Piedmont leaders address water system amid data center concerns

Name: Piedmont leaders address water system amid data center concerns
Uploaded: 2026-05-07T15:26:39.000Z
Duration: 3 min 4 s
Description: Piedmont city leaders are addressing significant public concerns about the impact of two proposed data centers on the city's outdated water system. Citizens have voiced strong opposition, with a crucial zoning vote scheduled for one project in early June. Developers Belt Line and Cloverleaf are seeking to build in the city, with water supply being a key challenge for their plans.

News Clip3:04KFOR Oklahoma's News 4·Piedmont, Canadian County, OK·5/7/2026

Piedmont city leaders are addressing significant public concerns about the impact of two proposed data centers on the city's outdated water system. Citizens have voiced strong opposition, with a crucial zoning vote scheduled for one project in early June. Developers Belt Line and Cloverleaf are seeking to build in the city, with water supply being a key challenge for their plans.

waterenvironmentalzoninggovernmentopposition

Gov: Piedmont City Leaders, Piedmont Planning and Zoning, Josh Williams, Byron Schlow Mock, Piedmont City Attorney

Piedmont, Oklahoma, city leaders are confronting public pushback regarding the potential impact of proposed data centers on the community's aging water infrastructure. Citizens have expressed strong opposition ahead of a series of votes, with the first scheduled for early June at Piedmont's Planning and Zoning meeting. City Manager Josh Williams noted that the data center proposal is in its initial stages, requiring developers to meet zoning requirements and potentially rezone project sites.
A primary concern revolves around water usage, as Piedmont has historically faced water issues. While three city officials toured a Belt Line data center in Atlanta, details on how the company plans to address the substantial water demands in Piedmont are still undecided. Williams stated that if the city cannot meet the developers' water needs, it will be up to the developers to modify or abandon their projects.
An email from Belt Line's Director of Development, sent to city officials in August, expressed confidence in finding a water solution that would also help build out Piedmont's infrastructure for long-term growth. Councilman Byron Schlow Mock intends to question Belt Line extensively about their water solutions if they appear before the council.
Additionally, it was revealed that Belt Line is not the only company interested in developing a data center in Piedmont. Cloverleaf recently submitted an application and is also undergoing the review process. City officials are currently reviewing design statements for the Cloverleaf project.