Delta County Board passes moratorium on data centers
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ESCANABA -- The Delta County Board of Commissioners has approved a 12-month moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining construction, adopting a recommendation from the Delta County Planning Commission.
The planning commission approved the resolution July 6, stating their recommendation of the resolution was made "in the interest of ensuring orderly development, protecting Delta County's natural resources and rural character and establishing clear and enforceable standards for emerging high-intensity technological land uses," according to the resolution.
Commissioners unanimously approved the recommended moratorium Tuesday without discussion.
"A temporary moratorium is a reasonable and necessary exercise of the county's police power to protect the public health, safety and welfare while the county undertakes a comprehensive review of these land uses," the resolution states.
Delta County's existing zoning ordinance does not contain comprehensive standards regulating data centers or cryptocurrency mining operations, including but not limited to issues of electrical demand, noise, heat generation, water use, land consumption and impacts on the surrounding environment or residential, agricultural and forested areas.
The resolution also states Delta County's electrical infrastructure -- served primarily by regional utilities -- faces capacity and distribution constraints that may be significantly affected by high-intensity energy users, such as data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities.
The moratorium will allow the commission and county staff to research and evaluate land-use for data centers, as well as the environmental, infrastructure and economic impacts of data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations within the context of Delta County's rural communities and utility capacity.
The moratorium will also give the commission and county staff time to draft proposed zoning ordinance amendments and hold public hearings on regulations for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations.
During the 12-month period, officials will coordinate with regional utility providers, emergency services, township officials and neighboring jurisdictions to evaluate infrastructure capacity, cumulative impacts and review procedures, while also engaging residents, local businesses and other stakeholders in developing appropriate regulations.
Additionally, county staff will not accept, process or approve any application or request related to the uses of data centers or cryptocurrency mining during this period, including applications for new data centers or cryptocurrency mining facilities, any rezoning special land-use request associated with such uses and more.
Leah Belanger, a community member from Gladstone, addressed the board prior to the approval of the moratorium Tuesday, saying, "I just wanted to encourage you all to pass the moratorium on data centers and then take the next 12 months and review the ordinances for noise pollution, water pollution, who is going to pay for increased electricity use and your building and zoning laws."
Belanger continued, "I'm not flat out opposed to data centers. I just want to make sure if they come that we do it right and that we protect our environment and the people who live here and love our community."
The resolution emphasizes Delta County’s rural character, warning that unregulated development of data centers or cryptocurrency mining operations could threaten the county’s natural resources and tourism-based economy.
Teresa Ross, a resident of Ford River Township, also addressed the board, advocating for the moratorium to be passed and warning of alleged business practices by tech companies invested in expanding data centers, such as alleged non-disclosure agreements that are being signed between members of the public and stakeholders in data centers.
"We're learning some shady practices by big tech in order to get these data centers into communities," Ross said. "We need to be on our toes, and during this one-year moratorium, let's educate ourselves."
Multiple other Michigan counties and townships have enacted temporary moratoriums on similar uses in order to study their impacts and develop appropriate regulations, recognizing these emerging industries can create long-term land-use and infrastructure consequences, according to the resolution.
The Negaunee City Council has scheduled a public hearing for its Aug. 13 meeting for a zoning ordinance focused on data centers, as recommended by the Negaunee Planning Commission last month. Council held the first reading of the ordinance July 16.
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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.