Barnes County puts pause on data centers amid resident concerns
The Barnes County Commission in North Dakota has approved a six-month moratorium on new data center developments. This pause will allow officials to study the industry and establish zoning, infrastructure, and public-notice guidelines. Residents have voiced concerns about developers potentially securing land secretly through NDAs.
The Barnes County Commission in North Dakota has enacted a six-month moratorium on new data center construction. The temporary pause was approved during a recent meeting, granting local officials time to research the rapidly expanding data center industry and establish necessary guidelines for zoning, infrastructure, and public notification before any projects proceed.
Residents attending the meeting expressed apprehension that local authorities might be bypassed by data center developers. They highlighted a common practice where developers secure land from private owners via non-disclosure agreements before officially engaging city or county administrations.
Despite these concerns, leaders in Valley City, located within Barnes County, have stated there is currently no indication that a data center project is imminent in their area. Valley City officials confirmed on Saturday, May 16, that no company has approached them regarding such a development. Jennifer Feist, Director of Economic Development for the Valley City–Barnes County Development Corporation, added on Sunday, May 17, that her organization is unaware of any planned data center south of Valley City, aside from an existing facility in Ellendale, N.D.