Jefferson County Board of Supervisors Approve Data Center Ordinance, Immediately Impose Moratorium
The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors has approved a new ordinance to regulate data centers and immediately imposed a 12-month moratorium on data center construction. This ordinance aims to establish a clear and predictable regulatory framework for data center siting and operation within the county. A committee will be formed to determine next steps.
The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors in Iowa has formally approved a new ordinance to regulate data center development, following a public hearing last Tuesday. Simultaneously, the board enacted a 12-month moratorium on new data center construction within the county.
Supervisor Lee Dimmitt clarified that the ordinance is not intended to prohibit data centers but to establish a "clear, comprehensive, and predictable regulatory framework" for their siting and operation in Jefferson County. Dimmitt emphasized the need for the ordinance to withstand potential legal challenges, noting that outright bans on data centers are generally not permissible under the law.
The approval of the ordinance was a prerequisite for establishing the moratorium, as Jefferson County currently lacks a formal zoning system. Looking ahead, the supervisors plan to form a committee comprising three to four county residents and a board member to evaluate the subsequent actions and steps for implementing the new regulatory framework.