Tulsa adopts moratorium on new data centers

The Tulsa City Council has unanimously enacted a nine-month moratorium on new data center construction, following an initial proposal for a one-year pause by District 4 Councilor Laura Bellis, which was later amended to a nine-month period. This timeframe is intended to allow the city's planning office sufficient time to develop recommendations for an official government process regarding data center development. The decision came after 19 individuals spoke during a public comment period, highlighting community concerns. While the moratorium exempts proposed projects such as "Project Anthem" (for its first two phases) and "Project Clydesdale" (currently under construction in north Tulsa), the council's debate underscored differing views. Councilor Phil Lakin expressed concerns that a longer delay might hinder the city's economic opportunities, initially suggesting a 90-day moratorium. In contrast, Councilor Jackie Dutton advocated for an "indefinite" moratorium, citing doubts about data centers generating revenue for the city as a whole and expressing concerns over their placement in underserved communities.