News and Project Information
Data Center and Cryptocurrency Standards in Morton County
In September, 2024 Morton County adopted a moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. This means that none of these facilities may be permitted in the County until the County develops and adopts siting and performance standards for these facilities. A moratorium cannot continue indefinitely. A Data Center Model Ordinance Working Group, completed a model ordinance for the state in January 2026. That working group consisted of representation from the ND League of Cities, ND Association of Counties, ND Planning Association, utility interests, and data center industry advocates/Applied Digital.
Morton County Planning & Zoning staff presented drafts of data center specific use standards at the February 25 and March 25 regular meetings of the Planning & Zoning Commission. A revised draft was presented at the April 22, 2026 regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission. We sincerely apologize for the technical difficulties that made online attendees unable to receive audio from the meeting. The data center specific use standards draft will have a public hearing at a future Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. If you have comments or suggested changes to the draft, please send those comments to the Planning & Zoning Department as far in advance of the next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting as possible so that those comments and suggestions can be incorporated into the draft.
At the May 27, 2026 regular meeting, the Planning & Zoning Commission formed a subcommittee to make final edits to a draft Amendment to the Morton County Land Use Code Data Center Specific Use Standards. The starting draft can be found here. Members of the public who have comments about specific wording within the draft can send those comments to the Planning & Zoning Director.
Rural Industrial Ag Development Site Analysis
In December 2024, the Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council (LCRDC) was awarded a Regional Livestock Planning Grant through the Department of Agriculture. That same month, LCRDC contracted with First District Association of Local Governments (South Dakota) to perform an analysis to develop an inventory of suitable sites where feeding operations would best be located, based on available infrastructure and other conditions necessary to support such operations. Participating counties within the LCRDC planning area were Emmons, Kidder, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux Counties. A copy of the site analysis report is available here. The supporting power point presentation is available here.