Madison's data center rules can't enforce water or power limits, officials say
Madison is currently under a 12-month moratorium on large data centers, but city officials acknowledge that existing rules prevent them from enforcing water or power limits on these facilities. The city aims to update its zoning code to incorporate best practices and address these limitations. The discussion occurs as Meta constructs a large data center in nearby Beaver Dam.
Christie Baumel, Madison's deputy mayor for Housing and Sustainability, has indicated that the city's current data center regulations do not enable officials to impose specific limits on water or power consumption for large-scale facilities. Madison is currently six months into a 12-month moratorium on new approvals for data centers.
The moratorium was put in place to provide the city with an opportunity to update its zoning code and implement best practices regarding data center development. This policy discussion takes place against the backdrop of ongoing construction of a $1 billion, 520-acre data center for Meta in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.