U.S. municipalities implement data center moratoriums

Several municipalities in the United States are implementing moratoriums on data center developments to revise local zoning and planning codes.

In Bemidji, officials are considering a one-year pause on new data center or cryptomining facility proposals. While no developers have approached the city yet, the pause would allow staff to update planning and zoning codes. This follows a trend in Minnesota where other local governments have slowed development due to concerns over high electricity and water consumption.

In Missouri, Oak Grove has approved a one-year moratorium to address gaps in its existing development code, which currently lacks clear standards for data centers. Meanwhile, in Blue Springs, residents are organizing a petition drive to ensure public votes on major industrial projects at the permitting stage. These actions reflect growing community concerns regarding how large-scale data centers impact local infrastructure, energy rates, and water supplies.