Butler County approves 6-month data center moratorium
Butler County commissioners have approved a six-month moratorium on data centers within six townships under their zoning control. This decision allows the county to assess the impact on local infrastructure, including water, sewer, and electricity resources.
The Butler County commissioners have enacted a six-month moratorium on data center development within six townships over which they exercise zoning control. The decision followed requests from these townships to temporarily halt such projects.
Commissioner Don Dixon, who proposed the moratorium, stated that while he is not opposed to data centers, it is crucial to understand the commitments being made to residents and the county's infrastructure. Concerns specifically include water and sewer availability, as well as the financial responsibility for electricity costs.
The moratorium immediately prohibits "approval, establishment, or the granting or issuance of any permit for any data center" in Hanover, Lemon, Madison, Milford, Oxford, and Ross townships. The county had previously been asked to impose a blanket countywide moratorium, but its zoning authority is limited to these specific townships, while other townships, cities, and villages manage their own zoning codes.