Alpena County approves data center moratorium resolution
The Alpena County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution urging the City of Alpena and local townships to adopt moratoriums and regulations restricting data center development. The resolution calls for transparency, comprehensive environmental review, and disclosure of electricity and water needs, while county officials acknowledged that local municipalities—not the county—have primary zoning authority.
The Alpena County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution encouraging municipalities in Northeast Michigan to pause data center planning, construction, permitting and expansion while establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework. County Administrator Jesse Osmer said community members had approached commissioners and that many commissioners opposed data centers, but clarified that the county cannot impose a moratorium directly.
The resolution urges the City of Alpena and local townships to adopt their own ordinances and procedures, including public disclosure of power sources, water consumption, utility capacity, contractual protections and environmental safeguards. It also calls for studies to assess potential pollution, ecosystem damage and financial impacts if a data center proposal is eventually brought to the area; Osmer said he was not aware of any current data center project there.