Rochester City Council Considers Interim Data Center Development Moratorium to Study Impacts
Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)- The City of Rochester is considering implementing a temporary data center moratorium.
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Members of the Rochester City Council are scheduled to vote on the interim ordinance Monday night that would also authorize city staff to study the impact of data centers.
A public hearing is also planned on the possible temporary ordinance.
Rochester City Council to Vote on Interim Ordinance That Would Enact Data Center Moratorium to Allow Time to Study Issue
The agenda item for Monday’s vote says the impact data centers have on public health and welfare is “not fully understood or known at this time.”
The listed potential impact areas include planning functions, public utilities, and the environment. Rochester’s Unified Development Code does not have specific regulations regarding data centers, according to the agenda item.
Staff is recommending the elected leaders enact a moratorium on data centers to allow for adequate time to allow for what the agenda item describes as a "meaningful study” to help learn more about data center impacts and to determine rules and regulations.
Possible Data Center Moratorium in Rochester Would Begin Immediately If City Council Approves
If the temporary ordinance is approved, the moratorium would take effect immediately and the study would also begin.
The potential moratorium defines data centers as “a building or other facility used principally for the storage, management, processing, and/or transmission of digital data, which houses computer or network equipment, systems, services, appliances, and/or other associated components related to digital data operation.”
The possible moratorium would also apply to development of supplemental data center facilities including offices, air handlers, power generators, water cooling systems and water storage facilities, utility substations and other infrastructure.
Open House-Style Events Planned if Rochester Data Center Study Wins Approval
The agenda item says the study would include open-house style events for residents to share their thoughts on the data centers.
Staff would also examine the best practices for development of data centers and their compatibility with existing land uses.
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City staff would present its findings and a recommendation for the council to consider upon completion of the study.
Data Center Development Near Rochester Moves Forward
No development plans for a new data center in Rochester are imminent, however a data center development in nearby Pine Island is moving forward after a lawsuit that paused it was settled.
Read More: Rochester Chamber Backs Planned Pine Island Data Center
Last month, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce issued a statement of support for the Pine Island data center development.
The website Data Center Map indicates Rochester is home to one data center.
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