Video: Broken Arrow City Council to Consider Six-Month Moratorium on Data Center Proposals

The Broken Arrow City Council is set to consider a six-month moratorium on new data center proposals during its upcoming meeting. City Manager Michael Spurgeon indicated that with no active data center applications currently under review, this presents a perfect opportunity for the city to pause and conduct thorough research into the potential effects of these facilities.

This proposed pause would allow Broken Arrow to better understand the community impacts of data centers, specifically focusing on factors such as electricity consumption, water demand, and noise. The city also plans to review its current zoning ordinance, which does not explicitly address data center developments. The consideration for a moratorium follows an expired letter of intent for a data center development on 52 acres in East Broken Arrow.

Broken Arrow's approach is modeled after neighboring cities; Tulsa adopted a moratorium in March, and Oklahoma City implemented an eight-month pause earlier this year to conduct similar due diligence. City Manager Spurgeon has consulted with Oklahoma City's city manager regarding their process.

Public opinion in Broken Arrow is divided, with some residents supporting the moratorium to allow city leaders time for full assessment, while others argue that data centers are vital for modern technology and suggest focusing on sustainable development solutions. If approved, the moratorium would take immediate effect for six months, with the potential for a six-month extension if more time is deemed necessary.