Plan Commission backs four 24‑month moratoriums on farm solar, utility batteries, data centers and carbon capture; public raises permitting and water concerns

The Marshall County Plan Commission on Jan. 23 voted to recommend that the Marshall County Board of Commissioners adopt four separate 24‑month moratoriums while the county reviews and drafts new zoning and land‑use rules for farm‑scale solar energy systems, utility‑scale battery energy storage systems, data centers and carbon‑capture projects.

Planning staff, supported by the Technical Review Committee (TRC), presented each moratorium proposal as a temporary halt on new permits and land‑use applications “for a period of 24 months from the passage of this proposal” to give county officials time to determine “the most appropriate building, zoning, and land use regulations” for each technology. Lydia, representing the planning department, said the TRC recommended approval of the proposed moratoria so staff and committees can review ordinance language and potential regulatory details.

County attorney Derek Jones told the commission the plan commission’s role is to review the proposals and make a recommendation to the county commissioners. “Your job is to basically give a recommendation,” Jones said, adding the board of county commissioners has the ultimate authority to approve, amend or reject the moratoriums.

The four moratorium proposals were considered and voted on separately by the commission but share common features: each would bar acceptance of new building permits, improvement location permits, special exceptions, variances and rezoning applications…