In Depth: Data center developers could be forced to disclose plans to communities early in process

House Bill 2992, a statewide data center bill in Oklahoma, is advancing through the State Capitol in Oklahoma City with strong bipartisan support. An amendment introduced by Senator Grant Green (R-Wellston) mandates that data center developers provide 60 days' notice to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, county commissioners, and residents within a five-mile radius before purchasing land for high electric load customers. Additionally, developers would need to publish a local newspaper notice and hold a public meeting within 30 days of publication. The bill's original intent, championed by House author State Representative Brad Boles (R-Marlow), is to require data centers to build their own electric generation facilities, preventing them from straining existing grids and shifting costs to ratepayers due to increased demand. With different versions passed by the House and Senate, the bill now proceeds to a conference committee for final reconciliation. These legislative efforts unfold against a backdrop of local controversies across Oklahoma. Broken Arrow's City Manager Michael Spurgeon announced a transparent approach to a potential data center inquiry, aiming to avoid the public backlash seen in other "Green Country" communities like Coweta, where a project was scrapped after heated meetings. In Sand Springs, a data center was approved despite a failed recall effort against city leaders, with a related lawsuit still pending. Further south, residents in Claremore (Rogers County) voiced concerns about "Project Mustang" regarding proximity to homes, noise, and utility impacts, though City Manager John Feary defended the review process. Tulsa has taken a distinct stance, enacting a temporary moratorium on new data center construction to review zoning and protections for residential areas. This moratorium has notably paused phase two of "Project Anthem," identified as a Meta Platforms facility. Conversely, communities like Pryor and Muskogee County have welcomed data center projects, including those by Google, for their significant economic benefits and tax revenues.