Romulus OKs moratorium on city data centers
Romulus City Council members voted unanimously to impose a 180-day moratorium on data center proposals while the city studies ways to regulate the facilities.
The moratorium, approved at the meeting Monday evening takes effect immediately.
The measure was first proposed to cover only data centers with an electrical demand of at least one gigawatt. After discussion, council members amended it to apply to all data centers.
The resolution directs the Romulus Planning Commission to study ways to measure electrical demand and environmental impacts of the centers and to consider appropriate zoning regulations.
Mayor Robert McCraight said the pause will give officials time to develop an ordinance.
“It’ll allow a little bit of time to draft an ordinance. It’ll give us some time to pull in some information, pull in some third parties, and give us expert opinions and not just pass legislation, good legislation,” McCraight said.
Romulus currently has no data centers and has received no proposals for one, McCraight said.
Some residents urged the council to go further and ban the facilities outright. Resident Kelly Babowicz said a moratorium was not enough.
“A moratorium on data centers is not sufficient for our city. Instead, we need to push for a complete ban on these facilities,” Babowicz said.
Councilwoman Kathleen Abdo and Councilman William Wadsworth also suggested looking into an outright ban.
McCraight said the city should consider whether smaller data centers could support local industry, including Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
“There may be some need for data centers on a smaller level to support industry,” McCraight said. “DTW may need a data center to support their industries. So we don’t know. We need to look at all those facets before we pass legislation.”
