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Gray council enacts 180‑day moratorium on data centers to study local impacts
Summary
Council approved a temporary 180‑day moratorium on data centers (retroactive to July 14) to allow time to develop definitions and local standards; public commenters warned of environmental and water‑use risks.
The Gray Town Council voted to impose a temporary moratorium on data centers for 180 days, retroactive to July 14, 2026. Planning staff presented the draft moratorium language prepared with regional partners and said the pause would give the town time to define data‑center uses and craft local standards before any formal applications.
Several residents urged the council to act. Joseph Pajensky told the council that data centers can use large amounts of water and he raised concerns about potential contamination and noise: "The most prominent example, of course, is the severe damage it does to the environment through the sheer amount of water used, which is often polluted by things such as chlorine dioxide, phosphates, and even heavy metals such as lead..." A second online commenter said the use "looks like a disaster" environmentally and urged the council to err on the side of caution.
Councilors said they wanted to keep an open mind about economic development but agreed the town lacked specific local regulations for a use that can have high utility, land‑use and environmental impacts. The moratorium passed on a council vote, giving staff time to return with draft standards and a definition of "data center" for zoning enforcement and permitting.
