WAYNE COUNTY, UT — In a swift and necessary move to protect local land and water resources, the Wayne County Commission voted unanimously to pass Resolution 2026-04, placing an immediate 180-day moratorium on all land use applications for data centers, data center power plants (including nuclear), and supporting digital infrastructure.
County officials took action after recognizing that existing planning and zoning ordinances leave rural land vulnerable to unregulated industrial expansion. During the meeting, local officials noted that “our current planning and zoning ordinance does not in any way address data centers. So, if we were to get an application for a data center right now, we would not have any way to deny this.”
County legal counsel read Resolution 2026-04 into the record, clarifying that the freeze explicitly covers massive utility-scale facilities and “data center power plants”—including those utilizing “nuclear fuel, for the primary purpose of supplying power to the data center.” Under Section 2 of the ordinance, the county is legally prohibited from accepting or processing any other land use or development approval associated with uses related to data centers and or data center power plants for the next six months.
While county commissioners deserve strong recognition for stepping up to pause unvetted development—with the commission noting, “it’s probably a good idea to pause for a minute and get all the facts and get our ducks in a row” local watchdogs emphasize that this 180-day moratorium is merely a temporary pause, not a permanent shield.
Speculative industrial developers and energy infrastructure entities are targeting rural Utah communities for massive operations. These projects carry heavy demands on local water supplies, and rural land use. Without updated, ironclad zoning codes in place, Wayne County remains a prime target once the temporary freeze expires.
“The Commission did the right thing by putting on the brakes, but the clock is officially ticking,” noted community watchdogs. “Six months goes by fast. The county now has a narrow window to draft robust, permanent protections before developers try to find new loopholes. Residents cannot afford to fall into a false sense of security.”
Landowners, agricultural operators, and residents across unincorporated Wayne County are urged to stay informed, attend upcoming planning meetings, and actively track the Commission’s progress during this 180-day study period. The public will be watching closely as county officials work to draft comprehensive regulations protecting the health, safety, and rural character of the region and the integrity of the gateway to Capitol Reef National Park and surrounding National Forest.