Douglas County residents ask commission to consider moratorium on battery systems, data centers

Douglas County commissioners faced public calls for a moratorium or ban on battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centers during a recent work session, prompted by research on fire risks, rural water limitations, and high energy demands. Although no specific projects have been proposed locally, county commissioners initiated a review in July 2024 to address how these land uses should be incorporated into county codes. Planner Karl Bauer informed the commission that current codes do not specifically define these uses outside of solar accessory rules, meaning BESS are already permitted alongside solar farms. Public commenters, including economist Tim Hamilton and resident Kincaid Dennett, expressed concerns over potential increases in electric and water bills and urged commissioners to consider a ban rather than just developing regulations. Commissioner Erica Anderson suggested a moratorium might be appropriate while a county zoning study is underway. Bauer confirmed that the commission has started the process to create a text amendment, which, while not a formal moratorium, would effectively pause new BESS or data center applications until new regulations are adopted. Rural water districts also highlighted the significant infrastructure updates needed for data centers, which can consume hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily.