County Executive Board votes to approve 18-month moratorium on data center development
The La Crosse County Executive Board has approved an 18-month moratorium on accepting data center applications and permits. This pause will allow county officials to research the potential impacts of these facilities and establish consistent zoning and regulatory standards. The decision is expected to go before the full Board of Supervisors on June 18 for final approval.
The La Crosse County Executive Board voted almost unanimously to approve an 18-month moratorium on new data center applications and permits. This decision aims to provide county officials with time to thoroughly research the potential environmental, economic, health, safety, land use, infrastructural, and general welfare effects of data centers.
The county's current Zoning Code lacks specific definitions for "data centers" and does not adequately address their impacts, necessitating the establishment of consistent zoning and regulatory standards. An ad-hoc committee, the Data Center Study Committee, was formed in May and held its first meeting recently to study these facilities and prepare recommendations. Data centers are defined by the county as facilities housing computing or data-management equipment storing over 1 petabyte of data or consuming more than 2 MW of electricity.
This moratorium is distinct from a general development moratorium under state statutes. The Executive Board's approval advances the measure, which is now expected to be presented to the full Board of Supervisors for a final decision on June 18.