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The Data Center Divide

Shawano County

This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.

Pro-Data Center Policies

Shawano County has an enacted 12-month pause on applications for new data centers and expansions; existing valid approvals are exempt, and no new approvals are allowed during the pause. The description calls it proposed, conflicting with its enacted status.

Rating from Wisconsin statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Shawano County.

Specific to Shawano County only.

current law · County measure: Unincorporated towns that have approved the county’s zoning authority
Establishes a 12-month moratorium on data-center siting, construction, establishment, operation, and expansion in unincorporated towns that have approved Shawano County’s zoning authority, barring the acceptance and processing of related applications, permits, licenses, and other County approvals while the County studies potential impacts and possible regulatory changes.Shawano County Moratorium on Data Centers Ordinance

What this means

The proposed moratorium would pause applications for new data centers and expansions for 12 months, creating a major delay for development (applications would be held). Existing valid approvals are exempt, but the measure allows no new approvals during the moratorium, so its practical effect is a severe temporary restriction.

Timing

Ends
twelve (12) months from the effective date of the Ordinance

The moratorium may be repealed or modified sooner, or extended by the Shawano County Board as permitted by law.

People behind it

  • Proposed and held the public hearing on the moratorium; directed to review data-center impacts and evaluate permanent ordinance provisions during the moratorium.

  • County legislative body scheduled to consider and adopt the ordinance imposing the moratorium.

  • Responsible for administering the ordinance, advising applicants, issuing determinations, maintaining records, and making initial scope determinations.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5

  • For twelve months from the effective date, unless sooner repealed, modified, or extended, the ordinance prohibits the County from accepting, filing, processing, reviewing, considering, or approving applications and other County authorizations for the siting, construction, establishment, or expansion of a data center in covered unincorporated towns. The moratorium applies to these County approvals

  • The restriction covers new data centers, expansions of existing data centers, and any structure, use, or improvement principally intended to serve a data center. This Ordinance applies to

  • Applications or permit requests pending when the ordinance takes effect, and those filed during the moratorium, must be held in abeyance and cannot be processed or acted on unless the moratorium is lifted or no longer applies. Pending Applications

  • Previously issued land-use or zoning approvals are exempt only while they remain valid and have not expired, become void, or been revoked; any later request to alter or modify such an approval is subject to the moratorium. Previously Issued Approvals

  • The ordinance states that neither the ordinance nor actions taken before its effective date create a vested right to an approval or authorization for a covered data-center use or development, except where otherwise required by law. No Vested Right

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2

  • Lawfully issued land-use permits or county zoning approvals remain exempt from the moratorium, so permitted work may proceed while the permit is valid and has not expired, become void, or been revoked. Later requests to alter or modify the approval are subject to the moratorium. Previously issued approvals are exempt

  • The moratorium applies only to unincorporated towns in Shawano County that have approved the county's zoning authority; data-center projects outside those specified areas are not covered by this ordinance's moratorium. in the unincorporated towns

Sources

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