Missoula County has finished its data center study, and now it looks towards zoning as potential regulation
Missoula County has completed a study of the potential health, safety, environmental, water, energy and noise impacts of data centers. The county is considering zoning rules to regulate future facilities after commissioners enacted a one-year data center moratorium in response to community controversy over a proposed project at Bonner Industrial Park.
Missoula County has completed a months-long study examining the potential impacts of data centers, including effects on water, energy use, noise, health, safety and the environment. The study was commissioned after the Missoula County Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on data center development beginning in July, following controversy over a proposed facility at Bonner Industrial Park.
Svien Newman, the county's climate action program manager, said the county has limited regulatory authority because of state law but can use zoning to impose requirements such as noise limits, upfront modeling and compliance testing. County officials planned to present the study and answer community questions at a meeting at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.