Chippewa County looks to temporary moratorium on data centers
Chippewa County, Wisconsin, is exploring a 10-month moratorium on data center development to update its zoning ordinances and study potential impacts. The Planning & Zoning Committee unanimously agreed to hold a public hearing on August 3, with a county board vote expected in September. Concerns include utility costs, consumption of agricultural land, and unaddressed environmental and infrastructure impacts.
Chippewa County, Wisconsin, is actively pursuing a temporary moratorium on data center development to address concerns and update outdated zoning ordinances. The Chippewa County Planning & Zoning Committee unanimously approved a draft proposal for a 10-month moratorium and scheduled a public hearing for August 3. The measure, if passed by the county board in September, would halt new data center construction through July 2027.
County Board Chairman Jason Bergeron noted that data centers were a significant topic during recent campaign cycles, with residents expressing concerns about increased utility costs and the consumption of prime agricultural land. The proposed moratorium aims to allow the county to research the land use, environmental, and health impacts of data centers, consult with stakeholders, and prepare necessary amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and zoning regulations.
The draft ordinance highlights that modern data centers require substantial infrastructure improvements and can create unique impacts, such as noise from cooling equipment and generators, visual impacts, construction traffic, and demands on water, wastewater, and emergency services, which are not adequately covered by existing county codes. The moratorium would apply to towns that have adopted the county's zoning ordinance, including Anson, Eagle Point, Hallie, Lafayette, Wheaton, and Woodmohr. Bergeron acknowledged he is not aware of any companies currently seeking to develop data centers in the county.