Broken Arrow data center proposal faces many questions

A proposed data center development in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is raising significant questions for city officials, particularly concerning its substantial electrical load of 100 to 150 megawatts, cooling system requirements, and adherence to existing zoning regulations. The property, located at 8521 S. 209th East Ave., is owned by Rex Robertson, who has a letter of intent to sell it to an unidentified company should the necessary zoning approvals be secured. City Manager Michael Spurgeon has indicated that the company involved may request a pre-development meeting in the coming months, which would initiate the formal approval process with the planning commission and the governing body. Spurgeon emphasized that neither he nor the City Council would be signing non-disclosure agreements with the developer, a stance aimed at promoting transparency following public discontent over NDAs in other Oklahoma data center projects, such as the Project Atlas in Coweta that was ultimately withdrawn by Beale Infrastructure. Further complexities include the project's potential impact on the city's electrical grid, with utility provider PSO needing to study its ability to service the load. Water availability for the site is also a concern, as it would rely on Wagoner County Rural Water District #4, which lacks fire protection for businesses and purchases water from Broken Arrow during peak summer demand. Despite some residents urging the city to reject the proposal outright, Spurgeon clarified that the city must allow the developer to proceed through the application process to avoid potential legal liability.