Twelfth Nebraska county temporarily bans data centers
Logan County, Nebraska, has enacted a 12-month moratorium on data centers, wind, solar, and cryptocurrency mining facilities to allow time to update its zoning regulations. This makes Logan the twelfth county in the state with such a temporary ban. Other Nebraska counties are also considering or refining their data center regulations amid state-level legislative changes.
The Logan County Board of Commissioners in Nebraska has voted to approve a 12-month moratorium on the development of data centers, as well as wind and solar energy systems and cryptocurrency mining facilities. County Clerk Jennifer Nicholson stated the ban is necessary for the county to update its comprehensive plan and zoning regulations, as current rules do not specifically address data centers. Logan is now the twelfth county in Nebraska to enact such a temporary halt.
Several other counties, including Butler, Box Butte, Custer, Dundy, Furnas, Hayes, Harlan, Johnson, Kearney, Otoe, and Seward, already have moratoriums in place. Cass, Gage, and Garfield counties' planning commissions have recommended moratoriums that await final approval from their respective county boards. Logan County Commissioner Jon Hill noted that while some residents support data centers for potential business, others express concerns about water usage, impact on electricity supply and rates, and the large land footprint of hyperscale facilities.
Tenaska, a potential data center developer, had a representative warn during a Gage County meeting that moratoriums could deter business, though Commissioner Hill believes Logan County's clear 12-month timeframe mitigates this. In contrast, Lincoln County Commissioners rejected a similar moratorium, arguing their existing regulations are sufficient, despite strong public advocacy for stricter rules or a ban. This decision in Lincoln County has led to a recall drive initiated against three of the five county commissioners.
Across the state, many counties are revisiting their zoning regulations following new state legislation that sets a timeline for county boards to process special or conditional use permit applications, often utilized by data center developers. This legislative push aims to ensure local communities can establish tailored rules for data center development.