Dane County Board approves data center moratorium
The Dane County Board unanimously approved a data center moratorium, pausing zoning permit applications for hyperscale data centers until December 2027. This measure affects 26 towns under county zoning and was supported by community organizers concerned about resource extraction and energy demands. An advisory committee is currently studying data center implications and will provide policy recommendations next year.
The Dane County Board in Wisconsin unanimously approved a moratorium on hyperscale data center development until December 2027. This decision halts zoning permit applications for such facilities in 26 towns under county zoning, explicitly excluding six other towns, 20 villages, and eight cities that manage their own zoning regulations. The measure was championed by Dane County Chair Patrick Miles and modeled after a similar approach in Manitowoc County, which circumvented a state prohibition on development moratoriums by focusing on the permitting process.
Community organizer Winona Storms, who previously fought a data center proposal in Vienna within Dane County, advocated for the moratorium. She and other organizers expressed concerns about data centers creating "sacrifice zones" and their corporate "extraction" of resources, as well as the "rampant" and "lumpy" energy demand they place on the electrical grid, as highlighted by Supv. Aria Trucios.
The moratorium's approval comes as a county advisory committee, formed by Chair Miles, continues to study the implications of data centers. The committee is expected to present its findings and policy recommendations to Dane County communities next year, aiming to provide clarity on the industry's impact.