Sauk County approves 18-month moratorium on new data centers
Sauk County Supervisors have approved an 18-month moratorium on new data center zoning applications and approvals. This pause allows county staff time to study the potential impacts of data centers on issues like water, energy use, noise, farmland, and the county's rural character. The goal is to develop long-term zoning guardrails.
Sauk County Supervisors have voted to approve an 18-month moratorium on new data center proposals, specifically halting new zoning applications and approvals. The decision was made to allow county staff ample time to thoroughly study the potential impacts of data center development within the county.
County leaders stated that while there are no data centers currently planned for Sauk County, they wish to proactively get ahead of any future proposals. The 18-month pause will enable officials to consider critical issues such as water and energy consumption, noise pollution, impact on farmland, and the preservation of the county's rural character. The objective is to establish long-term rules and zoning guardrails for data center development.
Several residents spoke in favor of the moratorium during the meeting, emphasizing the opportunity it provides the county government to study these developments and prepare necessary zoning protections. It was noted that this moratorium specifically covers areas under the county's authority and does not extend to cities and villages, which retain control over development within their own borders.