Cottage Grove considers temporary ban on data centers, follows growing trend statewide

The Village of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, has passed an 18-month moratorium on new data center development, following a unanimous vote by the Village Board. The initial approval was for a 12-month ban, with an stated intent to extend it for another six months, bringing the total to 18 months.

Village President Cindi Kelm-Nelson stated the moratorium is necessary to give officials time to review existing zoning codes, ordinances, and the village’s comprehensive land plan before any data center proposals emerge, as Cottage Grove currently has no projects in the works. Village Trustee Heidi Murphy emphasized that current zoning ordinances are not equipped to handle the scale of data centers, advocating for the moratorium to protect community resources and residents. The village plans to draw on findings from the Dane County Advisory Committee on Data Centers, which is also studying impacts like water usage, utility demands, noise pollution, and farmland protection, and expects to finish its research within a year. Ms. Kelm-Nelson is a member of this county committee.

Although Dane County has its own temporary pause on data centers, it does not apply to municipalities like Cottage Grove with their own zoning authority. The moratorium in Cottage Grove aims to provide a blueprint for evaluating future development proposals based on the county committee's recommendations. This local action reflects a statewide trend, with similar moratoriums already in place in Madison and other counties like Green, Dodge, Door, and Manitowoc. A recent Marquette Law School poll indicated that 70 percent of Wisconsin voters believe data center costs, particularly related to water and electricity use, outweigh their benefits.