St. Louis County writes data center rules before any developer asks
St. Louis County is proactively drafting a 21-page rulebook for data center development, focusing on environmental standards, water, electricity, and noise, despite no current proposals. Concurrently, the City of St. Louis is preparing to vote on its own set of stricter regulations. The county is accepting public comments on its proposed rules.
St. Louis County, Missouri, is proactively drafting a comprehensive 21-page rulebook for data center development, despite not having any proposals currently on the table. County Executive Sam Page, joined by his planning and public health directors, unveiled the draft on Tuesday. The proposed regulations categorize data centers by size, imposing stricter requirements on larger facilities, including setbacks from homes and schools, and standards for water and energy consumption, as well as noise pollution.
Page emphasized the county's commitment to "clean air, clean water, and noise pollution" as part of the process, aiming to establish clear expectations for companies while protecting residents. He also acknowledged the lack of a specific developer, questioning if there's even a "good place for it" in unincorporated St. Louis County. His demands for potential developers include self-sufficient power solutions to avoid straining the local grid, maintaining water quality, and managing noise levels.
The initiative comes as the City of St. Louis is preparing to vote on Friday on its own set of "considerably tougher" rules for data center developers, which would include real penalties. The county is accepting public comments on its draft rules through the end of the month.