Greenville considers implementing 1-year moratorium on data centers
The Greenville Planning Commission has approved a one-year moratorium on data centers, pending final authorization from the Village Board. This action is intended to provide the village with time to draft comprehensive regulations for data center development. Residents expressed strong opposition to data centers at the commission meeting.
Greenville, Wisconsin's Planning Commission has approved a proposal for a one-year moratorium on data center development, a move that still requires final authorization from the Village Board. Village President Jack Anderson indicated the moratorium is a precautionary measure, stating it "prevents us from having anybody come in and surprise [us]" while officials work to draft more comprehensive regulations.
The initial regulations considered by the Planning Commission included requirements such as a 200-foot setback from residential property, landscape buffers, and noise restrictions, along with mandates for public hearings and village approval for new data centers. However, the commission opted for a moratorium to allow more time for stricter rules to be developed, with Anderson suggesting similar restrictions to those recently approved in Kaukauna.
The Monday meeting saw a packed room of over 50 residents, with about 10 addressing the commission. Not a single person expressed support for bringing data centers to the village. Residents like Mike Kozak and Melanie Tetzloff made clear their opposition, stating, "Let me be clear: We do not want a data center."
Greenville currently has no data center applications, but the moratorium aims to prevent proposals before permanent regulations are in place. The Village Board is expected to vote on the moratorium on June 8.