Cottage Grove enacts data center moratorium
The Village of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, unanimously enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center development. This action, following inquiries from a developer, allows the village and a Dane County task force time to study the impacts of data centers and develop regulatory guidelines. Cottage Grove is the third Dane County municipality to implement such a moratorium.
The Village of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, has unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on data center development, making it the third municipality in Dane County to enact such a measure. The Village Board's decision, reached on July 20, was prompted by an inquiry from a developer regarding industrial land uses for data centers in the village. This temporary halt is intended to give the village time to gather information on data center impacts, develop best practices for regulation, and complete an update to its comprehensive plan.
The moratorium also aligns with efforts by the Dane County Advisory Committee on Data Centers (ACDC), formed in 2026, which includes Cottage Grove representation. Chaired by Dane County Board Chair Patrick Miles, the ACDC aims to research best practices and regional impacts of data centers, with guidelines expected within a year. Other Dane County communities, including the City of Madison and the Town of Westport, have already passed similar moratoriums, with Westport's decision influenced by a proposal from QTS Data Centers in the Village of DeForest.
Village officials, including President Cindi Kelm-Nelson and Board Member Casey Erlandson, emphasized the need for updated zoning regulations to address potential effects on property values, land use plans, public health, safety, and welfare. The ACDC will consider a broad range of factors, including strain on utilities like water and electricity, environmental impacts, and economic considerations, aiming to provide comprehensive guidance for municipalities in Dane County.