Oklahoma City leaders narrow data center moratorium after debate

The Oklahoma City Council has voted to narrow the scope of a temporary moratorium on data center development, following hours of debate among its members. The revised moratorium will now apply only to large-scale data centers that require more than 75 megawatts of net electrical load, exempting smaller projects and sites. Councilman Matt Hinkle of Ward 5 emphasized that the city is not against data centers but seeks proper governance and oversight, particularly concerning their impact on city resources. He highlighted that under the approved "Option 2," data centers would not use Oklahoma City's municipal water supply for cooling, addressing a key concern.

Ward 2 Councilman James Cooper raised broader existential concerns from students about water, electric supply, and the impact of artificial intelligence on future jobs. However, Ward 7 Councilmember Camal Pennington expressed comfort with the approved approach, noting that it still requires all data center projects, even those not under the narrow moratorium, to undergo the city's standard review processes for zoning and permitting, allowing public input.

The council's vote of 7-2 for the narrowed moratorium means the temporary pause on development continues, but with a more limited application. Concurrently, the two largest proposed data center projects, which would fall under the revised moratorium, have been deferred, requiring them to return to the council for additional discussion and a vote.