Leeds City Council Approves One-Year Moratorium on Data Center Development
The Leeds City Council in Alabama has approved a one-year moratorium on new data center developments and expansions. This decision was made to allow city leaders time to study the potential impacts of data centers, including high energy and water consumption, noise, and environmental concerns. Residents had raised concerns after learning a local site was being marketed to data center developers, prompting the council to act before any formal proposals were made.
The Leeds City Council in Alabama unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data center developments and expansions on June 8. This temporary halt, enacted via Ordinance 2026-06-02, will prevent the acceptance, processing, or approval of related development applications.
City leaders cited concerns regarding data centers' high energy and water consumption, noise from cooling systems and backup generators, and overall environmental impacts. Councilman Cary Kennedy initiated the discussion following public comments at a May 26 meeting, where resident Christy Johnson expressed community apprehension after discovering a local site was being marketed to data center developers by Alabama Power.
Johnson, a Leeds resident for nearly 12 years, clarified that no specific project had been formally proposed but emphasized the community's desire for the city to "pump the brakes" and involve residents in the decision-making process. City officials, including Tiffiany Ward, who handles social media and public relations for Leeds, stated that the moratorium provides crucial time for due diligence and research to protect the city and its citizens, acknowledging the current zoning regulations were not designed for large-scale data centers. The moratorium will remain in effect for one year unless extended or repealed, allowing time to develop appropriate zoning standards.