A 12-Month Pause on Data Centers in Texas Township
*Texas Township has become the latest Kalamazoo County community to halt data center development. The Township Board passed Resolution 26-12 at its June 22 meeting, enacting a temporary moratorium that takes effect on July 5, 2026*.
The ban lasts for 12 months or until new zoning regulations are officially enacted, whichever comes first, according to Township Supervisor JoAnne McFarland O'Rourke.
What Counts as a Data Center
The township defines data centers as any facility that houses technology infrastructure for digital storage. This includes artificial intelligence operations and cryptocurrency mining, O'Rourke said.
"Our ultimate priority is ensuring that any future emerging land uses align with the long-term vision, infrastructure capacity, and wishes of our community," O'Rourke said.
Why the Township Acted Now
Texas Township has not been approached by any developers looking to build a data center, O'Rourke said. The board chose to act preemptively rather than react after a proposal arrives.
The moratorium allows the Planning Commission to evaluate several key issues:
- Farmland preservation
- Rural zoning compatibility
- Infrastructure capacity for the electrical grid and water supply
- Environmental factors including noise, heat discharge, and light pollution
The process began with a joint meeting between the board and planning commission in the fall of 2025. At that meeting, officials identified the rapid emergence of data centers and their unique infrastructure demands as a high priority, O'Rourke said.
A Two-Step Legal Framework
The moratorium rests on two earlier resolutions that gave the board the legal authority to enact such a pause:
- 1.April 13, 2026 — The board passed a resolution introducing an amendment to the township zoning ordinance.
- 2.April 27, 2026 — The board formally adopted that amendment.
That amendment allows the board to establish temporary moratoria by resolution when necessary to protect public health, safety, and community welfare, O'Rourke said.
Part of a Countywide Trend
Texas Township is not alone in Kalamazoo County. Oshtemo Township, Pavilion Township, and the city of Portage have also adopted temporary moratoriums while they study data center and battery storage proposals and review zoning rules, according to WKZO.
State Legislation Moves in Parallel
The local moratorium comes as the Michigan Legislature considers its own data center regulations. Senate Democrats recently introduced bills that would:
- Cap water usage at 550,000 gallons per day with a maximum daily limit of two million gallons
- Require data centers to pay for at least 90 percent of their energy usage
- Mandate that facilities use 90 percent clean energy
- Prevent developers from passing water infrastructure upgrade costs onto residents
Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate have proposed a statewide one-year moratorium on new data center developments while regulators explore rules, according to The Detroit Free Press.
What Comes Next
Texas Township, home to nearly 18,000 residents, will use the next year to craft zoning rules that reflect community priorities. The moratorium gives the township time to study impacts before any developer can submit an application.
"By establishing the moratorium, the township is staying ahead of the curve and avoiding being placed in a reactive position," O'Rourke said.
Kalamazoo County hosted a panel discussion on data centers and battery storage facilities at Kalamazoo Valley Community College on June 26, signaling that the debate over these facilities is far from over in the region.