FOX23 Investigates: Tulsa councilor calls Project Anthem deal "bad," identifies Meta as company behind project

In east Tulsa, construction is underway on Project Anthem, a 340-acre data center, which City Councilor Laura Bellis has revealed to be a Meta Platforms facility. Bellis criticized the city's 85% property tax abatement over 25 years, arguing that Tulsa received a "bad deal" given the limited jobs created versus the project's substantial resource demands, including water and electricity. Residents, like Cheyenna Morgan, echo these concerns, citing increased noise and worries about the long-term impact on utility costs. Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) confirmed that large energy users, including data centers, are a factor in a proposed rate increase currently under review. While Partner Tulsa, an economic development organization, initially highlighted economic benefits like construction jobs and 50 permanent positions, Bellis, who was on the council when the project was approved in 2023, stated that city leaders lacked sufficient information at the time to fully assess data center impacts. Following growing public pressure and Bellis's revelations about Meta's involvement and the company's significant wealth, the Tulsa City Council approved a nine-month moratorium on new data center developments. However, this moratorium does not halt Project Anthem's ongoing construction. Meta had explored a second, 340-acre phase but recently withdrew that application, though Bellis anticipates future expansion attempts.