Fayetteville city council considers new rules for data centers
Fayetteville city leaders are considering new regulations to manage the water and power demands of future data centers and protect residents. The proposed ordinance would require conditional use reviews and proof of adequate utility capacity for developers. A vote on the ordinance is anticipated at next week's city council meeting.
Fayetteville, Arkansas, city leaders are actively discussing and proposing new regulations aimed at proactively addressing the potential impacts of data centers on local water and electricity supplies. Though no data center projects are currently proposed within the city, officials are working to establish safeguards for residents and utility services, building on previous noise control regulations enacted in 2023.
The proposed ordinance would mandate that data center developments undergo additional conditional use reviews, moving beyond automatic allowance in heavy industrial zones. Under these new rules, developers would be required to demonstrate sufficient water and power capacities and ensure their projects do not adversely affect existing customers. Fayetteville City Council Member Mike Wiederkehr emphasized that the regulations are not anti-technology but are intended to protect customer utility rates.
Senior Assistant City Attorney Blake Pennington highlighted the significant demands of data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence, noting their substantial electricity and water consumption globally. He also pointed out that only about two percent of Fayetteville's land area would be compatible for data center development under the stringent proposed requirements. The Fayetteville Mayor's administration has expressed support for these changes. The city council held an agenda-setting session, with a final vote on the proposed ordinance expected during next week's meeting, as data center development expands rapidly across Arkansas.