Jefferson County commissioners unanimously approve moratorium on large renewables, crypto mining and data centers

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously May 4 to adopt Resolution 2026-010, a temporary moratorium on commercial wind and solar projects, cryptocurrency mining, battery energy storage facilities and data centers used for emerging technologies. The board moved the moratorium after a recommendation from the Community Development Director to broaden an existing wind-and-solar pause to also cover data centers and related facilities while planning work continues.

Community Development Director Stephan Metzger told the board he had incorporated data centers, battery energy storage and cryptocurrency‑mining operations into the county moratorium “just to have it covered in one resolution,” and said his intent is to have the comprehensive plan and zoning regulations updated by the end of the year. Commissioner Doug Walbridge moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Richard Malm seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

The measure functions as an interim halt to new permitting and approvals for the listed project types while staff prepares zoning language and a comp‑plan update. The transcript records the board signing routine documents related to a conditional use (Resolution CU2026‑01) and a plat later in the meeting; those were separate items and not part of the moratorium vote.

The board did not record any amendments to the moratorium during the meeting, and no additional procedural steps were announced in the transcript beyond the stated goal of finishing comp‑plan and zoning updates by year end. The board adjourned and is scheduled to reconvene May 11 for its next regular session.