Marathon County Board faces undecided choice on Hub City Wind, weighs data center moratorium

The Marathon County Board of Supervisors in Wausau, Wisconsin, is scheduled to consider a 12-month moratorium on new data center permits or expansions within unincorporated towns under county zoning. The proposed pause aims to allow the county to update its zoning code to address potential impacts like heavy electrical demand, industrial cooling, noise, and backup generators before new data center applications arrive. This moratorium would not apply to cities, villages, or towns with their own zoning, and would exempt smaller facilities.

The board's agenda also includes new ordinances for battery energy storage systems and large power plants exceeding 100 megawatts. For battery storage, systems over 1 megawatt or those selling power off-site would necessitate a conditional use permit, specific setbacks, professional hazard analyses, and emergency response plans approved by local fire and sheriff's departments. Operators would also be responsible for training first responders and providing a bond for site cleanup.

For state-regulated power plants, developers would need to share engineering and impact plans with the county for review and potential conditions to state regulators. These measures collectively represent the county's significant effort to assert local control over energy projects. Concurrently, the Board will deliberate on Alliant Energy's proposed Hub City Wind Farm, considering options such as negotiation, imposing a moratorium, or intervening in state regulatory proceedings. All three ordinances related to data centers, battery storage, and power plants are recommended for approval following a public hearing.