OKC approves first mega-data center with strict zoning terms
The Oklahoma City Council voted 6-3 to approve zoning for Beltline Energy's planned mega-data center, subject to unusually strict terms. The project cannot receive a building permit until the city and Beltline agree on a community benefits agreement, while Mayor David Holt urged an extension of the city's data center moratorium.
The Oklahoma City Council approved Beltline Energy's proposed mega-data center on a 6-3 vote, allowing the company to proceed with zoning for a site on both sides of Interstate 40 west of Frisco Road. The project includes 110 acres north of the interstate and 184 acres south of it, with additional nearby land already zoned in Yukon. Council members imposed terms described as among the most restrictive for a data center in the city's history, addressing concerns over noise, water use and electricity consumption.
The approval was granted because Beltline Energy had applied before Oklahoma City's year-long data center moratorium took effect. Mayor David Holt said the vote should not establish a precedent and called for the moratorium, set to expire at the end of 2026, to be extended by six months. Before construction can begin, the council must approve a community benefits agreement covering the project's operational commitments and contributions to local needs; the eventual end user has not yet been identified.