Data Center Doubts: Vernon County moves to block data centers, for now
Vernon County, Wisconsin officials are proposing a two-year moratorium on data center development across all its towns. This proactive measure aims to prevent data centers from establishing in the rural, naturally resource-rich Driftless Area, citing concerns over high water and energy consumption and the lack of existing zoning ordinances. The county was spurred to action after Dairyland Power Cooperative announced a new energy transmission line, which officials believe could attract data center developers.
Vernon County, Wisconsin, is actively working to prevent the development of data centers within its borders, prompted by concerns over resource consumption and the potential for a new energy transmission line to attract developers. District 8 Supervisor Dave Eggen and County Zoning Administrator Matt Albright highlighted that data centers require significant amounts of water and energy, resources abundant in the county's ecologically sensitive Driftless Area. Officials became proactive after Dairyland Power Cooperative announced plans for a large energy transmission line through Vernon and Crawford counties, fearing it would make the area attractive to data center companies.
The county currently lacks a general zoning ordinance, leaving it vulnerable to developers who might acquire land without local oversight. To address this, Vernon County officials are proposing a two-year moratorium on data center approvals, requiring all town boards to adopt individual ordinances. Albright is currently meeting with these town boards, expressing optimism that the moratorium could be in place by June.
Dairyland Power Cooperative clarified in a statement that its MariBell Transmission Project is part of a broader grid modernization and was not specifically designed to support data center growth. However, county leaders view the moratorium as a temporary measure to gain control over future development, rather than a permanent ban.