'Establish a baseline of impact': Piedmont residents raise questions about possible data center

A proposed data center by Beltline Energy in Piedmont, Oklahoma, an Oklahoma City suburb, is facing significant scrutiny and opposition from residents. The project, which involves two land parcels totaling 410 acres in Kingfisher County, has prompted concerns over potential impacts such as water usage, noise pollution, and strain on local infrastructure. Piedmont City Council has already enacted a new Industrial Technology Zoning District at its January 28 meeting, a move questioned by some residents like Victor Shortt, who works as an AI systems architect. Shortt highlighted the city attorney's warning about allowing data centers as "permitted by right" versus requiring a conditional use permit, which would give the city more oversight. Mayor Kurt Mayabb and City Manager Joshua Williams arranged a trip for city staff to tour a Beltline-developed data center near Atlanta, declining Beltline's offer to cover costs to avoid the appearance of a "bribe." This trip, costing the city $4,500, was met with resident skepticism, with some council members also voting against it, arguing it was premature without a complete proposal. Local policy analyst Kaily Ball leads a group opposing the project, citing insufficient water infrastructure and environmental concerns about the Cimarron River. Former Councilwoman Melissa Ashford echoed water infrastructure concerns based on her six years on the council. The project is still awaiting consideration by the city's planning commission and full city council, with findings from the Atlanta trip to be presented at an upcoming April 27 meeting. Meanwhile, both Tulsa City Council and Oklahoma City Council have recently adopted temporary moratoriums on data center development, reflecting broader state-level discussions about the industry's energy demands.