Rally at Dream Keepers Park highlights concerns over data center impacts

At Dream Keepers Park, Tulsans, including "Stop Data Colonialism Coalition Coordinator" Cheyanna Morgan, rallied against Project Anthem, a data center being built near East 11th Street and South 193rd Avenue in east Tulsa. Community members voiced concerns about the data center's potential impacts on local water and energy resources, as well as job development. The rally aimed to inform residents about an upcoming vote by the Tulsa City Council on a proposed year-long moratorium on future data center construction. While Project Anthem, already under construction, would not be affected, the moratorium seeks to prevent new projects from circumventing updated zoning regulations. Tulsa City Councilors had previously voted in February to evaluate the city’s zoning code for data centers, and the moratorium is now being considered to prevent new projects from slipping in under old rules. Residents from surrounding areas, like Kels Cooper from Owasso, also expressed strong opposition to data centers, citing environmental and economic concerns. The Tulsa City Council is scheduled to vote on the moratorium on Wednesday.