Daily Digest — August 7, 2026
Kentucky Governor Signs Executive Order Requiring Data Centers to Prove No Ratepayer or Environmental Harm
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order establishing statewide criteria for data center development, according to Louisville Public Media. The order requires developers to submit energy plans to the Energy and Environment Cabinet demonstrating their operations will not raise electricity costs for Kentucky residents and businesses. The Public Service Commission is directed to prevent utility companies from increasing rates to recover data center-related costs.
The order also empowers the Energy and Environment Cabinet to deny permits for projects that would harm air quality, water use, water quality, water supply, federal jurisdictional wetlands, or other natural resources, as reported by WCLU Radio. Developers must pay their fair share of state, local, and school taxes, and engage transparently with local communities. The governor emphasized the order does not approve any data center automatically — local communities retain final decision-making authority, according to Kentucky Today.
The executive action comes amid significant local resistance, with over 30 Kentucky counties and localities having enacted moratoriums on data center development. Some developers have sued local governments over land use restrictions, including cases in Simpson County and Cave City. House Republicans criticized the order for lacking enforcement mechanisms, with Senate President Robert Stivers calling it "political theater," while pledging legislative action next year. A Republican-led consumer protection bill, House Bill 593, failed during the General Assembly session, as reported by Louisville Public Media.
Kentucky Gov. Beshear to require data centers prove no impact on ratepayers
Louisville Public Media
Beshear to sign data center-related executive order
WCLU Radio
Beshear executive order establishes criteria for KY data centers
paducahsun.com
Beshear issues executive order on data centers
Kentucky Today
Beshear signs data center-related executive order
glasgownews1.com
Compass Datacenters Proposal Faces Permit Denial and Community Pushback in Shawnee County, Kansas
Compass Datacenters submitted a conditional use permit application for a 600-acre, 400-megawatt data center campus southwest of Topeka in unincorporated Shawnee County, according to KSNT 27 News. The proposed project includes 10 single-story buildings and an on-site electrical substation. Utility provider Evergy stated the facility's power consumption would be comparable to approximately 75,000 homes on a hot day.
Shawnee County's Land Use & Development department labeled the initial CUP application as "incomplete," and the county denied the permit earlier this week, as reported by WIBW. Compass Datacenters has until August 28 to submit a corrected application. Topeka city leaders have scheduled a special work session for August 19 with Compass representatives and Evergy officials to discuss infrastructure impacts.
The City of Topeka passed a one-year moratorium on data center development in mid-July. Mayor Spencer Duncan told KSNT News that the city is weighing public concerns against potential tax revenue and job creation, though the final development decision rests with Shawnee County. Local residents have raised concerns about water and electricity consumption, noise impacts, and overall community effects. The community group "Protect Kansas" held an information-gathering event in Topeka, as documented by The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Compass projects the campus would create nearly 650 local jobs and contribute over $75 million annually to GDP and $150 million in local property taxes. The company says it plans to use air-cooled and closed-loop hybrid cooling systems with zero municipal water for cooling.
Shawnee County Considers Compass Datacenters Project Amid Local Opposition and Topeka Moratorium
KSNT 27 News
Kansans raise concerns about data center development
KSNT News
Topeka leaders schedule special work session on proposed Compass data center
WIBW
Topeka-area residents question data center proposal | Exclusive
The Topeka Capital-Journal
See photos from Protect Kansas community event about data centers
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Oregon Lawmakers Propose Three-Year Statewide Moratorium as Polling Shows Deep Public Skepticism
Four Oregon Democratic lawmakers are proposing a three-year statewide moratorium on new data centers, citing concerns over energy and water demand, farmland loss, and tax fairness, according to the News-Register. The proposal follows recent local moratoriums in Hillsboro and Salem, a lawsuit against Washington County, and Governor Tina Kotek's intervention to block a data center company from purchasing state property in Salem. The Legislature previously passed a one-year pause on a key tax incentive program for data centers in March.
New polling by DHM Research, reported by NPR for Oregonians, found that 71% of 600 surveyed Oregon voters have negative feelings about data centers, and 66% support a moratorium on new AI data center construction. Opposition to tax breaks for these facilities spans political parties and regions. Axios also reported on the poll findings.
