New Data Center Regulations Previewed at Community Meeting
East Lansing officials previewed proposed data center regulations covering facility size, noise, water use, electricity sourcing and decommissioning. The city’s data center moratorium remains in effect through March 17, 2027, while a workgroup develops an ordinance for possible consideration by the City Council.
East Lansing’s data center workgroup previewed proposed rules at a community meeting that would limit facility size, regulate audible and low-frequency noise, restrict water-intensive evaporative cooling and require independent noise studies. The group also wants data centers to obtain power from the Lansing Board of Water and Light and submit decommissioning plans backed by financial assurances.
The city’s moratorium on data center development took effect in March 2026 and runs through March 17, 2027. No formal applications have been submitted, although the city has received inquiries. The proposed rules would generally limit facilities to two industrial zones, with larger projects potentially requiring rezoning and City Council approval. A draft ordinance is not expected before December or later and would require public hearings before adoption.