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.
City of St. Ignace
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Mixed Data Center Policies
St. Ignace’s enacted six-month moratorium temporarily stops data center development while the city studies the issue.
Rating from Michigan statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for City of St. Ignace.
current law · City of St. IgnaceProposes a six-month pause on new data center development in St. Ignace while the city studies its potential impacts; no moratorium has been adopted.City of St. Ignace data center moratorium (2026)
What this means
The proposed six-month moratorium would temporarily stop data center development while the city studies the issue. That is a major short-term barrier, even though the sources describe it as a temporary measure rather than a permanent ban.
Timing
- Ends
- six months; the specific start date and ending date are not stated
The sources describe a proposed six-month moratorium on data center development. The City Council had not yet made a decision; the July 20, 2026 meeting was a public hearing. The city attorney stated that any moratorium must have specific start and end dates, but those dates are not provided.
People behind it
- City of St. Ignace
Introduced the intent to establish a moratorium on data centers, advertised the public hearing, and is conducting research on the issue.
- City Manager
Recommended a six-month moratorium to allow the City time to study the potential public health, environmental, infrastructure, and community impacts of data centers.
- City Attorney
Provided legal guidance on the proposed moratorium, including requirements that it be narrowly tailored, fact-based, and limited to a specific start and end date.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1
The City Manager recommends a six-month moratorium on data-center development while the city studies the potential public-health, environmental, neighborhood, noise, traffic, and utility impacts. The moratorium would require a specific start and end date and could be enacted by resolution or ordinance.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions5
Michigan legislation is described as providing sales- and use-tax exemptions for large-scale data centers, reducing the taxes owed on eligible equipment or project purchases.
A data center that complies with applicable zoning requirements must be approved, limiting a municipality's ability to deny a qualifying project on discretionary grounds.
Developers may negotiate development or host-community agreements with municipalities in exchange for zoning approvals and municipal support, potentially providing a defined approval and operating framework.
Special land-use permits may include conditions and ongoing fees tied to monitoring, compliance checks, or dedicated municipal services, allowing a data center to operate under specified conditions rather than facing an outright prohibition.
Data centers may receive infrastructure support through negotiated investments in water, sewer, roads, telecommunications, or electric-grid improvements connected to the project.
Sources
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