Brown County to consider moratorium on data center development

Brown County leaders are preparing to debate a proposed moratorium on future data center development at their Planning, Development, and Transportation Committee meeting. The proposal stems from growing concerns across Northeast Wisconsin communities regarding the rapid growth of large-scale data centers.

Supervisor Christopher Welch, who introduced the proposal, highlights constituent concerns about such developments, referencing recent activity in Wrightstown where officials recently voted to place a data center referendum question on the ballot after months of community discussion about a possible project. Welch clarified that the moratorium is not tied to a specific development plan but rather aims to ensure communities have sufficient information before making major decisions. He specifically noted concerns about water and energy usage metrics, emphasizing the need for accurate and honest reporting.

Welch believes that ultimate solutions to balance economic development with infrastructure and environmental concerns, particularly regarding water use and energy demand, will need to come from state regulators, such as the DNR, to establish comprehensive regulations. The committee is scheduled to discuss the proposal on Tuesday evening.