Development Services reports rising project activity; data center interest slows without power agreements

Cameron, Development Services director, gave the commission a monthly update on planning, building permits and larger projects.

Cameron said planning activity has increased: comparing 2024 totals (76 projects including subdivisions, zone changes and conditional use permits), the office reported 65 planning projects so far in 2025. He said staff hopes to bring zoning ordinance amendments to the commission later in the year addressing items such as battery energy storage systems, solar farms and minor corrections to the ordinance.

On building permits, Cameron reported the department issued 133 permits in 2024 with a total project valuation of just over $38 million (105 residential, 22 commercial, 6 demolitions). He said so far in 2025 the office had issued 92 building permits with a total valuation of nearly $42 million (73 residential, 18 commercial, 1 demolition).

Cameron noted an initial uptick in pre‑application interest for data centers but said some potential applicants have slowed or paused because they have been unable to secure power purchase agreements, which the county’s data center ordinance requires. "Power purchase agreements are a requirement of the data center ordinance," Cameron said.

He highlighted recent large permitted projects: Basin Electric’s Pioneer Generation Station addition received a certificate of occupancy in March; Basin Electric received a site grading permit in July to begin work on the Bison Generation Station; Williams County Parks received permits for Blacktail work; GoGo Tech received permits for a small cryptocurrency mining facility; and a two‑story addition for the Trenton Volunteer Fire Department was permitted. Cameron also said Apex Energy has applied for meteorological towers as part of a possible wind energy project that would require full commission approval.

County staff later asked the commission to authorize filling two positions (a maintenance technician in facilities and a patrol deputy in the sheriff’s office) and to repurpose a budgeted position in Development Services into a planning technician. The commission voted to approve filling the two positions and to advertise and fill the planning technician role. Roll call for the staffing motion recorded affirmative votes (Yes: Corey; Yes: Beau; Yes: Chris; Yes: Barry; Yes: Steve).