Dane County proposes 18-month pause on new data center development
Dane County supervisors in Wisconsin have proposed an 18-month moratorium on new data center development. This pause aims to allow an advisory committee to complete its study on the impacts of data centers on energy, water, land use, and local infrastructure, enabling more informed policy decisions.
Dane County supervisors in Wisconsin introduced a resolution on May 15, proposing an 18-month moratorium on new data center development. The proposed pause would prevent the county from accepting applications or issuing zoning permits for data centers in towns under county zoning, though cities and villages with their own zoning codes would be unaffected. County Board Chair Patrick Miles stated the moratorium would provide the Advisory Committee on Data Centers adequate time to research the comprehensive impacts of data centers, including energy and water resource use, land use implications, and the demands placed by artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure on local communities. Miles emphasized the need for thoughtful, data-driven policy decisions based on the committee's findings, noting that current development conflicts with the Dane County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. The resolution also cited potential health, safety, property value, and agricultural land impacts. The Zoning and Land Regulation Committee is reviewing the resolution before it advances to the full county board.