A proposed data center in Sand Springs hinges on the Osage Minerals Council
Google's proposed "Project Spring" data center in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, faces significant local opposition and legal challenges over zoning and a conservation easement. The project's progression hinges on approval from the Osage Minerals Council for a critical federal lease, which the council is currently withholding due to environmental and sovereignty concerns. Residents are worried about noise, traffic, and water/electricity usage.
Project Spring, a hyperscale data center proposed by Google in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, faces substantial community backlash and legal obstacles. Residents, including Brian and Chandra Ingram, living northwest of Tulsa in Osage County, express deep concerns over noise, traffic, and vibrations from the proposed 827-acre facility. They highlight the potential disruption to their rural quiet lifestyle and the impact on local wildlife and property values. Local opposition has manifested in protests, a recall effort against Sand Springs City Council members, and multiple lawsuits.
Two lawsuits challenge the City of Sand Springs' annexation of the project site and its rezoning from agricultural to light industrial, with the Protect Sand Springs Alliance arguing the city failed to follow its own zoning code. A separate lawsuit targets property owners Alan and Susan Ringle and Ringle Development, LLC, for allegedly violating a conservation easement with Land Legacy that prohibits development on a portion of the land. Michael Patton, Executive Director of Land Legacy Trust, asserts the easement is legally binding and has joined the lawsuits, planning to also name Google and White Rose Partners, the project manager, as defendants.
The project's future critically depends on the Osage Minerals Council (OMC) granting a '214 lease,' required for any excavation on lands where the Osage Nation holds subsurface mineral rights. The OMC is currently withholding approval, citing concerns over environmental impacts, particularly the need for blasting to level hilly terrain, and a lack of transparency from Google and White Rose Partners. Led by Chairman Talee Redcorn and Second Chair Paul Yates, the OMC is demanding more information, considering an independent environmental study, and discussing the possibility of issuing a moratorium, mirroring actions by other Oklahoma tribal nations.
Local and state officials, including Oklahoma State legislator Amanda Clinton, have also raised broader concerns about transparency, water and electricity usage, and sound pollution from data centers across Oklahoma. While the City of Sand Springs manager Mike Carter supports the project for its potential positive impact, the Osage Minerals Council emphasizes its commitment to due diligence, sovereignty, and protecting the Osage mineral estate before making a final decision.