The Inver Grove Heights City Council has approved a one-year moratorium on data center development within the city. This decision, passed by a 3-2 vote, aims to provide the city with time to study the potential impacts of data centers on zoning, infrastructure, and land use.
The moratorium includes a proposed 54,000-square-foot data center on Carmen Avenue East. Residents have expressed concerns about noise pollution and increased electricity consumption associated with such facilities. In response, a petition with over 700 signatures was presented to the state’s Environmental Quality Board, seeking an environmental review of the project.
City officials have indicated that the temporary pause will allow for a comprehensive assessment of the effects of data centers on the community. This move aligns with actions taken by other Minnesota cities, such as Rosemount and Minneapolis, which have also enacted or considered moratoriums on data center developments.
While the moratorium is in place, the city plans to conduct studies to better understand the implications of data centers and to develop appropriate regulations to address community concerns.
