Blackstone

Data Center Signal is tracking 53 clips about Blackstone data center developments across 13 states, including MI, PA, VA, NM, CA.

53Clips

13States

States

Topics

government81%

electricity75%

opposition70%

environmental58%

zoning47%

announcement43%

water42%

legal28%

moratorium23%

News ClipWyoFile·Cheyenne, Laramie County, WY

Inside Yellowstone National Park’s historic gift from data center developers

Tallgrass, a Blackstone-owned energy company developing a major AI data center near Cheyenne with Google, donated $105 million to Yellowstone National Park. The gift is drawing criticism from residents and environmental advocates who question whether it is intended to improve the companies’ public image while nearby data centers create noise, light, water, pollution and electricity concerns.

announcement opposition environmental electricity water

Google Microsoft

10/23/2026

News ClipAbridged – PBS KVIE·Sacramento County, CA

'Large electrical load' data centers considered for Sacramento area

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District says two data center projects exceeding 50 megawatts each are in early feasibility and transmission studies, though their exact locations have not been disclosed. Residents raised concerns about grid demand, emissions, noise and air quality, with a fuller discussion scheduled for the utility board’s Nov. 11 meeting.

electricity announcement opposition environmental government

10/15/2026

News Clip2:42FOX 10 Phoenix·PA

Data center debate impacts Pennsylvania House race | FOX 10 Phoenix

Data center development has become a major issue in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, where residents cite air pollution, noise and groundwater concerns. Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan and Democratic nominee Paige Cognetti both say local communities should control data center siting, while criticizing each other’s records on data center and artificial intelligence regulation.

opposition environmental government moratorium

10/13/2026

News ClipQuad Cities Business Journal·Clinton County, IA

Iowa Cities Urged to Seek More Transparency on Data Center Projects

The editorial urges Iowa cities and data center developers to be more transparent about proposed projects, including their water use, electricity demand, land-use impacts and tax benefits. It highlights opposition to QTS Data Centers’ proposed 1,100-acre AI campus in Clinton and intense public debate over data centers in Ames and other Iowa communities.

opposition environmental electricity water zoning government

QTS

10/12/2026

News ClipThe Sun Times News·Saline, Washtenaw County, MI

Saline Township Data Center Draws Attention in Michigan Election Debates

The Saline Township data center project became a central issue in Michigan gubernatorial and U.S. Senate debates, with candidates disagreeing over tax incentives, local control and a possible statewide moratorium. The facility, being developed by a Related Companies affiliate for Oracle and OpenAI, is expected to require about 1.4 gigawatts of electricity and has prompted local concerns about farmland, noise, water use and environmental impacts.

opposition environmental government legal electricity water moratorium

Oracle OpenAI

10/9/2026

News ClipCNBC·NM

Wall Street is pitching data centers as a major real estate bet. The risks are piling up$

Wall Street firms are increasingly packaging data center infrastructure as public and private investment opportunities, led by Blackstone's new data center REIT and potential offerings from Blue Owl and Brookfield. The investment case faces growing political opposition, state moratoriums in New York and Texas, grid constraints and project-specific risks, including delays surrounding Oracle's Project Jupiter in New Mexico.

announcement opposition electricity moratorium government

Oracle Equinix Digital Realty

10/9/2026

News Clipgizmodo.com·Hazle, PA

Hazle Township Residents Reject Developer Payout Amid Data Center Opposition

Residents of Hazle Township, Pennsylvania are actively opposing a proposed mega data center project by NorthPoint Development, even rejecting a $10,000 payout per family. Their concerns include noise pollution and declining property values. Hazle Township supervisors have enacted a 180-day moratorium on data center construction to update zoning laws.

zoning opposition environmental government moratorium

OpenAI

9/28/2026

News ClipPlanet Detroit·Saline Township, Washtenaw County, MI

El-Sayed, Rogers face voter opposition to data centers in crucial Senate race

Data center development has become a significant issue in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, with candidates Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed both expressing support for moratoriums amid widespread voter opposition. Concerns include impacts on utility bills and water resources, with specific projects in townships like Saline and Ypsilanti drawing local scrutiny. Both candidates' financial ties to companies involved in data centers are under review.

opposition government electricity water moratorium zoning legal

Oracle OpenAI

9/25/2026

News ClipThe Citizens' Voice·Plains, Luzerne County, PA

Plains Twp. holds hearing on data-center overlay

Plains Township held a public hearing on a proposed zoning overlay district that would permit data centers as a conditional use, drawing strong opposition from residents concerned about property values, quality of life, and environmental impacts. The township previously enacted a six-month moratorium on new development proposals while drafting the zoning amendment. While no formal data center applications have been submitted, land acquisitions by firms like Mudiita Land Venture LLC and a joint venture of PPL Electric Corporation and Blackstone suggest potential future development.

zoning opposition environmental government electricity moratorium

9/23/2026

News ClipCNN·Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ

Legal challenges and opposition to data centers rise across the US$

Data center developments across the US are facing escalating legal and community opposition, leading to a significant increase in legal work for attorneys. Lawyers are actively involved in both defending developers against lawsuits concerning land use, noise, and environmental impacts, and representing communities filing nuisance cases. This widespread conflict includes over 300 jurisdictions enacting data center moratoriums.

