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods. The discussion will center on whether to launch a formal review. If the city ultimately decides to update its code, the process would include public input, Planning Commission review and a final council vote following public hearings.
Council member Murphy said, “Data centers are putting real strain on our power grid, and that strain is exactly what makes battery storage so lucrative. It worries me when the same Wall Street investors behind data centers are the ones pushing BESS facilities into our neighborhoods. They cash in on both sides of the deal while local communities are left holding the bag. I’m glad we’re taking a hard look now at whether data centers even belong in Snoqualmie.”
BESS Moratorium Passes Unanimously
At its May 26 meeting, the Snoqualmie City Council voted unanimously to impose a temporary 12-month moratorium on new battery energy storage system facilities. The moratorium takes effect immediately and places a pause on “the acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for new battery energy storage system facilities” while the city develops specific regulations for them.
Existing facilities and routine maintenance are not affected. A public hearing on the moratorium must be held within 60 days of adoption.
Over the next year, the city will examine how other communities have approached BESS regulation, review state and regional standards, and consider what siting, safety, design, and compatibility requirements make sense for Snoqualmie. The process will include opportunities for public input before any proposed code changes go to the council.
Community Working Group Created
The council also voted unanimously to form a working group that will include both council members and community representatives. Snoqualmie Valley for Responsible Energy will serve as co-chair.
BESS Resource Page
The city has created an online resource at snoqualmiewa.gov/bess where residents can find information about the proposed Cascadia Ridge Resiliency Energy Storage project, the King County permitting process, and related news releases. The page will be updated as new information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to bookmark it and check back regularly.
[City-SVRE Working Group members, from left to right: Councilmembers Andre Testman and Cat Cotton, SVRE directors Teresa Bechtold and Peter Lugli, Councilmember Bryan Holloway, and SVRE director Jesse Skorupa. Not shown, Nicole Wolfley, SVRE Director. Featured image courtesy of SVRE.]
