LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Lansing City Council passed a temporary pause on new data center builds in the city 7-1 at a meeting Monday night.
The moratorium lasts six months, stopping the city from issuing any building permits or processing zoning applications for any data centers for 182 days after the ordinance goes into effect.
Officials in support of the ordinance say the moratorium’s primary purpose is to give the city time to think over how to regulate data centers in city limits and potentially rework city zoning laws to take them into account.
“This is temporary in nature until we can get some more concrete regulations in place for data centers because currently we have none,” said 1st Ward Councilmember Ryan Kost. “I hear the concern but I don’t think this is telling businesses to go somewhere else. This is very similar to multiple communities around us that have done this and across the state.”
Michigan lawmakers introduce data center regulation legislation
But At-Large Councilmember Jeremy Garza, the sole no vote, says many of the potential issues and concerns in the ordinance “sends the wrong message” when it comes to bringing new developments to the city. He said many of the issues listed are factors in numerous other businesses and developments that already exist in Lansing…