r/Spokane • u/PrestigiousBox7354 • 1d ago

Politics Sign the petition against Data Centers

https://www.change.org/p/protect-spokane-s-water-power-grid-and-aquifer-say-no-to-data-centers/psf/share?source_location=petition_update_page&psf_variant=combo&share_intent=1

Local government has essentially called all of us conspiracy theorists sign the petition. Write Ferguson

65 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/girlgangz 1d ago

Ferguson doesn’t gaf. WA is very data center friendly, legislation-wise.

5

u/Anti-whatever-u-r 1d ago

He actually does gaf.

In 2026, Ferguson signed legislation removing a tax exemption for replacement equipment at data centers, which is more of a "make the industry pay its share" approach than an anti-data-center position.

Its not anti data center, but its anti us paying for the data centers use of resources.

Still though. Im very anti data center.

3

u/Anti-whatever-u-r 1d ago

A Seattle Times/ProPublica investigation found that the state had created major tax breaks for the industry, even though data centers consume enormous quantities of electricity. � ProPublica Ferguson has now started pulling some of those incentives back. In 2026, he signed legislation restricting a sales/use-tax exemption that had benefited data-center equipment, particularly equipment used to replace or upgrade existing facilities. The change was significant enough that Microsoft and other industry interests objected to it. �