Allendale adopts data center moratorium, joins growing list of communities grappling with issue
Allendale Township in Ottawa County, Michigan, has enacted a yearlong moratorium on data centers, battery storage facilities, solar farms, and wind farms. This decision was driven by resident concerns over noise, power consumption, and water usage, particularly groundwater shortages. The moratorium allows the township to study and implement revised ordinances for future developments.
Allendale Township has enacted a yearlong moratorium on new data centers, battery storage facilities, and large-scale solar and wind farms. The decision, presented by Supervisor Adam Elenbaas, was prompted by residents' concerns regarding noise, significant power and water consumption, and potential impacts on Ottawa County's existing groundwater shortages. Allendale is the second municipality in Ottawa County to adopt such a measure, following Zeeland Township, which approved a data center moratorium in March.
While Allendale's moratorium is not an outright ban, Treasurer David Vander Wall emphasized it provides time to establish conditions that benefit the community. The township plans to use this period to study potential hazards and revise its ordinances and regulations. Nearby, Blendon Township considered a battery storage moratorium due to opposition but opted to draft strict local ordinances instead; however, its planning commission was directed to explore a data center moratorium. The article also notes that Lowell Township's board rejected a six-month data center moratorium, leading to protests against a proposed Microsoft data center in Kent County. Conversely, Dorr Township in Allegan County approved a 12-month moratorium, placing a third Microsoft data center proposal on hold.
Microsoft has proposed three data centers in Michigan townships, including one in Gaines Township and the projects in Lowell and Dorr. These facilities are intended to expand Microsoft's cloud storage capabilities. The article highlights growing statewide and national opposition to data centers, fueled by fears of excessive resource consumption, environmental and noise pollution, with a recent Gallup survey indicating 7 out of 10 Americans oppose data centers in their communities.