Letter to the Editor

In a letter to the editor published in the Yukon Progress, the newspaper's editorial board called upon the Yukon City Council to take decisive action against data center expansion in the region. The letter specifically urged the council to block new data center developments and to refuse the sale of Yukon's water resources to Oklahoma City, which would then be resold to Beltline Energy (BLE) for its data center operations. The newspaper highlighted a recent move by the Oklahoma City Council, which enacted a temporary suspension on new zoning and development applications for data centers until December 31, 2026, with the exception of two pending projects totaling 295.5 acres in Canadian County. The editorial raised significant concerns about the potential strain on Yukon's water supplies, especially given that Oklahoma City has historically purchased water from Yukon to meet federal arsenic standards. It questioned the cost to Yukon for running water lines to serve BLE's facilities, arguing that such a deal would deplete local water and increase utility bills for citizens. The letter also referenced a separate article detailing a substantial increase in water rates in Edmond to fund new water treatment and wastewater recovery facilities, implying a similar risk for Yukon. Furthermore, the Yukon Progress cited an article on widespread drought conditions affecting 45 U.S. states, including Oklahoma, which detailed strict water usage rules for residents. The editorial emphasized that large data centers can consume up to a billion gallons of water annually, often with few restrictions even during shortages. Given Yukon's existing odd-even outdoor watering program, the newspaper asserted that the city cannot afford to provide "unlimited" water access to Beltline Energy, concluding that "we also can’t drink money."