Manitowoc County Board bans AI Data centers for 18 months

At a recent meeting, the Manitowoc County Board unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on large AI data centers, effectively banning their development for the next year and a half. The decision came after several residents, including Natalie Ford and Tammy O'Connor, spoke against the development of AI data centers and in favor of a temporary ban. Ms. Ford urged the board to take time to understand the potential impact of such facilities on the area, while Ms. O'Connor emphasized the need for research and the development of guidelines to protect citizens. The moratorium, crafted earlier this year by the Towns of Mishicot, Two Rivers, and Two Creeks, will close the application and permit process for data centers housing more than one petabyte of data, while allowing smaller centers to still apply.