Entergy Drops Lawsuit Over Google Data Center Records After Judge Denies Gag Order
Entergy Arkansas has voluntarily dropped its federal lawsuit against news organizations and a resident over the publication of financial information related to Google's planned West Memphis data center. This decision follows a U.S. District Judge's denial of Entergy's request for a temporary restraining order to prevent further publication of the records. The confidential information in question pertains to agreements between Entergy and Google for the data center's electricity supply and the associated $1.6 billion Arkansas Cypress Solar project.
Entergy Arkansas has voluntarily dismissed a federal lawsuit against two Arkansas news organizations and resident Jessica Kivell, which sought to prevent the publication of confidential financial information related to Google's planned $4 billion data center in West Memphis.
The utility company filed the notice of dismissal without prejudice on September 16th, allowing for potential future lawsuits. This action came two weeks after U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky denied Entergy's request for a temporary restraining order that would have restricted the news outlets from publishing records obtained through an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request by Kivell.
Entergy had argued that the Arkansas Public Service Commission mistakenly released trade secrets and confidential information regarding agreements between Entergy and a Google subsidiary for the data center's power supply. Judge Rudofsky cited significant First Amendment concerns in denying the gag order. The records also connect to Entergy's $1.6 billion Arkansas Cypress Solar project in Jefferson County, which was approved by the Public Service Commission and is tied to providing electricity to Google's data center by 2028.