Linn County adopts 12-month moratorium on battery storage, data centers and cryptocurrency mining applications

The Linn County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a 12-month moratorium on the acceptance, filing, processing, hearing and approval of applications for battery energy storage systems, data centers and Bitcoin or cryptocurrency mining facilities while the county evaluates zoning text amendments.

The motion, moved by the chair and seconded, directed staff to pause new applications and associated approvals countywide while commissioners study zoning changes. The chair stated the moratorium would allow the county time to consider land-use rules and any necessary code amendments before new facilities are accepted.

The resolution was adopted with the board indicating unanimous support during the roll call. Commissioners gave no immediate substantive amendments to the moratorium language during the meeting. The board did not record additional conditions or sunset provisions beyond the 12-month window stated in the motion.

Why it matters: the moratorium pauses new projects in a set of high-impact industrial uses—battery energy storage, large data centers and cryptocurrency-mining operations—that can raise questions about local infrastructure, land use, utility impacts and permitting. The temporary pause gives the county time to consider zoning text changes, public input and technical review before accepting new applications.

Next steps: staff and commissioners said they will proceed with evaluating potential zoning text amendments. The moratorium decision does not change the status of previously permitted or vested projects except where county staff identifies code or permit dependencies that must be addressed during the review process. The commission did not set a specific timeline for public hearings on zoning changes during the meeting.