Oklahoma Data Center Projects Face Zoning Delays and Local Opposition
Oklahoma communities are weighing several proposed data center projects amid concerns about zoning, water use, noise, power demand and infrastructure costs. Enid delayed a rezoning hearing for Project Thunderbird, while Piedmont advanced one project for further review and continued considering another; a separate Coweta proposal was withdrawn after local opposition.
The City of Enid postponed a rezoning hearing for the proposed Project Thunderbird data center campus until Oct. 27 to allow greater attendance and public comment. Residents remain divided, with supporters citing hundreds of permanent and construction jobs while opponents question the project’s location near neighborhoods, industrial zoning protections, noise, pollution and water use. The group No Data Centers in Enid is urging greater transparency and more information from the developers.
In Piedmont, the planning commission sent BL Land Holdings’ proposed 640-acre Beltline data center campus to the city council but recommended no action until additional studies, landscaping, setbacks and compliance measures are addressed. The project would still require a separate rezoning hearing. Project Open Sky remains awaiting a final zoning decision, after revisions that remove on-site power generation, prohibit water wells and add sound requirements. The plans include proposed limits on water use, noise and setbacks, along with developer-funded infrastructure improvements.
In Coweta, the company behind a proposed data center withdrew its plans in March following opposition over noise, higher power bills, water demand and inadequate infrastructure. Former city manager Julie Castine, who supported bringing the project to Coweta, is leaving her position but received a unanimously approved contract extension to serve as a consultant through the end of the year, prompting continued criticism from resident Alan Prather and others.