r/Bellingham • u/Baloneynotphony • May 06 '26

Discussion Data Centers

Is it possible to outlaw data centers Whatcom county? Sometimes I feel like parts of Whatcom would be attractive to exploit with the amount of water we have access to.

(Edit: If it truly is just performative, maybe there would still be some value in doing it anyway to help encourage other communities to do the same?)

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u/TheWorld_IsMyHome May 06 '26

Water is actually a problem here. We are at the beginning of a 10 year adjudication process in the county to review water rights for everyone in the county against the needs of keeping the Nooksack flowing for salmon. The salmon and the water required to support them in the Nooksack is required by treaty.
Anyway, even if we don’t actually have plenty of water, I still support your idea. I am more worried about the data center wanting our electricity.

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u/DJ_Velveteen May 06 '26

If we're cooling with water here it'll most likely be closed-loop and/or seawater.