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Commission member urges study, temporary pause on AI data centers over water and power concerns
Summary
A planning commissioner proposed the commission consider a three‑year pause on AI data center development until broader studies are completed, citing water use and Ward’s limited power infrastructure; staff said unilateral moratoria would require council action and noted Ward likely lacks the grid capacity for large data centers.
A planning commissioner urged the Ward Planning Commission on Nov. 24 to consider recommending a temporary pause on AI data centers in town while broader studies on their impacts are completed.
"Data centers are being built. They're eating up a lot of water. Water is already an issue in Ward," the committee member said, proposing the commission consider a motion to bar data centers for three years until further study. The member said they would bring more information at next month’s meeting.
Commissioners and staff pushed back on the idea that the planning commission could unilaterally impose such a pause. One commissioner said, "I don't think you can unilaterally say without council action for sure." Staff and others noted practical constraints: the town does not have a nearby power station or the large power capacity that typically supports major data centers. A company representative in the room said smaller data centers can be quieter than crypto‑mining operations, but the consensus was that large AI data centers would be unlikely in Ward given current utility infrastructure.
Why it matters: Data centers can require substantial water and power resources; commissioners raised concerns about local water availability and whether zoning or municipal policy should limit such facilities. The item prompted a request for more information rather than immediate policy action.
Next steps: The member who proposed the pause will provide additional materials at the next planning commission meeting; commissioners said they can explore zoning or ordinance language but acknowledged formal moratoria would likely need city council action.
