Iron County temporarily puts a pause on data center applications for 180 days
The Iron County Commission in Utah has voted to approve a 180-day temporary moratorium on data center applications and related power plants. This pause allows county staff time to review and potentially revise existing land-use regulations regarding data center development. The decision was prompted by numerous citizen concerns about the scale and impact of data centers on rural land, water, and utilities.
The Iron County Commission in Utah has enacted a temporary, 180-day moratorium on new data center applications, effective May 26. Commissioner Mike Bleak stated the ordinance provides a necessary pause for the county to assess potential impacts and ensure data center developments align with community interests. This decision comes after commissioners reported an overwhelming volume of calls, emails, and texts from concerned citizens.
The ordinance is a land-use regulation that temporarily bans the acceptance and processing of applications for data centers and their associated power plants for six months. This period, permissible under Utah State Law, will allow county staff to visit other data center sites, consult with other communities, and consider necessary changes to existing regulations. The county noted that recent data center applications are on a much larger scale than previously experienced, raising concerns about demand for land, water, roads, and utilities.
While Iron County already has basic ordinances addressing aspects like height, noise, and environmental reviews, commissioners believe these may be insufficient for the large-scale projects now being proposed. The county plans to explore new regulations, including potential limits on large solar farms, creation of new zoning districts, and infrastructure coordination, to protect rural land, scenic areas, environmental resources, and infrastructure capacity. Applications completed before the ordinance's effective date are not affected.