City of Anniston adopts resolution that establishes temporary moratorium on data centers within regulatory jurisdiction
The City of Anniston, Alabama has adopted a resolution establishing a temporary 12-month moratorium on data center permitting, development, and licensing within its jurisdiction. This measure is intended as a planning tool to allow the city to develop clear standards for future data center proposals, addressing concerns about their scale and resource demands.
The City of Anniston, Alabama, enacted Resolution No. 26-R-97 on August 18, immediately implementing a temporary moratorium on the permitting, development, and licensing of data centers within its regulatory boundaries. This 12-month pause is not a stance against data center development but a proactive planning measure.
City officials aim to create clear, predictable, and enforceable standards to protect residents, property owners, businesses, and public infrastructure, as existing zoning frameworks often do not adequately address the evolving scale and resource demands of modern data centers, particularly with the growth of cloud computing and AI. The U.S. Department of Energy highlights the significant increase in data center electricity consumption, projecting it to account for 6.7% to 12% of all U.S. electricity use by 2028. Large-scale facilities can strain electricity, water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation, and emergency services.
The resolution directs the Anniston Planning Commission to study these issues and present recommendations to the city council within six months. The moratorium, effective immediately, can be shortened or extended by the city council based on review progress. It ensures Anniston is prepared to responsibly accommodate future data center proposals.