Daily Digest — April 17, 2026
Hutto Residents File Formal Protests to Force Supermajority Vote on Zydeco Data Center
Residents near the proposed Zydeco Data Center in Hutto, Texas, have filed two formal written protests aimed at triggering a state-mandated supermajority vote by the Hutto City Council, according to FOX 7 Austin. The coalition, organized through the "Stop the Hutto Data Center" Facebook group, invoked Texas Local Government Code 211.0061, which requires a three-fourths council vote for a zoning change if 20% or more of nearby landowners formally protest.
The proposed development at 450 Ed Schmidt Boulevard seeks to amend the Hutto Future Land Use Map and the Upper Schmidt's Creek Planned Unit Development to permit a large-scale data center. As reported by KEYE, opponents are canvassing property owners within 200 feet of the site to gather signatures. If the threshold is met, the approval requirement would rise from a simple majority to six out of seven council members.
Resident concerns include:
- 24/7 low-frequency noise from data center operations
- Impacts on the local power grid, with no ONCOR approval yet secured
- Rezoning residential-adjacent land to heavy industrial use
- Alleged conflict with Hutto's SOAR 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Zydeco Development Principal Wes Gilmer previously stated the project aims to bring significant tax value to Hutto while being a "thoughtful neighbor," per KEYE. The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to vote on the zoning change later this month, with the Hutto City Council's final vote set for May 7. FOX 7 Austin also noted that the Texas House State Affairs Committee is studying how data center growth impacts quality of life, resources, and electric grid reliability statewide.
Imperial County Data Center Opponents Regroup, Push Recall Petitions and Prohibition Ballot Measure
Following the Imperial County Board of Supervisors' approval of a lot merger for a proposed data center site, opponents held a town hall in El Centro to organize next steps, according to The Desert Review. Attendees were urged to sign recall petitions targeting District 3 Supervisor Peggy Price and District 4 Supervisor Ryan Kelley. The group is also circulating a ballot measure petition for a "Data Center Prohibition Act" that would ban large-scale data centers in unincorporated Imperial County, with a goal of placing it on the November 2026 ballot.
Community members and Imperial Irrigation District Director Karin Eugenio voiced concerns about the project's long-term water and energy consumption. Imperial City Manager Dennis Morita noted a May 15 deadline for filing an amended petition in the city's ongoing litigation, and disclosed that the developer has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and its officials, with a motion to dismiss pending.
As reported by KPBS, the project's ultimate fate may rest with the Imperial Irrigation District, which controls power and water resources in the region.
Google Confirmed as Operator of $832M Michigan City Data Center
Google has officially confirmed its acquisition and operation of the $832 million "Project Maize" data center in Michigan City, Indiana, according to the Chicago Tribune. The facility, located at the former Federal Mogul Corp. site at 402 Royal Road, was previously associated with Lavender Fields Holdings LLC, a Google affiliate. Broderick Green, Google's data center public affairs manager, stated the company is committed to covering 100% of the site's power costs and related infrastructure needs.
The Michigan City Common Council previously passed four resolutions to facilitate the project, including tax abatements and designation of the area as an economic revitalization zone. The project is expected to create over 500 jobs, per WSBT-TV.
The project has faced community opposition on several fronts:
- Just Transition Northwest Indiana sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and city officials requesting a halt to construction and soil disturbance
- IDEM approved an air permit on March 19 allowing 66 diesel-fired emergency generators without emission control devices, according to the Environmental Law and Policy Center
- Just Transition Northwest Indiana has petitioned the U.S. EPA to object to the permit
- Residents filed a zoning complaint, alleging officials denied access to site plans citing public safety concerns
- IUOE Local 150 has picketed the site over union labor concerns, as reported by WSBT-TV
Oakley, California Enacts 45-Day Data Center Moratorium — First in Bay Area
The Oakley City Council in Contra Costa County unanimously voted to enact a 45-day moratorium on all new data center land-use applications, making it the first such ban in the Bay Area, according to The Real Deal. The temporary halt is designed to give city officials time to evaluate long-term impacts and craft zoning and environmental regulations. The moratorium can be extended for up to two years.
As reported by thepress.net, Mayor Hugh Henderson emphasized the need for permanent zoning regulations or an outright ban by the end of the calendar year. The council's strategy includes:
- Extending the moratorium for an additional 10 months at the May 12 meeting
- Holding a joint workshop with the Planning Commission over the summer
- Bringing proposed zoning code amendments before the Planning Commission and City Council for final approval in the fall
The action follows the withdrawal of JB2 Partners' Bridgehead Industrial Project near Highway 160, which was abandoned due to resident concerns about power and water usage. The Real Deal noted that a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report projects data centers' U.S. electricity consumption will reach 12% by 2028, and PG&E has received applications for 7.2 gigawatts of new demand, primarily in San Jose.
Palm Beach County Democrats Call for Data Center Moratorium; Rezoning Vote Delayed to July
The Palm Beach County Democratic Party has unanimously passed a resolution urging the Palm Beach County Commission to enact a moratorium on AI data center development, according to 98.7 The Gator. The resolution specifically targets a planned facility in the county's western region code-named "Project Tango."
Resident concerns center on the project's potential impact on local water supply and strain on the existing power grid. The Palm Beach County Commission has postponed a rezoning vote for Project Tango until July 15 to allow for further review. As noted by the South Florida Business Journal, opposition to data center development is mounting across Palm Beach County.