North Mankato City Council Adopts Data Center Moratorium
The North Mankato City Council has adopted a one-year moratorium on new data center construction and consideration. This decision followed public hearings and allows the city to study the localized impacts of data centers and how other communities regulate them, with an option to extend for an additional year.
The North Mankato City Council officially adopted a one-year moratorium on new data center developments during its meeting on Monday, September 21. The motion passed with overwhelming support, more than a month after an initial public hearing on the matter.
The council had previously tabled the discussion at its August 3 meeting to consider input from 15 residents who spoke at the first public hearing. At the most recent hearing, four residents voiced their support for the moratorium, with one resident, Joe Tougas, urging the council to maintain transparency and provide updates throughout the study period.
This moratorium will halt the consideration and construction of new data centers for up to twelve months, with a provision to extend the pause for an additional year if deemed necessary. During this time, the city council plans to thoroughly investigate the localized impacts of data centers and research regulatory approaches implemented by other communities.