Pulaski County Quorum Court rejects data center ordinance
The Pulaski County Quorum Court failed to pass a proposed data center ordinance that would have protected existing projects while blocking future ones. This decision came after significant public opposition raising concerns about environmental impacts, noise, water usage, and increased electricity costs. Opponents are now pushing for a moratorium on data center development in the county.
The Pulaski County Quorum Court in Arkansas recently failed to pass a proposed data center ordinance following weeks of public comment and debate. The ordinance aimed to protect existing data center projects while preventing future developments, a concept referred to by opponents as a "grandfather clause" that they successfully had removed. Justice of the Peace Steven Person also introduced an amendment to strengthen regulations, which also failed to pass.
Community members expressed significant frustrations regarding proposed data center sites, particularly one by developer Avao near Wrightsville, and a potential Google project near the Port of Little Rock. Residents voiced concerns about a lack of protection from air, water, and noise pollution, potential increases in local temperatures, and rising electricity bills. There were also claims that Avao had no prior experience building facilities of the proposed scale.
Opponents called for the Quorum Court to serve the entire county's interests, not just corporate ones, and reminded the court of expectations for a moratorium to be enacted. The court's decision effectively sends data center development plans back to the drawing board for Pulaski County.