Wright County adopts one-year moratorium on data centers after public hearing on water, noise and grid risks

Wright County commissioners on May 19 adopted an interim ordinance instituting a one-year moratorium on data-center development across townships under county planning authority, following a public hearing in which residents raised concerns about groundwater, wastewater contaminants, noise, and energy-grid capacity.

Barry from Planning and Zoning told the board the interim ordinance (26-2) would pause consideration of existing and future data-center applications under Minnesota Statute 394.34 while staff and a citizen work group draft permanent ordinance language. "There are three options for the board: adopt the language as proposed, direct planning and zoning staff to draft ordinance language related to data centers without establishing the moratorium, or take no action at all," Barry said during the presentation.

The moratorium drew sustained public comment. Mary Ellen Nichols, president of the Wright County Coalition of Lake Associations, said the pause was necessary to protect water resources: "We support a one-year moratorium on data center development in Wright County," she told commissioners, citing thermal discharges, contaminants and threats to aquifers. Chuck Wacter, vice president of the Lake John Association, warned of large water demands and pointed to a nearby example: "Modern data centers consume millions of gallons of water per day," he said, noting that a Google facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa, used "1 billion gallons of water in 2024." Other speakers, including township supervisors and neighbors near proposed sites, cited concerns about tonal noise, light pollution, emergency-response needs and limits on public access to developer details under nondisclosure agreements.

Commissioners framed the moratorium as a pause to allow evidence gathering and ordinance drafting rather than a permanent ban. Chair and other commissioners said state and federal law limit the county's ability to prohibit data centers outright; the goal is to identify appropriate locations and conditions where development could be compatible with local resources. The board said it will create a work group composed of two commissioners, staff and a small number of community representatives from both sides of the issue to develop draft ordinance language and return recommendations to the board.

Commissioner Shane moved to adopt interim ordinance 26-2; Commissioner Holland seconded. The board voted unanimously to adopt the moratorium by resolution.

The moratorium takes effect on the date of adoption and may remain in place up to 12 months per state statute; staff said ordinance language must be adopted within that period or the moratorium will expire. The county asked interested residents to contact their commissioners to be considered for the work group. The public record for the hearing is closed.

The board said the moratorium is intended to give time for technical review of water- and energy-use assumptions, evaluation of environmental-review gaps identified by public commenters, and consultation with external experts and organizations during drafting.