In an October 22nd facebook post, Klickitat County Commissioner, Lori Zoller, defended her reasoning for not yet supporting a moratorium on data centers by emphasizing the need for sound process. In response, community members from STOP Klickitat County Data Centers pointed out that a moratorium is the only way to protect the County’s residents while the County assesses and develops appropriate regulation for data centers.
STOP Klickitat County Data Center’s official response to Commissioner Zoller’s post defending her lack of support for a data center moratorium.
Commissioner Zoller,
We want to believe that you are indeed dedicated to Klickitat residents and a sound process. Many in our growing group voted for you in the past because we believed that. But the fact is there are at least SEVEN hyperscale data centers being proposed in our county that would hog enough electricity to power millions of homes. And the moratorium allows for a sound, unrushed process where everyone can be confident we’re getting it right. This is neither a radical solution nor a complex legal issue that needs extensive review before we can consider it. It’s a well-tested and simple pause that our neighboring counties Skamania, Yakima and Benton have already taken. To demonstrate the dedication to Klickitat residents and sound process that you describe in your post, you must commit to a moratorium now and pass it at Tuesday’s commission meeting.
Action speaks louder than words.
Sincerely,
STOP Klickitat County Data Centers
Jenn Sharp, a volunteer with STOP Klickitat County Data Centers, added: “We will celebrate with and thank Commissioner Zoller for taking this step to protecting the county if she decides to support a moratorium. There’s too much at stake not to—we need a moratorium now.”
About No Data Centers Klickitat County
No Data Centers Klickitat County is a volunteer-led group of community members working to share information, rally local voices and ensure hyperscale data centers and big tech billionaires do not destroy our water, land, and rural way of life. The group has activated over 1200 community members across the county through petitions, rallies, workshops, and social media.
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/StopWADataCenters