Shawano County to hold public hearing on data center moratorium
Shawano County, Wisconsin, is holding a public hearing to discuss a proposed short-term moratorium on data center construction and expansion in unincorporated areas. The county plans to use this time to evaluate the potential impacts of data centers and amend existing county zoning laws.
Shawano County, Wisconsin, is set to hold a public hearing on a proposed short-term moratorium targeting data center development. The measure aims to temporarily protect unincorporated land within the county from the construction or expansion of data centers.
Wednesday morning, the Shawano County Planning Development Department will convene to discuss this data center moratorium. The proposal is specifically designed to apply to unincorporated areas of Shawano County, allowing the county to review and potentially amend its current zoning laws.
The department highlighted that other counties are actively considering similar measures, indicating a growing pressure related to data center development. By enacting a moratorium, Shawano County intends to proactively address potential issues and "get ahead of the curve."
Officials stated they have received inquiries regarding data centers in towns under county zoning, underscoring the necessity of the ordinance as a precautionary step. The department seeks to use the moratorium period to thoroughly evaluate the potential impacts of data centers and make necessary amendments to county laws to regulate these facilities effectively. The public hearing will be held in the county courthouse and is open to all residents.