Tulsa City Council approves data center moratorium

The Tulsa City Council has unanimously approved a nine-month moratorium on new data center approvals, giving the Tulsa Planning Office time to review and update zoning standards. This decision came after District 4 Councilor Laura Bellis initially pushed for a one-year pause, eventually compromising to nine months following committee discussions. The moratorium aims to address residents' concerns about the potential strain large data centers could place on local water and power resources. While some council members, like District 8 Councilor Phil Lakin, expressed worries that a lengthy moratorium could deter economic development, the vote was influenced by widespread public opposition. Nineteen people spoke in favor of the moratorium during public comment, with some traveling from outside Tulsa city limits. Councilor Jackie Dutton vocalized her strong opposition to data centers, particularly their placement in underserved communities in north Tulsa, citing questionable economic benefits for local residents. The moratorium will not affect the ongoing construction of Project Clydesdale in north Tulsa or the first and second phases of Project Anthem in east Tulsa. The Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission is scheduled to make a decision on Project Anthem's second phase on April 1. This city-wide pause follows earlier efforts by Bellis to initiate changes to the city's zoning code for data centers, a process that is expected to take several months. The broader "Green Country" area has seen significant opposition, including protests and lawsuits, against various planned data center projects in communities such as Sand Springs, Coweta, and Claremore.