Data Center Moratoriums Spread
U.S. cities pause data center developments to review infrastructure and environmental impacts.
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Cities across the country are pausing or considering pauses on data-center development as officials assess projects’ land, electricity and water needs and develop rules. Janesville approved a 12-month moratorium, and Bangor extended its freeze by 180 days; Milwaukee’s Plan Commission advanced a measure that could halt development for up to a year. Buffalo’s Common Council is set to consider a two-year moratorium, while Charlotte is weighing an extension of its existing pause as it studies potential impacts and regulations. Supporters cite planning gaps, environmental and infrastructure concerns, and the need for public input, while Milwaukee business groups warn that moratoria could impede economic growth.
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Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said the city withdrew its planned executive-order moratorium after New York state imposed a one-year pause, and warned that the proposed city measure must not inadvertently cover existing computer facilities used by institutions such as Roswell Park, M&T Bank, Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo.
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Bangor’s extension passed unanimously, 8-0; city officials said existing ordinances were not designed for facilities of data centers’ scale, prompting the additional six months to draft zoning rules.
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In Milwaukee, a former Walmart redevelopment plan dropped a proposed 19,000-square-foot data center after public opposition. The city attorney’s office had also questioned the moratorium’s legality because it lacked a public hearing, delaying committee review.
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Charlotte staff are assessing research from the World Resources Institute and technical regulatory options, including capacity verification and cooling standards, as the city considers extending its pause.
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Janesville’s approved pause covers not only permits but also applications for rezoning, annexation and other development approvals. A resident speaking in support said the petition reflected a desire for residents to have a voice, not necessarily blanket opposition to data centers.
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