Brown County consider data center ban
Brown County commissioners are considering new zoning regulations that would ban large data centers, following a recommendation from the County Planning Commission. This consideration comes after the county previously enacted an 18-month development moratorium. The proposal includes a one-megawatt threshold to allow smaller, non-commercial facilities.
Brown County commissioners are actively considering new zoning regulations that would effectively prohibit large data centers and commercial battery energy storage facilities within the county. The County Planning Commission has recommended this change following a public hearing held earlier this month.
This move follows an 18-month development moratorium previously enacted by Brown County. During a recent meeting, County Counselor Austin Parker advised the commissioners that the proposed prohibition would be constitutional, though he noted that companies could still pursue facility construction in neighboring counties. Parker also suggested implementing a one-megawatt threshold for data centers to ensure smaller, non-commercial operations would not be affected by the ban.
All three commissioners voted to refer the matter back to the Planning Commission. They requested further consideration of an exception for non-commercial data centers that operate below the one-megawatt threshold, indicating a desire to refine the proposed regulations.