Public hearing for Morton County planning and zoning commission about data centers
Morton County, North Dakota, held a public hearing for its Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss proposed amendments and regulations for data center development. This meeting followed the county's adoption of a data center moratorium in September 2024, with significant public opposition to data centers in the region.
The Morton County Planning and Zoning Commission in North Dakota convened a public hearing to discuss proposed amendments to local regulations concerning data center developers. A large crowd attended the meeting as the county considered imposing limits and conditions on data center development within its jurisdiction.
The county is working to determine a set of standards for data centers and sought public input on the proposed amendment. This document has undergone several revisions since September 2024, which is when Morton County initially adopted a moratorium on data center construction.
There has been significant public pushback from residents who wish to prevent data centers from being built in North Dakota. Concerns were voiced by attendees, with one individual stating that in a "perfect world," there would be no data centers, emphasizing strong opposition to even discussing their presence. Despite this sentiment, some acknowledged that such developments are likely inevitable, similar to past industries like oil and windmills, and focused on making regulations "so strict" as to mitigate impacts.