Blaine County passes emergency moratorium on data centers, giving the county 182 days to craft rules
Blaine County commissioners adopted an emergency moratorium pausing data center permitting for 182 days. The pause gives the county’s Planning and Zoning Department time to draft new regulations and conduct public discussions before future projects can proceed.
Blaine County commissioners adopted an emergency moratorium that pauses data center permitting for 182 days. The measure is intended to give the county time to update its code and establish rules before facilities can be proposed under existing regulations.
Commissioner Lindsay Mollineaux said the county has not yet experienced an influx of data center applications but wants to prepare for potential growth driven by artificial intelligence. Residents Alexis Limburg and Heidi Bynum urged officials to establish rules before data centers arrive, while the county Planning and Zoning Department begins work on a new ordinance.