Public commenter urges Lincoln to prepare ordinances for data centers, solar and carbon capture
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Summary
Mitch Flanagan spoke during public comment about the growing interest of large private data centers, solar farms and direct‑air‑capture projects in the region and urged local governments, including Lincoln, to prepare zoning/ordinances and rate‑study tools to manage impacts such as energy, water and emergency response.
During the public‑comment period of Thursday’s Lincoln City Council meeting, Mitch Flanagan addressed council members about the regional pressure from private developers seeking to build large energy‑intensive facilities — including data centers, solar farms and direct‑air‑capture installations — and urged municipalities to adopt ordinances to manage siting and impacts.
Flanagan, who said he has worked with neighboring Burley County and other jurisdictions, described data centers as facilities with large footprints (he said some can exceed one million square feet) that consume significant energy and water and can pose challenges for emergency responders because of batteries and dense electrical equipment. He referenced tax incentives such as 45Q and state legislation under consideration that could allow data centers to locate in residential or business districts.
He advised that jurisdictions without ordinances risk having limited ability to deny such land uses and recommended establishing zoning overlays or specific districts where these uses are permissible. Flanagan said some counties have already developed model ordinances for solar farms and data centers and offered to share drafts with Lincoln staff and council.
Councilmembers asked whether he could forward draft ordinances; Flanagan said he would email ordinance drafts to city staff for review and the council indicated they would circulate them to members. The discussion was a public‑comment presentation rather than a council agenda item; no action was taken at the meeting.