New lawsuit challenges land deal enabling controversial Sand Springs data center

A new lawsuit has been filed by the Tulsa-based conservation organization Land Legacy against Alan Ringle and his family, challenging a land deal critical to the controversial Project Spring data center in Sand Springs. Michael Patton, executive director of Land Legacy, stated that the family violated a 2013 conservation easement deed, which allowed them a $3.8 million federal tax write-off, by petitioning the City of Sand Springs to annex their Osage County property for industrial use without notifying Land Legacy. The annexation and subsequent rezoning of 827 acres for the Google-backed data center, developed by White Rose Partners, were approved by the Sand Springs City Council in February, despite significant public opposition. Residents and local advocates, including Kyle Schmidt, president of Protect Sand Springs Alliance, have criticized the city and the Ringle family for what they describe as a lack of transparency and due diligence, particularly regarding the failure to identify the conservation easement during the annexation process. This new lawsuit from Land Legacy joins existing legal challenges spearheaded by the Protect Sand Springs Alliance. Although Patton does not expect the lawsuit to halt the project entirely, he believes it will force the City of Sand Springs to re-evaluate its zoning meetings and potentially face new proceedings. Osage County District 2 Commissioner Steve Talburt also voiced his opposition to the project, particularly concerning the lack of voting rights for county residents living outside city limits who will be directly impacted by the data center's construction.