Huron County planners advance moratorium on data centers

The Huron County Planning Commission in Michigan has voted to recommend a three-year moratorium on new data center development, following a public hearing in Bad Axe. This decision came after county residents expressed strong opposition to an initial proposal for a six-month pause, arguing it was insufficient to address concerns about farmland preservation, resource consumption, and a perceived lack of local need for such facilities. Speakers, including Bad Axe resident Luke Deming and Bloomfield Township's Robert Gaffke, urged commissioners to extend the timeframe for studying the impacts of data centers. The planning commission's decision also follows the Michigan Public Service Commission's approval of several new battery energy storage sites, including one in Colfax Township, prompting local discussions on energy and infrastructure demands. Commissioners debated the legal implications of a longer moratorium, with Planning officials noting typical court precedents favor shorter durations, though they acknowledged the need for adequate time to develop comprehensive zoning regulations. Huron County Building and Zoning Administrator Jeff Smith clarified that the initial six-month proposal was a draft from the county's attorney, not a firm recommendation from the commission, and indicated that developing appropriate regulations could be complex. Following extensive discussion, the commission unanimously approved an amendment to extend the moratorium from six months to 36 months. The measure now awaits final consideration by the Huron County Board of Commissioners, and if adopted, it would temporarily halt new data center construction while officials draft specific zoning rules.