Public voices their concerns at the Morton County Public Hearing
Morton County's Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing to discuss a proposed ordinance regulating data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. The meeting, which saw significant public opposition, was a result of a current moratorium in the county aimed at developing appropriate regulations. A decision on the draft ordinance, which addresses concerns like power, cooling, and noise, was delayed until the next meeting.
The Morton County Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on July 22 concerning a proposed public ordinance for data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. The commission room was at standing-room-only capacity, with 36 people voicing concerns, predominantly in opposition to the draft ordinance.
Due to a public notice error, the meeting officially became a public hearing, and a decision on the ordinance was delayed until the next month's meeting. Residents, including North Dakota State Senate candidate Signe Snortland and House candidate Kimball Banks, focused on issues such as tonal noise requirements versus total noise, and the impact on wildlife and quiet ceremonies as expressed by Carel Two-Eagle, who lives near a Prairie & Pollinator Preserve.
Morton County currently has a moratorium, adopted in September 2024, on data center and crypto mining permits, which was enacted to allow time for the creation of this very ordinance. The proposed draft regulations cover aspects like power, cooling systems (including above-ground closed-loop water systems), building height, and noise limits, with specific attention to land under Morton County's direct jurisdiction, excluding the City of Mandan, which is developing its own regulations. The commission plans to further investigate decommissioning plans, closed-loop systems, light shielding, and potential radio interference.