Bowman County establishes seven-month moratorium for data centers

BOWMAN, N.D. — The Bowman County Planning and Zoning Board convened on Thursday, Oct. 29, for a special meeting to discuss establishing moratoriums on data centers and battery energy storage systems. Dozens of local residents crowded the Bowman County Courthouse during the board meeting. There was concern among some of the attendees about the building of data centers and battery energy storage systems in the county—there were two who came with signs expressing opposition against AI and data centers. Adams County State's Attorney Aaron Roseland, who the planning and zoning board invited to offer advice, assured attendees that the purpose of the meeting was not to make a decision on whether the county will approve or disapprove the building of such facilities. Rather, the board members held the meeting to decide on how long to pause on building the facilities until zoning ordinances are written regarding them. The zoning board will do their best, using their expertise, to narr