Findlay data center moratorium dies in council

On April 7, a motion to implement a 12-month moratorium on data center construction in Findlay, Ohio, failed to pass in the Findlay City Council. Two days later, a similar motion also failed in the city's Zoning and Planning Commission. Council members Rodney Phillips and Dan DeLong had proposed the moratorium to allow the city a year to study the necessary infrastructure and zoning laws for data centers, as they are currently not explicitly listed in Findlay's zoning code, which effectively bans them. Phillips emphasized the need for more study, analysis, and public inclusion in the conversation, citing a "real-time crunch" with AI companies seeking unzoned land. The initial motion in the City Council "died" due to vague wording, though a motion to send it to the Zoning and Planning Commission for further discussion passed unanimously. Chairperson Heather Kensinger stressed the importance of following proper processes. Although the Planning and Zoning Committee did not pass the moratorium, it voted to recommend drafting two potential zoning codes: an updated version of a previously proposed code and a new, more restrictive code for data centers. The article notes Ohio's significant number of data centers, with proponents citing job creation and tax revenue, while detractors highlight concerns about long-term employment, high electricity and water usage, and environmental disturbance.