Data Center Signal is tracking 539 clips about Amazon data center developments across 15 states, including OH, IN, PA, LA, VA.
The city of Clinton, Mississippi held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Amazon data center. This event signifies the official start of construction for the facility.
Hobart officials have hired Skillman Corp. to oversee the construction and day-to-day operations of two Amazon data center sites at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street. This agreement, budgeted at $3.9 million through 2030, follows the unanimous approval of the site plans by the Hobart Plan Commission in May. The approval process included a lengthy public meeting with significant security and one arrest.
Virginia's budget negotiations are stalled due to disagreements over data center policy, specifically regarding their energy consumption and environmental impact. Democratic leaders clashed publicly over proposals to make data centers pay more for energy. Lawmakers failed to pass a budget during the regular and a special session and are reconvening later in June.
The Union County Building Office has issued a $500,000 permit for an AWS underground fire main, indicating ongoing infrastructure work for a data center development in Marysville Innovation Park. Concurrently, the SMART Coalition in Marysville is proposing a charter amendment to lower the signature requirement for citizen referendums, aiming to restore local control over governmental decisions after state legislative changes raised the threshold. This initiative seeks to preserve citizen participation in local governance, potentially impacting future development projects.
Amazon employees and Seattle residents are urging the Seattle City Council to enact a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. The council is set to vote on the proposal, which comes after several companies proposed five large-scale data centers in the city, raising concerns about electricity, water usage, noise, and environmental impact.
An Amazon data center in New Florence, Missouri, plans to draw an estimated 50 million gallons of water annually from deep underground wells to cool its servers. This plan targets the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer, with an engineering firm's report suggesting minimal impact. However, concerns are being raised about the thoroughness of the aquifer assessment.
Amazon is expanding its data center investment in North Carolina through a fiber optic deal with Corning. This partnership is expected to create 1,000 skilled jobs and boost tech training opportunities across the state.
Growing public opposition to data centers is influencing Ohio politics, driven by concerns over energy costs and environmental impacts. Despite widespread voter anger and local efforts to ban data centers, politicians are largely hesitant to support outright construction bans. Ohio's Governor has paused tax breaks for data centers, reflecting a shift in political response.
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones addressed "misconceptions" regarding eminent domain claims associated with an Amazon data center project in Butts County. He clarified that Amazon purchased land directly from a developer over two years ago, refuting any involvement of eminent domain in the data center's development.
Bossier City leaders are considering an ordinance to establish an infrastructure capital fund, which will be financed by sales tax revenue from the construction of a $6 billion Amazon and STACK Infrastructure data center campus. The fund aims to support future infrastructure needs and prevent new city debt, with additional revenue expected from water services provided to the data center.
AI data centers are proliferating across America, with the Shreveport-Bossier area in Northwest Louisiana seeing three Amazon data centers under construction. Local residents express concerns about water usage and environmental impact. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has launched a website to provide resources and raise awareness about data center impacts and community concerns nationwide.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is holding a public hearing to collect comments on a summary of feedback regarding a discharge permit for an Amazon data center campus near Lake Anna in Louisa County. This permit is required for the discharge of treated noncontact cooling water from the facility. Amazon's $11 billion investment in two data center campuses in Louisa County was announced in 2023.
The Ohio Joint Data Center Committee, comprising members from both the state Senate and House, is holding its fourth meeting to study the influx of data centers in Ohio. Washington County Commissioners are among those providing testimony. Governor Mike DeWine has reportedly put a pause on data center development across the state.
Indiana is experiencing a data center boom with significant investments from companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta, driven by AI and cloud computing demands. While generating jobs and tax revenue, this growth is met with community concerns over energy and water consumption, land use, and quality of life. Experts attribute Indiana's appeal to its infrastructure and supportive state environment, placing it as a critical player in national tech development.
Residents in Hilliard, Ohio, are expressing strong anger over data center developments, particularly an Amazon Web Services site near a park and elementary school. Despite this local opposition and concerns about energy consumption, politicians are largely hesitant to support outright bans on data centers. The issue is becoming a significant factor for voters in the upcoming midterm elections.
Rising electricity costs, partly driven by the boom in AI data centers, are becoming a significant political liability for incumbents ahead of the 2026 midterms in the US. Voters are connecting these facilities to their surging utility bills, especially in states like Pennsylvania and Virginia, where data center expansion plans are contentious. Both Republican and Democratic politicians face pressure, but substantial legislative action is hampered by extensive lobbying from the tech and electric sectors.
An editorial calls for Snohomish County, Washington, to adopt moratoriums or bans on data centers due to concerns over high water and electricity consumption. This follows public concern about "Project Cascade" in Arlington, which residents feared was a data center, despite Amazon's announcement clarifying its purpose. Skagit County has already enacted a temporary moratorium, and Seattle has proposed one, reflecting growing regional worries about resource scarcity amid drought conditions.
Electric utilities in Washington and Oregon are increasingly turning to gas-powered energy to meet the rapid demand from new data centers, jeopardizing state-established emission reduction targets. Reports from Columbia Riverkeeper and Sightline Institute detail how utilities are investing in new gas infrastructure or purchasing gas-powered electricity, with some data centers also using on-site gas generators. Companies like Amazon and Microsoft claim to be investing in clean energy, though Amazon was fined for an air quality permit violation at an Oregon data center.
Virginia's General Assembly budget negotiations are at a standstill due to disagreements over data center tax incentives. Senator Louise Lucas is advocating for data centers to pay more for energy consumption and environmental impacts, clashing with Governor Spanberger and House lawmakers who aim to keep the state business-friendly.
Ohio's new Joint Data Center Committee, tasked with drafting legislation, is co-chaired by Sen. Brian Chavez, who faces an unresolved ethics complaint for allegedly concealing energy sector financial interests. Separately, a progressive policy group highlights GOP gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's extensive investments across the data center supply chain, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, a citizen petition aims to ban large data centers in the state.