Bill proposes local rules for data center construction and sites

The proposal says counties may set construction standards for data centers and regulate certain data center sites. A data center is a facility mainly used to store, manage, and process digital data. County siting rules would cover unincorporated areas outside a municipality’s zoning jurisdiction. A county may adopt these rules by ordinance. Construction standards may cover building size, height, design, and the number of data centers in an area. Counties may set standards to protect water resources, including limits on water withdrawals, reuse or conservation requirements, and safeguards against contamination. They may also set reasonable standards to reduce noise. County zoning rules about data centers that were in effect before the act’s effective date may remain in effect. Before a county board makes a siting decision, at least one public hearing must take place no more than 30 days beforehand. Notice must appear in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.

The proposal says municipalities may regulate where data centers are sited. A data center is a facility mainly used to store, manage, and process digital data. Siting rules may cover the municipality’s zoning area and the 1.5-mile radius around it. A municipality may set reasonable standards to protect water resources, including limits on water withdrawals, reuse or conservation requirements, and safeguards against contamination. It may also set standards to reduce noise. Before municipal officials make a siting decision, at least one public hearing must take place no more than 30 days beforehand. Notice must appear in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality.