Rock County townships study possible data center moratoriums
Multiple townships in Rock County, Wisconsin, are considering or drafting moratoriums on data center developments to allow time for regulation. This comes as a specific $1 billion data center project, "Project Cornmaze" by Panattoni, faces public opposition in the towns of Beloit and Turtle. Neighboring counties have already approved similar moratoriums, while Rock County is also debating a resolution to limit non-disclosure agreements for data center projects.
Several townships within Rock County, Wisconsin, are actively exploring or drafting moratoriums on data center developments amidst increasing interest from tech companies and significant public opposition. This follows Rock County's 1977 zoning ordinance, which granted local control over land-use decisions to towns, making any county-level moratorium advisory rather than binding. As a result, the responsibility falls on individual townships to regulate data center development.
The Town of Janesville, for example, is holding a public hearing on a potential moratorium after receiving a proposal from an unnamed tech company for a data center on farmland. Meanwhile, the towns of Beloit and Turtle are under scrutiny regarding "Project Cornmaze," a proposed 2-million-square-foot data center campus by California developer Panattoni. Roger Anclam, Turtle Town Chair, faces a recall effort for approving a cost reimbursement agreement with Panattoni. Other townships like Milton, Avon, Newark, Fulton, Spring Valley, Springfield, and Porter are also researching or drafting moratorium resolutions, with Fulton citing a state statute limiting such moratoriums to 12-18 months.
Neighboring counties in Wisconsin, including Green, Dane, Dodge, Door, and Manitowoc, have already approved data center moratoriums ranging from one to two years. Concurrently, Rock County Supervisor Philip Gorman has proposed a resolution to limit county staff from signing non-disclosure agreements related to hyperscale data centers, which defines data centers based on electricity demand, building footprint, or investment cost. This resolution received a nod from the Planning and Development Committee and is set to be considered by the Staff Committee on August 10.