Suffolk City Council approves temporary moratorium on data centers
Suffolk City Council voted 8-0 to enact a temporary moratorium prohibiting new data center applications while the city develops rules for future projects. The moratorium has no specified end date and follows broader regional debate over data center growth.
Suffolk City Council unanimously approved an ordinance temporarily prohibiting data center applications in the city. Mayor Michael Duman said Suffolk would accept no new data center applications while officials determine how to manage future development, though the ordinance does not specify how long the moratorium will last.
The action comes amid wider debate across Hampton Roads about the economic benefits and potential impacts of data centers. Residents have called for a statewide pause, while Chesapeake and Virginia Beach have also halted data center expansion. A local technology company owner told the council he supported the moratorium as time to prepare for the growing use of artificial intelligence.