Little Rock officials to vote on six-month data center moratorium
The Little Rock City Board of Directors will vote next week on a proposed six-month moratorium on new data centers, following an unsuccessful 18-month proposal in August. Pulaski County officials are also reviewing data center regulations amid debate over Google’s proposed Little Rock facility and AVAIO Digital’s major project near Wrightsville.
The Little Rock City Board of Directors is preparing to vote on a six-month moratorium on data center development proposed by City Director Kathy Webb. The measure would pause development for six months, with the possibility of an additional six-month extension to allow officials more time to study data center proposals. Webb previously failed to secure an 18-month moratorium after an august vote ended in a 4-4 tie, but said the revised proposal is expected to have several co-sponsors.
Google has proposed a $1 billion, 100-megawatt data center on 380 acres in the Port of Little Rock area. Separately, the Pulaski County Quorum Court is considering competing regulations for large industrial projects. Justice of the Peace Douglas House pulled his ordinance for further study, while an ordinance sponsored by Justice of the Peace Julie Blackwood was vetoed by County Judge Barry Hyde. House’s proposal would exempt AVAIO Digital’s planned data center project near Wrightsville, estimated at $21 billion and requiring 1 gigawatt of electricity, from some restrictions.