Brown County officials to discuss proposed data center moratorium
Brown County officials are set to discuss a proposed moratorium on data center development. The temporary ban would allow leaders to gather information and establish guardrails for future large-scale projects, addressing concerns over water use, energy demand, and environmental impacts.
Brown County leaders are preparing to discuss a proposed moratorium on future data center projects. The meeting, scheduled for tonight, marks the latest in a series of statewide community discussions regarding the regulation of large-scale data centers.
The proposed moratorium, which would pause development, aims to allow officials time to gather information and consider necessary guardrails for such projects. Concerns revolve around water use, energy demand, oversight, and balancing economic development with infrastructure and environmental impacts. Brown County Supervisor Christopher Welch, who proposed the moratorium, clarified that this discussion is not tied to any specific development plan currently before the county.
Welch also stated that the moratorium would allow time to observe decisions made by state legislators regarding data centers long-term. The proposed moratorium would expire once proper regulations can be enforced. Any recommendation passed tonight by the Planning, Development, and Transportation Committee would still require approval from the full County Board to become official.