The Chippewa County Planning and Zoning Committee set a public hearing on a temporary moratorium on data center construction — a direct result of community pressure and organizing by CVI and allied groups.

The moratorium would amend the county’s zoning ordinance, acknowledging that data centers ‘may require substantial public and private infrastructure improvements, including roadway improvements, utility extensions, electrical substations, transmission lines, telecommunications facilities, and emergency service capabilities’ not currently addressed by existing ordinances.

This is democracy in action: citizens raising concerns, elected officials listening, and the wheels of local government turning to protect our community. The hearing was set for August 3 at the Chippewa County Courthouse.