Common Council Passes Data Center Moratorium
The Lacrosse Common Council has enacted an 18-month moratorium on new data center applications and construction permits. This pause will allow the city and county to assess environmental, economic, and infrastructure impacts, including concerns about power, water use, noise, and fire safety. Lacrosse County previously approved a similar moratorium.
The Lacrosse Common Council has approved an 18-month moratorium on new data center applications and construction permits, aiming to provide city and county officials with time to thoroughly study the potential environmental, economic, and infrastructure impacts of such facilities. Key concerns prompting this pause include significant power demand, extensive water usage, potential noise pollution, and fire safety considerations.
The moratorium specifically applies to data centers that store more than 1,000 terabytes of data or consume over 2 megawatts of electricity. This measure is intended to facilitate informed decision-making regarding future data center developments.
Lacrosse County had previously enacted a similar moratorium in June, though that county-level decision did not automatically extend to developments within Lacrosse city limits, necessitating the city's separate action.