Meridian Township board takes next steps to adopt data center moratorium

Meridian Township, Michigan, is moving to enact a six-month moratorium on data center development, mirroring actions taken by other communities in the state. The Township Board voted on May 7 to approve the temporary ban, which aims to give officials time to establish comprehensive regulations for future data center projects. Tim Schmitt, the community planning and development director, explained that the moratorium is a crucial initial step before township attorneys draft a formal ordinance. Township Board Supervisor Scott Hendrickson noted that while there are no current data center proposals for Meridian Township, the measure acknowledges that such developments are an "emerging issue" requiring careful handling. Hendrickson also suggested that limited industrial land makes a data center project in the area unlikely. In addition to the data center moratorium, the Board approved a separate six-month moratorium for battery energy storage systems, also intended to facilitate the creation of specific regulations. Board Trustee Peter Trezise highlighted the need for caution, stating that the full "ramifications and implications" of these new types of operations are not yet fully understood. The Board is set to hold a final vote on adopting both moratoria at its upcoming meeting.