Data center rules, wind and solar ordinances head to Marathon County Board
The Town of Wausau has adopted strict rules governing data center development, and the ordinance is headed to the Marathon County Board for review before a scheduled vote. The proposed requirements include manufacturing-district zoning, conditional-use approval, environmental and water studies, noise and height limits, and utility capacity verification.
The Marathon County Board is reviewing a restrictive data center ordinance adopted Aug. 3 by the Town of Wausau. The rules would limit facilities to the town’s manufacturing district, require conditional-use permits, impose setbacks, height and noise limits, and require environmental and community impact analyses before public hearings.
The ordinance also calls for water feasibility studies for facilities using private wells and confirmation that utility lines and substations can handle the additional load without affecting other customers. The county’s Environmental Resources Committee voted Sept. 29 to advance the measure to the full board, while also directing staff to study a possible countywide data center ordinance addressing water use, cooling systems, electricity demand, noise, traffic and infrastructure.