Adrian officials have approved a one-year moratorium on data center proposals, citing concerns about water use and the need to study potential impacts.
The Adrian City Commission voted to pause new data center developments July 6, after city administrators said large-scale data centers could strain resources in a community already facing water challenges.
“I am very concerned with data centers, especially with the amount of water they use, and we’re in a water crisis right now,” said Commissioner Matthew Schwartz.
Schwartz proposed conducting an impact study and seeking public input to better understand potential benefits and drawbacks before allowing such projects.
The issue surfaced after a local building official received an inquiry about constructing a data center.
Acting City Administrator Will Sadler said, without a moratorium, the city might have limited ability to halt a proposal under current regulations. He added the temporary pause gives officials time to review zoning rules, infrastructure needs and possible economic tradeoffs.
— Contact reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @cmurrayhdn.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian approves 12-month moratorium on data center proposals
Reporting by Corey J. Murray, The Daily Telegram / The Daily Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Corey J. Murray, The Daily Telegram | USA TODAY Network
