Rural Oklahoma communities confront growing data center boom
Rural Oklahoma communities are opposing a surge in data center development, citing concerns about land use, utility costs, and rural disruption. This resistance has led to project cancellations, lawsuits, and moratoriums in several cities. The Oklahoma Legislature also passed a bill requiring data centers to cover infrastructure costs and provide earlier notification to communities.
Rural Oklahoma communities are confronting a growing boom in data center development, prompting widespread concerns over land use, utility costs, and the disruption of rural life. According to the Pew Research Center, a majority of new data center projects in the United States are planned for rural areas, and Oklahoma has become a key state with at least 44 data centers currently operating, under construction, or in planning stages.
Residents in rural Council Hill, south of Muskogee, are already grappling with an active data center construction project, with locals like rancher Brandon Jordan noting it's a constant topic of conversation. Rancher Sam Stamper indicated that many residents did not fully grasp the scale of the development until construction commenced, raising fears about increased traffic, land usage, potential strain on utilities, natural resources, and the permanent alteration of community character.
Community opposition to data center projects has intensified across Oklahoma. Public resistance may have contributed to the cancellation of "Project Atlas" in Coweta, while residents in Sand Springs and Stillwater have initiated lawsuits, including one alleging construction runoff flooded a neighborhood. In response to these issues, officials in Tulsa and Oklahoma City have implemented temporary moratoriums on new data center developments within their city limits.
At the state level, the Oklahoma Legislature addressed the rapid growth of the industry, with State Rep. Jim Shaw (R-Chandler) expressing concern about the loss of agricultural land. State Rep. Amanda Clinton (D-Tulsa) initiated a legislative study, advocating for safeguards to prevent Oklahomans from incurring higher utility costs due to large-scale developments. In May, lawmakers passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, which mandates that large energy users like data centers cover their own infrastructure costs, commit to at least 10 years of utility service, and notify state regulators, county officials, and nearby property owners within 60 days of land acquisition. While this new law arrived too late for the ongoing project in Council Hill, residents hope it will provide future communities with better preparation time.