A resident asked whether data centers might be built near the county and whether the grid and water systems could support them. A commissioner cited a Public Utilities Commissioner statement saying the regional electrical grid would not support proposed large-scale data centers and noted modern facilities often recycle water and reduce noise.

After more than an hour of public comment urging a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers, the Jefferson County Planning Commission voted 5-3 against beginning the moratorium process; the commission emphasized legal limits in the county comprehensive plan and UDO.

County staff told commissioners they prepared an ordinance to impose a one‑year moratorium on data centers to give the county time to study environmental and resource impacts; planners noted legal uncertainty under state law SB 180 and recommended a moratorium rather than a permanent ban.

A county committee reviewed near-final rules for siting and operating data centers — including 500-foot residential setbacks, generator noise controls and renewable-energy targets — and will send the draft to the Planning & Zoning Commission while reserving the community-benefits agreement for further legal review.

Public commenters urged Jefferson County to impose a 12‑month moratorium on new data center applications, citing water, utility, noise and environmental concerns; commissioners said the planning commission and an engineering review would be used to evaluate proposals and that a moratorium could be initiated through the planning process or the board.

Public speakers urged Jefferson County to study potential use of eminent domain for data centers, announced a property-rights symposium, and recommended coordinated state-level engagement and local moratoriums as short-term tools.

County staff told commissioners on May 21 that Jefferson County's zoning code does not explicitly allow data centers and that staff are preparing an environmental-impact review and a set of criteria to evaluate future data-center and other utility‑intensive applicants; the rules would apply to new applicants only.