Little Rock leaders weigh new rules for data centers as residents push back
Little Rock leaders enacted an ordinance establishing new rules for large-scale data centers, including restrictions on water consumption, emissions, noise, and residential setbacks. This follows public concern over environmental impacts and land use from projects by AVAIO Digital and Google. Google and Entergy representatives spoke to the board, addressing infrastructure costs and utility benefits.
The Little Rock Board of Directors has enacted new regulations for large-scale data centers, effective immediately, in response to growing interest in artificial intelligence infrastructure across Arkansas. The ordinance establishes three categories of data centers based on size and energy use: accessory, major, and hyperscale, with the latter applying to facilities larger than 250,000 square feet or those using over 75 megawatts, such as the AVAIO Digital data center and Google's proposed facility near Sweet Home.
The new rules introduce restrictions for hyperscale data centers, including requirements related to water consumption, generator emissions, noise levels, and a minimum setback of at least three football fields from residential areas. Residents packed a recent board meeting to voice concerns about environmental impacts, extensive land clearing, and the perceived lack of benefit to Arkansas communities, with one resident stating, "AI is not going to make a difference because it is not investing in the people of Arkansas."
Despite public pushback, representatives from Google and Entergy addressed the board, highlighting the essential role of data centers in daily life and asserting that new facilities would cover their own infrastructure costs, thereby not increasing costs for existing utility customers. Following these discussions, the Little Rock Board of Directors voted to enact the ordinance.