Blaine pauses data centers and battery storage for a year; other Washington places did too

A pause means the city or county will not accept permit applications for a set time.

Blaine's City Council voted unanimously Oct. 26 to pause data centers and battery storage sites for 1 year, KGMI reported.

Blaine has no rules for either kind of site and has had no data center applications, KGMI reported. It is the first Whatcom city to pause data centers.

Reasons given in these places: heavy use of power and water, plus noise, heat and flood risk.

• Blaine1 year, data centers and battery storage, Oct. 26, 2026.
• Skagit County6 months, data centers in rural areas, June 1, 2026. Proposed permanent rules would allow them only in 2 industrial zones at Bayview Ridge, no larger than 2,000 square feet or 2 megawatts.
• SeattleEmergency pause on large data centers, June 9, 2026, while the city studies power, water and utility rates. Four companies had asked about 5 sites needing 369 megawatts, the council said.
• Mount VernonPaused battery storage applications in May 2025, and set a May 2026 hearing on renewing it, a city notice says.

A pause takes effect right away, but a public hearing must follow, within 60 days in Seattle's case.

What's next: Skagit County's pause runs out in December unless it is extended 6 months, the Skagit Valley Herald reported. No next date for Blaine is on record.