Board moves to pause battery storage, data‑center and data‑mining projects pending study

Supervisors discussed battery energy storage systems (BESS), data centers and data‑mining operations after reports from a district meeting and concerns raised by residents and board members about resource use, zoning and economic benefit.

Board members said the technology and proposals are new to the county and urged caution. One supervisor noted widespread outreach and changes in reported proposed lease sizes — "they came out and said originally they talked about three acres and they went to 14. Now we hear that they've leased 80 acres plus" — and another said local landowners had been offered substantial lease payments. A board member warned that such projects could use significant groundwater for cooling and might not provide local net revenue if the stored energy is exported.

"I don't think we're in any disagreement on BESS. I just don't feel like we know enough about any of this to even to move forward with any ordinances," a supervisor said, summarizing the sentiment that planning and zoning needs time to study technical, environmental and fiscal impacts. Another comment that surfaced during discussion: "they're handing out $25,000 checks," reflecting landowner outreach cited by a speaker.

The board made and seconded a motion to proceed with a moratorium on data centers and data mining (the motion was discussed in conjunction with BESS), directing county staff and the county attorney to gather sample moratorium language from neighboring counties and return with recommendations and a defined time limit for any moratorium. Supervisors emphasized a moratorium is intended to buy time for ordinance development and research, not to ban projects indefinitely.

Staff and planning & zoning were tasked to draft proposed moratorium language and present examples (including possible time limits such as six or 12 months) so the board can consider clear definitions and next steps.