Washington Protesters Demand Moratorium on Amazon Data Centers

More than 400 people across 19 locations in Washington protested on October 5, 2026, to demand a statewide moratorium on data centers. In Walla Walla, the Walla Walla Anti-Data Center League targeted a planned $4.8 billion Amazon data center project located in the Wallula Gap Business Park. Protesters expressed concerns regarding water usage and aquifer pollution, citing a previous $20 million settlement Amazon paid for groundwater contamination in Oregon.

Local officials defended the development, stating it could create over 700 jobs and generate $5 million in annual personal property taxes. Community Development Director Melissa Shumake noted that the project is in an industrial zone and believes its impact is minimal, though she maintains the authority to require an environmental impact statement. The Walla Walla Port Commission, which sold 500 acres of land to Amazon under a non-disclosure agreement, now asserts that the process has been transparent.

In response to the controversy, State Representative Beth Doglio announced plans to reintroduce legislation to regulate data centers and ban non-disclosure agreements between developers and local officials. She characterized a moratorium as a short-term solution to the broader regulatory issue.