DATA CENTER MORATORIUM: Tulsa City Councilors pump brakes on new centers for 2026

The Tulsa City Council has voted to approve a moratorium on new data centers, a decision aimed at providing the city with additional time to assess the environmental and infrastructural impacts of these developments. The moratorium, which was approved after initial proposals, will now run through the end of the current year, a shorter duration than the originally proposed 365 days. The council's decision was prompted by concerns raised regarding potential issues such as noise pollution, substantial water consumption, and significant energy usage associated with data center operations. Notably, a large data center project currently under construction in East Tulsa, identified as "Project Anthem," has been granted an exemption from this newly enacted moratorium, allowing its development to continue unimpeded by the temporary halt on new facilities.