La Crosse County Board Enacts 18-Month Data Center Moratorium
The La Crosse County Board has enacted an 18-month moratorium on data center development, following the creation of a study committee. The board voted 26-2 to approve the moratorium, allowing the committee time to assess the impacts of data centers on the economy, environment, and energy.
The La Crosse County Board has passed an 18-month moratorium on data center construction, just one month after establishing a study committee to examine the industry's local impacts. The board approved the measure with a 26-2 vote, with members Ken Schlimgen and Jeff Fimreite casting the dissenting votes.
Board member Dillon Mader, who co-authored the moratorium legislation with Lia Manock, stated that the decision reflects the board's understanding that the study committee requires sufficient time to formulate recommendations. The committee, which includes board members and representatives from all 18 municipalities within La Crosse County, has one year to study various aspects and effects of data centers before presenting its findings.
Mader emphasized that data centers are a unique business model with significant impacts on the economy, environment, living conditions, and energy infrastructure, differentiating them from other businesses that the board might be perceived as regulating. The 18-month duration is intended to give the board adequate time to review the committee's work and develop appropriate future regulations for data centers.