Oklahoma City approves massive data center zoning. What will it entail?
The Oklahoma City Council voted 6-3 to approve zoning for Beltline Energy's proposed mega-data center, a planned $9 billion development spanning about 294 acres in far west Oklahoma City. The project received approval during a citywide data center moratorium because its application was submitted before the freeze, with stringent conditions addressing concerns about noise, water use and electricity demand.
The Oklahoma City Council approved zoning for Beltline Energy's proposed mega-data center by a 6-3 vote. The facility would occupy 110 acres north of Interstate 40 and 184 acres south of the highway west of Frisco Road, representing an estimated $9 billion investment in Oklahoma City, Canadian County and the Banner school district. Beltline has also obtained zoning for additional land in neighboring Yukon.
The approval came during a moratorium on new data center development, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. Beltline was allowed to proceed because it filed its application before the moratorium began. Mayor David Holt requested a six-month extension of the moratorium and said the approval should not establish a precedent for future projects. Project representatives said the development would include extensive operating conditions, use a closed-loop cooling system and seek no incentives, while residents and critics continued to raise concerns about noise, water consumption and electricity use.