Another Nebraska County Inches Closer to an AI Data Center Moratorium
by Lewis Thune
(Picture credit Lewis Thune)
WILBER — Days after Seward County passed an AI data center moratorium and Gage County recommended the same, the Saline County Board of Commissioners took up an agenda item Tuesday to recommend a similar moratorium within their county.
The item came as the county’s zoning administrator, Lyle Weber, appeared before the board to present the bids he’d received for the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning regulations. He engaged with the board on the topic of a potential moratorium.
“This was added two weeks ago; we asked to put this on the agenda — to request Planning and Zoning to do a moratorium,” said chair of the board Stephanie Krivohlavek, introducing the item.
There appeared to be vocal support for the moratorium from members of the board.
“I like Brian’s attitude,” said commissioner Roy Rohrig, indicating potential support for a moratorium from commissioner Brian Pribyl. “Let’s look at a moratorium until we get the updated regulations that Lyle’s working on right now.”
But the ultimate question before the board, as Weber soon made clear, was whether the recommendation was even necessary. Phil Hardenburger, commissioner from Crete, was quick to premise whether the commissioners needed to act at this stage or further down the road:
“The question, I think is: does that question originate with Planning and Zoning or does it originate here?”
Weber confirmed that the Planning and Zoning Board had already decided to take up the issue, and further developments would start with the Planning and Zoning Board regardless of any recommendation from the commissioners on Tuesday.
“It’s on my agenda already for the next two weeks, whether that’s the recommendation you guys would advocate for or not.”
The Board of Commissioners opted not to issue any recommendations, but with evident support from two of five commissioners and the Planning and Zoning Board set to decide on the matter, Saline County becomes the latest Nebraska county to move towards an AI data center moratorium.
— Lewis Thune is a writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.