Hagar Township approves data center moratorium
Hagar Township's Board of Trustees has approved a one-year moratorium on data centers. The decision allows the township Planning Commission to research the implications of data centers, particularly concerning water and noise, before considering a potential ordinance. This action follows similar moratoriums enacted by Lincoln and Niles Townships.
The Hagar Township Board of Trustees in Michigan has officially approved a one-year moratorium on data center development within its community. According to Township Supervisor Izzy DiMaggio, the decision was prompted by growing national anxiety and local complaints regarding the environmental impacts of such facilities, including significant water and noise pollution.
The Hagar Township Planning Commission plans to utilize this moratorium period to conduct further research and gather information to potentially draft a new ordinance regulating data centers. DiMaggio emphasized that allowing these facilities without first addressing concerns about their resource consumption, specifically noise, power, and water usage, would not be in the township's best interest.
This move by Hagar Township aligns with recent actions taken by neighboring communities, Lincoln Township and Niles Township, which have also implemented similar moratoriums. The widespread concern among local governments is driven by reports of negative consequences associated with data center construction.