Little Rock City Board passes data center ordinance
The Little Rock City Board unanimously passed an ordinance to regulate data centers, imposing requirements for noise, landscaping, and utilities. This regulatory action follows plans by Google to build a significant data center near the Port of Little Rock, a project that has drawn considerable public opposition due to concerns over environmental impact, energy consumption, and noise. The new ordinance specifically prohibits the use of groundwater or drinking water for data center cooling.
The Little Rock City Board voted unanimously to pass an ordinance regulating data centers, a decision made after an almost five-hour meeting that included significant public comment. The new regulations will subject any data centers in the Little Rock area to specific requirements regarding noise levels, landscaping, and utility usage. This move comes as Google is planning to construct a data center, estimated to cost up to $1 billion and span over 250,000 square feet, near the Port of Little Rock.
Public sentiment expressed during the meeting was largely negative, reflecting nationwide concerns about data centers' environmental impact, high energy costs, and noise. However, Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and City Director Virgil Miller explained that state law prevents the city from implementing an outright ban on data centers. The ordinance does, however, specifically ban the use of groundwater or drinking water for cooling purposes. Officials from utility providers, including Ventrell Thompson from Entergy Arkansas and Tad Bohannon, CEO of Central Arkansas Water, addressed public concerns, assuring residents that electricity bills would not increase for existing customers and that ample water resources are available from a nearby plant. Lorell Brown, Google's Public Affairs Manager, also spoke at the meeting, emphasizing the company's commitment to thorough and respectful development practices, noting the groundbreaking process could take 12 to 18 months.