Daily Digest — May 12, 2026
Red Oak Approves 830-Acre Data Center Rezoning Despite Resident Opposition
The Red Oak, Texas, City Council has approved the rezoning of 830 acres along FM 2377 from Agricultural District to Planned Development for a data center project, according to the Dallas News. The decision came after a contentious public hearing that extended late into the night, with chambers packed with residents opposing the proposal.
The project, linked to Compass Datacenters according to CBS News, would bring a sixth data center campus to Red Oak. Residents voiced concerns about noise, pollution, property values, water and electricity consumption, and proximity to homes. Organizer Elda Jazmin Villegas highlighted insufficient community input, as reported by CBS News.
City Manager Todd Fuller presented economic arguments for the project, including increased tax revenue and better-funded city services, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. City officials also cited a closed-loop cooling system for reduced water usage, per WFAA. The vote came despite a 3-2 recommendation against the project from the Planning and Zoning Commission, as reported by CBS Texas.
Red Oak already hosts five data centers, including an operational Google facility and projects by Compass Datacenters, DataBank, Powerhouse, and Diode Investments. The approval follows broader regional pushback — Somervell County recently passed a resolution restricting future data centers, and Ellis County passed a similar measure last month.
Red Oak approves 830 acres rezoned for latest data center despite opposition
Dallas News
Red Oak residents push back against rezoning, data center
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
Red Oak community fights in effort to keep another data center getting approved in North Texas
CBS News
Red Oak residents protesting proposed plan for 800-acre data center
WFAA
City of Red Oak to vote on rezoning for new data center
CBS TEXAS
Charlotte City Council Advances 150-Day Data Center Moratorium
The Charlotte City Council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on May 26 for a proposed 150-day moratorium on new data center applications, with a final vote set for June 8, according to WSOC TV. The moratorium would halt the city from accepting or approving new data center applications but would not affect projects already permitted.
Councilmembers Dimple Ajmera and JD Mazuera Arias expressed regret that action was not taken sooner, per WSOC TV. The proposal aims to give city staff time to develop regulations addressing water usage, energy consumption, noise, and other community impacts, as reported by WCNC.
Deputy City Manager Alyson Craig cautioned the council about potential limitations under state law, specifically Senate Bill 382, which restricts municipalities' authority over certain rezoning requests, according to WCNC. Craig noted that while outright zoning changes and buffer requirements might face legal challenges, requirements for water and energy conservation plans could carry less risk. She suggested there may be an opportunity to address these limitations during the General Assembly's upcoming short session.
Residents have been actively opposing data center expansion. Nearly 5,000 people signed a petition against a specific 40,000-square-foot American Tower data center proposed on Hood Road near the Reidy Creek Nature Preserve, according to WBTV News. That Hood Road project, which has a rezoning hearing scheduled for June, would be impacted by the moratorium if enacted. The PowerHouse project currently under construction off University City Drive would not be affected.
Charlotte City Council moving forward with data center moratorium
WSOC TV
Date center pause? Charlotte City Council sets date for public hearing on moratorium
WCNC
Charlotte to vote on data center moratorium as residents continue to voice concerns
WCNC
Charlotte City Council weighs pausing new data center builds
WBTV News - Charlotte
Charlotte considers pause on data centers
WCNC
Cheyenne City Council to Introduce 12-Month Data Center Moratorium Ordinance
The Cheyenne City Council is scheduled to introduce an ordinance tonight proposing a 12-month moratorium on new data center construction, according to KGAB. Sponsored by Ward III Councilman Mark Moody, the ordinance will require three readings before the full council and a referral to the Public Service Committee.
The moratorium would not affect existing facilities or those already under construction, but would impact new projects in a city where as many as 70 data centers have been proposed, as reported by Cowboy State Daily. Two major developments would be affected: Microsoft's plan to triple its facility size across a proposed 3,200-acre expansion, and a project on Cox Ranch that is currently paused until September, per Cowboy State Daily.
