Central Alabama cities with active data center moratoriums
Several cities in Central Alabama, including Birmingham, Homewood, Springville, Leeds, and Cullman, have adopted data center moratoriums in response to resident pushback over environmental and resource concerns. These moratoriums allow cities to review zoning laws and determine future regulations for data center development. Rogersville in Lauderdale County is also considering a similar moratorium.
Several cities across Central Alabama, including Birmingham, Homewood, Springville, Leeds, and Cullman, have enacted data center moratoriums following significant resident opposition. Birmingham approved its six-month moratorium in March, which notably exempts the Nebius Data Center from its provisions. The moratoriums in Homewood, Springville, Leeds, and Cullman became active in June 2026 and are set to last for up to a year.
These temporary bans aim to provide city leaders with crucial time to review existing zoning laws and gain a deeper understanding of the land use implications associated with data center development. The goal is to establish necessary regulations before new data center applications can be filed. Residents have voiced concerns about a lack of transparency, potential environmental impacts, and the high water and electrical consumption of these facilities.
Separately, in northwest Alabama, the town of Rogersville in Lauderdale County is also considering a moratorium on data centers, with a vote scheduled for next month. This trend highlights a growing regional effort to pause and reassess data center expansion amidst increasing local scrutiny.