Reno County Commissioners Reject Proposed Data Center Bans
Reno County commissioners declined to advance proposals for bans on battery energy storage systems and data centers in unincorporated areas, despite significant resident concerns and a petition for a moratorium. Commissioners noted no applications for such facilities have been received yet. This decision contrasts with nearby Sedgwick County, which recently extended its own data center moratorium.
The Reno County Commission voted on Monday to decline proposals that would have banned battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centers in unincorporated parts of the county. The decision followed a two-hour special meeting where commissioners, split on the issue, heard extensive feedback from concerned residents.
During a previous meeting last month, public comment was dominated by residents raising concerns about potential impacts from data centers and BESS, including water usage, noise, property values, health, and fire risks. A resident from the Buhler area presented a petition with 875 signatures from Reno County residents and landowners, advocating for a moratorium on both BESS and data centers.
Despite the community's push, the commissioners did not adopt any bans, moratoriums, or new regulations, noting that no applications for large-scale data centers or BESS facilities have been submitted to the county. Commissioner Richard Winger likened the perceived small risk of data centers to the unknown dangers posed by regular freight trains. This contrasts with nearby Sedgwick County, where commissioners extended an existing data center moratorium for another 90 days, pushing the pause until September 11.