An 18-month data center ban in La Crosse is on the docket for the county board. 

The moratorium legislation comes as a county study committee has its first meeting Wednesday.

Dillon Mader and Lia Manock stopped in studio to break down their reasonings for a moratorium, discuss the work the study committee will be doing, and why they feel a ban on data centers is necessary.

While there are multiple angles to consider when pausing data center development, Mader and Manock explain why they based their resolution's thresholds on energy usage (two megawatts) and storage (one petabyte).

They also discussed why an 18-month moratorium is necessary to give the study committee a full year to conduct its work, report back and possibly craft other legislation.

Manock is one of five county board members on the study committee, which also includes a representative from each of the 18 municipalities in La Crosse County.

The county board's executive committee will take up the moratorium resolution at 8 a.m. Thursday, before a full vote next week (agenda here).

We began the show on how this Thursday meeting is the only change the public has to address the issue during a board meeting. Otherwise, it will depend on contacting your county board rep or emailing the entire board here.