Keene Committee Advances Data Center Moratorium, Dog Restrictions; Delays Kratom Action
Keene's Planning, Licenses and Development Committee referred a proposal for a temporary moratorium on new data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities to the Planning Board. The moratorium aims to allow the city to establish regulations addressing concerns like noise, energy and water use, and infrastructure before large facilities are proposed. The proposal will now be reviewed by the Planning Board.
Keene councilors, through the Planning, Licenses and Development Committee, have advanced several proposals, including one for a temporary moratorium on new data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. Councilor Phil Jones initiated the request, advocating for the city to establish comprehensive regulations for such facilities before large-scale projects are proposed. He cited potential concerns regarding noise, energy and water consumption, reliance on diesel generators, impacts on property values, and infrastructure strain.
The committee unanimously voted to refer Jones' request for a moratorium to the Planning Board for further consideration of its necessity and scope. City officials noted that any enacted moratorium would require an ordinance and could last no longer than one year. Councilors also emphasized the importance of distinguishing between large commercial data centers and typical server rooms used by businesses when drafting future regulations.
Separately, the committee also advanced an ordinance restricting dogs at licensed downtown community events and recommended updating the city's food-service regulations to the 2022 FDA Food Code, which will now move to the full City Council for a decision.