By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township has joined a growing list of communities around the state that are pushing the pause button on any construction of data centers.
The Township Board March 3 unanimously approved placing a 12-month moratorium on any data centers from being built in the township, until the board can put together an ordinance to address any such projects in the future.
“The erection or operation of data centers was not envisioned when the (township) zoning ordinance was adopted,” a portion of the board resolution reads.
“The operation of a data center has potential to cause additional draws on area water and electricity as well as the potential to cause disruption or nuisance by noise, light and vibration causing it to be a unique use,” the resolution further reads.
Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma said the data center moratorium will give the township Planning Commission some breathing room, as they try to craft a renewable energy ordinance in response to the proposed Silver Maple solar project. In addition, the township is just starting work on updating its master plan that will guide future land use and development.
All this is occurring for a commission that has added four new members since Jan. 1 – Linda Walker, Christian Glupker, Claire Kryger and Scott Beute (Township Board liaison).
“We’re seeing the interest in data centers around West Michigan increasing, and we just want to make sure that we’re giving the appropriate time to the multiple matters that we have,” Bosma said.
“We do not have any applications for a data center. We are just trying to be mindful of the different topics that our townships are facing, and wanting to be prepared to serve our community,” she added.
Data centers are not covered under Public Act 233, the statewide clean energy law by which project developer RWE is seeking approval for the Silver Maple solar project, Bosma said.
In a memo to Township Manager Josh Eggleston, township attorney Ron Bultje recommended the township look at a moratorium resolution instead of passing an ordinance to prohibit the location of data centers in the township.
“The resolution would preclude the zoning staff from allowing or processing any application for a data center for a specified period of time, to give the local unit an opportunity to study the issue of data centers and decide how the local units want to regulate data centers, whether to permit them, permit them with certain regulations, or even not permit them at all,” Bultje wrote in his memo.
“Because this would be a temporary period of time where data centers are not allowed, the resolution would not violation the provision of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act against prohibiting a land use,” Bultje added.
The board’s passage of the moratorium comes shortly after a bipartisan bill was introduced in the state House that would temporarily halt the construction of data centers across the state, a move supporters say would give residents the time they need to adequately voice their concerns about such projects.
The three-bill package, House Bills 5594-5596, would create a new act titled the “Data Center Regulation Act.” The package is sponsored by Reps. Jennifer Wortz, R-Quincy; Joseph Fox, R-Fremont; and Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City. It would halt the construction of any new data centers in Michigan until April 1, 2027.
“Data centers come with a lot of unique questions,” Wortz said in a news release. “Between the land being cleared for development, the demand for energy they will add to the grid, and the tremendous water usage, these projects could cost communities more than they are worth. I grew up on a farm, I own a farm, I’m a conservationist, and I understand the importance of proper land management. We can’t continue to allow our farmground and natural resources to be mindlessly destroyed.”
The act would prohibit new data centers from receiving state or local permits or commencing operations until April 1, 2027. The package of bills has been referred to the House Committee on Government Operations for consideration.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township has joined a growing list of communities around the state that are pushing the pause button on any construction of data centers.
The Township Board March 3 unanimously approved placing a 12-month moratorium on any data centers from being built in the township, until the board can put together an ordinance to address any such projects in the future.
“The erection or operation of data centers was not envisioned when the (township) zoning ordinance was adopted,” a portion of the board resolution reads.
“The operation of a data center has potential to cause additional draws on area water and electricity as well as the potential to cause disruption or nuisance by noise, light and vibration causing it to be a unique use,” the resolution further reads.
Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma said the data center moratorium will give the township Planning Commission some breathing room, as they try to craft a renewable energy ordinance in response to the proposed Silver Maple solar project. In addition, the township is just starting work on updating its master plan that will guide future land use and development.
All this is occurring for a commission that has added four new members since Jan. 1 – Linda Walker, Christian Glupker, Claire Kryger and Scott Beute (Township Board liaison).
“We’re seeing the interest in data centers around West Michigan increasing, and we just want to make sure that we’re giving the appropriate time to the multiple matters that we have,” Bosma said.
“We do not have any applications for a data center. We are just trying to be mindful of the different topics that our townships are facing, and wanting to be prepared to serve our community,” she added.
Data centers are not covered under Public Act 233, the statewide clean energy law by which project developer RWE is seeking approval for the Silver Maple solar project, Bosma said.
In a memo to Township Manager Josh Eggleston, township attorney Ron Bultje recommended the township look at a moratorium resolution instead of passing an ordinance to prohibit the location of data centers in the township.
“The resolution would preclude the zoning staff from allowing or processing any application for a data center for a specified period of time, to give the local unit an opportunity to study the issue of data centers and decide how the local units want to regulate data centers, whether to permit them, permit them with certain regulations, or even not permit them at all,” Bultje wrote in his memo.
“Because this would be a temporary period of time where data centers are not allowed, the resolution would not violation the provision of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act against prohibiting a land use,” Bultje added.
The board’s passage of the moratorium comes shortly after a bipartisan bill was introduced in the state House that would temporarily halt the construction of data centers across the state, a move supporters say would give residents the time they need to adequately voice their concerns about such projects.
The three-bill package, House Bills 5594-5596, would create a new act titled the “Data Center Regulation Act.” The package is sponsored by Reps. Jennifer Wortz, R-Quincy; Joseph Fox, R-Fremont; and Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City. It would halt the construction of any new data centers in Michigan until April 1, 2027.
“Data centers come with a lot of unique questions,” Wortz said in a news release. “Between the land being cleared for development, the demand for energy they will add to the grid, and the tremendous water usage, these projects could cost communities more than they are worth. I grew up on a farm, I own a farm, I’m a conservationist, and I understand the importance of proper land management. We can’t continue to allow our farmground and natural resources to be mindlessly destroyed.”
The act would prohibit new data centers from receiving state or local permits or commencing operations until April 1, 2027. The package of bills has been referred to the House Committee on Government Operations for consideration.
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