Superior enacts one-year data center moratorium
The City of Superior, Wisconsin, has unanimously enacted a one-year moratorium on data center construction. This measure was passed by the city council to allow the planning commission to study potential impacts, define data centers, and regulate zoning. Council leaders emphasized the need to proactively protect residents from unknown effects, despite some local residents questioning the timing of the moratorium before the study.
The City of Superior, Wisconsin, unanimously passed a resolution on June 16 establishing a one-year moratorium on data center development, aiming to protect residents from unknown potential impacts.
The resolution, authored by Council Vice President Garner Moffat, directs city administration to deny all data center applications for the next year while the city's planning commission studies the issue. The commission will define "data center," evaluate zoning regulations, and assess potential environmental and community impacts. Moffat stated the goal is to "get out ahead of this" as the impacts are currently unknown.
Despite the unanimous vote, the measure faced debate from two local residents, including Dan Olson, who argued that the moratorium was being imposed prematurely, before the planning commission had completed its study. Councilor Tylor Elm proposed an amendment to specify "regional/hyperscale" data centers, and Councilor Lindsey Graskey suggested sending the matter to the planning commission for an initial recommendation; both motions were defeated.
Superior Mayor Jim Paine confirmed that no data center proposals have been submitted to the city. Following the resolution's passage, the planning commission will commence its study at its upcoming meeting.