Data center moratorium nears for Delta County as planners search for best policy

Delta County planners are advancing a proposal for up to a 12-month moratorium on data center construction. The Delta County Planning Commission recently voted to send a draft resolution for legal review, with the goal of formally voting the policy into place afterward. This pause is intended to allow the commission time to consult with experts and develop appropriate ordinances for the community. Local residents expressed significant opposition to potential data centers, citing concerns about rising utility, electricity, and water bills, as well as noise pollution and environmental degradation. A former commissioner, Bob Baron, who was recalled in 2024, spoke in favor of data centers as a financial opportunity, but his views were evidently not well-received by the audience. Planning commissioners acknowledged both the pros and cons of data centers but emphasized the need for due diligence to protect the area, as no specific data center project has been proposed yet. A series of data center experts are scheduled to present to the commission in Eskanaba on May 4th, as part of their information-gathering process.