Kalamazoo city commissioners to vote on data center moratorium

Kalamazoo city commissioners are poised to vote on a proposed moratorium on data center development, a move that could temporarily halt new projects for up to a year. The discussion was added to the agenda after Harbor Farms cannabis facility, led by CEO Michael Ward, explored offering its site for data center developers, citing an oversupplied cannabis industry. Ward suggested repurposing the facility would benefit Kalamazoo, but public sentiment towards data centers remains largely negative.

Commissioner Alonzo Wilson acknowledged the "growing backlash" and stated the commission plans to adopt a moratorium resolution at its upcoming meeting. He clarified that this is not a permanent ban but rather a pause to ensure the city has adequate information about potential long-term impacts on residents before committing to development. City Attorney Aaron Leal advised the commissioners to establish specific goals for regulating data centers, including studying their effects on public safety and the environment, and emphasized that any moratorium must be temporary to withstand legal challenges. Key concerns raised by Commissioner Wilson include noise, water usage, and the strain on the electric grid and energy/water infrastructure.