Hawaii County Council Moves to Ban Industrial Data Centers

The Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development voted 8-0 on Tuesday to forward Bill 170, a proposal to ban industrial-scale data centers on the island. The legislation aims to amend the county zoning code to create a clear distinction between large, AI-supporting data centers and smaller data processing facilities, preventing developers from using zoning loopholes to avoid restrictions.

Heather Kimball, the bill's author, argued that the measure is necessary because the industry aims to establish data centers in every state. Supporters of the ban testified that these facilities would strain the island's limited electricity and water reserves, potentially increasing utility costs for residents while introducing noise and air pollution.

Planning Director Jeff Darrow informed the council that no data center permits have been requested to date, but maintained that the county should not simply accept the negative side effects of AI technology. The bill now moves to the planning director and dual planning commissions for further review.