The proposal faces opposition from Mayor Patrick Collins, who has stated his preference for evaluating projects individually rather than imposing a blanket ban. Ward I Councilman Larry Wolfe raised concerns about the city's legal authority to enact a moratorium and the lack of funding for a comprehensive study, according to Cowboy State Daily.
A grassroots petition organized by South Cheyenne resident Heather Madrid is seeking 7,000 signatures to halt further development, as reported by the Gillette News Record. At the state level, Sen. Cale Case has proposed a gross receipts tax on data center electricity consumption and stronger regulatory frameworks. Cheyenne LEADS CEO Betsey Hale opposes the moratorium, arguing data centers are vital for the local economy.
Cheyenne City Council To Discuss New Data Center Moratorium Tonight At 6 P.M.
KGAB
Cheyenne Data Center Surge Prompts Push For 12-Month Moratorium
Cowboy State Daily
Cheyenne Councilman Proposes Data Center Moratorium Amid Public Concern
Cowboy State Daily
Cheyenne Councilman Proposes 12-Month Data Center Moratorium Amid Public Concern
Cowboy State Daily
Some Cheyenne residents push for data center moratorium
Gillette News Record
Box Elder County Residents File Referendum to Challenge Stratos Data Center Approval
Residents of Box Elder County, Utah, organized as the Box Elder Accountability Referendum (BEAR) group, have filed two referendum applications challenging the county commission's May 4 approval of the Stratos-MIDA data center project, according to ABC4 Utah. The group cites concerns about air quality, water access, and other environmental impacts.
BEAR is awaiting approval from the Box Elder County Attorney. Once approved, the group will have 45 days to collect approximately 5,500 signatures from registered county voters to place the data center approval on the November ballot, as reported by FOX 13 News Utah. BEAR has criticized the 62-square-mile project for generating minimal tax revenue and being fast-tracked without adequate impact studies or public awareness.
The project, backed by celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary and the state's Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), plans to consume 9 gigawatts of energy — exceeding Utah's entire peak usage — according to the Deseret News. An application to transfer 1,900 acre-feet of water rights for the project was withdrawn after attracting approximately 3,800 formal protest filings, though the applicant intends to resubmit.
O'Leary has publicly accused opposition groups of being Chinese government proxies, a claim challenged by the Alliance for a Better Utah, which offered to make financial records public if O'Leary conducts a comprehensive environmental impact study, as reported by ABC4 Utah. MIDA approved the project without public comment at its meeting, according to KPCW.
Box Elder residents file referendum to halt Stratos-MIDA Data Center development
ABC4 Utah
Group files application to challenge Box Elder County data center approval
FOX 13 News Utah
Kevin O'Leary's Utah data center project faces opposition over water and energy
Deseret News
‘Mr. Wonderful’ accuses Utah groups of being Chinese government proxies amidst Box Elder County data
ABC4 Utah
Box Elder residents organize against Stratos data center
KPCW
Coweta County Residents Sue to Block $17 Billion Data Center Project
Nineteen residents of Coweta County, Georgia, have filed a lawsuit in Coweta County Superior Court against the county government and developer Atlas Development, seeking to block the $17 billion "Project Sail" data center, according to WSB-TV. The project would encompass nearly 830 acres.
The plaintiffs allege the county's zoning approval disregarded local rules and state regulations. Key claims include:
- Previously submitted plans failed to identify 103 acres of wetlands
- Power and water requirements were misstated
- Proximity to a significant groundwater recharge area was not noted
- Amendments by Atlas Development should have triggered a new state-level Development of Regional Impact filing
Project Sail was first proposed in late 2024, according to WSB-TV. The Coweta County Board of Commissioners had previously enacted and extended a moratorium on data centers while developing regulations but ultimately approved the project. The lawsuit seeks to waive sovereign immunity for the county, uphold public due process rights, and requests a trial to appeal the project's permits, as reported by Peachtree City Citizen. County officials declined to comment on the pending litigation.
