Brown County proposal on pausing data centers going before local committee
A proposed moratorium on data centers in Brown County, Wisconsin, is set to be discussed by a local committee. Green Bay lawmaker Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner and Supv. Christopher Welch are urging residents to support the temporary pause, citing concerns about utility strain and infrastructure impact. However, the county's lack of county-wide zoning might limit the proposal's effectiveness.
A proposed temporary moratorium on data center development in Brown County, Wisconsin, is slated for review by the county's Planning, Development and Transportation Committee. State Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D-Green Bay) and County Supervisor Christopher Welch are actively advocating for the proposal, urging county residents to attend and testify at the upcoming meeting. They argue the pause is necessary to allow the state Legislature to establish proper regulations, monitoring, DNR enforcement, and address energy infrastructure strain before further data center expansion occurs.
Welch's proposal seeks to bar data centers from purchasing land and permits until the state "can catch up and fully address" related issues. However, Jeff Flynt, Brown County's deputy executive, indicated that the county's lack of county-wide zoning could diminish the proposal's impact, suggesting such regulations would likely need to be implemented at the municipal level.
Despite potential limitations, the committee meeting offers an opportunity for discussion, with options ranging from referring the matter to the county's legal department to forwarding it to the full county board for a vote on June 17. Local opposition groups, including "Stop the Northeast Wisconsin Data Centers," are mobilizing residents to voice concerns over issues such as increased utility bills, strain on resources, air pollution from construction and diesel generators, and potential groundwater contamination impacting private wells.