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St. Joseph officials plan to research the potential for a data center ordinance in 2026 to prepare for future data center projects. The city will examine how other communities have regulated data centers and assess zoning requirements.

The Community Development Director, Nate Keller, indicated that while it's unlikely a data center will locate in St. Joseph due to limited utility capacity, having regulations in place would position the city to respond to inquiries.

Major tech companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon utilize data centers but require significant energy and water resources. Local challenges include outdated electric infrastructure needing replacement while meeting climate goals.

The Planning Commission discussed the topic on December 8 but did not delve deeply into ordinance specifics. The goal for 2026 is to compile research on data center regulations in other cities and share findings with the commission.