Divide reviews data center zoning rules after tour
Divide County officials reviewed data center zoning rules after touring a large facility in Ellendale. County leaders are considering whether existing ordinances, which focus on cryptocurrency mining, should be updated to address newer artificial intelligence data centers, including issues such as noise and taxation.
Divide County Land Use Administrator Shari Bublitz and Tax Equalization Director Carol Williams told the county planning and zoning board about their tour of a large data center in Ellendale. They said the facility demonstrated the potential scale of future developments and highlighted differences in noise levels depending on the effectiveness and placement of sound barriers.
County officials are evaluating whether Divide County’s existing data center ordinance remains relevant as facilities shift from blockchain and cryptocurrency operations toward high-powered artificial intelligence systems. Bublitz also suggested that a home rule charter could allow the county to tax data centers during construction and operation, while Commissioner Chico Eriksmoen noted that long-term tax revenue could be limited after construction ends.