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.
Brown County
Mixed Data Center Policies
Minnesota keeps tax breaks for qualifying data-center equipment and software, but electricity is taxable, adding operating costs. Qualifying large centers also face annual fees and labor and building conditions; projects meeting general thresholds may require environmental review.
Rating and summary from Minnesota statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Brown County.
Specific to Brown County only.
pending · Unincorporated areasProposes to pause new data center permits and stop processing pending applications in unincorporated Brown County for up to one year while the county studies data center rules.Brown County Interim Ordinance Establishing a Data Center Moratorium (2026)
What this means
The draft would block new data-center applications and halt processing of pending ones in unincorporated Brown County for one year, making development or expansion substantially harder during that time (“for a period of one year”. It would not stop existing data centers from operating, and the county scheduled a hearing on the proposal rather than adopting it (“schedule a Public Hearing”).
Timing
Proposed only. Section 6 would make the ordinance effective on passage for one year, unless terminated earlier by board resolution. No adopted effective or expiration date is established by the reviewed sources.
People behind it
- Commissioner Berg
Offers the hearing-scheduling motion, according to draft minutes.
- Commissioner Borchert
Seconds the hearing-scheduling motion, according to draft minutes.
- Robert Santaella
Planning and Zoning Director presenting the hearing item.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
The draft would halt acceptance, processing and approval of new zoning, rezoning or land-use permit applications, including interim and conditional use permits, for data centers.
Applications made before adoption would not be processed further. All restrictions remain proposed in the reviewed evidence.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1
Limited scope: the draft excludes computing facilities that are not the principal use and merely support another lawful use; this is a carve-out, not an affirmative development incentive.
Sources
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