Boise Council Halts Large Data Center Plans
A unanimous vote pauses approvals for facilities exceeding 100,000 square feet or 200 megawatts for six months.
By Samantha Reed ·
On Tuesday, November 10, the Boise City Council voted unanimously to approve a six-month moratorium on the construction of mega data centers within city limits. The measure was introduced by Mayor Lauren McLean and stops new projects that exceed 100,000 square feet or require more than 200 megawatts of power. City staff indicated that the 100,000-square-foot threshold was selected based on evaluations of potential impacts on neighbors and the surrounding environment.
Residents voiced strong support for the pause during public testimony. Sydney Hair, who graduated with a creative writing degree in 2022, spoke at the podium while fighting back tears. She expressed concern about the growth of artificial intelligence and its effect on employment prospects for her generation. Hair noted that she has struggled to find work in her field and has instead taken jobs centered on training AI. She stated that the current trajectory of data centers and AI makes the future difficult to accept.
Other speakers raised concerns regarding water usage, power consumption, land availability, and environmental impact. Alyssa Banner argued that profit should not come at the expense of essential resources. She remarked that residents cannot eat or drink data, emphasizing the need to protect water and power supplies. While some attendees called for an outright ban on data centers, city staff explained that a moratorium allows time to determine what regulations are legally permissible.
Hannah Brass Greer, a city staff member, addressed the legal framework governing land use. She stated that the city is not certain it can outright ban data centers at this time. The six-month pause provides staff the opportunity to investigate whether a ban is a viable option under current property rights laws. This period of review aims to clarify the city's regulatory authority before new projects are proposed.
Council member Jimmy Hallyburton noted that Idaho’s private property rights can make certain restrictions complex. He acknowledged that data centers are increasingly integrated into daily life, from mobile phone usage to social media posting. Hallyburton said that while the need for data centers will continue, the city must find a way to implement them correctly to balance growth with community needs.
The moratorium takes effect immediately following the council vote. It applies to all new large data center projects meeting the size or power criteria until the six-month period expires. The city will use this timeframe to review its legal options and assess the environmental and infrastructural implications of such facilities.
