Superior joins growing number of Wisconsin communities to pass data center moratorium
The Superior City Council in Wisconsin unanimously enacted a one-year moratorium on data centers, citing concerns about being blindsided and lacking adequate zoning definitions. This action follows similar moratoriums in other Wisconsin communities, reflecting growing statewide opposition to data centers over energy and water use. The moratorium allows time for the city's planning commission to develop new zoning and infrastructure regulations.
The city of Superior, Wisconsin, has unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on data center development, becoming the latest in a growing number of Wisconsin communities to pause such projects. Superior City Council member Garner Moffat introduced the resolution, citing a lack of clear zoning regulations for data centers and a desire to proactively protect public health, tax bases, and utility rates from unknown impacts. The moratorium will now be referred to the city's planning commission to recommend new zoning, utility, infrastructure, and land-use regulations.
While Superior has not yet received a data center proposal, the decision was influenced by the controversy surrounding a nearly $2 billion Google data center complex in nearby Hermantown, Minnesota, which has faced significant local opposition and lawsuits. Some Superior residents, like former resident Jeremy Lambert, criticized the council for enacting a moratorium before conducting thorough research, arguing it put "the cart before the horse." However, others, including Joe Stensland, supported the measure, emphasizing the need for thorough discussion and research given the regional context. An amendment to limit the moratorium to hyperscale data centers over 50,000 square feet failed.
Data centers have become increasingly unpopular in Wisconsin, with a Marquette Law School Poll finding 70 percent of voters believe costs outweigh benefits, largely due to concerns over water and energy consumption. Other Wisconsin communities have also recently taken action: the village of Wrightstown enacted a moratorium, Dane County approved an 18-month moratorium, Manitowoc County passed a similar measure, and the city of Madison implemented a one-year moratorium. Milwaukee is also considering zoning proposals that would restrict large data centers, and Monroe County residents are petitioning for a moratorium.