Buchanan County enacts 12-month pause on data-mining facilities to give planners time

Buchanan County supervisors on Dec. 22 approved a 12-month moratorium on development and permitting for data-mining facilities, citing a need for planning and zoning to craft land-use rules for those projects.

The resolution, read into the record by a board member, says the moratorium will allow planning and zoning staff to "gather information and coordinate with multiple agencies" and to create ordinances that address setbacks, fire protection and potential infrastructure impacts. A sponsor of the resolution told the board the intent is to "pause" activity so rules can be prepared rather than to block lawful uses permanently.

Supporters said the county needs time to review national best practices and local emergency-management needs. "We need to be prepared as a county to address what our county can handle as far as setbacks, as far as safety, emergency management," one supervisor said during discussion. Another supervisor said the moratorium is intended to let planning and zoning present recommendations to the board, which will have final approval.

Opponents asked for clarity about the resolution's scope. One supervisor sought confirmation that the moratorium applies specifically to commercial data-mining facilities rather than routine data-handling uses; the sponsor said the resolution targets commercial data-mining facilities (for example, crypto-mining/data centers that primarily perform analytical mining operations). The board did not provide a roll-call vote tally in the transcript; the motion was seconded and moved forward.

The board reserved the right to end the moratorium early if a satisfactory ordinance is adopted before the 12-month term ends.