By Allison Peck
Lincoln County commissioners tabled a proposed data center moratorium Monday and directed the Planning Commission to review county regulations governing future data center development following an extended discussion on water use, electrical demands and the county's ability to regulate potential projects.
No data center applications are currently pending before Lincoln County.
The discussion centered on whether the county should temporarily pause future applications while officials gather additional information and determine whether existing regulations adequately address large-scale data center developments.
Commissioner Joseph Hewgley proposed amending a draft resolution that called for a temporary moratorium, instead replacing it with a 90-day hold on accepting applications while county officials continued studying the issue.
"I think we need more information," Hewgley said. "This just gives us a way of gathering that information that still doesn't say that Lincoln County is closed for business in some people's mind because we're not. We all want to grow and get a bigger tax base, but we also have a responsibility to all the other citizens in this county to do it the right way. So I think if we take this educational pause, I think it's good."
The amended proposal failed on a 2-3 vote after commissioners expressed differing opinions on whether a temporary hold was necessary.
Commissioner Jerry Woodruff said he believes the county already has the authority to address concerns through conditions placed on future conditional use permits.
"I don't think we need a hold," Woodruff said.
Commissioner Michaela Wuehler said she viewed the proposal as an opportunity for county officials to gather information and ensure regulations adequately protect county resources and residents.
"I don't think moratorium is a bad word," Wuehler said. "It gives us a pause."
Wuehler later described the effort as responsible leadership and emphasized the importance of balancing economic development opportunities with the interests of county residents.
Much of the discussion focused on concerns frequently associated with large-scale data centers, including water consumption, electrical demands, infrastructure needs and potential impacts on surrounding communities.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Judy Clark told commissioners the county already has tools available through existing zoning regulations and the conditional use permit process but acknowledged additional specificity could be beneficial.
"If we had an application come in tomorrow, am I confident that we could get where we want to be with it?" Clark said. "I think we could use what we have and be okay."
Clark said additional time would allow the county to learn from other communities and develop more detailed standards addressing issues such as water use, cooling systems, setbacks, noise and screening requirements.
She also suggested county officials consider community benefit agreements that would require developers to explain how proposed projects would benefit local communities.
Commissioner Chris Bruns said protecting water resources remains one of the county's most important responsibilities.
"Water is our number one resource," Bruns said.
Bruns also noted the county must consider opportunities for economic development while ensuring adequate safeguards are in place.
Discussion also touched on timelines established under recent state legislation governing conditional use permits. Commissioners noted that once an application is submitted, counties operate under specific review timelines, including a Planning Commission recommendation period that can extend up to 90 days, making advance preparation and clear regulations important before a project is proposed.
Following the failed vote on the amended resolution, commissioners continued discussing the issue before agreeing additional information would be beneficial.
Wuehler suggested postponing further consideration until after county officials attend a Nebraska Association of County Officials meeting later this week, where data center development and regulations are expected to be discussed.
Commissioners ultimately agreed to table the matter and revisit the discussion at a future meeting.
In a separate action, commissioners unanimously directed the Lincoln County Planning Commission to investigate, review and provide recommendations on revisions to all data center-related zoning regulations.
County officials said the goal is to create clearer standards while balancing economic development opportunities with concerns involving water use, infrastructure demands, noise, setbacks and community impacts.
This is a developing story. Follow North Platte Post for continued coverage of data center discussions and future action by Lincoln County officials.