Commissioners approve data center moratorium
The Steuben County Board of Commissioners formalized a six-month moratorium on data center construction to allow time for drafting a new ordinance. The decision follows a recommendation from the Steuben County Plan Commission and addresses concerns over local electric and natural gas capacity.
The Steuben County Board of Commissioners has enacted a six-month moratorium on data center construction following a recommendation from the Steuben County Plan Commission. The resolution, passed on Tuesday, became effective immediately, halting new data center development in the area.
Board President Wil Howard clarified that while a moratorium is in place, the county is not entirely closed to future data center discussions. Commissioner Rick Shipe stated that the six-month period is intended to provide ample time for the county to develop a comprehensive ordinance to govern the placement and development of data centers within Steuben County.
This move comes amidst ongoing discussions by utility companies regarding the installation of high-transmission electric lines through the county. A significant concern raised by the Steuben County Plan Commission and community members is the localized lack of sufficient electric and natural gas capacity to support the high energy demands of data centers.
Plan Commission member Jake Cox indicated that the moratorium is a precautionary measure to ensure that appropriate regulations are in place before further development. The county aims to establish a more stringent special exception process through a new ordinance, as opposed to the less restrictive variance process currently available for proposals.