Amazon employees ask Seattle to put the brakes on new data centers

The Seattle City Council will vote on June 9 to impose a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers, following testimony from dozens of residents, including Amazon employees. The proposed freeze comes after four unnamed companies submitted plans for five data centers with a combined maximum demand of 369 megawatts—about one-third of Seattle’s daily electricity usage—while existing facilities consume just 36 megawatts. Amazon employees, including senior software engineer Liesl Wigand, testified in support of the moratorium, warning of unchecked AI development’s environmental and resource costs. Wigand, part of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, criticized the tech industry’s ‘all-costs-justified AI buildout’ and called for stricter standards, such as renewable energy requirements and climate mitigation measures. The group previously accused Amazon of prioritizing AI expansion over sustainability goals. The moratorium aligns with a broader resolution to study data centers’ effects on Seattle’s infrastructure, utility rates, water use, and public health. Critics argue the plan is insufficient, as projects filed before the moratorium could still proceed. Meanwhile, Wigand urged lawmakers to ‘set the terms’ for data center operations, citing examples of responsible builds with AI safety committees and climate protections. Seattle’s debate reflects nationwide concerns over data centers’ strain on local resources, including water consumption and electricity costs. The proposed moratorium aims to balance tech growth with environmental and community priorities, though its success hinges on the council’s June 9 vote. Supporters hope it will force accountability from companies while opponents warn of economic consequences for the city.