Saline County Commissioner discusses three year moratorium on data center and energy facilities

Saline County Commissioner Joe Hay recently discussed the county's decision to enact a three-year moratorium on data centers and energy facilities during an interview with KINA Coffee Talk. Hay explained that the commissioners passed the halt to allow the county to study and understand the specific resource requirements, such as water usage, before approving such facilities. The moratorium aims to clarify regulations for these developments. This measure was implemented following the commissioner's denial of a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in January 2026, which was rejected by a 4-1 supermajority vote. Commissioner Hay emphasized that the moratorium is not intended to suggest Saline County is closed for business, but rather to ensure that the Planning Commission and county officials can make informed decisions regarding future applications. The three-year moratorium covers data centers and energy facilities, with a specific one-year component for hydrogen-based energy facilities.