KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo city commissioners will receive a report this afternoon on imposing a moratorium on permits for new digital data centers, like other local jurisdictions, and communities all over the U.S. have already done.
Vice Mayor Drew Duncan says he would like to see it extended for two years.
The high-tech facilities are needed to handle the storage capacity for emerging artificial intelligence technologies and can require a great deal of electricity and water to keep them cool.
Proponents say they create jobs and pay local property taxes. Opponents complain they compete for limited local resources and create noise pollution.
Commissioner Chris Praedel has reviewed what other communities have done and wonder if they should be looking at other digital technologies as well.
City Attorney Aaron Leal, who has been asked to prepare a list of options, says a moratorium is just a delay, it’s not a ban on such developments.
City Manager Malcolm Hankins says the moratorium would be just a first step and it would take a series of meetings to consider new city policies on such developments.
The commission is expected to give staff directions on what to include in a future proposal for a moratorium this afternoon.
Comments