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Planning commission recommends three-year moratorium on data centers, battery storage and other alternative energy projects
Summary
The Dickinson County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the county commission adopt a three-year moratorium on data centers, battery energy storage and other alternative energy projects, citing a need for definitions, expert review and policy work; the recommendation now goes to the county commission for final action.
The Dickinson County Planning Commission on July 26 voted to recommend that the county commission adopt a three-year moratorium on data centers, battery energy storage and other alternative energy projects to give staff and outside experts time to define those uses and craft regulations.
Staff told commissioners the proposed moratorium would pause new permitting so the planning commission could prioritize review (data centers first, then battery storage, then other renewables) and assemble technical input from agencies and consultants. "A moratorium is to pause and stop anyone from obtaining any vested rights under the current zoning regulations," an agency official advising the commission said, noting that a permanent ban would require a solid evidentiary record to defend against legal challenge.
Public commenters were largely supportive of a pause. "I ask that you say no to any and all data centers and help the citizens of this county save this county," resident Eric Range said, urging a multi-year delay. Becky Willard, who identified herself as a concerned citizen from Prosper County, told the commission she had helped organize moratoria in other counties and warned of surveillance and other harms she said can accompany large-scale data infrastructure; those claims were made from the public podium and were not substantiated during the hearing.
Commission discussion focused on how to write definitions that remain useful as technology evolves. Staff suggested using IT floor space and square-footage thresholds to distinguish small, medium and large facilities and recommended annual review conditions for any conditional-use approvals that precede construction. Commissioners and staff agreed such language must balance regulatory certainty with flexibility as hardware and energy configurations change.
A motion to recommend a three-year moratorium covering data centers, battery energy storage and other alternative renewable energy projects was moved and seconded; the planning commission approved the recommendation by unanimous voice vote. Staff said the moratorium would take effect only if and when the Dickinson County Commission adopts the resolution and completes required publication steps.
Next steps: the planning commission will forward its recommendation to the county commission and staff expects to schedule expert presentations (noise, industrial hygiene, energy siting) to inform the draft regulations and any future amendments.
