Otoe County, Nebraska, Enacts One-Year Moratorium on Data Center Permits
Otoe County, Nebraska, has enacted a temporary moratorium on new data center permits for up to a year, driven by resident concerns over water and electricity usage. This decision allows county officials to study the issue and update regulations, reflecting a national trend of communities considering similar pauses, with Gage County also scheduling a hearing for a moratorium.
Otoe County, Nebraska, has enacted a temporary one-year moratorium on new data center permits, a decision made by the Otoe County Board following significant community input and growing concerns about the industry's resource demands. Residents, including Wynee Benedict, voiced worries about water consumption, electricity strain, and potential "heat island" effects from proposed data center developments. The pause is intended to allow county officials ample time to study these issues and update local regulations.
This move by Otoe County reflects a broader trend across the United States, with cities and states nationwide considering similar temporary bans due to environmental and infrastructural impacts. Within Nebraska, Madison County recently implemented special permit requirements for data centers to enhance oversight, while Gage County's planning and zoning commission is slated to hold a hearing on a data center moratorium in June. These local actions are partly influenced by a new state law, advocated by Gov. Jim Pillen, which mandates counties make timely decisions on projects, potentially leading more counties to establish moratoriums to get their regulations in order.
The impetus for much of the local discussion in southeast Nebraska stems from a reported proposal by Google for a massive new data center, which could demand more than triple the electricity used by the entire city of Lincoln during peak months. Private energy developer Tenaska is identified as a potential partner, having optioned significant land parcels in areas including Otoe and Gage counties. Residents in the village of Adams, within Gage County, have already convened to strategize opposition, particularly focusing on the water demands of both data centers and potential associated natural gas power plants.
Nebraska lawmakers have also taken steps to address energy impact and transparency, passing legislation to facilitate private power generation for large industrial customers and requiring data centers to annually report ownership, location, and resource usage. These measures aim to provide local officials with crucial information as they navigate development proposals, with residents like Benedict expressing satisfaction with the moratorium and a commitment to further research the impacts of these projects.