Broken Arrow considers 6-month pause on data centers
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma city leaders are considering a six-month moratorium on new data center development to study their impact on the community. The city council will vote on the proposed emergency ordinance, which would halt rezoning requests and building permits for data centers if approved. This action follows a recent failure to finalize a land purchase for a proposed data center in the area.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, city leaders are currently considering a six-month moratorium on new data center development within the city. The proposed emergency ordinance, set for a vote by the Broken Arrow City Council, aims to temporarily halt rezoning requests, building permits, and other development approvals specifically for data centers. If approved, the moratorium would take effect immediately.
During this proposed six-month period, the city plans to analyze the various impacts of data centers, including electrical consumption, water demand, and noise generation, before allowing new development to proceed. City Manager Michael Spurgeon has recommended the pause to ensure a thoughtful approach to data center integration.
The consideration of this moratorium follows a recent development where a planned purchase of 52 acres for a proposed data center in east Broken Arrow did not move forward. Local resident Lori Gracey expressed support for a smart, thoughtful approach to data center development, emphasizing the need to place them where they don't negatively impact the community and to ensure data centers bear the costs of utility studies, not citizens.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute highlights the significant resource demands of large data centers, noting they can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day, comparable to the daily water use of 10,000 to 50,000 homes.