Pacific, Missouri, enacts 12-month data center moratorium
The Pacific City Council in Missouri has approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center proposals to conduct a land use study and update zoning. This decision follows advocacy from the Pacific Group Coalition, which is also opposing data center developments in Franklin County. A current proposal from BELTLINE ENERGY is not affected by the moratorium and awaits a public hearing.
The Pacific City Council in Missouri recently enacted a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications. This decision allows the city to conduct a comprehensive land use study, gather community feedback, and update its comprehensive plan and zoning text to better address data center developments.
The moratorium, celebrated by groups like the Pacific Group Coalition, provides a "breather" for the community. However, there's a significant caveat: a current development proposal in Pacific from BELTLINE ENERGY is exempt from this 12-month hold, according to Alderman Scott Lashed. This means the BELTLINE ENERGY project could still be approved by the council following a public hearing.
Opposition efforts are not limited to Pacific; residents and groups like the Pacific Group Coalition are also focused on Franklin County as a whole, hoping county commissioners will halt current data center proposals. Steve Jeffrey of the Jeffrey Law Group, representing entities opposing data center projects across Missouri, cited a lack of transparency as a key concern. Residents emphasize the need for community involvement and thorough research by voters ahead of election season to ensure responsible development.