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.
Eau Claire County
Neutral Data Center Policies
Eau Claire County’s plan encourages towns to protect farmland and calls for notice about projects that could affect groundwater. It is not a regulation, so its recommendations place little direct burden on data-center construction or operation.
current law · County measure: Unincorporated areas and towns subject to county zoningThe proposed 2026 update to Eau Claire County’s Farmland Preservation Plan identifies protection of farmland from data centers, along with commercial wind and solar facilities, as a county objective.Eau Claire County Farmland Preservation Plan (2026 update)
What this means
The plan encourages towns to protect farmland from data centers, and calls for notice about projects that could affect groundwater. But it says the plan is not a regulation, so these recommendations create little direct burden on building or operating data centers.
People behind it
- Eau Claire County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee
Developed, reviewed, approved, and recommended the Farmland Preservation Plan draft, including the proposed exclusion of commercial wind and solar from A-P-zoned property.
- Eau Claire County Planning and Development Department
Staffed and implemented the public-participation process and prepared the Farmland Preservation Plan materials.
- Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
Identified as the body that would adopt the plan and enact the related zoning amendments.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3
Support towns in protecting farmland from non-farm uses, explicitly including data centers and other future uses that conflict with agriculture.
Coordinate with the Eau Claire County Groundwater Advisory Committee to assess the impacts of high-capacity wells and intensive uses such as data centers on rural areas, and align land-use decisions with municipal groundwater-protection zones.
Ensure transparency and early public notice for proposals involving projects with potentially significant groundwater impacts, explicitly including data centers.
Sources
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