Supervisors receive public comments on data centers, battery storage systems

The Audubon County Board of Supervisors enacted a one-year temporary moratorium on commercial data centers during a recent meeting, after receiving public comments and discussing the implications of such developments. The board also extended a temporary moratorium on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for one year. Board members, particularly Heath Hansen, expressed concerns about data centers' significant electricity and water consumption, as well as the potential for tax breaks that may not ultimately benefit the county. Hansen recounted that the topic arose from a resident's concerns, prompting him to contact a company considering a data center in Audubon. He prefers company officials meet with the entire board in a public setting rather than individually. While not entirely opposed to data centers, Hansen stressed the importance of careful study to determine if they are a good fit for Audubon County, stating that part of the board's job is to protect citizens from "exploitative things." He acknowledged that smaller data centers might offer jobs and suitable land use without excessive water consumption.