Local Governments Implement Data Center Moratoriums Across US

Local governments across the United States are implementing pauses on data center developments to address zoning gaps and environmental concerns. In Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek directed state agencies to pause unapproved data center requests on state-owned land until July 1, 2027, following public protests in Salem. This state-level action coincides with local efforts in Woodburn, where the City Council approved a 120-day moratorium to evaluate infrastructure needs and environmental impacts, including water and energy consumption.

Similar regulatory struggles are appearing in other states. The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina postponed a vote on a proposed one-year moratorium until October 5 to allow for more resident feedback. The pause is intended to give planners time to draft specific zoning and environmental rules, though no facilities are currently planned for the area.

In Minnesota, the Otter Tail County Board discussed the lack of authority to block data centers built outside lakeshore areas. Commissioner Wayne Johnson noted that landowner rights currently prevent townships without zoning ordinances from stopping such developments. He suggested the county might need to implement a moratorium to develop a formal ordinance, while representatives from the Minnesota Association of Townships warned that the cost of enforcing such ordinances is often prohibitive for small townships.