Chippewa County Board approves data center moratorium

The Chippewa County Board unanimously enacted a 12-month moratorium on data centers, expediting the approval process by waiving the standard waiting period for a second reading. The measure, which originally proposed a 10-month pause, was extended to a full year by amendment during Tuesday's meeting.

Zoning Administrator Doug Clary indicated plans to draft a new ordinance to regulate data centers within the next year, aiming to have it in place before the moratorium expires. County Board Chairman Jason Bergeron, who also serves on the Planning & Zoning Committee, supported the moratorium, citing resident concerns over the loss of farmland and potential increases in utility costs.

The moratorium applies to specific towns within Chippewa County that have adopted the county's zoning ordinance, including Anson, Eagle Point, Hallie, Lafayette, Wheaton, and Woodmohr. Unzoned towns in the county would need to enact their own moratoriums, as the county's measure cannot be universally applied. During the meeting, a query regarding water usage restrictions for data centers received a response from Clary confirming the lack of current regulations in that area.

The ordinance revision explicitly states the need for the moratorium to research the land use, environmental, and health impacts of data centers, consult with various stakeholders, and prepare amendments to the county’s Comprehensive Plan and zoning regulations. Bergeron noted that no companies were actively seeking to develop data centers in the county at present.