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Planning commission urges county to consider one‑year moratorium on data centers
Summary
After public comments raising water and power concerns, the Bedford County Planning Commission voted to recommend a one‑year moratorium on new data center projects so county leaders can study impacts and develop standards.
The Bedford County Planning Commission voted to send a recommendation to the County Commission urging a one‑year moratorium on new data center projects, citing concerns about local water and electric infrastructure and the need for time to develop rules.
The recommendation followed public comment from residents who warned that large AI data centers can demand huge quantities of electricity and water. "I'm strongly opposed to," Adam Vandercooken said, adding he has worked in IT for nearly two decades and voiced concern that such facilities can be built under alternate LLC names and expand beyond what was proposed.
Commission discussion emphasized infrastructure limits and monitoring. Planning staff noted that some data centers elsewhere have consumed millions of gallons of water or tens of megawatts of power and that utilities would need to be involved in any evaluation. "I honestly believe that if we were going to have a data center in Bedford County, it would not be in the unincorporated area," a planning official said, citing likely constraints on water service.
Commissioners debated the proper scope and length of any moratorium and whether a study committee should include utility directors and public members. Some commissioners recommended a time-limited study period; others cautioned that overly broad moratoriums have led to lawsuits in other jurisdictions. Planning staff was asked to reach out to regional experts and groups (one speaker suggested the Southern Environmental Law Center) and to coordinate utility input.
Commissioner Keenan moved that the planning commission send a recommendation urging the county commission to adopt a one‑year moratorium on data center projects to study their effects; the motion was seconded and approved by the body, which then directed staff to forward the recommendation to the County Commission for consideration.
Next steps: the planning commission will assemble suggested study participants, collect technical information from local utilities and legal counsel as needed, and transmit its formal recommendation to the County Commission for action.
