Wausau Plan Commission to Discuss Data Center Rules
The Wausau Plan Commission is set to discuss basic rules for data centers, despite no current proposals for such facilities in the city. The discussion will cover requirements like industrial zoning and conditional use permits, amid general public unpopularity and concerns over environmental impacts like water and energy consumption. Other communities, like Winnebago County, are already considering strict regulations on data center power generation.
The Wausau Plan Commission is scheduled to meet to discuss establishing basic rules for data centers, even though there are currently no proposals for such developments within the city. This move comes as data centers face growing unpopularity across Wisconsin, with public concerns primarily focused on their significant water and energy consumption.
The discussions for Wausau's potential regulations include requiring data centers to be located in areas already zoned for industrial use and mandating conditional use permits for each project. This would ensure independent review and public comment for any future proposals. The article highlights stringent requirements in other areas, such as Winnebago County, which might demand new data centers generate all their own green power, a condition deemed impractical by some.
While acknowledging the economic benefits of data centers, such as job creation and increased tax revenue, the commentary questions whether local opposition might prevent even smaller, less disruptive projects from gaining approval in Wausau.