Penn Township, Michigan Board approves 30 day data center moratorium

Penn Township, Michigan, has enacted a 30-day moratorium on data center development in a portion of Cass County, following widespread community concern and a packed board meeting. The decision comes amidst growing rumors of a potential data center project in the area, prompting residents to demand a pause in development to allow local leaders to fully understand the implications of such a large-scale undertaking. Hundreds of Cass County residents attended Monday's Penn Township board meeting, expressing strong opposition to data centers and advocating for a longer moratorium. The Diamond Lake Association had previously submitted a letter to the board, requesting at least a two-year moratorium. Robin Burpee, a St. Joseph County resident, echoed this sentiment, stating that a slowdown is necessary based on experiences across the United States. Penn Township Board Supervisor Oli Olafsson made the motion for the 30-day moratorium, explaining it would provide time to draft a proper legal moratorium. He also clarified that no Penn Township land has been sold for data center projects to date. The board plans to schedule a future planning board session in a larger venue to specifically focus on data center moratorium language, with supervisor Olafsson suggesting a potential target of a one-year moratorium.