Amazon employees ask Seattle to put the brakes on new data centers
The move followed proposals from four companies to build five big facilities that together would draw about 369 megawatts, roughly a third of the electricity the city uses on an average day. Among the policy's loudest backers were current Amazon employees, who testified in support even though their employer is the region's largest tech firm.
Key Takeaways
- Some Amazon employees are in favor.
The tech giant's employees were among dozens testifying in support of a one-year moratorium on new projects.
- An AI beat reporter for more than five years, her work has also appeared in CNBC, MIT Technology Review, Wired UK, and other outlets.
Among the moratorium's fiercest supporters are current employees from the city's biggest tech giant, Amazon, who joined others to testify in support of the policy last week.
- "The biggest issue is a belief that AI should be how we solve everything, while ignoring the resources that it costs.
- Last year, more than 1,000 Amazon employees signed an open letter accusing Amazon of "casting aside its climate goals to build AI," calling for the company to power all its data centers with 100 percent additional, local renewable energy.
Sarah Tracy, a former Amazon software engineer who's also a member of the group, says they've been waiting for an opportunity like the moratorium to speak out.
- But to some, the plan doesn't go far enough.
Stats & Key Facts
- #The move followed proposals from four companies to build five big facilities that together would draw about 369 megawatts, roughly a third of the electricity the city uses on an average day.
- #Last year, more than 1,000 Amazon employees signed an open letter accusing Amazon of "casting aside its climate goals to build AI," calling for the company to power all its data centers with 100 percent additional, local renewable energy.
- #The new data centers in Seattle were proposed by four companies, the names of which remain under wraps, and they would have a combined maximum demand of 369 megawatts - about one-third of Seattle's average electricity use on any given day - and lead to 10 times more power consumption than the city's existing 30 data centers, per The Seattle Times .
Seattle's city council is voting on whether to implement a one-year moratorium on new data centers - two months after several companies proposed building five large-scale centers in the city. Seattle's city council is deciding whether to enact a one-year moratorium on new data centers. Some Amazon employees are in favor.
AI Policy Report Amazon employees ask Seattle to put the brakes on new data centers The tech giant's employees were among dozens testifying in support of a one-year moratorium on new projects. The tech giant's employees were among dozens testifying in support of a one-year moratorium on new projects. by Hayden Field Jun 9, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC Link Share Gift Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images Hayden Field is The Verge's senior AI reporter.
An AI beat reporter for more than five years, her work has also appeared in CNBC, MIT Technology Review, Wired UK, and other outlets. On Tuesday, the Seattle City Council will vote on whether to enact a one-year moratorium on new data centers - just two months after several companies proposed building five large-scale centers in the city. Among the moratorium's fiercest supporters are current employees from the city's biggest tech giant, Amazon, who joined others to testify in support of the policy last week.
For more details please read the original article at The Verge AI.
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