Avista 500 MW data center customer (MOU, paused)
Spokane County, WA
Undisclosed data center developer has announced Avista 500 MW data center customer (MOU, paused), a data center project in Spokane County, WA. Early-stage (utility load). Avista signed an MOU with an unnamed data center developer for 125 MW by 2029, rising to 500 MW by 2032, about half its Eastern Washington and North Idaho load. Location reporting pointed to Spokane County. The request sparked a one-year local moratorium, and on June 12, 2026 Avista paused processing it pending coordinated planning with local governments. It is not confirmed to be the known Rock Point project. About 500 MW. Not confirmed by the developer or local officials; location approximate. Sources: https://www.kxly.com/news/avista-confirms-large-load-customer-in-energy-deal-is-a-data-center/article_aadc9a36-0e22-44ea-9f9d-e7fc21727ea9.html https://cdapress.com/news/2026/jun/11/avista-confirms-mou-over-potential-large-load-data-center-in-spokane-county/ https://www.inlander.com/news/news-briefs-avista-pauses-data-center-request-that-sparked-a-one-year-moratorium-by-spokane/article_74c9c3c5-935f-44ae-b004-35280fe27418.html.
Project status
- Announced
- Permitting
- Under constructionNot yet
- OperationalNot yet
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Records and documentation
Washington state legislation
- WUTC Docket UE-161123 - Puget Sound Energy Special Contract with Microsoft (Redmond)Special contract (effective 2017, still active with ongoing compliance filings) letting Microsoft buy renewable/carbon-free energy directly from wholesale markets for its Redmond corporate campus while using PSE only for grid delivery -- Microsoft remains PSE's only electric special-contract customer.Download
- HB824 - Data center energy generation/storage reportingRequires reporting on data center energy generation and storage.Download
- HB2515 - Emerging large energy use facilitiesRegulates emerging large energy-use facilities such as data centers.Download
- Resolution 32204Companion Seattle City Council resolution on data center policy, adopted June 9, 2026.Download
- HB2992 - Data Center Customer Protection Act of 2026Establishes customer protections related to data center utility costs.Download
- HB2655 - Sales/use tax exemption for eastern Washington data centersProvides retail sales and use tax exemption for construction and equipping of new data centers in eastern Washington counties.Download
- HB1012 - Local permit freeze on new data center constructionProhibits local governments from issuing permits, licenses, or certificates for new data center construction until March 1, 2027.Download
- Ordinance 127447Seattle ordinance and moratorium on data center permitting, passed June 9, 2026, effective through June 2027.Download
- WUTC Docket UE-260162 - Large Load Interconnections for Regulated Electric UtilitiesCommission-led policy docket opened 2026 addressing data-center/large-load interconnection and tariff policy for PSE and Avista; draft policy statement expected fall 2026. Most WA data-center load (Quincy/Wenatchee area) sits with consumer-owned PUDs outside WUTC jurisdiction, which this docket does not reach.Download
Site details
- County
- Spokane County, WA
- Address
- Spokane County, WA
- Stage
- Announced
Capacity and size: not on file
Map
Photos
Aerial imageryUSGS The National Map · public domain
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