Public hearing scheduled for proposed data center ordinance in Washington County
Washington County is considering a new ordinance to restrict data center development to specific industrial zones and require special use permits. The proposed rules address concerns about power, water, cooling, and agricultural impacts. A public hearing is scheduled for July 22.
Washington County is currently reviewing a draft ordinance aimed at regulating data center construction and operation. The proposed ordinance would limit data center facilities to the D2 Heavy Industrial zones and mandate special use permit approval for any new developments. This initiative follows concerns raised by Commissioners during a July 6 meeting regarding the substantial power and water demands, cooling systems, potential impacts on agriculture, and general infrastructure needs associated with large data centers, including those supporting AI computing and cryptocurrency mining.
The Washington County Planning and Zoning Commission is set to host a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at 6 p.m. on July 22. The hearing will take place at the Washington County Courthouse in Weiser. The draft also stipulates that developers must meet specific standards for power use, water consumption, noise, heat generation, agricultural mitigation, and eventual decommissioning processes.