Daily Digest — April 23, 2026
Oklahoma City Enacts Emergency Moratorium on New Data Centers
The Oklahoma City Council unanimously passed an emergency moratorium halting new data center development applications through December 31, 2026, according to The Oklahoman. City Manager Craig Freeman said the pause would allow leaders to evaluate concerns and potentially amend city codes to specifically address hyperscale data centers.
The moratorium exempts two data center projects with pending rezoning applications near Interstate 40 and Frisco Road, and Northwest 23rd Street and Frisco Road. As reported by Oklahoma Energy Today, Planning Director Jeff Butler noted that substantial research has already been conducted across city departments to draft a relevant ordinance.
Multiple data center operators raised concerns that the ordinance was too broad and could impact existing or smaller enterprise operations. Trevor Francis, overseeing an expansion project for an existing data center in OKC, told the council his facility uses no public grid power and employs closed-loop water cooling, according to the Oklahoma City Free Press. Mayor David Holt rejected a proposed two-week postponement of the moratorium but indicated the council would consider amendments to differentiate hyperscale centers from smaller, long-standing operations.
Local activist Taylor Sanchez of Honor the Earth advocated for the moratorium, citing environmental justice concerns around water usage and public health. An Earth Day symposium held the same day addressed data center environmental impacts, with speakers from the Association of Energy Engineers stressing the need for energy efficiency and responsible water management, according to KOCO.
Oklahoma City passes moratorium to block new data centers through 2026
The Oklahoman
Data center moratorium in OKC
Oklahoma Energy Today
City Council puts hold on data centers to study electricity, water use
Oklahoma City Free Press
Oklahoma City symposium explores data centers' impact on Earth Day
KOCO
No New Data Centers in OKC… For Now
OKC, Tulsa & Statewide News: Oklahoma Memo
Charlotte Leaders Push for Data Center Regulations and Potential Moratorium
Charlotte City Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera has requested a temporary moratorium on new data centers near residential neighborhoods for up to six months while comprehensive regulations are developed, according to WCNC. Ajmera highlighted that many data center proposals are situated near Black and brown communities and called for clear standards on energy and water use.
City staff have begun researching and drafting new rules for data centers, a process expected to take up to six months and include consultation with other cities, as reported by WCCB Charlotte. A rezoning petition by American Tower Corporation for a 40,000-square-foot data center on a 58-acre plot on Hood Road in East Charlotte — directly across from single-family homes — has been delayed by one month following community pushback.
At the state level, Governor Josh Stein has called for an end to data center tax breaks, arguing that an estimated $450 million in annual sales tax exemptions for planned data centers is a poor use of taxpayer dollars. Representative Laura Budd of Mecklenburg County expects legislation addressing these concerns to be filed during the current session, according to WCNC.
NAACP Sues xAI Over Clean Air Act Violations at Memphis Data Centers
The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's xAI, alleging the company is operating over two dozen methane gas-burning turbines without legal permits to power its Colossus 1 and Colossus 2 data centers in Memphis, Tennessee, according to Democracy Now!. The suit claims these operations are violating the Clean Air Act and emitting toxic pollutants into predominantly Black neighborhoods.
KeShaun Pearson, executive director of Memphis Community Against Pollution, stated that pollution from xAI's energy generation exceeds that of Memphis International Airport. Pearson noted that children in the region already face the highest rates of emergency room visits for respiratory issues in Tennessee. MCAP, along with the NAACP, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and Earthjustice, is demanding a moratorium on data center construction in the city.
Ypsilanti Water Utility Approves 12-Month Ban on Supplying Data Centers
The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA) in Michigan has approved a 12-month moratorium on supplying water to data centers, according to Planet Detroit. The ban was enacted in response to a request from Ypsilanti Township and aims to allow time for environmental and water system studies.
Two major projects are directly affected:
- A planned $1.2 billion high-performance computing facility by the University of Michigan in Ypsilanti Township, which could use up to 500,000 gallons of water daily and is associated with Los Alamos National Laboratory
- A proposed $1 billion data center by Thor Equities in Augusta Township, projected to consume 1 million gallons of water daily
Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo emphasized that two large data centers could exhaust the utility's capacity, potentially hindering future residential and business development. The U of M project is exempt from local zoning requirements. Neither entity commented on the moratorium.
Markley Group Acquires Properties in Lowell Amid Active Data Center Moratorium
Jeffrey Markley, president of Markley Group LLC, has acquired over 422,000 square feet of property in Lowell, Massachusetts, for almost $5.6 million, according to the Lowell Sun. The acquisitions include a former power plant site, the Tanner Street Generating Station, which was retired in 2024. The Markley Group's website was recently updated to feature "Now available for your generative AI workloads."
The purchases come amid an active 360-day moratorium enacted by the Lowell City Council on new data center construction and expansion. Despite this moratorium, the Lowell Planning Board unanimously approved preliminary subdivision applications for two of the acquired parcels at 2 Tanner Street and 90 Bolt Street. Board members raised concerns about potential disturbance of land near the Silresim Superfund site, an area with documented groundwater and soil contamination.
