Seattle Committee Advances Data Centre Moratorium Following Amazon Employee Testimony

Two Amazon employees addressed the Seattle Land Use and Sustainability Committee on Wednesday, marking the first known instance of major technology workers publicly demanding specific regulations for data centre development. Liesl Wigand, a senior software engineer, and Patrick Schloesser, a software engineer with nearly six years at the company, argued that unchecked expansion threatens the region’s environment, economy, and safety. Their intervention highlighted growing internal dissent regarding the rapid construction of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Wigand told the committee that local governments must collaborate with community stakeholders to set the terms for data centre buildouts. “Let’s not let big tech burn Seattle to win the AI race,” she said. The comments from Wigand and Schloesser, both members of the Amazon Employees for Climate Justice collective, represent a significant escalation in the protest movement against data centres, which have become a focal point for labour and environmental concerns across the United States.

Schloesser outlined specific regulatory demands, including a requirement for data centres to supply more renewable energy than they consume and to provide power storage for the broader electricity grid. He also called for the implementation of new taxes on technology companies and the establishment of worker-led safety committees to report to the city on any artificial intelligence tools that pose risks to Seattle residents.

The Land Use and Sustainability Committee, a five-member panel, subsequently voted to advance a proposed one-year moratorium on issuing new permits for data centres. This legislative move provides time for city officials to draft regulations, as Seattle currently lacks specific rules governing these facilities. The city has noted that while it hosts some small data centres, several companies have expressed interest in large-scale developments that could drive up water and power prices for residents.

Approximately 30 members of the public, including some self-described laid-off technology workers, spoke at the meeting, with most favouring the moratorium measure. Amazon Employees for Climate Justice is urging city officials to consult with frontline worker groups, such as labour unions, when drafting data centre rules. Additional members of the collective are expected to speak at future hearings regarding the pause ordinance.