Southern Wisconsin community latest to enact a data center moratorium
The Janesville City Council in Wisconsin unanimously voted to enact a one-year moratorium on data center developments within the city. This pause allows city staff to research environmental, economic, health, safety, and land-use compatibility impacts while preparing new zoning codes and development standards.
The Janesville City Council in southern Wisconsin has unanimously enacted a one-year moratorium on data center developments. The decision, made on Monday, halts the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of any applications related to data centers, including rezoning requests, permits, and annexation actions.
During this period, city staff are prohibited from actively soliciting or encouraging data center projects and from entering into non-disclosure agreements regarding such developments. The moratorium's stated purpose is to provide sufficient time for the city to thoroughly research the potential environmental, economic, health, safety, and land-use compatibility impacts of data centers. It also aims to allow for the completion of zoning code reviews, the establishment of specific development standards for data center projects, and the consideration of a Data Center Companion Ordinance by the council.