legal opposition zoning environmental electricity water moratorium government

Amazon Google Oracle

9/11/2026

News ClipCBS News·Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA

GOP Rep. Rob Bresnahan campaigns on data center limits while investing in industry

Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Bresnahan is campaigning on a bill to give municipalities more control over data center development, despite his past pro-data center stance and current investments in companies that benefit from the industry's growth. His Democratic opponent, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, has also raised concerns about data center zoning. The issue highlights growing public opposition to data centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

government zoning opposition

9/11/2026

News Clip1:00Mo News·Salem, Clearfield County, PA

AI Data Center Boom Is Creating Millionaires In Rural Pennsylvania

Nearly 100 families in Salem Township, Pennsylvania, sold 1,700 acres of land for a new data center to QTS, an arm of Blackstone, for $586 million. This massive sale has created numerous local millionaires and is expected to bring significant economic benefits and jobs to the rural community. The development occurs as Governor Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order imposing strict guardrails on data center developers in the state.

zoning opposition environmental announcement government electricity water

QTS

9/9/2026

News ClipThe Morning Call·Upper Macungie, Lehigh County, PA

Data center developers tout economic benefits. How much could they affect Lehigh Valley economy?

Data center developers and supporters in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley highlight the economic benefits and job creation from data center projects, including significant construction and indirect employment, despite requiring fewer permanent staff. Local economic development officials view data centers as foundational infrastructure rather than high-value job creators, leading to less dedicated recruitment. Residents, mindful of past warehouse developments, are actively pushing back against five proposed hyperscale projects, while utilities like PPL and First Energy are investing billions to expand grid capacity to meet growing power demands.

zoning opposition announcement government electricity moratorium

9/3/2026

News ClipThe South Shore Press·Granbury, Hood County, TX

Microgrids Could Ease AI’s Growing Power Demand

VoltaGrid is providing natural gas-powered microgrids to help AI data centers generate their own electricity, easing strain on public grids. The Houston-based company is expanding its manufacturing in Granbury, Texas, and recently secured a $1 billion investment. This technology offers a potential solution for regions like New York, where data center growth is impacting grid reliability.

electricity

8/31/2026

News ClipScranton Times-Tribune·Lackawanna County, PA

PPL secures 11-plus square miles in Archbald, Upvalley for power plants

PPL Corp. and Blackstone's joint venture has secured over 11 square miles in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, to explore building two natural gas power plants for future data centers. This move has sparked immediate and strong opposition from local residents and officials concerned about environmental impacts, water sources, and the large-scale industrialization of the area. The company states plans are preliminary and contingent on securing a data center customer.

electricity environmental opposition government

8/29/2026

News ClipEnergy and Policy Institute·Bessemer, Jefferson County, AL

Alabama Power promises data center protections, but its proposed rate structure redacts them

Alabama Power is under scrutiny for redacting critical terms in data center contracts, preventing public and regulatory oversight of potential customer cost shifts. This issue is being deliberated by the Alabama Public Service Commission following a new state law. Local opposition to data centers has also intensified in the state, influencing municipal elections.

electricity government legal opposition

Meta QTS

8/28/2026

News ClipTimes Leader·Salem Township, Luzerne County, PA

Developers tout impacts of 3 data center campuses; Zoning meeting set for Wednesday on 4-3 Glenbrook Group project

Salem Township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is poised for significant data center development with three major campuses underway, including projects by Amazon, QTS, and the 4-3 Glennbrook Group. These multi-billion dollar developments are expected to bring thousands of jobs and substantial economic impact to the region. A crucial zoning meeting is scheduled for Wednesday to decide on an overlay zone expansion for the 4-3 Glennbrook Group project.

zoning electricity environmental announcement government water

Amazon QTS

8/23/2026

News ClipMyChesCo·PA

McCormick Presses AI Buildout With Worker, Data Center Rules

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick proposed a comprehensive AI policy focused on infrastructure buildout, worker protections, and national security. He addressed the growing public opposition to data centers, urging developers to fund their own power needs, limit environmental impacts, and provide local economic benefits. McCormick called for greater transparency from developers and an avoidance of tax abatements.

electricity water opposition government zoning announcement

QTS

7/31/2026

News ClipScranton Times-Tribune·Luzerne County, PA

PPL Corp., Blackstone spend $40.4M on possible Luzerne County power plants

PPL Corporation and Blackstone Infrastructure, through their joint venture Phoenix PA Land Holdings LLC, spent over $40 million to acquire more than 500 acres in Jenkins, Plains, and Salem townships in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The land is intended for possible power plants to meet the rising demand for electricity, particularly from data centers, though no final decisions on generation projects have been made. The venture emphasized that PPL Electric Utilities customers are not funding these activities.

electricity announcement government

7/30/2026

News ClipSRN News·VA

Digital Realty raises annual FFO forecast on robust data center demand

Digital Realty Trust has raised its full-year forecast for funds from operations, citing robust leasing momentum driven by cloud and AI customers. The company also announced plans to acquire a larger stake in three data centers in Northern Virginia from Blackstone for $3.5 billion, strengthening its presence in a key market.

announcement

Digital Realty

7/23/2026