Data centers have become a significant political issue across the state, as reported by The Portland Tribune. State Senator Janeen Sollman's re-election loss in Hillsboro was notably influenced by public backlash against data center growth. Hillsboro enacted a four-month moratorium on new applications in early August, and Hood River imposed its own moratorium through year-end after community protests against an Amazon project. In La Pine, hundreds of residents opposed a Bitcoin mining firm's data center plans.
Governor Kotek's data center advisory committee has recommended against moratoriums, instead advocating for enhanced state-local partnership and greater transparency, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle. A draft report from the committee is expected by mid-September. The Data Center Coalition warned that a moratorium would signal Oregon is "closed for business."
Lawmakers propose moratorium on large data centers in Oregon
News-Register
Data Centers Becoming Key Political Issue in Oregon
The Portland Tribune
Oregonians are extremely skeptical of data centers, new polling suggests
NPR for Oregonians
Poll finds Oregon wary of AI and data centers
Axios
Kotek data center advisors say no moratoriums, call for more state-local partnership, transparency
Oregon Capital Chronicle
Westlake, Texas Zoning Board Approves Data Center Over Keller Residents' Opposition; Fort Worth Eyes Moratorium
The Westlake Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a PowerHouse Data Centers project — a nearly 90-acre, four-building campus along U.S. Highway 377 — despite strong opposition from residents of neighboring Keller, according to CandysDirt.com. Over 100 people attended the meeting, with Keller residents raising concerns about noise, proximity to homes, water consumption, and strain on the electrical grid. The project now awaits a final vote from the Westlake Town Council, with an August 18 meeting agenda not yet published, as reported by CBS News.
Westlake officials stated the closest home would be over 500 feet from the building line, and mitigation measures include a 75-foot landscaped buffer, berms, and additional sound barriers, according to CBS Texas. The town also claimed the data center's water usage would be less than an average golf course. A Dallas Morning News columnist noted the underlying zoning allowing heavy commercial use was established by Westlake's council in 1998, predating the residential subdivisions now objecting.
At the state level, Governor Greg Abbott directed the PUCT and ERCOT to audit all proposed data center projects seeking grid connections, citing concerns over unprecedented electricity demand. Data centers currently represent approximately 90% of the 474 gigawatts in new power requests under ERCOT's consideration. Fort Worth is contemplating a temporary moratorium on new data center applications, with the city council set to consider initiating the process on August 11. The City of Lavon is also considering a temporary moratorium, as reported by CBS Texas.
Texas’ Data Center Fight Reaches Westlake as Keller Neighbors Protest 87-Acre Campus
CandysDirt.com
Controversial data center approved in Westlake zoning board meeting
CBS TEXAS
North Texas data center clears key hurdle despite strong opposition from neighboring residents
CBS News
Columnist discusses opposition to Westlake data center, historical zoning
dallasnews.com
Westlake’s planned data center has Keller residents mad. What to know
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Florida Faces Statewide Resistance to Hyperscale Data Centers; Polling Shows Voter Skepticism
Florida counties are increasingly rejecting or restricting hyperscale data center developments, according to The Real Deal. Palm Beach County commissioners rejected the $2.6 billion Project Tango in Loxahatchee following extensive public opposition. Developers have withdrawn projects in St. Lucie County, Martin County, and Citrus County due to community resistance. Jackson and Wakulla Counties have enacted permanent bans on large-scale data center construction, and DeSoto County approved a one-year moratorium after residents opposed an AI campus in Arcadia.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation empowering local governments to reject data centers and protecting state water resources. The only approved large project — Stonebridge's Fort Meade Data Center Campus — currently faces lawsuits and a recall effort. The Data Center Coalition warned that the unpredictable environment could deter future investment.
A statewide poll by Targoz Market Research for the James Madison Institute, reported by Florida Daily, found that 49% of Florida voters oppose state initiatives to attract data center investment, while 48% said their county commission should reject a proposed data center in their community. The primary concerns cited were higher electricity costs (60% of voters) and increased water use (44%).
