Little Rock director Webb says city should pause data center permits for 18 months, not just 6
The Little Rock Board of Directors is set to consider two proposals for a temporary moratorium on new hyperscale data center permits: a six-month pause with a carve-out for Google's project, and an 18-month pause without exception. City Director Kathy Webb is advocating for the longer moratorium, citing insufficient time with the shorter option. The city attorney has warned that an 18-month moratorium could lead to a lawsuit from Google.
The Little Rock Board of Directors is preparing to vote on two distinct proposals that would temporarily halt the development of large data centers within the city. One measure, previously deferred from July, suggests a six-month moratorium on new permits, which would include an exemption for a proposed Google facility at the Port of Little Rock's industrial park. Google plans to invest at least $1 billion in a 300,000-square-foot facility, with potential for expansion.
A second, more detailed proposal, sponsored by City Director Kathy Webb, calls for an 18-month moratorium without any carve-outs for specific projects, including Google's. Webb, who represents Ward 3, intends to urge her fellow board members to adopt the longer pause, arguing that six months is insufficient for the city to gather necessary information, including utility records related to hyperscale data centers. Hyperscale facilities are defined as those exceeding 250,000 gross square feet or drawing more than 75 megawatts of power.
City Attorney Tom Carpenter has cautioned the board that enacting an 18-month moratorium could potentially expose the city to a lawsuit, with Google possibly seeking damages if the measure is deemed a "regulatory taking of property." This comes shortly after the Pulaski County Quorum Court rejected a 12-month moratorium on data centers in unincorporated areas, which had included an exemption for a planned AVAIO Digital Partners project. Records show county officials and an attorney for AVAIO were in communication with Entergy Arkansas regarding the language of that county-level proposal.