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Gage County supervisors weigh 18-month moratorium, targeted rules for data centers
Summary
Supervisors discussed findings from Planning & Zoning and public hearings on data centers, including a proposed 18-month moratorium to allow the county time to craft project-specific regulations; water use and limits of county authority were focal concerns.
The Gage County Board of Supervisors spent substantial time on June 24 discussing whether to pursue time-limited restrictions and tailored regulations for incoming data centers after a series of public hearings and Planning & Zoning deliberations. Planning & Zoning representatives told the board they recorded about 76 people signed in and 29 speakers at recent hearings, most urging a moratorium or tighter local controls.
Planning & Zoning staff explained the commission considered both 12- and 18-month moratorium windows and recommended 18 months so staff would not have to restart the public-hearing process if more time was needed to draft rules. “These data centers are just different monsters than what we've dealt with in the past,” a Planning & Zoning member said, urging the county to do “due diligence” to understand evolving technologies and impacts.
Board members repeatedly focused on water as the primary local concern. One supervisor said water usage would be a “game changer” for the county and urged regulators to gather expert opinions before adopting limits. Others cautioned that many environmental controls (air pollution, certain water regulation) fall under state or federal authority, and the county must avoid overstepping legal bounds.
Speakers noted the volume of public interest—dozens attended and many spoke in favor of a moratorium—and suggested the extra months would allow staff to collect facts, consult experts and companies that already host data centers, and craft regulations that protect local resources while preserving opportunities for economic development. The board expects to continue work this summer with Planning & Zoning and anticipated a follow-up public hearing in early August to review proposed rules and timelines.
No binding county ordinance or moratorium was adopted at the meeting; the discussion centered on next steps and timelines for drafting potential regulations and scheduling future hearings.
