Carlton County to host data center discussion after moratorium request
A local group, the Carlton County Land Stewards, is advocating for a yearlong moratorium on data center development in Carlton County, Minnesota. Citing concerns over social, economic, health, and environmental impacts, the group has requested the moratorium be discussed by the Board of Commissioners. The Carlton County Committee of the Whole is scheduled to hold a discussion on data centers on July 7, 2026.
The Carlton County Committee of the Whole is set to discuss data centers on July 7, 2026, following a request for a yearlong moratorium by the citizen group Carlton County Land Stewards. The group, which formed in 2013 and now focuses on data center development, is urging community members to attend the meeting in support of the moratorium.
Tim Anderson, a member of the Land Stewards, advocated for the moratorium at a June 19 Board of Commissioners meeting, emphasizing the need for the county to fully understand data centers and their unique regulatory requirements. The Land Stewards express concerns about potential social, economic, health, noise, water, air, and light pollution impacts of data centers.
Carlton County Administrator Dennis Genereau noted that zoning in relation to data centers has arisen during the countywide comprehensive plan update, and the Committee of the Whole meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss how data center planning might be integrated into the plan. Anderson suggested that a proactive approach, similar to County Ordinance No. 41 which enacted a moratorium for a green burial cemetery, would allow the county time to develop new ordinances to properly site and regulate these facilities, potentially preventing future lawsuits and project delays. The Board members deemed the topic worthy of discussion, leading to its inclusion on the agenda.