Data center committee formed at Custer County Planning Commission meeting,
Custer County, Nebraska, is actively developing zoning regulations for data centers after enacting a six-month moratorium. A temporary committee has been formed by the Custer County Planning Commission to draft these proposed regulations, which aim to establish safeguards for citizens and agricultural operations. Public concerns include the impact of large land purchases on property values, regulation enforcement, and oversight, though officials believe the county is unlikely to attract 'mega' data centers due to power generation limitations.
The Custer County Planning Commission in Broken Bow, Nebraska, is moving forward with the process of establishing zoning regulations for data centers. This initiative comes amidst a six-month moratorium, set to expire on September 30, which was enacted to provide time for drafting these rules. Darci Tibbs, Custer County Zoning Administrator, clarified that the purpose of the regulations is not to attract data centers but to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of citizens should such facilities seek to locate in the county.
A temporary committee has been formed to spearhead the development of these proposed regulations, with Butch McGinn, head of the Planning Commission, along with John Slagle, Steve Hostick, and Don Cantrell, named as members. The committee's role will be to review information, evaluate potential impacts, and develop recommendations before presenting them to the full Planning Commission and the Custer County Board of Supervisors. Commission members have toured smaller, air-cooled data center facilities and are collaborating with entities like the Lower Loup Natural Resources District and Nebraska Public Power District to gather information.
During public comments, Jennifer Sittler raised concerns about the potential effects of large land purchases on property valuations, enforcement of regulations, and compliance oversight. The commission acknowledged these concerns, stating they would be addressed as drafting progresses. Officials also indicated that Custer County's limited excess power generation capacity makes it an unlikely site for 'mega' data centers, suggesting 'small ones' near substations are more probable. Protecting agricultural operations, particularly regarding power availability for irrigation, was highlighted as a key concern.