Superior, WI — One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Superior, WI · Superior, WI City Council resolution (June 16, 2026), one-year data center moratorium
The Superior, Wisconsin City Council unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on data centers on June 16, 2026, even though no project had been proposed — councilmembers said they wanted zoning, utility-rate, and infrastructure rules in place before any 'blindside' application arrives. The pause was prompted partly by a nearly $2 billion Google data-center complex proposed across the border in Hermantown, Minnesota.
Technical detail
Superior (Douglas County, WI) City Council resolution, adopted unanimously June 16, 2026, enacting a one-year moratorium on data centers citywide. The measure is referred to the city Planning Commission for recommendations on zoning, utility, infrastructure, and land-use regulations while the city rewrites its zoning code (which currently lacks any definition of a small or large data center). A proposed amendment to limit the moratorium to hyperscale facilities over 50,000 sq ft failed 5-5.
Who is protected: Superior residents and ratepayers — protects utility rates, the tax base, and public health while regulations are developed
Who must comply: Data-center developers seeking approvals in the City of Superior
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Superior, WI |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2026-06-16 |
| Enacted | 2026-06-16 |
| Citation | Superior, WI City Council resolution (June 16, 2026), one-year data center moratorium |
| Enforced by | City of Superior / Planning Commission |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Permit/application denial during the moratorium |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Last verified | 2026-06-22 |
| Official source | WPR — 'Superior joins growing number of Wisconsin communities to pass data center moratorium' (June 17, 2026) ↗ |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
- Washington Township OH data center moratorium (360-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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