Eastern Nebraska village becomes first to permanently ban data centers
Nehawka became the first known Nebraska village to permanently ban data centers within its jurisdiction, citing concerns about water resources, electricity use, noise and wildlife. The ban follows a temporary Cass County moratorium and reflects growing opposition to data center development across Nebraska.
Nehawka’s Village Board of Trustees adopted a permanent ban on data centers within the village’s jurisdiction and one-mile extraterritorial buffer, making it the first known Nebraska village to take that step. Chad Krueger, the board’s co-chair, said residents were concerned that developers were acquiring nearby land and that large facilities could strain water and other natural resources.
The village action differs from Cass County’s temporary moratorium, which does not apply within Nehawka’s zoning authority. Krueger said residents largely supported the ban, while acknowledging that the village could rewrite its zoning code in the future. At least 19 Nebraska counties have adopted temporary moratoriums, while Buffalo and Lincoln counties have enacted rules addressing cooling-water use and potential electricity costs for data centers.