Ordinance clarifying where data centers can locate passes Sweetwater commission
The Sweetwater City Commission passed Ordinance 1066 on its final reading, which restricts data centers, crypto mining facilities, and battery energy storage facilities to M2 industrial zones. The ordinance also now requires a Level 3 environmental study and compliance with coolant water discharge standards for data centers. Both amendments passed unanimously.
The Sweetwater City Commission has officially passed Ordinance 1066 on its final reading, which establishes new regulations for the location of data centers, crypto mining facilities, and battery energy storage facilities within the city. The new ordinance mandates that these types of operations can only be established in M2 industrial zones, which are designated for activities with higher environmental and infrastructural impacts.
During a special meeting on June 18, city officials and commissioners discussed the ordinance. A citizen expressed a desire for a Level 3 environmental review for data centers. Following this, Commissioner Alan Richeson successfully moved to amend the ordinance to include a Level 3 environmental study requirement for data centers, which was unanimously approved by the commission. A subsequent amendment requiring environmental compliance and specific coolant water discharge standards also passed unanimously.
Sweetwater City Administrator Jessica Morgan confirmed that amendments could be made before the second reading. With the added amendments, the ordinance passed its second reading unanimously, officially enacting the new regulatory framework for such facilities in Sweetwater.