Manitowoc County Commission Passes Data Center Moratorium; Now Moves To County Board

The Manitowoc County Park and Plan Commission has unanimously approved a petition to enact a one-year moratorium on data center applications, permits, and construction. The measure will now proceed to the full County Board of Supervisors for a final vote in April. Residents from the Towns of Mishicot, Two Rivers, and Two Creeks initiated the petition, citing concerns over the impact of data centers on agricultural land and local water resources. Susan Dirkmann, a Mishicot resident, emphasized the importance of preserving rural towns as "agricultural powerhouses." Another resident highlighted the significant water consumption of data centers, comparing larger facilities to the daily water use of a town with 10,000 to 50,000 people. Lee Stafaniak, a Town of Mishicot Board Member, expressed strong opposition to a proposed data center site that would remove 600 acres of farmland from production. Commission Chairman James Falkowski stated that the moratorium would provide the county with crucial time to study data center models and address potential deficiencies, as the county currently lacks specific regulations for such facilities. The issue gained prominence in the Town of Mishicot after landowners reported being approached by groups interested in purchasing land for data centers.