U.S. Counties Move to Pause New Data Center Projects

Missoula County, Montana, will hold a public hearing on July 9 to consider interim zoning that would temporarily halt any new data‑center development or expansion, including a proposal to repurpose the former Stimson Mill site in Bonner. County officials cite concerns about the high energy and water use, noise and heat generated by such facilities and want more time to craft regulations that protect natural resources and local quality of life.

In Logan County, Illinois, the county’s attorney declared a 12‑month data‑center moratorium invalid, reopening the path for Hut 8 Corp.’s planned $5 billion, 500‑megawatt data center near Latham. Opponents had backed the moratorium, arguing the county lacked resources to manage the industry’s rapid growth. With the moratorium struck down, the county board is set to review land‑use applications as early as August, and zoning officers have deemed the applications complete for public hearings.

Both counties are grappling with how to regulate large‑scale data‑center projects that demand substantial power, water and infrastructure, reflecting a broader debate over the industry’s environmental and community impacts.