Commission approves data center moratorium
GEOFFREY WOEHLK/THE FORUM
The Nodaway County Commission on Tuesday unanimously passed a moratorium on data center development. From left to right are North District Commissioner Chris Burns, Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker and South District Commissioner Scott Walk.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Nodaway County Commission on Tuesday unanimously passed a moratorium on data center development in the county that went into effect immediately.
The measure’s language did not change from a draft released to the public last week, the commissioners said. The moratorium is for a period of six months with an option to extend another six months and can be terminated at any time if the commission is satisfied that it has all the information it is seeking during the moratorium.
“I will tell you that I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do,” said South District Commissioner Scott Walk. “But we have a right to some questions being answered.”
Specifically mentioned in the ordinance as information sought by the county are:
- Quantities of energy and water used by a data center facility
- Effects on the local electric grid
- Potential light and noise impacts
- Effects on local drainage patterns and on stormwater runoff and discharge
- Potential economic effects of light, noise, utility strain and stormwater runoff and discharge on adjacent property and surrounding areas
- Similar effects of any associated power plants
- Emergency response considerations and plans
Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker added on Tuesday that he also wants an end user for the facility to be identified before lifting the moratorium.
“Well that’s something I would insist on during this six months,” he said.
Spencer Culver, an attorney for the White Cloud Acres developer, Scale Microgrids, said during Tuesday’s commission meeting that Scale has not yet come to an agreement with an end user for the facility.
“That’s right, I don’t know who they’re in discussions with, I don’t know what the timing of those discussions are with respect to this project,” Culver said. “That’s a commercial decision.”
Essentially, the moratorium will prevent the White Cloud Acres data center project — or any data center project — from beginning any kind of construction while the commission seeks more information.
During the moratorium period, the commission will “meet with residents, affected property owners, developers, utility providers, consultants, and other stakeholders, to receive and review additional information and proposals, to evaluate available legislative and regulatory options, to negotiate and evaluate proposed development-related agreements and other contractual arrangements, and to consider whether appropriate safeguards may be established” through regulations or contractual agreements, according to the ordinance.
