Superior councilor proposes data center moratorium amid controversy regionally
A city councilor in Superior, Wisconsin, is proposing a year-long moratorium on data center development. This initiative aims to allow the city to rewrite its planning and zoning code, which currently does not permit data centers, and to facilitate public discussion on potential impacts. The proposal is supported by the mayor amid regional controversy surrounding data center projects.
Data centers are generating significant discussion across the country, prompting cities to consider how to integrate these projects. In Superior, Wisconsin, a city councilor is proposing a year-long temporary moratorium on data center development to allow for comprehensive review and public input.
Councilor Garner Moffatt's proposal is backed by Mayor Jim Paine, who noted that data center projects, particularly hyperscale facilities, often get discussed "in darkness" without public or press input. Paine mentioned that Google once considered Superior for a data center before Hermantown, though Minnesota Power stated that Superior being selected for any data center project was "news to them."
The city is currently in the process of rewriting its planning and zoning code. Under the existing code, data centers are not a permitted use, meaning there is no clear mechanism to review an application if one were to come in. The proposed moratorium is viewed as a precautionary measure, allowing the city's finance committee and the public multiple chances to weigh in over the next six months before any decisions are made regarding future data center development.