US Counties Diverge on Large-Scale Data Center Bans

Local governments across the United States are implementing divergent strategies to manage the growth of large-scale data centers. In Florida, the Volusia County Council voted Tuesday to ban facilities with a peak electrical load of 50 megawatts or more in unincorporated areas. Council Member Don Dempsey stated the ban protects the aquifer and property owners from sinkhole risks, noting the council acted to establish permanent restrictions during a window of opportunity provided by the governor and the Legislature.

In Montana, Missoula County is moving toward formal regulation following a one-year freeze on new data centers enacted six months ago. The county will hold an informational session on October 27 to present a study on mitigating impacts such as power consumption, water quality, and noise. Planners will present these findings to the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use and Planning Board on November 4, followed by a formal public hearing on November 12.

Conversely, Klickitat County commissioners in Washington declined to implement a moratorium on data centers during an October 13 meeting, despite a petition with over 1,000 signatures. While Commissioner Ron Ihrig proposed a pause, other commissioners cited potential legal costs as a reason for the rejection. The county currently has seven planned facilities, including a 300-megawatt project by Clenera Tech Center Holdings for which the Klickitat Public Utility District recently requested energy access.