Hancock County Board Discusses a Moratorium on Data Centers
The Hancock County Zoning Board unanimously denied reclassifying land for a potential data center project. Following this, Supervisor Florence Greiman proposed a six-month moratorium on data center construction in Hancock County. The Board of Supervisors tabled the moratorium proposal for a vote at a future meeting to allow for further research and ordinance development.
The Hancock County Zoning Board recently made a unanimous decision to deny the reclassification of a large parcel of property that could have potentially been used for a data center project. This decision was made despite no specific data company having yet come forward to propose such a development.
Following this, Supervisor Florence "Sis" Greiman introduced a proposal for a six-month moratorium on data center construction within Hancock County. Greiman indicated that the moratorium could be ended sooner if the county completed its due diligence in researching the issue and developing a suitable ordinance, or it could be extended if needed.
However, Supervisors Gary Rayhons and Bud Jermeland expressed concerns that a moratorium could impede progress. Rayhons advocated for the county to proactively develop ordinances with safeguards to protect residents, while Jermeland emphasized the importance of creating clear parameters for data centers, crypto mining, and solar farms. Rayhons requested more time to study the proposed legislative piece before making a decision.
Ultimately, Supervisor Greiman tabled the moratorium proposal, rescheduling it for a vote at the next board meeting, allowing time for further study and the development of a "roadmap" for establishing proper ordinances.