Boise City Council Enacts Six-Month Data Center Pause

Boise City Council unanimously approved an emergency six-month halt Tuesday night on certain large data center developments, effective immediately.

The action bars the city from taking in or processing applications for data centers that would occupy at least 100,000 square feet or draw 20 megawatts of electricity. Boise had no applications for large data centers awaiting review when the council acted.

Review of City Rules

Mayor Lauren McLean put forward the proposal Friday. Boise’s current municipal code does not contain provisions tailored specifically to data centers.

During the six-month pause, city officials will examine potential changes to local rules and policies. Their review will include water demand, electricity consumption, wastewater, noise, public-safety considerations and public input.

McLean said the temporary restriction gives Boise time to assess the effects of very large facilities. “It’s a six-month moratorium that will put the brakes on hyperscale data centers in Boise,” McLean said.

Hearing Draws Support

The council voted after a public hearing at Boise City Hall that lasted about an hour. Every speaker supported the temporary restriction or pressed the city to adopt more stringent limits.

Organizations backing the moratorium included the Golden Eagle Audubon Society, Conservation Voters for Idaho, the Idaho Conservation League, the Wilderness Society and Idaho Data Center Reform.

Mia Benson, a Marsing High School junior and Idaho Climate Justice League fellow, urged Boise to develop accountability requirements for future projects. Benson proposed that developers pay all power costs and taxes, use entirely clean energy and fully disclose matters affecting the public.

Projects Elsewhere in Idaho

Data center development has also drawn attention in other parts of Idaho. Meta recently began operating a facility south of Kuna, while Rhea Data has proposed a 4-million-square-foot project south of Boise. Another proposed data center is located outside Twin Falls.

In July, the Bannock County Board of Commissioners signed a separate 180-day moratorium on data centers.