Daily Digest — March 18, 2026
Detroit City Council Calls for Two-Year Data Center Moratorium
Detroit's City Council voted 6-2 in favor of a resolution urging Mayor Mary Sheffield to impose a two-year moratorium on data center developments, according to Planet Detroit. The resolution, spearheaded by District 3 Council Member Scott Benson, asks the mayor's office and relevant city departments to halt new data center permits while the city studies data center types, infrastructure requirements, and environmental concerns.
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, the formal request reflects growing concern among local officials about impacts including grid stability, water consumption, and noise pollution. Benson characterized the measure as not anti-data center but rather aimed at establishing necessary regulations before further development proceeds.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose NDA Ban After Mount Orab Data Center Controversy
Mount Orab village leaders in Ohio are facing public backlash for signing non-disclosure agreements related to a potential mega data center on a 1,000-acre site purchased by DB STU LLC, according to WLWT. The NDAs were signed by multiple local entities including the village council, Brown County Rural Water Association, Western Brown Local Schools, and the Southwest Ohio Regional Development Authority.
Ohio Rep. Adam Bird has introduced House Bill 695, co-sponsored by Rep. Brian Stewart, which would:
- Ban elected officials from signing NDAs in their official duties
- Impose a $1,000 civil fine for violations
The Mount Orab village council unanimously voted on March 3 to enact a 180-day moratorium on all data center developments. The report also notes that more than a dozen data-center-related bills are currently before the Ohio Legislature, and state lawmakers are considering a bipartisan commission to study broader impacts including farmland use, noise, energy demand, and water consumption.
Florida Senate Approves Bill Allowing NDAs with Data Center Developers
The Florida Senate has approved a bill that would allow state agencies to sign non-disclosure agreements with data center developers, potentially limiting public knowledge of project locations, according to The Nerd Stash. The legislation has drawn strong opposition from residents who have raised concerns about potential impacts on water and electricity resources.
The bill's proponents have offered assurances about utility costs, but the report indicates public anger over what critics describe as a reduction in transparency around data center siting decisions.
Maryland's Southern Counties Advance Data Center Restrictions
Calvert County, Maryland, is considering a 24-month moratorium on data center approvals amid community concerns about power, water, and land use impacts, according to The Southern Maryland Chronicle. Meanwhile, Charles County has moved forward with strict zoning regulations for future data center projects.
Both counties and the broader state are contending with increasing strain on the electricity grid driven by growing demand from AI and cloud computing operations.
West Virginia Mayor Opposes 10,000-Acre Data Center Before Congress
Davis, West Virginia, Mayor Al Tomson testified before a Congressional subcommittee to express opposition to a proposed 10,000-acre data center and natural gas power plant by Fundamental Data near the town, according to The Inter-Mountain. Tomson appeared before the subcommittee in connection with the EPA Brownfields program.
The mayor raised concerns that the project, if designated a "nationally significant infrastructure facility," could bypass environmental reviews and receive taxpayer subsidies.
Pennhurst Data Center Hearing Postponed to April
A conditional use hearing for a 1.9-million-square-foot data center proposed at the former Pennhurst state hospital site in East Vincent, Pennsylvania, has been postponed to April 20 due to severe weather, according to the Pottstown Mercury. The delay came after developer Pennhurst Holdings LLC submitted revised plans that increased the facility's footprint and added an on-site power generation component.
Activists are arguing that the late submission of revised plans — filed just days before the originally scheduled hearing — should trigger a restart of the conditional use review process under the township's zoning ordinance. The developer's representative has countered that the township was aware of impending changes for a month and that the revisions align with Governor Shapiro's GRID guidelines for data center development.
Key upcoming dates:
- April 9: East Vincent Township Planning Commission review of revised submission
- April 20: Board of Supervisors conditional use hearing
The Planning Commission had previously voted unanimously in October 2025 against recommending the original project.
