The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
Jerome County
Neutral Data Center Policies
Jerome County’s enacted rules govern energy and storage facilities, not data centers directly. Permits and Heavy Industrial zoning may constrain large on-site power or storage projects, while smaller accessory systems are allowed.
current law · Unincorporated areasDoes not regulate data centers specifically; it restricts commercial energy-generation and storage facilities, which may serve data centers, to designated industrial zones and requires permits.Jerome County Data Center Crisis Position Paper and Energy Ordinance Reform Package
What this means
This measure does not regulate data centers directly; it regulates energy-generation and storage facilities. It could make some on-site power or storage projects harder to build by requiring permits and limiting large facilities to Heavy Industrial zones, but the sources do not show a direct effect on data center construction or operation (large-scale facilities limited to Heavy Industrial zones).
People behind it
- Commissioner Art Watkins
Moved to approve Ordinance 2026-03 amending Chapter 7 of the Jerome County Zoning Ordinance.
- Commissioner Charles M. Howell
Seconded the motion to approve Ordinance 2026-03 and moved to approve the legislative action concerning Chapters 7 and 11.
- Commissioner Ben Crouch
Moved to approve Ordinance 2026-04 adding Chapter 11 on Energy Facilities and seconded the legislative action concerning Chapters 7 and 11.
Sources
current law · Unincorporated areasRegulates energy-generation and storage facilities, but does not specifically regulate data centers themselves.Jerome County Chapter 11 Energy Facilities
What this means
The measure regulates energy-generation and storage facilities, not data centers themselves (“facility used for the generation”). It could limit where some large battery-storage systems paired with a data center may be built, but smaller systems are allowed as accessory uses, so the overall effect on data centers is limited.
People behind it
- Kacie Buhler
Presented and explained the proposed zoning amendments, including the addition of Chapter 11 on Energy Facilities.
- Ben Crouch
Moved approval of Resolution 2026-18 and Ordinance 2026-04 adding Chapter 11 on Energy Facilities; seconded related zoning actions.
- Art Watkins
Seconded approval of Resolution 2026-18 and moved approval of Ordinance 2026-03 concerning conditional use permits.
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- Charles M. Howell
Moved approval of the legislative amendments to Chapters 7 and 11 and seconded approval of the zoning ordinances.
- Jerome County Board of Commissioners
Approved the resolution, legislative amendments, and zoning ordinances establishing the Energy Facilities regulations.
Sources
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