Adams County board discusses moratorium on data centers

Adams County officials are proactively considering a moratorium on data center development to establish regulations and assess the counties' capacity to support such projects. During a recent meeting, the Adams County Board of Supervisors discussed the potential moratorium, prompted by a multi-county gathering with officials from Adams, Taylor, Union, Ringgold, Adair, and Clarke counties. Supervisors Chair Chris Standley highlighted concerns about limited water and electrical resources, as well as the broader community impacts. Union County has already formed a committee, including representatives from the REC and SIRWA, to gather information and assess potential impacts, with plans to share their findings with Adams County. Officials also raised questions regarding data center taxation. While the Adams County board did not take immediate action, further discussion and possible action on the moratorium are anticipated at an upcoming meeting. Standley emphasized the county's desire to have a plan and guidelines in place to best serve citizens before any data center projects are formally proposed. Taylor County officials are also expected to discuss forming a similar committee.